Cumali Degirmenci

Evaluation of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction with meibography in patients with rosacea.

Purpose: To evaluate the dry eye tests and meibography of patients with ocular rosacea. Methods: Thirty-six eyes of 18 patients with ocular rosacea (group 1) and 38 eyes of 19 healthy individuals (group 2) were enrolled. Besides full-eye examination, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining and Oxford scoring, tear film break-up time, Schirmer 1 test, ocular surface disease index score assessment, and evaluation of upper and lower eyelid meibomian glands using infrared captures of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Spectralis HRA+OCT; Heidelberg Engineering) device were performed (grade 0: no loss of meibomian glands, grade 1: gland dropout area <1/3 of the total meibomian glands, grade 2: gland dropout area 1/3 to 2/3 of the total meibomian glands, grade 3: gland dropout >2/3 of the total meibomian glands). Results: The mean ages of group 1 and group 2 were 50.2 ± 9.5 (range, 32–65), and 46.3 ± 14.1 years (range, 25–70), respectively (P = 0.225). No significant difference in best-corrected visual acuity and meiboscores of upper eyelids were detected in between groups. Schirmer 1 and tear film break-up time in group 1 were significantly lower than in group 2 (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively). Ocular surface disease index and Oxford scale scores and meiboscores of lower and total (upper + lower) eyelids were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P = 0.04, P = 0.018, P < 0.001, P = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: Ocular rosacea causes dry eye and significant meibomian gland loss that can objectively be demonstrated with meibography. The infrared camera of OCT—that is widely found in many ophthalmology departments—might be used to evaluate meibomian gland dysfunction in these individuals.

Bilateral acute iris transillumination: Case report

Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) is a recently defined disease characterized with bilateral acute, severe pigment dispersion of iris and pupil sphincter paralysis. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is unknown, but antibiotics such as moxifloxacin, clarithromycin, viral infections, and fumigation therapies were considered as probable etiologic factors. A 33-year-old female was referred to our clinic for acute iridocyclitis refractory to azathioprine, colchicum and corticosteroid treatments. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral pigment dispersion, significant iris transillumination, heavy pigment deposition in iridocorneal angle, and elevated intraocular pressure. Upon systemic evaluation she was found to have bacterial urinary tract infection. BAIT is an important cause of pigment dispersion and clinicians must be vigilant for this condition to avoid unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatment.

Evaluation of posterior vitreous detachment after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by optical coherence tomography and ultrasonography

The aim was to investigate the effect of uneventful phacoemulsification on vitreoretinal interface evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultrasound.

The temperament and character personality profile of the glaucoma patient

BackgroundTo determine the temperament and character profile of glaucoma patients.MethodsA total of 234 patients (104 with primary open angle glaucoma, and 130 control subjects without any ocular disease) were selected for this prospective, cross-sectional study. All the participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including the best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, gonioscopy, and visual field analysis. All the participants were given the Turkish version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The TCI is a self-reported evaluate, with 240 true/false items measuring four domains of temperament; harm avoidance (HA), persistence (PS), novelty seeking (NS), reward dependence (RD), and three domains of character; self-transcendence (ST), cooperativeness (C), self-directedness (SD).ResultsThe glaucoma patients achieved the higher scores than the controls for the HA and SD dimensions (p < 0.001 and p = 0.033). The glaucoma patients scored lower than the controls for the NS, P and ST dimensions (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). There were no differences in the RD and C scores between the patients and the controls (p = 0.944 and p = 0.343). There was no correlation between the duration of illness and the TCI dimensions. Disease severity was positively associated with HA (r = 0,220, p = 0,025) and the anticipatory worry (r = 0.227, p = 0.021) dimension.ConclusionsGlaucoma patients had a different personality profile to healthy individuals. This may affect treatment compliance and is also important when coping with maladaptive patient attitudes.

Tear Osmolarity and Tear Film Parameters in Patients With Ocular Rosacea.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate tear osmolarity and tear film parameters in patients with ocular rosacea. Methods: In a single center, 25 eyes of 25 patients with ocular rosacea (group 1), 25 eyes of 25 patients with rosacea without ocular involvement (group 2), and 20 eyes of 20 healthy individuals (group 3) were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer I test, tear film break-up time (TBUT), scoring of ocular surface fluorescein staining using modified Oxford scale, and tear osmolarity. Results: Tear osmolarity values, OSDI and Oxford scale scores were significantly higher in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (P<0.001 for all). Schirmer I test and TBUT in group 1 were significantly lower than in groups 2 and 3 (P<0.001 for all). There were no significant differences in OSDI, Schirmer I test, TBUT, Oxford scores, or tear osmolarity between groups 2 and 3 (P=0.629, P=0.175, P=0.713, P=865, and P=0.388, respectively). Conclusions: This study showed that ocular rosacea is associated with tear hyperosmolarity and tear film dysfunction.

Evaluation of Ex-PRESS mini glaucoma shunt implantation with preoperative intracameral bevacizumab injection in refractory neovascular glaucoma.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ex-PRESS mini glaucoma shunt implantation with preoperative intracameral bevacizumab injection in eyes with refractory neovascular glaucoma. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients with medically uncontrolled neovascular glaucoma who had received 50-µL intracameral bevacizumab (1.25 mg) before undergoing Ex-PRESS mini glaucoma shunt implantation was performed. Success was defined as a postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 21 mm Hg without (complete success) or with or without (qualified success) glaucoma medications and no additional glaucoma surgery, or loss of light perception. Results In total, 33 eyes of 33 patients (15 female, 18 male) were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 61.2 years (range 36-78). The mean IOP decreased from 41.0 mm Hg (range 24-72) to 17.6 mm Hg (range 8-28) over a mean follow-up of 20.9 months (range 6-60) (p<0.001; Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Complete and qualified success rates were 36.4% and 66.7%, respectively. The average number of antiglaucoma medications decreased from 3.5 (range 2-4) preoperatively to 1.8 (range 1-4) postoperatively (p<0.001; Wilcoxon signed rank test). In 81.8% of cases, the decrease in IOP was 30% or more postoperatively. Conclusions Ex-PRESS mini glaucoma shunt implantation with preoperative bevacizumab injection may be an effective alternative procedure for refractory neovascular glaucoma.

A novel mutation and in vivo confocal microscopic findings in Fabry disease

Fabry disease is a hereditary, X-linked lysosomal storage disease due to a deficiency of the alpha galactosidase A enzyme. Globotriaosylceramide accumulates in tissues and results in multiorgan dysfunction. The most common ocular finding in Fabry disease is cornea verticillata. Increase in conjunctival vascular tortuosity, and cataract may also be seen. Herein, we demonstrate the in vivo confocal microscopic findings of a genetically proven Fabry disease patient with a novel hemizygous R112L mutation in GLA gene.

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Rosacea Patients.

Dear Editor,We enjoyed reading the recent article by Machalinska et al. entitled “Morphological and functional evaluation of meibomian gland dysfunction in rosacea patients”1 which confirms our rec...

Response to Re: Evaluation of posterior vitreous detachment after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by optical coherence tomography and ultrasonography: Response to Re: Evaluation of posterior vitreous detachment after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by optical coherence tomography and ultrasono

length. There are certain individual variations in vitreo–macular interface interactions which are ageand gender-dependent throughout life. Thus, individual variations in surgically demanding patients, together with surgeon technique and level of experience, might influence the amount of surgical manipulation which could lead to postoperative inflammation and biomechanical changes that could accelerate PVD development. Finally, the status of the vitreoretinal interface in the fellow eye is of particular interest, because the patients who have a PVD in the phakic fellow eye have a significantly higher risk for the occurrence of PVD after cataract surgery. At the time of the acute PVD occurrence in one eye, up to 86 per cent of fellow eyes already have certain signs of PVD. In addition, up to 90 per cent of the fellow eyes develop PVD within the period of three years, after the development in the first PVD. All these findings could further explain the direct impact of cataract surgery on PVD development in such high percentages. In these patients, it is probably the combination of aforementioned factors that promote PVD induction. Overall, we agree with Degirmenci et al. that cataract surgery is an important risk factor for PVD development and all patients should have regular ophthalmological examinations.

Serologic Evaluation of Cornea Donors and Microbiologic Evaluation of Cornea Storage Media in an Eye Bank from Izmir, Turkey.

OBJECTIVES Our objective was to evaluate the serologic positivity of cornea donors and microbiologic positivity of cornea storage media at the Ege University Tissue and Cornea Bank, Izmir, Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively investigated the serologic blood sample and microbiological culture media analysis results of all cornea donors at Ege University Tissue and Cornea Bank between 2007 and 2015 with reference to age, sex, and cause of death of each donor. RESULTS Mean age of the 955 deceased donors was 43.19 ± 15.89 years (range, 2-65 y). The mean postmortem time to blood sample removal and excision of the cornea tissue was 8.4 hours (range, 4-12 h). Serologic analyses showed that 855 donors (89.5%) were seronegative. The remaining donors were seropositive for hepatitis B (54 donors; 5.7%), human immunodeficiency (27 donors; 2.8%), hepatitis C (14 donors; 1.5%), and syphilis (5 donors; 0.5%) virus infections. Microbiologic analyses of the storage media were negative, with no microorganisms shown in 855 samples (89.5%). Candida species (32 donors; 3.4%), Escherichia coli (14 donors; 1.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11 donors; 1.2%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (11 donors; 1.2%), Enterobacter species (11 donors; 1.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7 donors; 0.7%), Acinetobacter baumannii (6 donors; 0.6%), Proteus species (5 donors; 0.5%), and Corynebacterium species (3 donors; 0.3%) were the detected microorganisms in the infected storage media. CONCLUSIONS False-positive serologic results among cornea donors were high. The incidence of false-positive results might be decreased by earlier blood removal from deceased donors and testing of all potential donors in intensive care units. Although rare, endophthalmitis after keratoplasty might be a devastating problem. In addition to serologic testing, microbiologic analyses of cornea storage media before transplant may be an effective way to prevent postoperative infectious complications.