Didem Serin

A comparative study of bimatoprost and travoprost: effect on intraocular pressure and ocular circulation in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients.

Background: This study compares intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy and retrobulbar hemodynamic effects of bimatoprost and travoprost in patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (bimatoprost group, n = 36; travoprost group, n = 46). IOP levels were measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer. Peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity and resistivity index were obtained for each vessel by color Doppler imaging. Results: Both bimatoprost and travoprost significantly lowered IOP on days 30, 90 and 180 (p < 0.001). There was no significance between the 2 drugs on all follow-up visits. End-diastolic velocity of central retinal artery on day 180 was significantly higher than the value obtained at baseline in both groups. Conclusions: Patients were likely to achieve and maintain low target IOP with both drugs. Both drugs also resulted in improvement in the central retinal artery blood flow.

Ocular findings in patients with psoriasis

Background  Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting skin, nails, and joints. Although there are not many reports in the literature, ocular findings occur in approximately 10% of patients, in mostly those who have psoriatic arthritis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate eye involvement in psoriasis patients.

Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection before Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in neovascular glaucoma.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) before Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Methods: This retrospective, comparative and consecutive case series study included 41 eyes from 41 patients who underwent AGV implantation for treatment of NVG. The study group was composed of 19 patients (19 eyes) to whom IVB was administered before surgery, while the control group was composed of 22 patients (22 eyes) to whom IVB was not administered before AGV implantation. Findings such as intraocular pressures measured before and after surgery, surgical success rates, and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. Results: There were no significant differences in preoperative data between groups. The surgical success rate in the study group (79%) was better than in the control group (64%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.28). Early postoperative complications such as fibrinous reaction in the anterior chamber as well as hyphema were less frequently observed in the study group. Conclusions: Intravitreal bevacizumab is a useful preparatory step to safely and effectively implant an aqueous shunting tube in eyes with severe NVG and intractable intraocular pressure.

The Efficacy of the Combined Procedure in Involutional Entropion Surgery: A Comparative Study

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of the combined procedure in the management of involutional entropion. Methods In this study, we reviewed 45 eyes of 36 patients who underwent the combined procedure (lateral tarsal strip, retractor tightening, and everting sutures) for the management of involutional lower eyelid entropion and compared the results with 31 eyes of 25 patients who underwent the Wies procedure. Exclusion criteria included previous lower eyelid surgery and follow-up of less than 6 months. Results No patients demonstrated entropion on the first postoperative day. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 months (6 to 52 months) in the Wies group and 22.6 months (6 to 59 months) in the combined procedure group. During the follow-up period, 9 of 31 eyes in the Wies group presented with recurrence and only 1 of 45 eyes in the combined procedure group presented with recurrence (p = 0.001). The average time of recurrence was 4.8 months in the Wies group. Recurrence occurred at 2 months postoperatively in the patient in the combined procedure group. Six of the 9 recurrences in the Wies group were managed by the combined procedure. None of these patients had further recurrence after correction. Three patients complained about a visible incision line after the Wies procedure. Conclusions The combined procedure seems to be more effective than the Wies procedure in the management of involutional entropion. The combined procedure addresses the three major causative factors in involutional entropion and makes it possible to perform the surgery using a small incision.

Long-term outcomes of pegged and unpegged bioceramic orbital implants.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of pegged and unpegged bioceramic orbital implants. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 101 cases of evisceration, enucleation, or secondary implant surgery with placement of a bioceramic porous implant was conducted. Type of surgery, existence of a peg, peg system used, time of pegging, problems encountered before and after pegging, treatment methods, and final status were recorded. Results: Evisceration was performed on 74, enucleation on 16, and secondary implant surgery on 11 patients. The patients were observed for a mean of 68.4 months (3 months–12 years). Fifty-three of the 101 patients were pegged. Patients were pegged at a mean of 9.3 months (6–23 months). Hydroxyapatite-coated, titanium-sleeved, titanium pegs were used in 43 patients, and titanium peg and sleeve system was used in 10 patients. Major complications were exposure and infection. Three patients presented with early exposure and late exposure developed in 14 of pegged and 4 of unpegged patients. The difference in late-exposure rates between pegged and unpegged group was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Implant infection developed in 9 of the pegged and in 1 of the unpegged patients. Implant exposure was noted in 6 of these 10 patients with infection. The difference in infection rates between the pegged and unpegged patients was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In 2 of the pegged patients, removal of bioceramic implant was required and after resolution of infection, another type of porous implant was implanted and repegged. The peg system was removed in 6 patients for the management of either exposure, infection, extrusion, hypermobility of sleeve, or peg falling out. Four patients were repegged. The time period between peg insertion and development of complications ranged from 15 days to 10 years. 86.8% of pegged patients were free of major complications and satisfied with the result at the last follow-up visit. Conclusion: Despite potential complications that can occur as late as 10 years, bioceramic porous implants yield satisfactory long-term results. Existence of a peg system appears to play a role in the increased rate of late-onset complications. Further investigations on new and safer pegging systems should be conducted.

Modified capsular tension ring implantation in eyes with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of implantation of a Cionni modified capsular tension ring (CTR) and a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) in patients with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support. SETTING: Eye Clinic II, Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Eyes with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support had phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable IOL and a 1‐ or 2‐eyelet modified CTR. Preoperative features, preoperative and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraoperative performance, IOL position, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The study enrolled 16 eyes (16 patients). The mean CDVA was 0.89 logMAR ± 0.41 (SD) preoperatively and 0.33 ± 0.43 logMAR at the last postoperative examination (P=.001). Postoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent was −0.23 diopter (D) (range −1.50 to +1.00 D) and the mean postoperative astigmatism, 1.59 D (range 0.50 to 4.00 D). Eight eyes (50.0%) had phacodonesis preoperatively; no eye had pseudophacodonesis postoperatively. Preoperatively, 10 eyes (62.5%) had symptomatic decentration. Two eyes (12.5%) had asymptomatic nonprogressive decentration in the early postoperative period; no eye had symptomatic decentration throughout the follow‐up. Three eyes (18.8%) preoperatively and 1 eye (6.2%) postoperatively had vitreous in the anterior chamber. Four eyes (25.0%) required anterior vitrectomy. Other complications were symptomatic posterior capsule opacification in 8 eyes (50.0%) and transient increased intraocular pressure in 2 eyes (12.5%). CONCLUSION: The use of a modified CTR preserved the capsular bag and resulted in good PC IOL centration with few significant complications in patients with traumatic cataract and loss of zonular support. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Effect of suturing the silicone rod to the tarsal plate and the suture material used on success of frontalis suspension surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of suturing the silicone rod to the tarsal plate and the suture material used in suturing on surgical success of frontalis suspension for congenital ptosis. Methods: Eighty eyes of 56 consecutive patients who underwent frontalis suspension surgery using silicone rods for congenital ptosis between 2005 and 2011 were included in this retrospective study. The surgical results of eyes were compared, in which silicone had not been sutured to the tarsal plate (group 1), with those sutured with monofilament polypropylene suture (group 2), and those sutured with polybutylate-coated braided polyester suture (group 3). Surgical success indicated that the postoperative eyelid position was maintained within 1 mm of the normal eyelid position, that is, 1 mm below the superior limbus in bilateral cases and the same level with the other eyelid in unilateral cases, in the primary position of gaze. Postoperative eyelid level beyond these limits was defined as surgical failure. Results: The mean follow up was 16.3 months (6–38 months) and the mean age was 5.48 years (1–24 years). Thirty were male and 26 were female patients. Surgical failure occurred in 9 of 18 (50%) cases in group 1, in 5 of 24 (20.8%) cases in group 2, and in 5 of 38 (13%) cases in group 3 during the follow-up period after adequate eyelid elevation had been achieved just after the operation. The difference between surgical success rates in group 1 and group 2 (p = 0.047) and group 1 and group 3 (p = 0.003) was statistically significant. However, the difference between group 2 and group 3 did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Suturing the silicone rod to the tarsal plate increases the surgical success rates of frontalis suspension surgery for congenital ptosis. Suturing with polybutylate-coated braided polyester, even though statistically insignificant, seems to be more effective than suturing with monofilament polypropylene.

The outcome of silicone intubation and tube removal in external dacryocystorhinostomy patients with distal canalicular obstruction

Purpose. To evaluate the outcome of silicone intubation and tube removal in external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) patients with distal canalicular or common canalicular obstruction. Methods Seventy-five eyes of 69 patients with distal or common canalicular obstruction who had undergone external DCR and silicone tube insertion were included in the study. Silicone tube was left in place at least for 3 months. Presence of epiphora was questioned and patency was assessed by irrigation at each control after tube removal. Results. Mean patient age was 49.8±14.4 years (range 15-78) and mean follow-up after surgery was 13.2±4.2 months (range 6-25). After tube removal, 16 eyes (21.3%) presented with epiphora and occluded canalicular systems. Two eyes (2.7%) presented with epiphora which started just after tube removal and had a patent canalicular system. Fifty-seven eyes (76%) were free of symptoms and had patent canalicular systems and 3 of these eyes (4%) had epiphora while the tube was in place. Conclusions. Silicone intubation is indicated in patients with distal or common canalicular obstruction. The majority of patients with canalicular problems are relieved of epiphora after silicone tube removal. However, the tube itself may transiently occlude the canalicular system and cause epiphora in some patients, and in some it can aid tear flow even in the presence of a patent system.

Comparison of ocular surface side effects of topical travoprost and bimatoprost.

Purpose: To compare the subjective symptoms, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing response and conjunctival cytological changes secondary to topical administration of bimatoprost and travoprost for 6 months. Methods: Newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma patients were randomly prescribed bimatoprost (35 cases) or travoprost (42 cases). Two patients in each group were excluded because they did not appear at their appointments regularly. Thus, 33 and 40 patients completed the study in the bimatoprost and travoprost groups, respectively. Redness, itching, foreign-body sensation, pain and discomfort were assessed by a questionnaire, and patients were examined for conjunctival hyperemia. Schirmer’s I and break-up time tests were performed, and impression cytology of conjunctiva was evaluated. Results: Subjective symptoms were similar in both groups. The only subjective symptom that changed significantly was redness. The change in conjunctival hyperemia along the study period correlated with the patient-reported redness in both groups, being highest on day 30. Schirmer’s test I and break-up time did not change with time and were similar in both groups. The impression cytology grade increased with time in both groups with the only significant difference between groups on day 90 (higher in the bimatoprost group). Conclusion: We observed conjunctival hyperemia as the most common side effect of bimatoprost and travoprost. Tear film functions were not affected by these drugs while cytological alterations were.

Treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction with high-pressure irrigation under topical anesthesia.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and success rate of high-pressure irrigation (HPI) applied under topical anesthesia in outpatient treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: HPI was applied under topical anesthesia to 39 eyes of 32 consecutive patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. If obstructive symptoms persisted after the first attempt, treatment was repeated within 1 month. Patients were divided in two age groups: 7 to 12 months and 12 to 18 months. The two groups were compared in terms of the number of attempts needed to resolve the obstruction. Results: Thirty-nine eyes that had failed conservative treatment underwent high-pressure irrigation. The overall success rate was 31 of 39 (79.48%) at the first attempt; complete success (8/8, 100%) was achieved at the second attempt. The success rate in the younger group was 18 of 22 (81.8%) at the first attempt and 4 of 4 (100%) at the second attempt. The success rate in the older group was 13 of 17 (76.5%) at the first attempt and 4 of 4 (100%) at the second attempt. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the number of attempts needed to relieve the symptoms (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in massage times and age between cases resolved at the first and second attempts (p > 0.05). Conclusions: HPI can be attempted as an alternative second-step treatment or as a transition procedure between conservative and invasive methods. HPI has the advantage of being less invasive than other secondary methods, and its application under topical anesthesia seems to be safe and effective.