Saban Simsek

Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in patients with anterior uveitis

Purpose To assess the results of phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation in patients with cataract secondary to anterior uveitis. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Design Case series. Method Consecutive patients with anterior uveitis and cataract were prospectively studied for outcomes after phacoemulsification and PC IOL implantation. Results Fifty‐five eyes (48 patients; mean age 44.9 years ± 15.6 [SD]) were included. Patients were followed for 6 months. The etiology of uveitis was presumed idiopathic anterior uveitis (n = 22), herpes simplex virus–associated anterior uveitis (n = 10), Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (n = 10), and anterior uveitis associated with collagen vascular disease (n = 13). Preoperative complications secondary to uveitis included posterior synechiae (12 eyes), glaucoma (26 eyes), and sequelae of cystoid macular edema (CME) (21 eyes). At the final visit, the corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/40 or better in 52 eyes (94.5%) and 20/20 in 33 eyes (60.0%). The CDVA was worse than 20/40 in 3 eyes because of preoperative anterior and posterior segment abnormalities. Postoperative complications were CME, recurrent uveitis, and posterior capsule opacity in 7 eyes (12.7%) each; fibrinous anterior chamber reaction in 6 eyes (10.9%); raised intraocular pressure in 4 eyes; peripheral anterior synechiae in 1 eye (1.8%); and hypotony in 1 eye (1.8%). Conclusion Patients with a history of anterior uveitis and cataract having phacoemulsification with PC IOL implantation had excellent visual results with a relatively low complication rate. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Refractive Error May Influence Mesopic Pupil Size

Purpose: To identify factors which affect mesopic pupil diameter in refractive surgery patients. Setting: This retrospective study was performed at the 1st Ophthalmology Clinic in Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Methods: Medical records of 412 refractive surgery candidates who applied between 2006 and 2008 were reviewed. Detailed ophthalmological examination data were obtained from medical records. Pupil size measurements were performed with a COAS Ocular Wavefront analyzer in mesopic conditions. Relationship between mesopic pupil diameter and age, sex, spherical refractive error (D), magnitude of astigmatism (D), type of astigmatism, spherical equivalent, and average keratometry were analyzed by means of univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: Mean mesopic pupil diameter was 6.19 ± 0.88 mm. Mean pupil diameter (mean ± standard deviation) was 5.70 ± 1.01 in hypermetropia, 6.04 ± 0.79 mm in mixed astigmatism, and 6.33 ± 0.82 mm in myopia. The difference in mean mesopic pupil diameters between myopes and hypermetropes was statistically significant (p = 0.001). However, differences with regard to mean pupil diameters between myopes and mixed astigmatism (p = 0.660) and between hypermetropes and mixed astigmatism (p = 0.109) were not significant. Mean pupil diameter was 6.00 ± 0.99 mm in against the rule astigmatism, 5.96 ± 0.84 mm in oblique astigmatism, and 6.27 ± 0.84 mm in with the rule astigmatism. Mean mesopic pupil diameter in with the rule astigmatism group was higher than oblique astigmatism group. Spherical refractive error (r = -0.213, p = 0.001), cylindrical refractive error (0.197, p = 0.001), and age (r = −0.341, p = 0.001) showed correlation with pupil diameter. Conclusions: This study showed that age and magnitude of both spherical and cylindrical refractive error are the most determinative factors on mesopic pupil size.

Effects of intracameral use of adrenalin solution with preservative on corneal endothelium

Objective: To evaluate the effects of injection of 1:100,000 dilution adrenalin with sodium bisulfite preservative on the corneal endothelium in phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Methods: This retrospective study comprised 70 patients with age-related cataracts who had undergone phacoemulsification cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation without any surgical complications. In the adrenalin group, patients with intraoperative intracameral adrenalin use were included. The intracameral adrenalin was composed of 1 mL of 1:100,000 dilution adrenalin with sodium bisulfite preservative. The control group included patients who underwent surgery without any intracameral adrenaline use. There were 36 patients in the adrenalin group and 34 patients in the control group. Corneal endothelial density, endothelial cell morphology, and endothelial cell area were measured via specular microscopy both preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. The 2 groups were compared with regard to changes in specular microscopy measurements. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) age was 66.51 ± 8.32 years in the adrenalin group and 67.58 ± 7.83 years in the control group. The difference in age between the 2 groups was not significant (p = .611). The preoperative mean corneal endothelial cell density was 2,270 ± 286 cells/mm2 in the adrenalin group and 2,226 ± 260 cells/mm2 in the control group, and the difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (p = .550). In the adrenalin group, the postoperative mean corneal endothelial cell density was 2,191 ± 268 cells/mm2. Although the postoperative mean cell density was lower than the preoperative mean cell density, the difference between the 2 measurements was not statistically significant (p = .117). In the control group, the postoperative mean corneal endothelial cell density was 2,169 ± 272 cells/mm2, and the difference between the preoperative and postoperative measurements was not statistically significant (p = .161). Comparisons of postoperative specular microscopy measurements between the adrenalin and control groups with regard to cell density, cell sizes, and cell shapes showed that there were no statistically significant differences in comparison of all parameters between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Intracameral injection of 1:100,000 dilution adrenalin with sodium bisulfite preservative is not toxic to corneal endothelium.

Effects of topical dorzolamide on IOP after phacoemulsification with different types of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of topical dorzolamide on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after routine phacoemulsification surgery with different type of ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD). Methods Patients who were scheduled for phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were evenly divided into four groups. Group I (83 eyes) received one drop of topical dorzolamide immediately after surgery and 1.4% NaHa (BD Visc®) was used as a cohesive OVD during IOL implantation. Group II (83 eyes) did not receive any topical antiglaucoma medication after operation and 1.4% NaHa was used as a cohesive OVD. Group III (83 eyes) received topical dorzolamide and 1% NaHa (Healon®) was used, and Group IV (83 eyes) did not receive any topical and 1% NaHa was used in operation. Mean postoperative IOPs were compared between groups. Results Eyes with 1.4% NaHa usage (18.2±9.2 mmHg) had higher mean postoperative IOPs than eyes with 1% NaHa usage (15.5±5.3 mmHg) (p=0.002). Mean postoperative IOPs were lower in eyes with dorzolamide application (15.6±7.2 mmHg) than in eyes without any medication (18.1±8.5 mmHg) both in eyes with 1.4% NaHa and 1% NaHa usage (p=0.003). Dorzolamide application caused an average 2.5 mmHg decrease in mean postoperative IOPs in both groups. Conclusions Effects of OVDs on IOP rises after phacoemulsification surgery are closely related to their molecular structure. Increase in viscosity rendered higher postoperative IOP increments. However, topical dorzolamide application effectively reduced postoperative IOP increments in eyes with both Healon® and BD Visc® use. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2007; 17: 38–44)

Photorefractive keratectomy in treatment of refractive amblyopia in the adult population

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in amblyopic cases. SETTING: Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital 1st Ophthalmology Clinic, Ankara, Turkey. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The medical records of cases of anisometropic amblyopia treated by excimer laser PRK were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were no previous refractive correction, occlusion treatment, or chemical penalization before age 15 years. Anisometropic amblyopia was defined as a more than 2‐line difference in CDVA and a refractive error difference greater than 3.00 diopters (D) between 2 eyes of the same patient. Final visual acuity measurements were performed at the end of the sixth postoperative month. RESULTS: The study enrolled 16 hyperopic patients and 34 myopic patients with a mean age of 33.3 years. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent was −7.46 D ± 2.90 (SD) in myopic eyes and +4.15 ± 2.56 D in hyperopic eyes. The differences between the preoperative and postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity and CDVA were statistically significant (P=.001). The mean CDVA was 0.47 ± 0.17 preoperatively and 0.61 ± 0.19 postoperatively. The CDVA decreased in 3 cases (6%), stayed the same in 12 cases (24%), and increased in 35 cases (70%). There was no statistically significant correlation between the severity of amblyopia and the increase in CDVA (r = 0.20, P=.165). CONCLUSION: After PRK to eliminate and correct refractive errors in anisometropic amblyopia, visual acuity improved significantly in 70% of adult patients with no previous occlusion or chemical penalization treatment. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Long-Term Results of Simultaneous Bilateral External Dacryocystorhinostomy in Cases with Bilateral Dacryostenosis

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the long-term results of simultaneous bilateral external dacryocystorhinostomy (EX-DCR) in cases with bilateral dacryostenosis. Methods: Thirty-four eyes of 17 consecutive patients with a history of bilateral epiphora were included in the study between 2007 and 2011. Demographic information, etiology of the obstruction, history of lacrimal surgery, type of anesthesia, duration of surgery, incidence of postoperative nasal bleeding and infection, surgical outcomes, and duration of follow-up were recorded. During the lacrimal irrigation, there was not any passage noticed in the patients’ eyes. The post-operative follow-up was 13 to 44 months (mean 33.6 months). Results: Of 17 patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral EX-DCR with a mean age of 42.8 years, one of the patients had a history of bilateral unsuccessful DCR performed in a different center. One patient had previously failed bilateral probing before undergoing bilateral EX-DCR. This latter patient was a four-month-old baby with bilateral dacryoceles. Bicanalicular silicone intubation was performed in 15 eyes of 10 patients that had a canalicular problem or fibrotic lacrimal sac. It has been discerned that complaints about epiphora disappeared in 33 of the eyes (97%) and that the passage was open during the lacrimal irrigation. One eye with a history of unsuccessful dacryocystorhinostomy failed to respond positively to our operation. Conclusions: In our study, high success rates of simultaneous bilateral EX-DCR were found in both children and adult patients with bilateral dacryostenosis during a long-term follow-up. We believe that simultaneous bilateral dacryocystorhinostomy has medical, social, and economic advantages.

Causes of Decentration After Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To determine important factors causing decentration after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 223 cases (446 eyes) were evaluated after LASEK using corneal topography to determine the amount of decentration. Decentration and pupillary offset values and their components on the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior axes were analyzed with the t test and the two-way repeated measures analysis of variance test in patients with myopia or hypermetropia. Correlation analysis between the amount of decentration and the possible determinative variables (age, gender, spherical refractive error, magnitude of astigmatism, spherical equivalent, average keratometry, mesopic pupil diameter, decentration, and pupillary offset) were performed. RESULTS Although decentration up to 0.99 mm was observed, mean decentration was 0.26 ± 0.16 mm. Alternatively, pupillary offset values were higher and the mean pupillary offset was 0.28 ± 0.16 mm. In myopia, mean total decentration was significantly less than hyperopia (P = .001). The inferior component of decentration was higher than the other locations in both myopia and hypermetropia. The nasal component of pupillary offset was highest among others. When all cases were included in the analysis, Pearson correlation analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between decentration and presence of hyperopia (r = 0.162 and P =.001) and amount of pupillary offset (r = 0.296 and P = .001). CONCLUSION Mean decentration was higher in hyperopia than in myopia. Most of the decentration may be attributed to inferior decentration. Pupillary offset values were the factor most significantly correlated to the amount of decentration in all cases.

Vascularization of Coralline versus Synthetic Hydroxyapatite Orbital Implants Assessed by Gadolinium Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the fibrovascular in-growth of coralline and synthetic hydroxyapatite orbital implants by reporting the enhancement patterns on Gadolinium-Dietilen triamin penta acetic acid (Gad-DTPA) enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: The medical records of 26 patients who had undergone primary or secondary orbital implantation between April 2008 and February 2011 were reviewed. T1 weighted Gad-DTPA MRI was performed between 5 and 12 months (mean 9.2 ± 5.9 months) after implantation and graded as follows to evaluate the fibrovascular in-growth of the implants; grade 1 (rim enhancement), grade 2 (peripheral foci of enhancement, not including the center), grade 3 (central, non-homogenous enhancement), grade 4 (central, homogenous enhancement) and grade 5 (central, intense enhancement).Results were analysed according to vascularization patterns on Gad-DTPA MRI. Results: Central vascularization patterns (grade 3, 4 or 5) were seen 62.5% of coralline orbital implants and 46.1% of synthetic orbital implants. Central fibrovascular in-growth of the coralline implants were found significantly more than synthetic implants (p < 0.05). Central vascularization of coralline implants with primary implantation was 75% and with secondary implantation was 50%. Synthetic orbital implantation with primary surgery demonstrated 66.6% and synthetic orbital implantation with secondary surgery demonstrated 26.6% central vascularization pattern. In both natural coralline and synthetic implants, primary orbital implantation was demonstrated significantly better fibrovascular in-growth than secondary implantation (p < 0.05). Two patients with synthetic orbital implants had dehiscence that was repaired by using autogenous fascia lata. Conclusions: In both coralline and synthetic orbital implants, central vascular in-growth was observed much more with primary orbital implantation. This study indicates that coralline HA orbital implants significantly supply more rapid and homogenous vascularization than synthetic implants.

The Effect of Intravitreal Bevacizumab as a Pretreatment of Vitrectomy for Diabetic Vitreous Hemorrhage on Recurrent Hemorrhage

Abstract Purpose: This study was constructed to compare the rate of rehemorrhage in patients with diabetic vitreous hemorrhage (VH) undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with versus without preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection. Methods: It is a retrospective chart review of all patients who had undergone PPV for diabetic VH from January 2008 to January 2011. Patients who had undergone IVB injection before PPV were assigned to Group 1; the others were assigned to Group 2. Postoperative VH was the main outcome. Results: A total of 65 eyes of 60 patients (19 eyes in Group 1 and 46 eyes in Group 2) were examined. Postoperative VH occured in three eyes (15.8%) in Group 1 and in 13 eyes (28.3%) in Group 2, but this was not statistically significant (p: 0.347). Conclusion: Further studies to evaluate the effect of IVB on postoperative VH are needed.

The Treatment of Lacrimal Gland Prolapse in Blepharoplasty by Repositioning the Glands

Abstract Prolapse of the lacrimal gland is an unusual condition. An appearance of bilateral dermatochalasis was observed in the medical examination of a 30-year-old female patient with bilateral upper eyelid edema.The patient underwent bilateral blepharopylasty. During the surgery, it was noticed that in the temporal portions of the eyelids, there was a prolabed tissue-like lacrimal gland. We did incisional biopsy from the prolabed tissue that was thought to be orbital lobe of the lacrimal gland and carried out reposition of the orbital rim with 5-0 polyester suture and closed the orbital septum. Lacrimal gland reposition is a procedure which entails the separation of such anatomic structures as orbital septum, adipose tissue, and levator complex. However, failure to recognize a prolapsed lacrimal gland may mistreat by simple excision, and will lead to important alterations in ocular lubrication. In our case, repositioning of the glands was successfully performed during upper-lid blepharoplasty.