Evaluation of corneal topography, tear film function and conjunctival impression cytology after long-term scleral contact lens wear in keratoconus patients.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of long-term scleral contact lens (ScCL) wear on corneal curvature, corneal thickness, tear film function, and ocular surface in patients with keratoconus.Methods: Sixteen keratoconus patients wearing ScCLs for 6 months were enrolled in the study. Corneal topography, tear osmolarity test, Schirmer 1 test, tear film break-up time (TBUT) test, and impression cytology analysis were assessed at baseline and follow-up examinations.Results: There were no significant differences in visual acuity, keratometric and pachymetric values after 6 months of ScCL wear compared to baseline (p>0.05 for all). Tear osmolarity, Schirmer 1 test, and TBUT test results showed no significant change during follow-up (p>0.05 for all). Median goblet cell density and grade of squamous metaplasia did not differ significantly at 1-month. However, there was a gradual deterioration in goblet cell density and Nelson grade until the third-month visit compared to baseline (p for goblet cell, p=0.003; p for Nelson grade, p=0.003). These impaired cytological features observed at 3-month visit persisted at 6-month visit (p for goblet cell, p=0.008; p for Nelson grade, p<0.001).Conclusion: Six months of ScCL wear did not induce any changes in corneal curvature and thickness and also did not affect tear function tests in keratoconic eyes. The only significant changes observed were a decrease in goblet cell density and metaplastic changes in conjunctival epithelium in impression cytology analysis. Further investigations may be needed to better understand the cause of impairment in cytological features of ocular surface and its clinical implications.

Increased Tear Film Osmolarity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate tear film osmolarity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A total of 55 eyes from 55 patients with SLE and 47 eyes from 47 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. Tear film osmolarity was evaluated with a lab-on-a-chip technique (TearLab; TearLab Corporation, San Diego, CA) in SLE patients in comparison with healthy individuals, and results were correlated to clinically available diagnostic tests for dry eye, such as tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer's test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). RESULTS: The mean tear film osmolarity in the SLE patients and healthy individuals was 306.02 ± 13.27 mOsm/L and 300.74 ± 9.11 mOsm/L, respectively, which made for a statistically significant difference (p = 0.020). In the SLE group, tear film osmolarity was negatively correlated with the Schirmer's test score and the BUT value (r = -0.295 p = 0.029 and r = 0.347 p = 0.009, respectively), whereas tear film osmolarity was not correlated with OSDI score (r = -0.182 p = 0.183). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that tear film hyperosmolarity and abnormal tear film function are associated with SLE.

Tear Function and Ocular Surface Alterations After Accelerated Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking in Progressive Keratoconus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alterations in the ocular surface and tear film parameters 3 months after accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking (A-CXL) in progressive keratoconus (KC) patients. METHODS: Twenty-six patients (33 eyes total) with progressive KC were enrolled in this study. All patients were subjected to ophthalmic surface examination, such as OSDI (ocular surface disease index) scoring, the osmolarity tear test, Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (TBUT) analysis, rose bengal (RB) and fluorescein (Fl) ocular surface staining, and conjunctival impression cytology (IC) analysis, respectively. These tests were performed at baseline and 3 months after A-CXL. Nelson's grading system was used to evaluate the cell morphology and goblet cell density. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the levels of tear osmolarity, TBUT, Schirmer test, OSDI scoring, and Fl and RB staining between pretreatment and 3 months postoperatively were observed (all P values >0.05). A statistically significant increase in superior (P=0.005) and temporal (P=0.006) IC grading was seen at the postoperative third month compared to pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Only metaplastic changes and a reduction in the density of the goblet cells were seen in conjunctival IC, which is probably because of the toxicity of ultraviolet-A 3 months after A-CXL. However, these results do not lead to deterioration in TBUT. In this study, A-CXL has no adverse effect on ocular surface and tear function, which are important for visual quality.

Effect of refractive error on temperament and character properties.

AIM: To determine the effect of refractive error on temperament and character properties using Cloninger's psychobiological model of personality. METHODS: Using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the temperament and character profiles of 41 participants with refractive errors (17 with myopia, 12 with hyperopia, and 12 with myopic astigmatism) were compared to those of 30 healthy control participants. Here, temperament comprised the traits of novelty seeking, harm-avoidance, and reward dependence, while character comprised traits of self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence. RESULTS: Participants with refractive error showed significantly lower scores on purposefulness, cooperativeness, empathy, helpfulness, and compassion (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Refractive error might have a negative influence on some character traits, and different types of refractive error might have different temperament and character properties. These personality traits may be implicated in the onset and/or perpetuation of refractive errors and may be a productive focus for psychotherapy.

Topographic and biomechanical evaluation of cornea in patients with acromegaly.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare topographic and biomechanical properties of corneas in patients with acromegaly with those of healthy individuals. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with acromegaly (study group) and 35 healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled in this prospective study. Topographic measurements, including central corneal thickness (CCT), mean keratometry (K) value, K1, K2, surface asymmetry index, corneal volume (CV), and anterior chamber depth in the right eye of each participant were obtained using a Scheimpflug camera with a Placido disc topographer (Sirius; Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici). Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOP), and Goldmann-corelated intraocular pressure (IOPg) were measured using Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer (Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments). RESULTS: Mean CCT, CV, CH, CRF, and IOPg values were higher in acromegalic eyes (549.3 ± 30.2 µm, 59.1 ± 3.1 µm, 11.3 ± 1.2 mm Hg, 11.3 ± 1.2 mm Hg, and 17.5 ± 2.9 mm Hg, respectively) than in healthy eyes (531.4 ± 33.6 µm, 57.4 ± 2.7 µm, 10.4 ± 1.2 mm Hg, 10.2 ± 1.6 mm Hg, and 14.8 ± 3.1 mm Hg, respectively; CCT, P = 0.042; CV, P = 0.032; CH, P = 0.044; CRF, P = 0.035; IOPg, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CCT, CV, CH, CRF, IOPg, and IOP with Goldmann applanation tonometry were significantly higher in acromegalic eyes. These corneal topographic and biomechanical properties, disease duration, and disease status should be considered when planning corneal refractive surgery and determining accurate intraocular pressure in patients with acromegaly.

The effect of antihypertensive therapy on dry eye disease.

CONTEXT: There is a generalization that "antihypertensive (antiHT) therapy causes Dry Eye Syndrome", which has been claimed for years however most of the publications are epidemiological studies. We performed a clinical study to investigate the effects of antiHT agents on tear function. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to evaluate the effects of different classes of antiHT medications on tear osmolarity, ocular surface problems and dry eye symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, non-randomized a clinical study. A total of 71 patients who would be initiated antiHT medication due to elevated systemic blood pressure were included in the study. Thirty of these patients were given antiHT drugs containing diuretic (diuretic +), and 41 of them were given diuretic-free drugs (diuretic -). While the number of the patients medicated in the group that received Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACE inh)/Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (ACE/ARB +) was 29, the number of those medicated in the ACE/ARB-free group (ACE/ARB -) was 42. Ocular surface disease index scores, tear osmolarity, Schirmer I test, tear film break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein (FL) and rose bengal corneal staining patterns of the patients were analyzed. The patients were examined through the repetition of all the tests in the 1st and the 3rd month. RESULTS: The participants (n = 71) comprised 38 males and 33 females with a mean age of 51.8 ± 10.4. When the first (0-1st month) and the third month (0-3rd months) control measurements between diuretics (+) and diuretics (-) groups before and after antiHT therapies were compared, a statistically significant difference was not found in any of the tests applied. When the 0-1st month measurements of ACE/ARB (+) and ACE/ARB (-) groups were compared, it was observed that staining with FL in ACE/ARB (+) group decreased in a statistically significant manner (p = 0.035) and there was a significant increase in TBUT values (p = 0.022). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The use of antiHT drugs containing diuretic had no adverse effect on the tear function tests, but using drugs that contain ACE/ARB could have a positive impact.

Impaired corneal biomechanical properties and the prevalence of keratoconus in mitral valve prolapse.

Objective. To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of the cornea in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and the prevalence of keratoconus (KC) in MVP. Materials and Methods. Fifty-two patients with MVP, 39 patients with KC, and 45 control individuals were recruited in this study. All the participants underwent ophthalmologic examination, corneal analysis with the Sirius system (CSO), and the corneal biomechanical evaluation with Reichert ocular response analyzer (ORA). Results. KC was found in six eyes of four patients (5.7%) and suspect KC in eight eyes of five patients (7.7%) in the MVP group. KC was found in one eye of one patient (1.1%) in the control group (P = 0.035). A significant difference occurred in the mean CH and CRF between the MVP and control groups (P = 0.006 and P = 0.009, resp.). All corneal biomechanical and topographical parameters except IOPcc were significantly different between the KC-MVP groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions. KC prevalence is higher than control individuals in MVP patients and the biomechanical properties of the cornea are altered in patients with MVP. These findings should be considered when the MVP patients are evaluated before refractive surgery.

[Fungal keratitis caused by Scedosporium apiospermum: first report from Turkey]. / Scedosporium apiospermum'a Bagli Fungal Keratit: Ülkemizden Ilk Olgu.

Fungal keratitis, an eye infection with poor prognosis, is difficult to treat and can lead to loss of vision. Among filamentous fungi Scedosporium spp. rarely lead to fungal keratitis. Here we present a case of keratitis caused by Scedosporium apiospermum. A 61-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with the complaints of right eye pain and decreased vision after a foreign body trauma to the right eye. The patient was diagnosed as keratitis by biomicroscopic examination. Conjunctival swabs collected from both eyes were inoculated onto sheep blood agar, chocolate agar, eosin methylene blue agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Corneal scrapings from the right eye were inoculated onto the same solid media by "C-streak" method, and in brain-heart-infusion broth by immersion. While gram-stained smears of conjunctival swabs showed no significant finding, smears of corneal scrapings revealed abundant neutrophils and profuse septate hyphae. Fungal keratitis was diagnosed and topical enhanced amphotericin B (0.5 mg/ml) therapy was initiated with netilmicin sulfate and oxytetracycline HCl plus polymyxin B sulfate. At the 10th day of therapy a mold growth was detected in corneal scraping cultures and was identified microscopically as S.apiospermum. Based on the relevant literature, therapy was changed to enhanced topical voriconazole (2 mg/ml) applied hourly, plus systemic voriconazole administration. At the third day of treatment, reduction of epithelial defect and decline in the focus of keratitis were observed. In the following days, however, a progression occurred in the focus of keratitis and 5% natamycin ophthalmic suspension was added to the therapy. Since the patient did not respond to any of the medical treatments, therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was planned; yet, the patient refused the operation and was discharged with her own request. As far as the local literature was concerned, this is the first report of keratitis caused by S.apiospermum in Turkey. Though a very rare causative agent of keratitis, S.apiospermum is generally resistant to antifungal therapy and often require surgical treatment. Especially in patients with predisposing factors, this organism should be kept in mind as a potential causative agent and relevant microbiological examinations should be performed.