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Background/Aim. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) is very useful for the accurate examination of macular microstructure. The aim of this study was to evaluate macular morphologic changes after successful retinal detachment (RD) surgery by scleral buckling (SB) using SDOCT and assess their impact on vision repair. Methods. SDOCT examination was performed in 1, 6, and 12 months in 27 eyes following SB surgery with the successful anatomical repair of rhegmatogenous RD, which also affected the macular region. The examination was performed in a 6 mm diameter central macular region and included measurements of the central foveal thickness, average total retinal thickness (TRT), and thickness of the inner and outer retinal layer (ORT) separately. The numerical values of parameters for each operated eye were compared with those of the fellow (control) eye of each patient. The condition of the external limiting membrane (ELM) and inner segment (IS) and outer segment (OS) of the photoreceptors was also examined. Results. The mean TRT and ORT in the reattached regions in the operated eyes were significantly thinner than the corresponding regions of the fellow (control) eye, and throughout the follow-up period, the difference was statistically significant. There was a statistically significant difference in TRT (after 1 month, p = 0.021, after 6 months, p = 0.026, after 12 months, p = 0.027) and ORT (after 1 month, p = 0.018, after 6 months, p = 0.019, after 12 months, p = 0.021) between the eyes with a longer preoperative duration of macular detachment (MD) of 2 weeks and eyes with shorter detachment period. Disruptions of the IS and OS of photoreceptors and ELM on SDOCT examination after one month were observed in 37.04% of eyes, after 6 months in 29.6% of eyes, and at the end of the follow-up period in 14.8% of eyes. A statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of disruptions of the IS and OS, and ELM depending on the preoperative duration of RD (p = 0.007). Conclusion. The overall decrease in the mean retinal thickness after successful anatomical repair of RD is the result of a decrease in the thickness of the outer retinal layers. The alterations of the ELM, IS and OS of photoreceptors observed on the early SDOCT scans are mostly associated with limited vision recovery. The prolonged MD leads to damaging the neurosensory tissue of the retina and especially the photoreceptors, which may explain the limited visual acuity recovery after successful SB repair of RD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. The relationship between the foveal avascular zone (FAV) and visual acuity (VA) in retinal diseases remains a matter of discussion. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of diabetic macular ischemia (DMI) on VA through the analysis of the perifoveal capillary network in various stages of diabetic retinopathy - DR (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy – NPDR and proliferative diabetic retinopathy – PDR). Methods. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 143 angiograms of patients with different stages of DR was performed. The degree of macular ischemia was assessed by the analysis of 2 parameters: perifoveal capillary ring, ie, the FAZ outline irregularity, and capillary loss. Finally, a comparison was made between the degree of macular ischemia with the best-corrected VA, depending on macular thickness. Results. In the eyes with mild and moderate NPDR, without significant macular thickening, no statistically significant decrease in VA caused by macular ischemia was noticed (p = 0.81). Opposite, in a subgroup with severe NPDR and PDR, without significant macular thickening, a statistically significant difference was presented among eyes with moderate and severe macular ischemia compared to e yes with l ower g rades of m acular i schemia (p = 0.021 and p = 0.018, respectively). In the eyes with moderate NPDR and mild macular ischemia, the increase in macular thickness resulted in a statistically insignificant decrease in VA compared to eyes with a normal macular thickness (p = 0.088). However, in the eyes with severe NPDR, every pathological increase in macular thickness caused a statistically significant decrease in VA, regardless of the degree of macular ischemia (p = 0.018–0.040). A similar relationship was also found in the eyes with PDR (p = 0.017–0.042). In the eyes with a statistically significant decrease in VA, most of the examined eyes (98%) had the FAZ outline irregularity in the nasal perifoveal subfield. Conclusion. In the absence of significant macular thickening, the destruction of one-half of the perifoveal capillary network, or greater, is associated with reduced VA. The location of macular ischemic changes in the nasal parts of the perifoveal capillary ring plays a crucial role in its effects on visual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the eye are the leading cause of blindness in the world. Although research on eye complications of DM is mainly focused on retinal damage, changes in the cornea are also associated with DM. Central corneal thickness (CCT) reflects the metabolic status of the cornea and is also affected by DM. Knowledge of CCT changes that occur within DM is important for accurate IOP measurement, diagnosis, and monitoring of patients with glaucoma. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of DM type 2 on the central corneal thickness. Methods. The study was designed as a clinical, crosssectional, observational study. It consists of 96 patients, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 49 patients diagnosed with DM type 2. The second group was the control group and consisted of 47 healthy subjects. The DM group was divided into subgroups depending on the status of diabetic retinopathy, the length of DM treatment, and the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C). Results. A statistically significant difference in CCT was observed among DM patients and the control group. Analyzing only DM patients, the highest CCT values were observed in patients who had HbA1C > 7.0%, as well as those who have treated DM for more than 15 years, with a statistically significant difference in relation to the corresponding patient subgroups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.037, respctively). No statistically significant difference was observed depending on the status of retinopathy. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was statistically significantly higher in patients with DM compared to the control group. Conclusion. Our research demonstrated that the status of retinopathy had no statistically significant influence on CCT. Knowing that the increase in CCT also affects the measured IOP values, this research will be useful in better understanding and control of the patients who have glaucoma in addition to DM type 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. All military organizations seek such employees who will advocate for the organization's mission and act responsibly in the direction of achieving the objectives of operational and working groups to which they belong. Accordingly, the primary task of the military organization management is not only the cultivation of the members who would be committed to the organization, but also the officers and soldiers who identify with the organizational mission. The aim of this study was to examine differences in organizational identification, commitment to the organization and organizational orientations of the professional military personnel and employees in service and administrative activities. Methods. The research sample consisted of 450 respondents, of whom 150 were professional soldiers, 150 civilian employees in the service sector and 150 employees in the civil sector in administration. For statistical analysis of the data, the analysis of variance and canonical discriminant analysis were used. Results. Professional military personnel was characterized by a high degree of both organizational commitment and organizational identification, compared with employees in the civil sector - service and administrative activities. Through the process of canonical discriminant analysis, it was found that the professional military personnel are different from the other personnel in the sense that they identify with their colleagues and they feel a high degree of loyalty to the military organization, as key aspects of organizational identification. In addition, professional military personnel have pronounced affective commitment to the organization. Conclusion. Human resources are the key and the essential factor of advantage in the context of strong competitiveness in the field of military defense's reality. Given that they are more adaptable and flexible, compared with the technological and structural resources, a high degree of experienced similarity with the other members of the organization, pronounced loyalty and affective commitment to the organization, to a large extent guarantee new successes and the progress of the military organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Impaired vision resulting from glaucoma can have deleterious effects on both physical and mental health. This study aims to examine the adverse impacts of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) on the quality of life (QoL) in Central Serbia. Methods. This research, designed as a crosssectional study, included 102 patients treated for POAG, PACG, or PEG. The patients were divided into three groups (POAG, PACG, and PEG) based on the type of glaucoma they suffered from and were monitored for six months. The data on the QoL were obtained with the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25). Using the appropriate algorithm, the total NEI VFQ-25 scores were calculated for each group. Results. The questionnaire showed that scores for general vision were significantly lower in the PEG group than in the other two groups (PEG: 61.1 ± 12.6; POAG: 71.6 ± 17.9; PACG: 75.7 ± 11.6), p < 0.001. General health, eye pain, distance vision, social functioning, peripheral vision, reduced ability in daily activities, and dependence on others were also statistically significantly lower in the PEG group. The highest value of near vision was recorded for the POAG group (76.2 ± 21.2). The highest mean value in glaucomatous visual field defect was recorded in the PEG group (14.5 ± 3.6 dB). Conclusion. This research has demonstrated that the QoL is significantly lower in patients suffering from PEG compared to those suffering from POAG and PACG. Concerning the general health of patients, eye pain, distance vision, as well as the domain of social and everyday functioning, the lowest scores for individual areas of examination according to the NEI VFQ-25 were recorded in PEG patients. The results indicate that serious measures should be taken in order to improve the QoL of glaucoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Since glaucoma has a very high prevalence worldwide, it is important to examine additional treatment modalities, especially the prevention of its progression. The aim of the study was to determine the importance of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) in patients with acute primary angle closure (APAC) in preventing primary angle closure glaucoma progression and APAC in the fellow eye. Methods. The research included 40 patients and 80 eyes treated between 2017 and 2021, which was also the follow- up period in the study. In all patients, LPI was performed bilaterally on both the APAC-affected eye and the healthy fellow eye. The patients with an age range from 40 to 79 years who had the pupillary block in one eye were monitored. All patients underwent bilateral LPI, and the changes in angle width were monitored using gonioscopy. Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were made with an applanation tonometer and Vertical Cup/Disc ratio (Ver C/D rat) performing biomicroscopic examination with indirect ophthalmoscopy and +90 D lens. Results. All 40 patients underwent bilateral LPI. The angle width of the APAC-affected eye before treatment was 0.15 ± 0.36, and 1.20 ± 0 .41 of the fellow eye. After 12 months, the measurements taken were 0.85 ± 0.36 for the affected eye and 1.90 ± 0.36 for the fellow eye (Wilcoxon rank test, p < 0.01 statistically significant difference). The mean value of IOP in the eye without progression of the disease before therapy was 53.6 ± 3.73 mmHg, while in the eye with progression, it was 60.10 ± 4.37 mmHg. After 12 months, it was 14.92 ± 1.22 mmHg in the eye without progression, while in the eye with disease progression, it was 23.40 ± 2.53 mmHg (independent samples t-test, p < 0.01). The change in the Ver C/D rat in the eye without progression was 0.40 ± 0.10, while in the eye with progression, it was 0.45 ± 0.05. After 12 months, it remained unchanged in the eye without progression, while in the eye with progression, it was 0.65 ± 0.06 (independent samples t-test, p < 0.01). Conclusion. Simultaneous LPI has been proven efficient in patients with APAC in both affected and fellow eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]