Dicle Hazirolan

Role of posterior vitreous detachment on outcome of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of posterior vitreous detachment on outcome of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor injection. Methods: Sixty-one eyes with age-related macular degeneration that had received intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab injections were retrospectively reviewed. The vitreomacular interface was evaluated, and eyes were grouped according to the presence of posterior vitreous detachment (Group 1, n = 25) or vitreomacular adhesion (Group 2, n = 36). All patients received three loading doses of intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor injections at monthly intervals, and subsequently, pro re nata regimen was performed. Best-corrected visual acuity and central foveal thickness measurement at follow-up were evaluated. The development of posterior vitreous detachment during the follow-up was also reported. Results: The best-corrected visual acuity changes at each visit compared with baseline were significantly better in Group 1 (P = 0.01, 0.02, 0.02, 0.009, 0.009, respectively at third, sixth, ninth, 12th month, and last visit). When best-corrected visual acuity was classified according to the change in visual acuity of 10 letters or more, the rate of improved or stable best-corrected visual acuity was greater in Group 1 (P = 0.02). During the follow-up, 5 eyes (14.3%) developed posterior vitreous detachment. Conclusion: Vitreomacular adhesion seems to have an adverse effect on the visual prognosis of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

Think Global - Act Local: Intravitreal Drug Delivery Systems in Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis

The eye is probably the most attractive site of the body for treatment using locally delivered therapeutic agents. An ideal indication for such an approach is noninfectious posterior uveitis. Since intraocular structures of the posterior segment are difficult to reach and are otherwise accessible only by systemic treatment, current interest is focused on the pros and cons of intravitreal drug delivery. Because of its chronic and recurrent nature, the long-term release of anti-inflammatory agents is a major treatment goal. Intravitreal injections, intravitreal implants and biodegradable devices are the most commonly used and approved approaches to deliver various agents to the vitreous. Because of their broad and potent effects, corticosteroids (CS) have been the first-line candidates for intraocular delivery. An increasing spectrum of CS preparations including nondegradable and biodegradable devices is currently available. Since repeated and long-term applications bear the risk of steroid-related complications such as increased intraocular pressure and cataract, alternative agents are currently being tested. Intravitreal injection of methotrexate, anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), anti-TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α) and sirolimus have also been applied in patients with conflicting results. Intravitreal treatment has significantly reduced the incidence of adverse effects compared to systemic application, but due to greater ocular side effects there are still some limitations.

Fast and Successful Management of Intraocular Inflammation with a Single Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of a single dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex®, 700 µg). Methods: In this prospective noncomparative case series, 84 patients (54 females) received a dexamethasone intravitreal implant. At weeks 4, 12 and 24 after the injection, vitreous haze, macular thickness and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed and adverse events reported. Results: Clearance of vitreous haze could be achieved after 4 weeks in 61% of all eyes (p < 0.001) and remained significant until week 24 (p < 0.001). This was paralleled by a reduction of central retinal thickness after 4 (p < 0.001), 12 (p < 0.001) and 24 weeks (p < 0.006). Significant and fast improvement of BCVA was already achieved after 4 weeks (p < 0.001) but vanished by week 24. Intraocular pressure reached ≥35 mm Hg in 3 eyes and was significantly more frequent in intermediate uveitis compared to posterior uveitis (p < 0.016). Conclusions: The dexamethasone implant is effective in controlling intraocular posterior segment inflammation and reduces central retinal thickness fast and effectively.

Light on the horizont: biologicals in Behçet uveitis.

Relapsing ocular involvement is one of the major manifestations in Behçet disease (BD). When ocular BD is left untreated, it often results in blindness in <5 years. Combining systemic corticosteroids with cyclosporine A and other conventional immune modulating agents has been the only choice for treatment. More recently, the introduction of ‘biologics’ seems to be an effective therapy in patients affected with BD, especially in those with ocular disease. Our purpose was to survey the current knowledge regarding the biological therapeutic approaches for Behçet uveitis. We focused on the most commonly used biological agents: ‘tumor necrosis factor‐alpha antagonists’ and ‘interferon alpha’. We attempted to compare the effectiveness of these two biologicals and tried to balance on the pros and cons of these agents in clinical practice. The impressive efficacy of both approaches in sight‐threatening BD argues for their expanding role. Earlier introduction of these agents in the course of disease may prevent irreversible structural damage and may result in improved long‐term prognosis.

Actinomyces canaliculitis and its surgical treatment

The objective of this article is to describe four rare cases of Actinomyces israelii canaliculitis and their surgical treatment in a case series consisting of four cases of Actinomyces israelii canaliculitis. Patient charts were reviewed retrospectively. All four patients presented with epiphora, recurrent conjunctivitis, swelling around the superior canaliculus, and mucopurulent punctal discharge persisting despite medical treatments. Two patients with large canalicular dilation were treated with canaliculoplasty and the other two patients with minimal canalicular dilation were treated with one-snip punctoplasty. The specimens that were evacuated were sent for microbiological and histopathological examinations. The results showed that Actinomyces israelii was isolated in all patients. After medical and surgical treatment, the patients experienced resolution of signs and symptoms. The disease did not recur during the 2–4-year follow-up period. In conclusion Canaliculoplasty with canalicular intubation and one-snip punctoplasty may be safe and efficacious techniques in largely dilated canaliculum and mildly dilated canaliculum, respectively, with no demonstrable risk of post-treatment epiphora in patients with Actinomyces canaliculitis.

Pattern of Ocular Findings in Patients with Biopsy-proven Sarcoidosis in Turkey

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate demographic, clinical, and ocular features of patients with sarcoidosis. Methods: The study involved 47 biopsy-proven sarcoidosis patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups; group 1 had uveitis and group 2 had no uveitis. Demographic and clinical features of groups were compared. Ocular manifestations in group 1 were also evaluated. Results: Twenty-six patients (53.3%) had uveitis. The incidence of uveitis was more frequent between ages 21 and 40. The most frequent type of uveitis was intermediate uveitis (46.1%), followed by panuveitis (38.4%) and anterior uveitis (15.3%). The incidence of advanced pulmonary disease was significantly higher in patients with uveitis. Conclusions: Intermediate uveitis was the most frequent type of uveitis noted in our series of patients with sarcoidosis.

Penetration of topically applied diclofenac and ketorolac into the aqueous humour and subretinal fluid: randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE To determine the level of intraocular penetration of diclofenac sodium and ketorolac tromethamine into the aqueous humour and subretinal fluid. DESIGN Prospective randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS Twenty eyes scheduled for retinal detachment surgery and 17 eyes scheduled for cataract surgery. METHODS Patients with retinal detachment were randomly assigned to receive either topical ketorolac (n = 11) or topical diclofenac (n = 9). Subretinal fluid samples were collected 30-60 minutes after the administration of the last dose. In addition, 17 patients with cataract were randomly assigned to receive topical ketorolac (n = 9) or topical diclofenac (n = 8). The aqueous humour samples were collected 30 minutes after the administration of the last dose. Drug concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography fluorescence. RESULTS The mean diclofenac concentration in the subretinal fluid was 42.31 (SD 24.89) ng/µL. Ketorolac was undetectable in the subretinal fluid in all patients who received it because ketorolac tromethamine levels were under the limit of detection. In the aqueous humour, mean diclofenac concentration was 4.98 (SD 4.56) ng/µL, and mean ketorolac concentration was 20.17 (SD 12.21) ng/µL. Topical administration of diclofenac sodium yielded 8.4 times greater drug concentration in the subretinal fluid than in the aqueous humour. Aqueous humour concentrations of ketorolac were higher than those of diclofenac (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS The concentration in the subretinal fluid of topically applied diclofenac was higher than that of ketorolac; and topical ketorolac penetrated into the aqueous humour better than diclofenac did. This suggests that diclofenac can be used more effectively in events related to posterior segment and ketorolac in anterior segment events.

Demographic, Clinical, and Ocular Features in Patients with Late-onset Behçet Disease

Purpose: To evaluate demographic, clinical, and ocular features of patients with late-onset Behçet disease (BD). Methods: The study included 26 patients with late-onset BD. Onset of their first symptoms was before age 40. They fulfilled the diagnostic criteria after age 40. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 had uveitis and group 2 had no uveitis. Clinical and demographic features of the groups were compared. Ocular manifestations in group 1 were also evaluated. Results: Fourteen patients (53.8%) had uveitis and 12 patients (46.2%) had no ocular involvement. The incidence of genital ulcer was higher in group 1. Twelve patients (18 eyes) had anterior uveitis and 2 patients (4 eyes) had panuveitis. The incidence of anterior uveitis was higher in females. The incidence of panuveitis was higher in males. Conclusions: As compared to potentially devastating posterior uveitis, anterior uveitis is more often encountered in patients with late-onset BD. Hence, with respect to ocular involvement, the prognosis is better.

Intraoperative Floppy-Iris Syndrome: Comparison of Tamsulosin and Drugs Other Than Alpha Antagonists

Abstract Background: To determine and compare the incidence of intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) features in patients using tamsulosin, and other chronic medications. Methods: We prospectively studied patients who underwent phacoemulsification (PE) between March 2006 and October 2007 on use of tamsulosin or a single medication like antihypertansive (AH), antiaggregant (AAg), antipsycotic (AP) or oral antidiabetic (OAD). Patients were grouped as tamsulosin users (Group 1), previous tamsulosin users (Group 2), chronic medication users (AH, AAg, AP or OAD) (Group 3) and patients with no medication (Group 4). Comparison of pre and postoperative visual acuities, intraocular pressures, intraoperative posterior capsular rupture (PCR) rates and grades of IFIS among groups were evaluated. Results: We studied 1567 eyes of 1530 subjects. Twenty five eyes in the study demonstrated IFIS (1.6%). Five cases were included in Group 1 and IFIS incidence was 80%, while it was 60% in Group 2 (n = 5), 1 % in Group 3 (n = 1099), 1.7% in Group 4 (n = 421). IFIS incidence was significantly higher in Groups 1 and 2 compared to Groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.001). There was no difference between Groups 1 and 2 (p = 1.0) and between 3 and 4 (p = 0.29). Most cases (72%) had all three signs of IFIS. Complete IFIS was seen in one patient in Groups 1 and 2, whereas it was seen in all IFIS patients of Groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.001). Incidence of PCR was significantly higher in Group 1 (p = 0.045). Conclusion: Tamsulosin was found to be the drug which was most likely to be associated with IFIS, but IFIS was also observed in patients chronically using losartan, aspirin, chlorpromazine and metformin. Although, IFIS incidences were found to be similar between chronic users of these drugs and those using no medications at the time of surgery, new studies in the future will introduce the predisposing factors and the possible mechanisms of IFIS with these medications.

Conventional surgery for complicated retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes

Purpose TO evaluate the anatomic and functional outcomes of conventional surgery in silicone oil (SO)-filled eyes with complicated retinal detachment (RD). Methods The records of patients who underwent scleral buckling surgery for complex RD in SO-filled eyes were retrospectively reviewed. Conventional RD surgery involved a 2.5-mm encircling band, 6-mm silicone strip for the inferior quadrants or local sponge implant, subretinal fluid (SRF) drainage, and/or SO aspiration with a 27-G needle. Cryotherapy and/or laser photocoagulation was applied around the tears and 360° of the peripheral retina. Results In all, 4 of the cases had retinal breaks in the lower quadrants, 1 of which had a macular hole; recurrence was due to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in the 3 other cases. Three cases were treated with external SRF drainage, 3 cases with SO aspiration, and 1 case with both external drainage and SO aspiration. The retina was attached at the last follow-up visit in 6 (85.7%) of the 7 eyes. One of the cases required secondary vitreoretinal surgery for recurrent RD due to PVR and still had SO tamponade at last follow-up visit. Mean follow-up period was 17.28 ± 8.64 months. Mean logMAR visual acuity was 1.47 ± 0.47 preoperatively and 1.4 ± 0.97 postoperatively. Conclusions Inferior RD in eyes treated with silicone oil tamponade, with or without a retinal break, can be treated with scleral buckling surgery, external SRF drainage, and/or pars plana SO aspiration with satisfactory functional and anatomic outcomes in selected complicated RD cases.