Ali Kal

Comparison of surgical outcomes of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with or without mucosal flaps

OBJECTIVE The goals of this study were to evaluate the long-term results of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with or without a posterior mucosal flap and to compare the surgical success rates of that procedure in patients with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively investigated the results of 78 endoscopic endonasal DCRs performed at the Baskent University, Department of Otolaryngology between December 2000 and March 2007 on 74 patients with a lacrimal obstruction. The patients were divided into two groups. During surgery, the posterior mucosal flap was preserved in 27 patients (group A) and removed in 47 patients (group B). All patients underwent intubation with a silicone tube at the conclusion of surgery. The silicone tube was removed within 6 months after surgery. The mean follow-up period was 36 months (range, 2-78 months). The results obtained were then compared. RESULTS Granulation tissue and synechia developed between the lateral nasal wall and the middle turbinate in one patient in group A (revision surgery was not required). In group B, granulation tissue at the rhinostomy opening was found in seven patients, and in four of those subjects, the granulation tissue obstructed the neo-ostium. These four patients underwent a second operation. In group B, synechia was noted between the middle turbinate and the lateral nasal wall in two of 47 patients. In group A, the procedure was successful for all patients except one in whom granulation tissue developed, and in group B, the surgical success rate was 88.3%. CONCLUSION In endoscopic endonasal DCR, the closure of bare bone with a posteriorly based nasal mucosal flap that creates an anastomosis between the lacrimal sac mucosa and the nasal mucosa decreases the formation of granulation tissue. But, there is no significant difference of success rate between two groups.

Retinal and choroidal thickness changes after single anti-VEGF injection in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: ranibizumab vs bevacizumab

Purpose To evaluate and compare the effects of single intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and bevacizumab on central retinal and choroidal thickness in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Forty eyes of 40 patients with neovascular AMD that underwent intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGFs) were included. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: 20 eyes received ranibizumab and 20 eyes received bevacizumab injection. Central retinal and choroidal thicknesses of all eyes at baseline and 1 month postinjection scans were measured with Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the data. Results The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) showed significant decrease after single injection of ranibizumab (from 345.0 μm to 253.5 μm, p<0.01) and bevacizumab (from 329.5 μm to 251.0 μm, p<0.01) at the first month, respectively. There was no significant difference regarding the CRT change between groups (p = 0.39). The mean choroidal thickness decreased from 158.6 μm (115-317) to 155.5 μm (111-322) in the ranibizumab group and from 211.5 μm (143-284) to 201.5 μm (93-338) in bevacizumab group. The decrease was not significant between groups (p = 0.35). Conclusions Intravitreal injection of both ranibizumab and bevacizumab provided a significant decrease in CRT; however, the agents caused no significant change in choroidal thickness. Additionally, no difference between ranibizumab versus bevacizumab was observed related to macular edema inhibition.

Endocanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal duct obstruction: short-term results of a new minimally invasive surgical technique.

Aim: To evaluate the results, complications, effectiveness, and operative results of the endocanalicular laser dacryocystorhinostomy (ECL DCR) in the distal obstructions of the lacrimal drainage system. Methods: Sixty eyes of 57 patients who had a diagnosis of distal obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system were evaluated retrospectively in this study. All patients underwent ECL DCR by diode laser between October 2008 and July 2009. Forty-nine patients (86%) were females, 8 patients (14%) were males, and age distribution was between 3 and 84 years old (median, 40 y). The canaliculi were intubated by a silicone tube. The patency of the nasolacrimal system was controlled by lacrimal lavage, loss of epiphora, and endoscopic evaluation of the endonasal rhinostomy site with routine follow-up scheduled at first day and 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month postoperative intervals. Results: After the 60 ECL DCRs, 10 patients underwent revision ECL DCR because of the persistent epiphora. The patency of the nasolacrimal duct or the decrease of the symptoms was assigned as success. There were no symptoms at all in 83.3% of the patients. Conclusions: The ECL DCR in the treatment of the distal obstructions of the lacrimal drainage system was easily tolerated by the patients, cosmetically preferred because there was no incision and scar formation with high success rates, and a minimally invasive alternative technique.

Dry eyes and migraines: is there really a correlation?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tear film functions and clinical symptoms of patients with migraines. Methods: This observational comparative study consisted of 33 migraine (26 women and 7 men) patients referred from neurology clinics and 33 (22 women and 11 men) control subjects referred from ophthalmology outpatient clinics. The control subjects had neither systemic nor ocular disease nor any type of headache. All 66 patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and diagnostic tests for dry eye, including tear break-up time, Schirmer test with topical anesthesia, lissamine green staining, and an ocular surface disease score. Patients with migraine were classified as migraine with an aura, migraine without an aura, and basilar migraine; a pain score from 1 to 4 was determined for each patient, based on the American Headache Societys Migraine Disability Assessment Test. Results: Of the 33 patients who participated in the migraine group, 17 (51%) suffered from migraine with aura, 11 (33%) suffered from migraine without aura, and 5 (15%) suffered from basilar migraine. Significant differences in dry eye scores were found between the patients with migraine and the control subjects. In the migraine group, the mean tear break-up time was 7.75 ± 2.37 seconds, whereas in the control group it was 9.15 ± 1.93 seconds. For the Schirmer test, the migraine group had a mean value of 12.09 ± 4.95 mm/5 minutes, whereas the control group had a mean value of 14.90 ± 4.26 mm/5 minutes. Testing with lissamine green staining resulted in a mean value of 1.00 ± 0.16 in the migraine group and 0.30 ± 0.46 in the control group. In the migraine group, the mean for the ocular surface disease index scoring was 36.27 ± 17.54. In the control group, it was 28.42 ± 9.0. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was found in the dry eye syndrome testing results between the 2 groups in this study. Conclusions: An increased frequency of dry eye disease was found to occur in patients with migraine, which might suggest that migraine headaches are related to dry eye disease. Some migraine attacks may be aggravated in the presence of dry eye syndrome.

Unusual presentation of an intraocular foreign body retained for sixty years.

Intraocular foreign bodies may remain quiescent for many years particularly if they are not metallic. We report a case of a missed intraocular stone foreign body that had remained asymptomatic underneath the iris for 60 years and appeared during cataract surgery.

Proptosis, congestion, and secondary glaucoma due to carotid-cavernous fistula after embolization.

Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are traumatic or spontaneously occurring communications between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. Carotid-cavernous fistulas can be due to a direct connection or indirect connections between the carotid artery system and the cavernous sinus. According to the etiologic classification, they may be of traumatic or spontaneous origin, and according to the angiography classification, they may be of direct or dural. Most CCFs are of spontaneous origin, and these are reported as frequently self-healing lesions. Spontaneous CCFs are mostly secondary to arteriosclerotic changes, which explains the increased ratio of elderly patients. Traumatic CCFs are usually of high-flow type and need intervention. The symptoms are various usually correlated to the size and type of venous drainage. The most frequent symptoms on presentation are proptosis, conjunctivitis, and chemosis; however, this picture may be complicated by optic nerve edema, cranial nerve palsies, and intracranial hemorrhage. We report a case with right low-flow dural CCF, which has worsened after angiography and recovered totally soon after endovascular embolization process.

Effect of fingolimod (FTY720) on choroidal thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE Using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), to compare the choroidal thickness in a healthy population (group 1), with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (group 2), with MS patients who underwent β-interferon monotherapy (group 3) and MS patients who underwent fingolimod therapy for 1 year (group 4) METHODS: Twenty-five control subjects (25 eyes), 24 newly diagnosed (24 eyes) MS patients, 22 MS patients who underwent fingolimod monotherapy for 1 year (22 eyes), and 24 MS patients who underwent β-interferon monotherapy for 1 year (24 eyes) were included in this study. The control group consisted of age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. The choroidal thickness measurements were performed using a high-speed and high-resolution SD-OCT device. The choroidal thickness measurements were compared using a One Way Anova and Post-Hoc Tukey test. RESULTS Ninety-five eyes of 95 participants were included in this study. The mean age of the control group was 27.83±4.60, and it was 26.83±6.79, 27.87±6. 46 and 27.58±6.65 in the newly diagnosed MS group, fingolimod group and β-interferon group, respectively. In fingolimod group N-1000, N-1500 and T-1500 was significantly lower than control group. (p=0.026, p=0.06 p=0.13) CONCLUSION: Choroidal thickness values at N-1000, N-1500 and T-1500 levels in fingolimod group were found lower than in control but higher than in newly diagnosed MS group. This result can be explained with the therapeutic effect of the fingolimod on MS.

The protective effect of prophylactic ozone administration against retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Abstract Introduction: Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is associated with many ocular diseases. Retinal IR injury leads to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), loss of retinal function and ultimately vision loss. The aim of this study was to show the protective effects of prophylactic ozone administration against retinal IR injury. Materials and methods: A sham group (S) (n = 7) was administered physiological saline (PS) intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 7 d. An ischemia reperfusion (IR) group (n = 7) was subjected to retinal ischemia followed by reperfusion for 2 h. An ozone group (O) (n = 7) was administered 1 mg/kg of ozone i.p. for 7 d. In the ozone + IR (O + IR) group (n = 7), 1 mg/kg of ozone was administered i.p. for 7 d before the IR procedure and at 8 d, the IR injury was created (as in IR group). The rats were anesthetized after second hour of reperfusion and their intracardiac blood was drawn completely and they were sacrificed. Blood samples were sent to a laboratory for analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant score (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The degree of retinal injury was evaluated according to changes in retinal cells and necrotic and apoptotic cells using the TUNEL method. Data were evaluated statistically with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The number of RGCs and the inner retinal thickness were significantly decreased after ischemia, and treatment with ozone significantly inhibited retinal ischemic injury. In the IR group, the degree of retinal injury was found to be the highest. In the O + IR group, retinal injury was found to be decreased in comparison to the IR group. In the ozone group without retinal IR injury, the retinal injury score was the lowest. The differences in the antioxidant parameters SOD, GSH-Px and TAC were increased in the ozone group and the lowest in the IR group. The oxidant parameters MDA and TOS were found to be the highest in the IR group and decreased in the ozone group. Discussion: IR injury is also positively correlated with the degree of early apoptosis. This study demonstrated that ozone can attenuate subsequent ischemic damage in the rat retina through triggering the increase of the antioxidant capacity.

Evaluation of Dry Eye Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis: Dry Eye Disease in Hemodialysis Patients

The aim of the present study was to evaluate dry eye parameters with conventional tests and tear meniscus with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS‐OCT) in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Thirty‐eight ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis, and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled. An ocular surface disease index questionnaire (OSDI) was administered. Before conventional dry eye tests, tear meniscus were evaluated using AS‐OCT. After a complete ocular examination, Schirmer and break‐up time (BUT) tests were performed and probable corneal staining was investigated. Schirmer test and BUT values were significantly lower in ESRD patients (P < 0.05). OSDI scores and corneal staining scores were significantly higher in ESRD patients (P < 0.05). Tear meniscus height, tear meniscus depth, and tear meniscus area, which were obtained by AS‐OCT were significantly lower in patients with ESRD (P < 0.05). Tear meniscus evaluation using AS‐OCT is an effective and non‐invasive method to assess tear meniscus in patients with ESRD. Patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis should obtain regular ophthalmic examination, especially for dry eye.

Evaluation of retrobulbar blood flow and choroidal thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

PurposeTo evaluate whether retrobulbar blood flow and choroidal thickness (CT) are affected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the relationship between these values.MethodsWe evaluated 40 eyes of 20 RA patients and 40 eyes of 20 healthy controls. The enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, color Doppler imaging, was held. Statistical analysis was performed.ResultsPeak systolic velocity (PSV) of ophthalmic (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) were significantly higher in RA. No significant difference was observed when end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of OA and CRA was compared between the groups. The resistivity index (RI) of OA and CRA was higher in RA. Perifoveal/subfoveal CT was lower in RA. Negative correlation was detected between the RI of OA and the perifoveal CT, and a positive correlation was detected between RI of CRA and CT.ConclusionsOcular hemodynamics is effected by RA and can exaggerate ocular complications of various vascular diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, retinal vascular occlusions.