Faruk Öztürk

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without stents

OBJECTIVEnThe aim of this study is to present our endoscopic DCR operation method without the use of silicone tubing and our results on the patients suffering from chronic epiphora with postsaccal stenosis.nnnMETHODSnEndoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy operations were performed to 21 sides of 18 patients who had chronic epiphora. No silicone tubing was used in any of the cases. In the postoperative healing period, the rhinostomy opening was maintained with frequent removal of nasal debris and using eyedrops. The patients were evaluated by fluoresceine test and endoscopic controls.nnnRESULTSnSymptomatic improvement was achieved in 19 out of 21 sides of the patients (90.5%) and the results were confirmed by the fluoresceine test under endoscopic control.nnnCONCLUSIONnOur results of 21 sides of 18 cases underwent primary DCR without stents are as successful as those reported in the literature and the technique seems to be promising.

Ophthalmic findings in GAPO syndrome

BACKGROUNDnThe main manifestations of GAPO syndrome are growth retardation (G), alopecia (A), pseudoanodontia (P), and optic atrophy (O).nnnCASESnThis syndrome has been described in 21 patients from 16 different families. Four cases are from Turkey and have been presented by Sayli and Gül. The purpose of our study is to document the cases from Turkey and discuss the ophthalmological and neuro-ophthalmolgical findings of these and other reported GAPO cases.nnnOBSERVATIONSnAll patients in the literature and our 4 cases have severe growth retardation with delayed bone age in infancy, characteristic facial appearance (high and bossed forehead, midface hypoplasia), alopecia or severe hypotrichosis, and pseudoanodontia. Optic atrophy was present in 1 of our cases and in 5 previous cases. Glaucoma was present in 5 cases, including 2 of ours. Buphthalmia and keratopathy secondary to glaucoma were also observed. White eyelashes, seen only in our cases, may be a sign of early senility.nnnCONCLUSIONSnOptic atrophy is not a constant finding in GAPO syndrome. Glaucoma may accompany the ocular findings. This syndrome has been attributed to either ectodermal dysplasia or the accumulation of extracellular connective tissue matrix, due to an enzyme deficiency involved in its metabolism. Current studies show that an elastin defect and secondary changes in collagen may be important in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Effect of Propolis on Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis in Rabbits

Abstract Purpose: To test the anti-inflammatory effect of propolis, a natural bee-produced compound, and compare it with corticosteroids for the treatment of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). Methods: EIU was produced in all rabbits by unilateral intravitreal injection of 2,000 ng Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin. The animals were then divided randomly into three groups as follows: group A received no treatment (control); group B received methylprednisolone (5 mg/0.1 mL) (positive control); and group C received propolis (5 mg/0.16 mL) by anterior sub-Tenon injection at the time of uveitis induction and at 4 and 8 hours after induction. Inflammation was evaluated by clinical manifestations and by measuring the protein concentration and inflammatory cell content of the aqueous humor. Results: The clinical grade, cell count, and protein levels in the aqueous humor were: control group (6.0 ± 0.8, 2,519 ± 470 cells/μL, 32.9 ± 2.4 mg/mL); methylprednisolone group (1.8 ± 0.7, 572 ± 137 cells/μL, 15.2 ± 1.8 mg/mL); and propolis group (2.3 ± 0.5, 503 ± 124 cells/μL, 13.8 ± 1.5 mg/mL). Statistically significant differences were recorded in the treatment groups when compared to the control group ( P P > .05). Conclusions: Propolis showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on EIU in rabbits. The mechanism of its action warrants further investigation.PURPOSEnTo test the anti-inflammatory effect of propolis, a natural bee-produced compound, and compare it with corticosteroids for the treatment of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU).nnnMETHODSnEIU was produced in all rabbits by unilateral intravitreal injection of 2,000 ng Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin. The animals were then divided randomly into three groups as follows: group A received no treatment (control); group B received methylprednisolone (5 mg/0.1 mL) (positive control); and group C received propolis (5 mg/0.16 mL) by anterior sub-Tenon injection at the time of uveitis induction and at 4 and 8 hours after induction. Inflammation was evaluated by clinical manifestations and by measuring the protein concentration and inflammatory cell content of the aqueous humor.nnnRESULTSnThe clinical grade, cell count, and protein levels in the aqueous humor were: control group (6.0 +/- 0.8, 2,519 +/- 470 cells/microL, 32.9 +/- 2.4 mg/mL); methylprednisolone group (1.8 +/- 0.7, 572 +/- 137 cells/microL, 15.2 +/- 1.8 mg/mL); and propolis group (2.3 +/- 0.5, 503 +/- 124 cells/microL, 13.8 +/- 1.5 mg/mL). Statistically significant differences were recorded in the treatment groups when compared to the control group (P < .001). The effects of methylprednisolone and propolis on EIU were similar (P > .05).nnnCONCLUSIONSnPropolis showed significant anti-inflammatory effects on EIU in rabbits. The mechanism of its action warrants further investigation.

The efficacy of 2.5% phenylephrine and flurbiprofen combined in inducing and maintaining pupillary dilatation during cataract surgery.

Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of phenylephrine 2.5% and flurbiprofen 0.03% combined in inducing and maintaining mydriasis during extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Methods One hundred patients undergoing ECCE + intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was given phenylphrine 10%, the second group phenylephrine 10% + flurbiprofen, the third group phenylephrine 2.5% and fourth group phenylephrine 2.5% + flurbiprofen. Cyclopentolate 1% was used in all patients. Phenylephrine and cyclopentolate were instilled preoperatively four times during 1 hour and flurbiprofen was given four times the day before surgery and twice with an hours interval before operation. Pre-operative and post-cortex aspiration horizontal pupil diameters were measured with callipers viewed through the operating microscope. Results Pupil diameters in pre-operative and post-cortex aspiration were no different in the 2.5% and 10% phenylephrine groups (p>0.05). Both diameters were larger and pupillary constriction was smaller in the flurbiprofen groups (p<0.05). Conclusions 2.5% phenylephrine was as effective as 10% phenylephrine, with and without flurbiprofen, in inducing and maintaining pupil dilatation during ECCE surgery.

Axial length measurement and asteroid hyalosis.

PURPOSEnTo evaluate the effect of asteroid hyalosis on automated and manual A-scan axial length measurements.nnnSETTINGnCelal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.nnnMETHODSnA case-control study comprised 15 patients with unilateral asteroid hyalosis. The uninvolved eyes were used as controls. Axial length measurements by manual and automated A-scan biometry were performed in both eyes. The main outcome measures were comparisons between manual and automated measurements in asteroid hyalosis eyes with those in control eyes and the assessment of density of asteroid bodies on B-scan photographs.nnnRESULTSnStatistical analysis revealed no significant difference between axial lengths of asteroid hyalosis eyes and those in control eyes with automated (P = .524) or manual (P = .163) methods. Using automated biometry, 1 patient (7%) had a false (6.23 mm) short axial length measurement in the eye with asteroid hyalosis. There were no significant correlations between manual versus automated measurement differences and the density of the asteroid bodies.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe axial length of the eye without asteroid hyalosis can be used to calculate intraocular lens power if the patient has no history of clinical anisometropia.

Efficicacy of eye patching for corneal healing after removal of corneal foreign body

Standard treatment of corneal epithelial loss includes an eye patch with antibiotic ointment. We compared the efficacy of eye patching with no eye patching on corneal epithelial healing of 84 patients after foreign body removal. Since no significant difference between two groups for corneal healing was found, antibiotic treatment alone may be sufficient for treatment of corneal epithelial loss after foreign body removal.