Ramazan Yağcı

Ocular pulse amplitude and retina nerve fiber layer thickness in migraine patients without aura

BackgroundTo evaluate the ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), the posterior pole asymmetry analysis (PPAA), the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, the ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, macular thickness and visual field testing in migraine patients without aura.MethodsIn this prospective, cross-sectional and comparative study 38 migraine patients and 44 age and sex matched controls were included. OPA was measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT), PPAA, RNFL, GCL and macular thickness were measured by Heidelberg Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) and standard perimetry was performed using the Humphrey automated field analyzer.ResultsThe difference in OPA was not statistically significant between the two groups (p ≥ 0.05). In the PPAA there was no significant difference between two hemispheres in each eye (p ≥ 0.05). The RNFL thickness was significantly reduced in the temporal and nasal superior sectors in the migraine group (p ≤ 0.05). The GCL and macular thickness measurements were thinner in migraine patients but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). There was no correlation between RNFL, GCL, macular thickness measurements and OPA values. There was no significant difference in the mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) between the two groups (p ≥ 0.05).ConclusionsMigraine patients without aura have normal OPA values, no significant asymmetry of the posterior pole and decreased peripapillary RNFL thickness in the temporal and nasal superior sectors compared with controls. These findings suggest that there is sectorial RNFL thinning in migraine patients without aura and pulsative choroidal blood flow may not be affected during the chronic course of disease.

Repeatability and reproducibility of Galilei measurements in normal keratoconic and postrefractive corneas.

OBJECTIVE To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the anterior segment measurements performed with a dual Scheimpflug analyzer (Galilei) in normal, keratoconic and post-refractive surgery corneas. METHODS To evaluate the repeatability, two additional measurements were performed by the first examiner. To assess reproducibility, this was later followed by a single reading by the second examiner. The following parameters were recorded and evaluated in this study; central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), mean total corneal power (TCP) in central (0-4mm), mean posterior corneal power (PCP) in central (0.5-2mm), anterior and posterior elevation (best fit sphere [BFS]) in central 8mm anterior and posterior eccentricity (ɛ(2)) in central 8mm. Repeatability and reproducibility for each corneal parameter was assessed using the Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS Each of the three groups was consisted of 20 subjects (totally 60 patients, 30 men and 30 women). The 95% LoA for repeatability was very small, indicating small discrepancies between measurements related to CCT. Acceptable repeatability was also achieved for the other parameters in each group. However, the 95% LoA for value TCP was larger in keratoconic eyes. The 95% LoA for reproducibility was also very small, and acceptable for all measured parameters in each group. In addition, the 95% LoA was larger for the measurement of CCT and TCT for postrefractive corneas. CONCLUSIONS The anterior segment measurements provided by Galilei showed good repeatability and reproducibility for normal, keratoconic and postrefractive corneas.

Choroidal thickness and retinal vascular caliber correlations with internal carotid artery Doppler variables.

Decreased retinal arteriolar caliber and increased retinal venular caliber have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. This study aimed to evaluate correlations of choroidal thickness and retinal vascular caliber measurements with internal carotid artery (ICA) Doppler ultrasound variables.

Optical densitometric measurements of the cornea and lens in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Our aim was to investigate the impact of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on corneal and lenticular optical densitometry, pachymetry and anterior chamber depth in children.

Posterior pole asymmetry analysis and retinal thickness measurements in young relatives of glaucoma patients

The presence of a family history of glaucoma is a known risk factor for primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) in middle‐aged and older individuals. In this study, our aim was to demonstrate possible early glaucomatous alterations in young first‐ and second‐degree relatives of POAG patients by spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography. A total of 104 participants (52 relatives of POAG patients and 52 healthy individuals) were recruited in this cross‐sectional study. All the participants were between 17 years and 45 years of age. All eyes underwent testing with spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, hemifield macular thickness, macular ganglion cell complex thickness, posterior pole asymmetry analysis, and retinal arteriolar caliber measurements were taken for comparison between the study and control groups. The mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 104.9 ± 8.8 μm in the study group and 105.6 ± 7.4 μm in the control group (p = 0.68). Although whole macular thickness measurements were higher in the control group when compared with the study group (p = 0.008), the macular ganglion cell complex thickness was similar in both groups (p = 0.87). The posterior pole asymmetry analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups in the aspect of consecutive black squares (p = 0.79). The mean retinal arteriolar caliber was 85.9 ± 4.8 μm in the study group and 86.0 ± 5.0 μm in the control group (p = 0.90). In conclusion, young relatives of POAG patients do not show characteristic glaucomatous damage when compared with the controls.

Macular asymmetry analysis in sighting ocular dominance

Sighting ocular dominance is the preference of one eye over the other in terms of sighting. In this study, our aim was to examine differences in interocular and intraocular macular thickness, interocular fovea‐optic disc angle, and foveal blood vessel asymmetries associated with sighting ocular dominance. Ninety eyes of 45 healthy young adults were included in this prospective, cross‐sectional, and comparative study. Sighting ocular dominance was determined by a hole‐in‐the‐card test. Macular thickness measurements were taken and posterior pole asymmetry analysis conducted with spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The optic disc–fovea angle and visible foveal blood vessel counts were calculated by using the posterior pole retinal images of optical coherence tomography. The mean age of the participants was 27.3 (standard deviation [SD] 6.6) years. There were 20 males and 25 females. The mean total macular area thickness, and mean macular thickness of the superior and inferior hemispheres of the dominant and nondominant eyes were similar (p > 0.05). Macular asymmetry analysis revealed no statistically significant interocular difference (p > 0.05). In the dominant eyes, the mean optic disc–fovea angle was 5.24° (SD 1.77), whereas it was 5.49° (SD 2.58) in the nondominant eyes (p = 0.51). The number of visible blood vessels passing through the fovea was similar in the dominant and nondominant eyes (p > 0.05). These results suggested that interocular and intraocular macular thickness differences, interocular fovea–optic disc angle differences, and number of visible foveal blood vessels are not associated with sighting ocular dominance.

Comparison of visual quality between aspheric and spherical IOLs.

Purpose To determine if aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation produces the same degree of postoperative ocular aberration and contrast sensitivity as spherical IOL implantation. Methods In this randomized prospective comparative study, 60 eyes of 30 cataract surgery patients were randomly assigned to receive a spherical IOL (Rayner 620H) in one eye and an aspheric IOL (Rayner 920H) in the contralateral eye. All patients were examined at 1 month postoperatively. Primary outcomes of contrast sensitivity and ocular wavefront higher order aberrations (HOAs) were assessed. Results Aspheric IOLs (median total HOAs 0.26 root mean square [RMS]; range 0.13-0.82 RMS) produced significantly lower total HOAs than spherical IOLs (median total HOAs 0.34 RMS; range 0.18-1.08 RMS; p<0.05). Contrast sensitivity was significantly better with aspheric IOLs (median contrast sensitivity 1.8 log units; range 1.35-1.8 log units) than with spherical IOLs (median contrast sensitivity 1.65 log units; range 1.35-1.8 log units; p<0.05). Conclusions When compared with a structurally (platform and material) similar spherical IOL (Rayner 620H), aspheric IOLs (Rayner 920H) appear to significantly reduce HOAs and yield better levels of contrast sensitivity under photopic conditions.

Effect of chronic smoking on lens nucleus as assessed by Pentacam HR lens densitometry in young adults.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effects of chronic tobacco smoking on lens nucleus by Pentacam HR lens densitometry (LD) in young adults. Design: Prospective cross-sectional case series. Methods: Thirty subjects (23 M, 7 F) who were chronic cigarette smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day for at least 2 years) (group 1) and another 30 subjects (23 M, 7 F) who did not smoke (group 2), were included in this study. The patients were matched for age and sex between the groups. The exclusion criteria were any history of ocular surgery, any systemic disorders and any ocular diseases except for mild refractive disorders. Lens densitometry measurements were done with the Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). The Schirmer test and pachymetry measurements were also performed. Results: Mean age of the patients for both groups was 28.90 ± 8.20 years (range: 18–40 years). Mean lens densitometry (LD) measurements of Group 1 (chronic cigarette smoking group) were higher than those of Group 2 (control group) in all LD techniques; however only mean “peak” LD measurements showed a statistically significant difference between these two groups (Group 1: 8.67 ± 0.61, Group 2: 8.44 ± 0.70, p = 0.04). The mean Schirmer test value was 12.43 ± 5.60 mm in Group 1 and 13.00 ± 4.26 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.55). The mean central corneal thickness (CCT) value was 564.23 ± 34.61 µm in Group 1 and 550.47 ± 32.94 µm in Group 2 (p = 0.03). Discussion: The Pentacam HR LD seems to be an important option for the evaluation of lens nucleus in young adults, because it gives objective and quantitative data. Conclusion: Although chronic smoking increases lens nucleus density in young adults, the effect is not statistically significant when compared with the control group.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and retinal vessel calibers in children with thalassemia minor

Objectives: Evaluation of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and retinal vessel caliber measurements in children with thalassemia minor. Methods: In this cross-sectional and comparative study, 30 thalassemia minor patients and 36 controls were included. Heidelberg spectral domain optical coherence tomography was used for peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and retinal vessel caliber measurements. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was no correlation between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and hemoglobin values. Both the arterioral and venular calibers were higher in thalassemia minor group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is increased retinal arterioral and venular calibers in children with thalassemia minor compared with controls.

Effects of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery on retinal vascular caliber, ocular pulse amplitude and retinal thickness measurements

Aim: The retina and ocular vasculature are vulnerable to alterations in systemic hemodynamics, such as in open heart surgeries. Our aim was to investigate retinal vascular caliber (RVC), ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thickness in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery patients. Methods: Twenty-six patients who had a history of CABG surgery and 26 age-sex-matched healthy participants were recruited for this prospective, cross-sectional and comparative study. The RVC, peripapillary RNFL and macular thickness measurements were taken with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The OPA, a surrogate of pulsatile ocular blood flow, was measured with the Pascal dynamic contour tonometer. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the CABG surgery patients and the controls with regard to RVC, OPA, peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular thickness measurements (p>0.05). Conclusions: CABG surgery does not affect retinal structures and pulsatile ocular blood flow in the long-term follow-up.