BLOOD CHROMIUM-COBALT LEVELS IN PATIENTS AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER AND MACULAR GANGLION CELL COMPLEX.

PURPOSE: To study blood cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) levels in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty and their effect on the retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex. METHODS: One hundred patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty and 50 healthy individuals who had no implants were included in the study. The patients were separated into two groups based on how long ago the prosthesis had been implanted (Group 1: 1 to 5 years; Group 2: 5 to 10 years). After a complete ophthalmological examination, retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex of the patients were evaluated with optical coherence tomography, performed on dilated pupils. To assess the metal ion levels of the patients, venous blood samples were drawn from each patient. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64.72 ± 6.26 years in Group 1, 67.80 ± 8.07 years in Group 2, and 63.42 ± 7.90 years in the control group. In the comparison of age and sex, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups and the control group. Co and Cr levels were statistically higher in Group 1 and Group 2 compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses and mean macular ganglion cell complex thicknesses in Group 1 and Group 2 were statistically lower than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Levels of Co and Cr are higher in patients who undergone total knee arthroplasty than healthy subjects, and these higher levels were associated with changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex.

Evaluation effectiveness of 0.1% nepafenac on injection-related pain in patients undergoing intravitreal Ozurdex injection.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the analgesic effect of topical 0.1% nepafenac solution during intravitreal Ozurdex injection. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study included 59 patients who were diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion or pseudophakic cystoid macular edema and were selected to receive intravitreal Ozurdex injection. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1, consisting of 31 eyes of 31 patients, received topical 0.1% nepafenac with topical anesthesia (0.5% proparacaine HCl, Alcaine; Alcon, TX, USA), and group 2, consisting of 28 eyes of 28 patients, received placebo with topical anesthesia. RESULTS: There were 14 (45.2%) men and 17 (54.8%) women in group 1 and 16 (57.1%) men and 12 (42.9%) women in group 2. The mean age of the subjects was 64.42 ± 5.51 years in group 1 and 62.32 ± 7.54 years in group 2. The median visual analog scale pain score was 2 (1-3) in group 1 and 4 (1-6) in group 2. The visual analog scale pain score was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Topical 0.1% nepafenac has an additive analgesic effect when combined with topical anesthesia for intravitreal Ozurdex injection.

Comparison of the Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Capsulotomy Rate with Viscoimplantation and the Hydroimplantation Intraocular Lens Technique.

PURPOSE: To investigate the rate of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy in the hydroimplantation intraocular lens (IOL) technique. METHODS: This retrospective study was comprised of 6,192 eyes in 3,790 patients who underwent surgery from January 2013 to September 2017 and then were followed up for at least 1 year. The eyes of these patients were divided into two groups: either viscoimplantation or hydroimplantation. The follow-up examinations were carried out on the 1st day, 4th day, 1st month, and 3 months to 1 year postoperatively. The Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates were evaluated by the different IOL implantation techniques and IOL materials. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration of the patients was in the viscoimplantation group 14.85 ± 2.43 and 15.05 ± 1.93 months in the hydroimplantation group. The Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate was significantly lower in the hydroimplantation group compared with the viscoimplantation group for the entire hydrophilic IOL model (p < 0.001). In addition, the Nd:YAG rate was lower in the hydroimplantation group that used a hydrophilic IOL than it was in the viscoimplantation group, which used a hydrophobic IOL. CONCLUSIONS: The hydroimplantation technique reduced the Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate.

0.1% Nepafenac reduces pain and increases patient comfort during cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluates analgesic effectiveness of 0.1% nepafenac during cataract surgery. METHODS: This prospective randomized randomized double-masked, placebo-controlled study comprised 80 eyes of 40 consecutive patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery and implantation of foldable intraocular lens with topical anesthesia with and without topical nepafenac drops. Each eye of patients was assigned to group 1 and group 2. Topical anesthesia combined with 0.1% nepafenac used three times a day the day before the surgery and once half an hour just before the surgery was group 1, consisting of 40 eyes, and topical anesthesia with using placebo was group 2 consisting of 40 eyes. Patients were asked to score their pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal pain scale (VPS) immediately following the surgery. When the patient moved or squeeze the eye during surgery, the surgical comfort was evaluated as bad and otherwise, it was evaluated as good. RESULTS: When the intensity of pain during the surgery was evaluated, the percentage of patients reporting mild or no pain in group 1 was %825 and in group 2 was %45. Mean VAS pain score and mean VPS pain score in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 2(p = 0.024, p < 0.001). Surgical comfort in group 1 was %825 and in group 2%65(P = 0.075). CONCLUSION: 0.1% nepafenac reduces pain of patients who undergone routine clear corneal phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia and may increase patient comfort during the surgery when used preoperatively.

Safety of hydroimplantation in cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate the safety of hydroimplantation in cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. METHODS: This prospective randomized study comprised 100 eyes of 100 consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery and implantation of foldable intraocular lens (IOL). Each eye was assigned to group 1 or group 2. Hydroimplantation without using viscoelastic agent as group 1 (n=50), and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Eyevisc, Biotech, India) was used in group 2 (n=50). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial cell count (ECC) between both groups at each visit and percentage change in CCT and ECC (P>0.05). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at postoperative 5h increased statistically significantly in group 2 (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in IOP between two groups, before and after surgery excluding the 24h postoperative IOP, but patients in group 2 had higher IOP than that in the group 1 at 24h after surgery (P=0.035). No case in either group experienced posterior capsular rupture, or zonular dialysis. Fixation of the globe during IOL implantation was better in group 1 than that in group 2. CONCLUSION: Hydroimplantation has advantages in terms of IOP changes and duration of the surgery and seems to be safe in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Plasma adropin level in patients with pseudoexfoliation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma adropin levels in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX). This retrospective case-control study included 35 patients with PEX and 35 individuals without PEX who served as controls. Plasma adropin levels with triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and haemoglobin A1c (HGBA1C) concentrations were measured in both groups. The mean serum adropin levels were 3.24 ± 0.95 ng/mL (range, 1.90-7.88 ng/mL) in patients with PEX syndrome and 5.78 ± 2.85 ng/mL (range, 2.08-5.41 ng/mL) in PEX glaucoma patients. There was no statistically significant difference in mean adropin levels between PEX syndrome and PEX glaucoma patients. However, similar adropin levels were found in the PEX glaucoma patients and the control group (P > 0.05). The mean serum adropin levels were 3.34 ± 0.89 ng/mL (range, 1.90-5.39 ng/mL) in the PEX group and 5.78 ± 2.85 ng/mL (range, 3.08-11.06 ng/mL) in the control group. The mean serum adropin level of the PEX group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, HGBA1C, triglycerides levels, or body mass index (all P > 0.05). Adropin level is lower in patients with PEX.

Congenital hypothyroidism in Rieger Syndrome.

Rieger syndrome (RS) is a multiple malformation syndrome characterized by ocular manifestations and extraocular defects. Herein, we report a 9-year-old boy who exhibited Rieger Syndrome phenotype as well as congenital hypothyroidism which may be an underappreciated feature of RS.

Endophthalmitis after tooth extraction in a patient with previous perforating eye injury.

The aim of this stuty is to describe a case of endophthalmitis after tooth extraction in a patient with previous perforating eye injury. 50 years old male patient attempted to our clinic with complaints of sudden severe pain, reduced vision, light sensitivity and redness in the right eye. The patient stated that severe pain in his eye began approximately 12 hours following tooth extraction. The patient's ocular examination revealed a visual acuity of hand motion in the right eye. Anterior segment examination of the right eye showed intense conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, a fine keraticprespitat and corneal edema. Dental procedures of the patients who had recently underwent ocular surgery or trauma should be done in a more controlled manner under anti -infective therapy or should be postponed in elective procedures.

Comparison of the antimicrobial effect of heavy silicone oil and conventional silicone oil against endophthalmitis-causing agents.

PURPOSE: To conduct an in vitro experimental study comparing the effectiveness of conventional silicone oil and heavy silicone oil against endophthalmitis-causing agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antimicrobial activity of conventional silicone oil (RS OIL 5000) and heavy silicone oil (heavySil 1500) was tested. The antimicrobial effects of both silicone oils were determined by the growing capability of the microorganism. RESULTS: The number of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans decreased to zero levels at the second day of inoculation in heavy silicone oil. In conventional silicone oil, the microorganisms survived longer than in heavy silicone oil. CONCLUSION: Heavy silicone oil seems to be more effective than conventional silicone oil against endophthalmitis-causing agents.

Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion following Dental Extraction.

Aim. To describe a case of branch retinal artery occlusion following dental extraction and to point out the ophthalmic complications of dental procedures to ophthalmologists and dentists. Case. A 51-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with painless sudden visual loss in her left eye after tooth extraction two days ago. In her left eye the best corrected visual acuity was 6/30 and fundus examination revealed peripapillary flame-shaped hemorrhages and pale retina in the upper temporal arcuate. The right eye examination was unremarkable. Conclusion. Dental procedures can lead to miscellaneous ophthalmic complications possibly due to the close proximity of the anatomic structures. Retinal arterial occlusion is a rare but serious cause of permanent visual loss among these dental procedures where the exact pathologic mechanism is still obscure.

Effect of 1% brinzolamide and 0.5% timolol fixed combination on intraocular pressure after cataract surgery with phacoemulsification.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of brinzolamide-timolol fixed combination on intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract surgery. METHODS: The study included 92 eyes of 87 patients who underwent cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. Patients scheduled for phacoemulsification were assigned to 1 of 2 groups. The treatment group received 1 drop of brinzolamide-timolol fixed combination immediately after surgery, and the control group received no treatment. The IOP was measured preoperatively and at 2h and 24h postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean IOP change was lower in the treatment group than in the control group at 2h postoperatively. The difference between the mean IOP values of the two groups at 2h postoperatively was found to be statistically significant. Twenty-four hours after the surgery, the mean IOP change was still higher in the control group when compared to the treatment group. CONCLUSION: The fixed combination brinzolamide-timolol can effectively reduce IOP after cataract surgery.