Evaluation of Intraocular Inflammation with Laser Flare Photometry in Behçet Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between intraocular inflammation and laser flare photometry measurements in Behçet disease. METHODS: In total, 45 patients were included in the study. The retrospective chart reviews of patients were performed. The flare levels were compared with the grade of anterior chamber cells, the presence of vitreous cells, the complications of uveitis, and fluorescein angiography scores. RESULTS: The attack group had higher flare intensity; the flare levels were higher in both groups compared with the values of healthy controls. The flare levels were related to the grade of the anterior chamber cells, the presence of vitreous cells and the fluorescein angiography scores. Patients with optic atrophy and/or maculopathy also had higher values. Higher flare values were correlated with poor vision. CONCLUSIONS: Laser flare photometry may reduce the necessity of fluorescein angiography in monitoring subclinical inflammation and may be an indicator of posterior segment activity when fluorescein angiography is not applicable.

Optic disc area in different types of glaucoma.

AIM: To evaluate the possible relationship of optic disc area with retina nerve fiber layer in different glaucoma subtypes. METHODS: One eye each was chosen from 45 patients with ocular hypertension, 45 patients with primary open angle glaucoma, 45 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and 45 healthy controls followed in our hospital. The records of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Optic disc area and circumpapillary retina nerve fiber layer measurements were obtained using optical coherence tomography. Central corneal thickness was measured by ultrasound pachymetry. RESULTS: The median disc area in the patients with primary open angle glaucoma was significantly higher than the patients with ocular hypertension (2.19 vs 1.90 mm(2), P=0.030). The median retina nerve fiber layer was thinner in the patients with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma than the patients with ocular hypertension for superior, inferior and temporal quadrants. After adjustment for age, no difference in central corneal thickness was found between the groups. Greater disc area was associated with thicker retinal nerve fiber layer for superior, inferior and nasal quadrants in the patients with primary open angle glaucoma. There was no correlation between disc area and central corneal thickness measurements of the groups. CONCLUSION: Disc size affects the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and is a possible risk factor for glaucomatous optic nerve damage.

Diagnosis, Follow-Up and Treatment Results in Thyroid Ophthalmopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To discuss our follow-up and treatment results in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). MA­TE­RI­ALS AND MET­HODS: The records of 168 TAO cases who were followed at our clinic between October 1998 and October 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. The severity and activity of the disease were evaluated according to the criteria of the European Group on Graves' Ophthalmopathy (EUGOGO) and Clinical Activity Score (CAS). RE­SULTS: Sixty-three men and 105 women participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.3±12.4 years. Smoking habit was noted in 54.2% of the cases. Graves' disease was the most common (80.4%) thyroid pathology accompanying TAO. TAO was mild in 64.4%, moderate-to-severe in 33.6% and severe in 2% of the eyes. Male gender was found as an independent risk factor for severity of the disease (p=0.040). TAO was in the active phase in 32.6% of the eyes. Older age and high thyroid receptor antibody titer were correlated with disease activity (P=0.031 and P<0.001, respectively). Thirty-four patients (20%) were treated for ocular findings. The most common treatment was systemic steroid therapy (12%); others included orbital decompression (5%), orbital radiotherapy (2%), and topical application of guanethidine (1%). CONCLUSION: Non-infiltrative phase and mild ocular findings were generally seen in TAO. Therefore, treatment is not recommended for many cases. Systemic steroid therapy is the most commonly used treatment modality in the active phase. However, orbital decompression surgery is necessary in a small number of cases with sight-threatening ocular findings.