Ziya Ayhan

Single Bilateral Dexamethasone Implant in Addition to Panretinal Photocoagulation and Oral Azathioprine Treatment in IRVAN Syndrome

The idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome is a disease characterized by multiple retinal macroaneurysms, neuroretinitis and peripheral capillary nonperfusion. Visual loss may result from either ischemia-related complications or macular involvement. Treatment is not always rewarding. We report a case with stage 2 IRVAN syndrome who was successfully treated with a single bilateral intravitreal dexamethasone implant in addition to panretinal photocoagulation and systemic azathioprine treatment.

The Evaluation of Choroidal Vascular Changes Associated with Vascular Dysregulation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To evaluate the choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and comparing it with healthy subjects. Material/Methods: Sixty-four eyes of 32 patients with MS (22 women, 10 men, mean age: 37.5 ± 8.21 years) were enrolled in this study. Their choroidal thickness was measured using EDI-OCT, and compared with healthy subjects. CT was measured at fovea and at four extrafoveal points. Results: The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 327.01 ± 64.60 μm in MS patients and 365.3 ± 99.14 μm in controls ( p=0.019 ). Significant differences were found at points temporal 500 μm, temporal 1000 μm and nasal 500 μm to the fovea between patients and control group ( p=0.018, 0.003 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: Patients with MS had thinner choroids when compared to normal subjects. The decrease in mean choroidal thickness in MS patients compared to controls may be related to vascular dysregulation or inflammatory pathology of MS. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the choroidal thickness in MS patients.

Single intravitreal aflibercept injection for unilateral acute nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.

Acute nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (ANAION) is the most common optic neuropathy in the elderly population without a well-established treatment. A 67-year-old man with a sudden painless visual loss in his left eye of one-day duration was diagnosed to have left ANAION. Next day, 2 mg aflibercept injection was injected intravitreally in OS. Visual acuity improved to 7/10 from 1/10 a week after the injection. Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) was reduced to 159,7 μm from 182,4 μm at the first week. Visual fields improved dramatically during the follow-up of three months. The aim of this study is to present a case having ANAION treated with a single intravitreal aflibercept injection and discuss the place of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in the treatment of armamentarium of ANAION.

Anterior Migration of the Encircling Band: A Report of Two Cases

Aim: To reiterate the clinical course and management of the cases with anteriorly migrated encircling band. Report of the Cases: We describe two patients with the migration of a solid silicone encircling band through the insertions of rectus muscles after the successful retinal detachment surgery (cheesewiring phenomenon). While the first patient had also refractory secondary glaucoma and underwent transscleral diode laser photocoagulation several times, the second patient had high myopia with the axial length of 30.06 mm. In both cases, encircling band was cut without further complication. Conclusion: Cheesewiring phenomenon can be rarely seen after buckling procedures and retina specialists should be aware of this rare complication and its possible causes to prevent its

Evaluation of Macular Perfusion in Healthy Smokers by Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To investigate the macular perfusion changes in healthy smokers by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS OCTA measurements were taken for the right eyes of 40 smokers (Group 1) and age- and sex-matched control cases (Group 2). Group 1 underwent OCTA scanning with the XR Avanti AngioVue OCTA (Optovue, Fremont, CA) at baseline and at 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes after one standard cigarette smoking. The same scanning protocol was applied without smoking in Group 2. Macular vessel area density, flow index of the choriocapillaris, foveal avascular zone (FAZ), and central macular thickness were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS Group 1 consisted of 28 men and 12 women with a mean age of 41.2 years ± 9.1 years (range: 24 years to 63 years). The mean age of Group 2 was 42.6 years ± 8.4 years (range: 21 years to 65 years), which consisted of 28 men and 12 women. The mean baseline vessel area density, flow index of the choriocapillaris, FAZ, and central macular thickness showed no statistically significant differences between Groups 1 and 2. Although the flow index of choriocapillaris values were similar at the repetitive OCTA measurements in the control group (P > .05), it was decreased from 1.94 ± 0.06 to 1.89 ± 0.08, 1.90 ± 0.08, and 1.91 ± 0.07 at 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes following smoking, respectively, in Group 1 (P < .001). CONCLUSION Smoking causes a significant decrease in the blood flow index of the choriocapillary area by the acute effects of nicotine and other chemical substances in cigarettes on peripheral vascular structure, as evaluated by OCTA. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:617-622.].

Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Without Diabetic Retinopathy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Early diabetic retinal changes in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) without diabetic retinopathy (DR) were examined using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty children with T1DM without DR and 60 normal children were enrolled in the study. SD-OCT was used to measure the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and retinal nerve fiber (RNFL) thicknesses in all participants. RESULTS The GC-IPL thickness was significantly decreased in all quadrants except the superior-nasal quadrant in children with diabetes (P < .05). However, the RNFL thickness in all quadrants was not significantly different between the groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS There was a decreased GC-IPL thickness in children with T1DM without DR, suggesting that T1DM has an early neurodegenerative effect on retinal ganglion cells that occurs when the vascular component of DR is absent. SD-OCT may be more useful than ophthalmoscopic evaluation for detecting the earlier retinal structural changes of diabetes. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:473-477.].

Corneal Biomechanical Properties in Patients With Arcus Senilis.

Purpose: To compare the corneal biomechanical properties and intraocular pressure (IOP) levels in patients with and without arcus senilis (AS). Methods: Ocular response analyzer measurements were performed on the right eyes of 37 patients with AS (group 1) and 37 control eyes (group 2). Corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor, Goldmann-correlated IOP, and corneal compensated IOP were recorded with Ocular response analyzer. Spherical equivalent value of the refractive errors, axial length, central corneal thickness, and IOP measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer were noted for each study eyes. Statistical analyses were performed with Student t, Kruskal–Wallis, and Pearson correlation tests. Results: Mean age was 67.6 ± 9.8 years in group 1 and 65.3 ± 8.1 years in group 2 (P = 0.308). Mean corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor readings were 9.8 ± 0.9 versus 10.6 ± 0.8 (P < 0.001) and 10.05 ± 1.07 versus 10.9 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Mean corneal compensated IOP and Goldmann-correlated IOP values were found as 16.1 ± 3.3 mm Hg versus 15.8 ± 2.6 mm Hg (P = 0.719) and 15.1 ± 3.3 mm Hg versus 15.0 ± 2.6 mm Hg (P = 0.912) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was no statistical difference in IOP measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer, central corneal thickness, spherical equivalent value of the refractive error, axial length measurements, and mean keratometry readings between the 2 groups (P = 0.983, P = 0.289, P = 0.938, P = 0.886, P = 0.07, respectively). Conclusions: The mean corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor values of eyes with AS were lower when compared with the controls. This study demonstrated that AS may change the corneal biomechanical properties.

Intravitreal Aflibercept as an Adjunct to Systemic Therapy in a Case of Choroidal Neovascular Membrane Associated with Sympathetic Ophthalmia

Choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) is a very rare complication in patients with sympathetic ophthalmia. We hereby report a 38-year-old man who developed a type 2 CNV in his only seeing (left) eye while under systemic steroid treatment. Systemic therapy was revised and a total of 5 intravitreal aflibercept injections (2 mg each) were administered over a period of 8 months. Good anatomic and functional outcome was noted at the last visit. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection may be an important adjunct to systemic therapy in eyes with with sympathetic ophthalmia-associated CNV.

A Novel Biomarker in Diabetic Macular Edema with Serous Retinal Detachment: Serum Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1

Purpose: To determine whether serum chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels correlate with serous retinal detachment (SRD) in diabetic macular edema (DME) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: In this cross-sectional case-control study, 394 patients (treatment-naive DME patients, n = 218; diabetic patients without DME, n = 96; nondiabetic controls, n = 80) were included in the study. Eyes were classified according to SD-OCT features of DME: SRD, cystoid macular edema (CMO), and diffuse retinal thickness (DRT). Serum concentrations of CHI3L1 and IL-6 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum CHI3L1 and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in DME with SRD compared to patients with CMO and DRT (p < 0.001 for all groups). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CHI3L1 and IL-6 had a stronger influence on the presence of SRD in DME (r = 1.162, p = 0.026, and r = 1.242, p = 0.016, respectively). Serum concentration of CHI3L1 was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (r = 0.386, p = 0.0015). Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum concentrations of CHI3L1 and IL-6 are involved in the process of SRD in DME. CHI3L1 can be investigated further as a new diagnostic biomarker for DME with SRD.

Association between Skin Thickness Measurements with Corneal Biomechanical Properties and Dry Eye Tests in Systemic Sclerosis

ABSTRACT Purpose: To analyse the association between skin score with corneal biomechanics and dry eye tests in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: 112 cases (limited SSc (lcSSc), n=50; diffuse SSc (dcSSc), n=32; controls, n=30) were included in the study. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Schirmer 1, 2 tests, OSDI score and modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) were evaluated. Results: There was correlation between the mRSS and CH (p = 0.004, r = −0.402; p < 0.001, r = -0.786, respectively) as well as correlation with the CRF (p < 0.001, r = 0.709; p < 0.001, r = 0.848, respectively) and OSDI (p < 0.001, r = 0.74; p < 0.001, r = 0.89, respectively) score in lcSSc and dcSSc. Also, the Schirmer 1 (p < 0.001, r = -0.802) and 2 (p < 0.001, r = -0.587) test values showed correlation with the mRSS in dcSSc. Conclusion: Skin score had clinically significant importance for predicting corneal biomechanical properties and dry eye tests in both lcSSc and dcSSc.