The effect of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections on choroidal vascular index in patients with diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine and compare the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) at subfoveal 1500 micron (µm) and submacular 6000 µm in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: Fifty eyes of 45 patients with DME who completed six doses of IVB were included in the study group, and 50 eyes of 42 patients who had diabetic retinopathy (DR) but did not receive any treatment were included in the control group. Central macular thickness (CMT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), subfoveal and total choroidal area (TCA), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were calculated and their changes at zero, three and six months were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, CVI was significantly lower in both the subfoveal and total macular areas in the study group (p = 0.004, p = 0.003). In the study group, a significant decrease was observed in CVI between zero and six months in the subfoveal area (p = 0.001). In the submacular area, the decrease in CVI in the study group was significant between zero to three months and zero to six months. There was moderate correlation between measurements of CVI in the subfoveal and total macular areas (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that intravitreal bevacizumab injection reduces the CVI and the effects of intravitreal anti-VEGF on CVI emerge earlier and more prominently in the submacular 6000 µm area.

The effect of day-long mask wearing on non-invasive break-up time.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of day-long face mask wearing on non-invasive tear break-up time (NI-BUT) in health care staff due to working schedules. METHODS: Seventy-four right eyes of 74 participants were included in the study. Participants completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, and NI-BUT measurements were performed between 08.30-09.00 and 16.30-17.00 h. Participants with an initial NI-BUT measurement below 17 s were classified as group-1, and those over 17 s were classified as group-2. NI-BUT changes during the day and correlation to age, gender, and OSDI results were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-eight women and 36 men, with a mean age of 30.9 ± 8.5 years, were included in the study. The mean OSDI score of the participants was 28.6 ± 17.1. NI-BUT means of group-1 at baseline and 8th hour were 11.4 ± 3.3 and 7.9 ± 3.6 s, respectively, and the mean NI-BUT at the 8th hour was statistically significantly lower than the baseline (p < 0.0001). Also, 24.2% (8 people) of those in group-2 had the 8th-hour NI-BUT value fallen into the measurable range (below 17 s). No significant correlation was found between the decrease in NI-BUT value and age, gender, and OSDI (p = 0.08, p = 0.3, and p = 0.2, respectively). CONCLUSION: The use of face masks throughout the day leads to a significant reduction in NI-BUT, regardless of age, gender, and OSDI score. Prolonged use of face masks should be considered as a risk factor for evaporative dry eye disease.