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Background: Pregabalin abuse is a rapidly growing health problem worldwide, and little is known about the effects of prolonged high-dose use in patients with pregabalin use disorder. Objective: In this study, the effects of pregabalin abuse on retinal layers were investigated in patients with pregabalin use disorder (PGUD). Methods: This study included 35 controls and 34 patients with PGUD, according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 criteria. Optic coherence tomography (OCT) measurements including the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) were performed. RNFL thickness was evaluated in four quadrants (inferior, superior, nasal, temporal). GCL-IPL and GCC thickness were evaluated in six sectors (superior, superonasal, inferonasal, inferior, inferotemporal, superotemporal). Results: GCC inferonasal (p = 0.040, r = 0.354), GCC inferior (p = 0.018, r = 0.402) GCL-IPL inferior (p = 0.031, r = 0.370) and GCL-IPL inferotemporal (p = 0.029, r = 0.376) thickness were positively correlated with the duration of pregabalin use. There was no significant sector or quadrant-wise difference between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings emphasized the drug's potential neuroprotective effect. It should be taken into consideration that neurodegenerative changes due to substance use disorder occur with long-term. Longitudinal prospective studies investigating dose-duration relationship are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To report changes in the choroid, optic nerve, and macula in diabetes mellitus patients without diabetic retinopathy, and to compare these findings with age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Furthermore, the duration of the disease was recorded and the impact on these parameters was aimed to be analyzed. Methods: In this study, 60 right eyes of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients without diabetic retinopathy who applied to our department for routine examination were enrolled. To evaluate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL), Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography imaging was performed. In addition, images were recorded and processed by the image-j program and the ‘choroidal vascularity index’ (CVI) was calculated. The measurements were compared with 60 right eyes of age-sex-matched healthy volunteers. Furthermore, the patient group was divided into 2 subgroups according to disease duration and the measurements were compared with each other as well. Results: Both RNFL and GCL thickness values were observed to be thinner in DM patients group compared to the control group. CVI was found to be lower in DM group compared to the control group. In addition, the duration of the disease was significantly associated with the RNFL and GCL thinning and lower CVI. Conclusion: DM can lead to a decrease in RNLF and GCL thickness and also a decrease in CVI which can impair visual acuity even in the absence of diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, monitoring changes in the optic nerve, retina, and choroid layer is crucial in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis are two sexually transmitted diseases that continue to pose significant public health challenges globally. HIV and syphilis can be seen together; individuals with one of these infections are at risk of developing the other. Sharing common risk factors such as sexual transmission or intravenous drug use makes their coincidence likely. Syphilis, an infection caused by a spirochaete (Treponema pallidum), is a great mimicker and can present with a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Syphilis can cause various neurological symptoms including complete oculomotor nerve palsy; however, it is not a common manifestation. Here, we report for the first time a case of persistent incomplete oculomotor nerve palsy with pupillary involvement caused by the involvement of the inferior division of the oculomotor nerve, secondary to HIV and syphilis co-infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a common cause of optic neuropathy in individuals over the age of 50. While risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia have been identified, recent literature suggests that new risk factors may be associated with NAION. This article reports a case of NAION that occurred concurrently with an acute gout attack in a 78-year-old male patient with no other systemic diseases. We suggest that gout may be a new potential risk factor for NAION as it has the potential to cause inflammation and vascular dysfunction, particularly during acute attacks. The case emphasises the importance of considering gout as a possible risk factor in the aetiology of NAION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study's aim is to evaluate the presence of dry eye in patients who had cataract surgery in the past 3 months and compare the results with the patients' healthy eyes. Methods: Twenty patients were enrolled and both eyes were examined. Two groups were established, Group 1 was made up of eyes that had cataract surgery in the past 3 months and Group 2 of eyes that had not undergone the intervention. Dry eye presence was tested with tear film break-up time, Schirmer-1 test, Oxford scale, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score assessments. Results: Median tear film break up-time measurement was lower and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.037). Median OSDI and Oxford scale scores were higher in Group 1 and median Schirmer 1 value was lower in Group 1; however, no statistically significant difference was detected (p=0.063, p=0.545, and p=0.825, respectively). Conclusion: Between eyes with prior cataract surgery and those without, there were significant differences in the results of dry eye tests. We advise ophthalmologists to be aware that cataract surgery can trigger the development of dryness of the ocular surface and when any pathology detected on ocular surface after the surgery, it should not be neglected to prevent more serious consequences and to maintain ocular surface homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if eyes with unilateral pterygium are more likely to suffer from dry eye symptoms and more prone to have abnormalities in dry eye parameters than healthy eyes. Methods: Forty eyes of 20 patients were enrolled. The eyes that were diagnosed as having pterygium were considered as Group 1 and other healthy eyes of the same patients were defined as Group 2. The existence of dry eye was tested with tear film break-up time, Schirmer-1 test, Oxford scale, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score assessments. Results: Median tear film break-up-time measurement and Schirmer 1 value were lower in Group 1; however, no statistically significant difference was detected (p=0.06 and p=0.308, respectively). Median OSDI score and median Oxford scale score were higher in Group 1; however, no statistically significant difference was detected (p=0.05 and p=0.250, respectively). Conclusion: Between eyes with pterygium and healthy ones, there was difference in dry eye test results. These results may show that there might be a relationship between pterygium and dry eye disease regardless of the genetic background and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To report a patient with bilateral sequential non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) following severe COVID-19 infection. A 50-year-old male patient reported a 1-week history of painless vision loss in the right eye in additon to complaining of blurred vision in the left eye 4 weeks earlier. He had tested COVID-19 positive 4 weeks before the onset of symptoms in his left eye. Further investigations revealed that the most possible cause of vision loss was NAAION associated with COVID-19. COVID-19 infection may be responsible for NA-AION. Therefore, ophthalmologists should keep this infection in mind when systemic investigation for the underlying etiology of NA-AION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the corneal sensitivity and its quadrature variability in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN) diagnosed with electromyography and to compare these results with age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. METHODS: The left eyes of 32 patients who applied for refraction or fundus examination and had a diagnosis of DN by electromyography in their medical history were included in this study. Corneal sensitivity was evaluated using the Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometer (Luneau, Paris) in five zones: central, nasal, superior, temporal, and inferior. The measurements of the patients were compared with the measurements of 32 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Furthermore, the measurements of five corneal zones were compared with each other, and the level of correlation was investigated in each group. RESULTS: The central corneal sensitivity values were measured as 4.12 ± 1.04 (mm) and 5.92 ± 0.14 (mm) (P < 0.001). While the sensitivity values at the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants were detected as 5.85 ± 0.21, 5.85 ± 0.26, 5.94 ± 0.13, 5.93 ± 0.13, and 5.92 ± 0.14 (mm) in the control group, it was measured as 3.67 ± 0.66, 3.67 ± 0.62, 3.67 ± 0.62, and 3.89 ± 0.73 (mm) in the DN group, respectively. The corneal sensitivity values were all found to be significantly lower in the DN group (P < 0.001 for all parameters) at all quadrants as well as the central cornea. Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation between all five zones in the control group and a very strong positive correlation in the DN group were found in terms of the corneal quadrature sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The current study revealed a significant reduction in corneal sensitivity in patients with DN. In both the control group and DN group, all corneal zones showed positive correlations which show the consistency of the measurement in different quadratures. Evaluating corneal sensitivity with a Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometer might serve as a useful screening tool in detecting neuropathy development. By taking the necessary precautions, further damage can be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Clinical Relevance: Knowing the changes in corneal sensitivity according to age and gender is important for the correct evaluation of pathologies., Background: The aim of this work was to analyse variability of corneal sensitivity according to age and gender in the healthy population in Turkey., Methods: Healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 84, who applied to outpatient clinic due to routine examination, were included. Exclusion criteria were any ocular diseases other than refractive error, any systemic disease, contact lens use, chronic ocular and systemic drug use, and previous ocular surgery. Central and 4 quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, temporal) corneal sensitivity measurements were performed with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer (Luneau Ophthalmology, France). The patients were divided into 5 groups according to their ages (Group 1:20-29, Group 2:30-39, Group 3:40-49, Group 4:50-59, Group 5 ≥ 60). The data were evaluated in terms of groups and gender., Results: The right eyes of 324 volunteers were included. The mean age was 44.31 ± 15.65 (20-84) and the female/male ratio was 165/159. The mean central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal sensitivities were 50.15 ± 9.7,48.62 ± 10.3,48.59 ± 10.3,47.73 ± 10.2,47.71 ± 10.3 mm, respectively. Sensitivities in all quadrants decreased significantly depending on age ( p  = 0.001 for all, central, superior, inferior, nasal and temporal correlation coefficients, r  = -0.783, -0.791, -0.789, -0.760, -0.775, respectively). The decrease accelerated in Group 4 and 5. Gender-related changes were detected as significant in central and temporal quadrants ( p  = 0.038, p  = 0.019). When sensitivity according to gender was evaluated within each decade, significant difference was detected in Group 2 and 4 ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: Corneal sensitivity decreases with age, most significantly in 5 th and 6 th decades. Sensitivity differs between genders in central and temporal quadrants. Geographic location, gender, and ethnicity may affect sensitivity values. The present study defines normal values in aTurkish population and may guide the evaluation of pathologies that impair corneal sensitivity.

Purpose: To analyze the relation between Meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye, and sarcoidosis., Materials and Methods: Twenty eyes of 10 sarcoidosis patients (Group 1) and 20 left eyes of 20 age-sex matched healthy volunteers (Group 2) were included. Presence of dry eye was evaluated with Schirmer 1 test, tear film break-up time (T-BUT), Oxford scale scoring, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score assessments. A slit-lamp biomicroscope infrared filter (Topcon, SL-D701, IJssel, The Netherlands) was used to evaluate Meibomian glands. The drop-out ratio according to meibography was scored for each eyelid from grade 0 (no loss) through grade 3 (lost area >2/3 of the total Meibomian gland area)., Results: Among dry eye tests mean Schirmer 1 and T-BUT values were lower and OSDI score was higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 and the differences were statistically significant ( p  = 0.017, p  = 0.039, p  = 0.003, respectively). In addition, the upper, lower and total meiboscores were statistically significantly higher in Group 1 ( p  = 0.047, p  = 0.003, p  = 0.005, respectively)., Conclusion: A significantly higher presence of dry eye and Meibomian gland drop out ratios was detected in sarcoidosis patients. It is important to monitor sarcoidosis patients for dry eye and Meibomian gland dysfunction and when detected, to treat adequately to prevent ocular surface damage.