Does Fluid Temperature Affect Corneal Endothelium-Descemet Membrane Scroll Formation? An In Vitro Study

Objectives: To investigate whether unfolding time of Descemet membrane (DM) graft rolls changes at various fluid temperatures. Materials and Methods: The study was prospective, ex vivo, and experimental. The study was conducted at the tertiary center for corneal disease in Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital between June 2014 and June 2015. DMs were divided into 4 categories according to baseline roll tightness and these were distributed among 4 different groups using 4 different balanced salt solution (BSS) temperatures (8, 16, 23, and 36 °C). Sixteen donor corneas were obtained from the hospital eye bank. Results: DM roll formations may vary according to the donor cornea received. Some form tighter rolls while others can form a more open roll. No differences in roll tightness were observed in any of the DM rolls after 5 or 10 minutes in the different BBS temperatures. In all groups, neither tightening nor opening was observed in DM roll formations. Conclusion: Different BSS temperatures were found to have no effects on DM unfolding time in this study

The vascularization process after intravitreal ranibizumab injections for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the retinal vascularization process after intravitreal ranibizumab was administered to infants with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP). Methods: Twenty-six eyes of 13 infants with AP-ROP who received 0.25 mg intravitreal ranibizumab were retrospectively investigated. The patients were evaluated at weekly follow-up visits, and the findings were analyzed after retinal vascularization was complete. Results: The results showed regression in the AP-ROP of all the patients within the first 48-72 h. Average time for complete vascularization of the nasal quadrant (zone II) was postmenstrual week 45 (range 41-56), and vascularization of the temporal quadrant (zone III) was completed in the postmenstrual week 56 (range 50-65). Reactivation was observed in seven patients, on average at postmenstrual week 42; two of these patients underwent additional treatment. Two patients presented with avascular areas in the peripheral retina despite being 1 year old. Conclusion: These results showed that retinal vascularization following intravitreal ranibizumab was completed after a delay in patients with AP-ROP. Further studies are necessary to evaluate when and how vascularization occurs after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments

Comparison of Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty and Those Converted to Penetrating Keratoplasty

Objectives: To compare clinical outcomes of cases who underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and cases who were converted to penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) from DALK surgery. Materials and Methods: The records of 54 patients for whom DALK surgery was planned and were operated for different diagnoses between March 2013 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (PKP group) consisted of 23 cases who were converted to PKP due to Descemet’s membrane perforation at any stage of surgery; group 2 (DALK group) consisted of 31 patients whose surgery could be completed as DALK. Preoperative and postoperative follow-up results were evaluated in each group. Results: Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) increased in the postoperative period according to baseline in both groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of CDVA increase between the groups (p=0.142). The mean astigmatism measured by corneal topography at final examination was 5.8±2.3 diopters in group 1 and 5.4±1.8 diopters in group 2. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (p=0.430). The groups were not statistically different regarding postoperative pachymetry (p=0.453). The grafts in all 54 patients (100%) were clear at final postoperative examination. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of postoperative complications. Conclusion: Similar clinical outcomes were obtained in our study for patients who underwent DALK and those whose procedure was converted from DALK to PKP

Efficacy of Monotherapy with Either Bimatoprost or Travoprost in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Resistant to Latanoprost Therapy

Pur po se: This prospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of monotherapy with either bimatoprost or travoprost in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) resistant to latanoprost therapy. Patients and Methods: Forty patients with POAG who received therapy with topical latanoprost at Gaziantep University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology between March 2009 and March 2010 were chosen to participate in this study. The decision to stop latanoprost therapy in these patients was made either due to the fact that they were resistant to therapy or due to the necessity to further decrease the intraocular pressure (IOP); 20 subjects were chosen to receive monotherapy with bimatoprost and 20 were chosen to receive monotherapy with travoprost. The patients were observed for 6 months with follow-up visits at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Results: For the group of patients receiving therapy with bimatoprost, the average decrease in IOP was measured to be 2.05 mmHg at 1 week, 2.25 mmHg at 1 month, 1.90 mmHg at 3 months and 2.40 mmHg at 6 months. For the group of patients receiving therapy with travoprost, the average decrease in IOP was measured to be 1.47 mmHg at 1 week, 1.75 mmHg at 1 month, 1.42 mmHg at 3 months and 1.27 mmHg at 6 months. At the end of 6 months, there were no significant changes observed in the mean deviation and central corneal thickness in both therapy groups. Conjunctival hyperemia and ocular irritation were the most common side effects observed in both groups, with the bimatoprost therapy group showing higher values than the travoprost group. Discussion: For patients resistant to latanoprost therapy, prior to any adjuvant therapy, monotherapy with either bimatoprost, which is a prostamide, or travoprost, a prostaglandin analogue, has been shown to be effective at lowering IOP. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 295-8

Evaluation of anterior segment parameters using Scheimpflug technology during the Valsalva maneuver in patients with keratoconus

<div><p>ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of the Valsalva maneuver (VM) on ectatic corneas during anterior segment tomography scans using a Scheimpflug camera. Methods: This prospective observational study included 100 eyes of 50 patients with bilateral keratoconus (KC). Anterior segment tomography was first performed when the patients were in a resting position and immediately repeated as the participant performed VM. Scheimpflug images were taken using a Pentacam®. Results: The mean age of the participants was 24.14 ± 6.59 years. Of the 100 eyes included in the study, 7% had stage 1 KC, 47% had stage 2 KC, 32% had stage 3 KC, and 14% had stage 4 KC. The indices of KC were not significantly affected by VM. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were found between the stages of KC, or with the mean pachymetric progression index during VM. Pupil diameter showed a statistically significant increase during VM (p=0.017). There was a statistically significant decrease in the anterior chamber angle measurement during VM (p=0.001). Maximum curvature power in the front of the cornea decreased more during VM in stage 4 KC than for the other stages (p=0.014). Conclusions: No changes associated with VM were found in the KC indices or the stage of the disease. However, an increase in pupil diameter and a decrease in anterior chamber angle value were found. These changes were comparable to values obtained from previous studies performed on normal corneas.</p></div