ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate the macular microvascular changes in patients with intermediate uveitis (IU) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT?A) and to determine the relationship of OCT?A measurements with disease duration and activity. Methods: This cross?sectional study was performed at the uvea department of a tertiary hospital. Patients with IU (8 women, 8 men; mean age: 28.80 ± 12.80 years) were included in the study. The macular thickness measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and macular superficial and deep vessel density (VD) parameters obtained by OCT?A (Avanti RTVue?XR; Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) were compared with healthy subjects (12 men, 22 women; mean age: 28.40 ± 8.32 years). Eyes with pathology including marked obvious edema in the macula were not included in the study. Results: The macular thickness was found to be higher in the patient group (p < 0.001). The deep and superficial VD measurements in almost all quadrants in both superficial and deep layers were significantly lower in the IU patient group (p < 0.05). Macular thickness was increased in the active state of IU (p = 0.03), however, none of the OCT?A parameters showed a significant difference between active and inactive IU patients (p > 0.05). No correlation was observed between OCT?A parameters and total IU disease duration. Conclusion: Quantitative analyses of macular vascular structures demonstrate significantly reduced VD in both superficial and deep retinal layers in IU patients. Considering the importance of the macula in visual prognosis, OCT?A can provide crucial data for the monitoring and follow?up of IU patients.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To compare the results of intracameral dexamethasone and intracameral triamcinolone acetonide injection in patients that underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsification. Materials and Methods: Sixty eyes of 60 patients that underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsifi cation were randomized into two groups. Preoperative visual acuity of all patients was 0.5 or lower and intraocular pressures were under 21mmHg. After surgery, eyes in group 1 (30 eyes) were injected with 0.4 mg/0.1 ml dexamethasone into the anterior chamber, and eyes in group 2 (30 eyes) were injected with 2 mg/0.05 ml triamcinolone acetonide into the anterior chamber. All eyes received standard postoperative prednisolone acetate and moxifloxacin eye drops. The biomicroscopic evaluation, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure measurements were done at baseline (preoperatively) and on postoperative days 1, 7 and 30. Results: There were no statistically signifi cant diff erences in mean visual acuity, the amount of anterior cells and fl are between the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). Mean intraocular pressure values at postoperative fi rst day were signifi cantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P = 0.009). The mean intraocular pressures on days 7 and 30 after surgery were not statistically diff erent between the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: Intracameral dexamethasone and intracameral triamcinolone acetonide were similarly effective in controlling postoperative infl ammation following phacoemulsifi cation. However, the intraocular pressures on postoperative fi rst day were higher in patients receiving intracameral triamcinolone acetonide. The highest intraocular pressure in triamcinolone acetonide group was 24 mmHg, and stabilized in a few days, therefore using triamcinolone acetonide may impose a minimal risk to patients. Nevertheless, intracameral dexamethasone seems to be a bett er alternative to apply at the end of surgery to suppress the infl ammation during the fi rst 24 hours.