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Berker Bakbak, Banu Turgut Ozturk, Sansal Gedik, Bengu Ekinci Koktekir, Saban Gonul Selcuk University Medical Faculty, Department of Ophthalmology, Konya, Turkey Abstract: A 56-year-old man noted a sudden decrease of vision in his right eye 4 hours after intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection. A diagnosis of unilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) was made, and the patient was counseled to discontinue using TA. Examination for possible risk factors revealed controlled hypertension. Final visual acuity was finger counting at 1 m, and the optic disc was pale in his right eye. This is the first reported case of unilateral NAION that has occurred in a patient after intramuscular corticosteroid injection. Although a cause-and-effect relationship is difficult to prove, the short duration between the TA injection and the NAION is noteworthy. The history of corticosteroid injection should be questioned in cases with predisposing conditions such as hypertension. Keywords: ischemic optic neuropathy, corticosteroids, optic disc edema

Post-operative ileus is a major complication that increases the morbidity in patients who had abdominal surgery. Several different procedures have been used to manage bowel function, including adequate pain control, prokinetic drugs and supportive strategies. The present study aimed to assess the effect of chewing gum on bowel recovery in patients undergoing gynaecologic abdominal surgeries. A total of 137 patients were randomised into gum-chewing and control groups. Patients in the gum-chewing group began chewing gum at post-operative 3rd h and chewed gum thereafter every 4 h daily, for 30 min each time. All patients received the same post-operative treatment. Primary outcome measures were the time to first passage of flatus and time to first passage of stool. The secondary outcome measures included the first hearing of normal bowel sounds, nausea and the time until discharge from the hospital. Compared with the control group, the time interval between operation and first flatus was shorter in the gum-chewing group (median, 33 h vs 30 h). However, the difference was not significant (p = 0.381). The first defaecation time was significantly shorter in the gum-chewing group. The median time to first defaecation was 67 (20-105) h in the control group and 45 (12-97) h in the gum-chewing group (p < 0.01). Gum chewing is safe, well tolerated and it allows early defaecation after gynaecologic abdominal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction The application of lidocaine to the nasal mucosal area corresponding to the sphenopalatine fossa has been shown to be effective at extinguishing pain attacks in patients with a cluster headache. In this report, the effectiveness of local administration of lidocaine on cluster headache attacks as a symptomatic treatment of this disorder is discussed. Cases presentation A 22-year-old Turkish man presented with a five-year history of severe, repeated, unilateral periorbital pain and headache, diagnosed as a typical cluster headache. He suffered from rhinorrhea, lacrimation and ptosis during headaches. He had tried several unsuccessful daily medications. We applied a cotton tip with lidocaine hydrochloride into his left nostril for 10 minutes. The ptosis responded to the treatment and the intensity of his headache decreased. Conclusion Intranasal lidocaine is a useful treatment for the acute management of a cluster headache. Intranasal lidocaine blocks the neural transmission of the sphenopalatine ganglion, which contributes to the trigeminal nerve as well as containing both parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers.

Objectives: This study evaluated acoustic biofeedback training using microperimetry in patients with foveal scars and an eligible retinal locus for better fixation., Materials and Methods: A total of 29 eligible patients were enrolled in the study. The acoustic biofeedback training module in the MAIA (Macular Integrity Assessment, CenterVue®, Italy) microperimeter was used for training. To determine the treatment efficacy, the following variables were compared before and after testing: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA); MAIA microperimeter full threshold 4-2 test parameters of average threshold value, fixation parameters P1 and P2, and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) for 63% and 95% of fixation points; contrast sensitivity (CSV 1000E Contrast Sensitivity Test); reading speed using the Minnesota Low-Vision Reading Test (MNREAD reading chart); and quality of life (NEI-VFQ-25). In addition, fixation stability parameters were recorded during each session., Results: The study group consisted of 29 patients with a mean age of 68.72±8.34 years. Median BCVA was initially 0.8 (0.2-1.6) logMAR and was 0.8 (0.1-1.6) logMAR after 8 weeks of preferred retinal locus training (p=0.003). The fixation stability parameter P1 improved from a mean of 21.28±3.08% to 32.69±3.69% (p=0.001) while mean P2 improved from 52.79±4.53% to 68.31±3.89% (p=0.001). Mean BCEA 63% decreased from 16.11±2.27 °2 to 13.34±2.26 °2 (p=0.127) and mean BCEA 95% decreased from 45.87±6.72 °2 to 40.01±6.78 °2 (p=0.247) after training. Binocular reading speed was 38.28±6.25 words per minute (wpm) before training and 45.34±7.35 wpm after training (p<0.001). Statistically significant improvement was observed in contrast sensitivity and quality of life questionnaire scores after training., Conclusion: Beginning with the fifth session, biofeedback training for a new trained retinal locus improved average sensitivity, fixation stability, reading speed, contrast sensitivity, and quality of life in patients with macular scarring.

Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) is a relatively new clinical entity characterized by bilateral acute loss of iris pigment epithelium, iris transillumination, pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, and sphincter paralysis. BAIT has been easily confused with other types of anterior uveitis because of pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber and some symptoms including pain, photophobia, and red eye, which is similar to those in the other types of anterior uveitis. However, inflammatory findings in these patients are not as marked as in those with other types of anterior uveitis. Therefore, systemic corticosteroid is generally not required for the treatment of pure BAIT patients because of limited intraocular inflammation. BAIT can also cause severe intraocular pressure (IOP) rise, which sometimes necessitates glaucoma surgery. Systemic corticosteroids can also increase the existing intraocular pressure rise in patients with BAIT. Therefore, it should not be used in these patients.

Spontaneous lens absorption (SLA) is a rare complication of hypermature cataract. However, this condition has been reported in several cases of hypermature cataracts that were caused by trauma, senility, uveitic disorders such as Fuchs’ uveitis syndrome (FUS), and infectious disorders including leptospirosis and rubella. We report a case of spontaneous absorption of a hypermature cataract secondary to FUS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SLA that was followed by dislocation of the capsular remnants into the vitreous and resulted in a misdiagnosis as crystalline lens luxation.

Objective: To investigate the effect and safety of intravitreal injection (IVI) of bevacizumab and ranibizumab on corneal endothelial cell count and morphology in patients with diabetic macular edema., Materials and Methods: A total of 60 eyes from 60 consecutive patients who received 0.5 mg/0.05 ml IVIs of bevacizumab (n = 30, IVB group) or 1.25 mg/0.05 ml ranibizumab (n = 30, IVR group) for three consecutive months were investigated prospectively. Specular microscopy was performed to evaluate endothelial cell count, the percentage of hexagonal cells (pleomorphism), and the coefficient of variation of the cell size (polymegathism); optical biometry was performed to evaluate central corneal thickness. Results before injection and 1 month after the first and third injections were compared., Results: The groups were matched for age (p = 0.11) and gender (p = 0.32). There was no significant difference in endothelial cell count (IVB group, p = 0.66; IVR group, p = 0.74), pleomorphism (IVB group, p = 0.44; IVR group, p = 0.88) and polymegathism (IVB group, p = 0.21; IVR group, p = 0.24) before injection or 1 month after the first and third injections. There was also no difference in central corneal thickness (IVB group, p = 0.15; IVR group, p = 0.58) before injection or 1 month after the first and third injections., Conclusion: Monthly 1.25 mg/0.05 ml IVIs of bevacizumab or 0.5 mg/0.05 ml of ranibizumab for three consecutive months in the treatment of diabetic macular edema does not affect corneal morphology and has no harmful effects on the endothelium.

Papillophlebitis is known as central retinal vein occlusion seen in young patients. It usually presents as unilateral optic disc edema with cotton wool spots and hemorrhage in the peripapillary region. As it may be due to many autoimmune and inflammatory causes, a thorough systemic evaluation of the patient is warranted. In this case report we describe a bilateral, simultaneous papillophlebitis case thought to be related to hyperhomocysteinemia secondary to C677T polymorphism of methylenetetrahyrofolate reductase enzyme., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.

Purpose: Genetic factors are known to influence the response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The current study was conducted to investigate the association of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism with the treatment response to ranibizumab for exudative AMD., Methods: One hundred nine eyes (109 patients, 59.6% male, mean age 63.84 ± 7.22 years) treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections were included in the analysis. Smoking status and lesion type were recorded. Patients were categorized into three groups according to visual acuity (VA) change at 6 months after the first injection: VA loss >5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters (Group 1); VA change between five ETDRS letters gain and loss (Group 2); VA improvement >5 ETDRS letters (Group 3). The association of ApoE gene polymorphisms with the three groups was evaluated., Results: Both smoking status and lesion type showed no significant association with VA change (p = 0.12 and p = 0.64, respectively). A lower frequency of ɛ2 and a higher frequency of ɛ4 were observed in Group 3 (2.9 and 25.7%, respectively). VA improvement with more than five ETDRS letters was significantly associated with the presence of the ɛ4 genotype (p = 0.01)., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that carriers of the ApoE ɛ4 polymorphism genotype show demonstrable improvement in VA after treatment with ranibizumab in exudative AMD. ApoE polymorphism identification may be used as a genetic screening to tailor individualized therapeutic approach for optimal treatment in neovascular AMD.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors currently used to treat eye diseases have included monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, and an aptamer. A different method of achieving VEGF blockade in retinal diseases includes the concept of a cytokine trap. Cytokine traps are being evaluated for the treatment of various diseases that are driven by excessive cytokine levels. Traps, such as VEGF Trap, consist of two extracellular cytokine receptor domains fused together to form a human IgG. Aflibercept (VEGF Trap-Eye) is a soluble fusion protein which combines ligand-binding elements taken from the extracellular components of VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2 fused to the Fc portion of IgG. This protein contains all human amino-acid sequences, which minimizes the potential for immunogenicity in human patients. The chapter will summarize the chemical properties of aflibercept and the various studies that have demonstrated a role of aflibercept in the management of retinal vascular diseases such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion., (© 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: To compare the effects of bevacizumab and ranibizumab on the visual function and macular thickness in the contralateral (untreated) eye of patients with bilateral diabetic macular edema (DME)., Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine patients with bilateral DME, who had been treated with both bevacizumab and ranibizumab in the same eye, were considered retrospectively for this study. Recorded outcome measurements included the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessment with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart and the central subfield macular thickness (CSMT) measurement of the contralateral, uninjected eye before and at 4 weeks after the injections., Results: The median BCVA of the uninjected eye was 50 ETDRS letters and the median CSMT was 459 μm preceding the bevacizumab injection whereas at the control appointment, 4 weeks after the injection, the median BCVA had increased to 52 letters (P = 0.098), and the median CSMT had decreased to 390 μm (P = 0.036). The mean interval between the bevacizumab and ranibizumab treatments was 4.79 ΁ 1.52 months. The measurements of the untreated eye after the ranibizumab treatment showed that the median BCVA decreased from 55 to 52 letters, and the median CSMT increased from 361 μm to 418 μm (P = 0.148 and P = 0.109, respectively)., Conclusions: In contrast to ranibizumab, the intravitreal administration of bevacizumab resulted in a statistically significant decrease in macular thickness in the untreated eye in patients with bilateral DME.

Postoperative fungal endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating complication of cataract surgery. Vitrectomy and intravitreal amphotericin B injection as well as administration of systemic antifungal agents have been suggested as optimal treatments for fungal endophthalmitis. However, this therapy may fail to eliminate fungal species resistant to current antifungal agents. The saprophytic fungus Trichosporon asahii is frequently observed as a cause of endogenous endophthalmitis in immunosuppressed patients. We report a case of postoperative endophthalmitis caused by T. asahii, resistant to amphotericin B. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of T. asahii endophthalmitis successfully treated with intravitreal and systemic voriconazole, pars plana vitrectomy, and removal of the intraocular lens and entire lens capsule.

The aim of this study is to investigate preoperative and postoperative properties, the management of unilateral complex orbital fractures, and to offer an algorithm for orbital fractures. For this research study, 248 patients with orbital trauma were evaluated according to an offered algorithm. Diplopia, enophthalmos, dystopia, infraorbital nerve dysfunction, and ocular movement limitations were documented for clinical assessment. Orbital rim displacement and an orbital volume check with computed tomography (CT) were used for indication of surgery. The injured orbital volume was compared with the healthy orbital volume in the preoperative and postoperative periods. In total, 58 patients required operations among the 248 patients, according to the algorithm. The preoperative mean injured orbital volume measurements of the operated patients were statistically different than the healthy orbital volume measurements (30.13 cm3 ± 2.69 cm3 and 27.15 cm3 ± 1.29 cm3, respectively). In the postoperative period, there was no difference between the injured and healthy orbital volume. In conclusion, an algorithm may facilitate the approach to unilateral complex orbital fractures. Ophthalmic examination, rim displacement, and the measurement of orbital volume using computed tomography are key points of orbital fractures with regard to management.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of 12 patients with pyometra and highlight the increased incidence of gynecological malignancy in these patients., Materials and Methods: The authors examined the medical records of 12 patients with pyometra, who were treated between 2009 and 2013., Results: All patients were post-menopausal, and their mean age was 70.83 ± 6.978 years (min = 61, max = 82). To remove purulent fluid via dilation and because of the probability of malignancy, three patients (25%) underwent cervical biopsy and endometrial curettage; the other nine patients (75%) underwent curettage alone, with suitable antibiotic therapy. Of the 12 patients, nine (75%) had gynecologic malignancy [(endometrial cancer, n = 5, 41.6%), (cervical cancer, n = 3, 25%), (uterine leiomyosarcoma, n = 1, 8.3%)]. In three (25%) patients, the cause of pyometra was benign pathologies, among which the most common were leiomyomas (n = 2, 66.6%)., Conclusion: Pyometra diagnosed during the post-menopausal period should be considered a complication caused by gynecological malignancy until proven otherwise.

Purpose: To compare the results of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements obtained using optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR), Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), and a Scheimpflug camera (SC), combined with Placido corneal topography., Methods: A total of 25 healthy subjects were enrolled in the present study, and one eye of each subject was included. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed in all cases following CCT measurements with OLCR, FD-OCT, and SC. The results were compared using an ANOVA test. Bland-Altman analysis was used to demonstrate agreement between methods. Intra-examiner repeatability was assessed by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs)., Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the results of the CCT measurements obtained using the three different devices (p=0.009). Significant correlations were found between OLCR and FD-OCT (r=0.97; p<0.0001), FD-OCT and SC (r=0.91; p<0.0001), and OLCR and SC (r=0.95; p<0.0001). The 95% limits of agreement (LOA) obtained from Bland-Altman plots were from -7.2 μm to 28.7 μm for OLCR versus FD-OCT, from -19.2 μm to 30.4 μm for OLCR versus SC, and from -42.6 to 32.3 μm for FD-OCT versus SC. Intra-examiner repeatability was excellent for each method, with ICCs >0.98., Conclusion: Although the results of CCT measurements obtained from these three devices were highly correlated with one another and the mean differences between instruments were comparable with the reported diurnal CCT fluctuation, the measurements are not directly interchangeable in clinical practice because of the wide LOA values.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of room illumination on the measurement of anterior segment parameters., Methods: In this comparative study, measurements of anterior segment parameters of 25 eyes of 25 healthy patients were performed by optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR). Measurements were taken under photopic conditions (150 lux) and under mesopic conditions (3 lux). Paired t test by SPSS 16.0 was used to compare the anterior segment measurements performed in both conditions. A P value lower than 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant., Results: The mean age of the patients was 27.09±1.72 years (range, 20-40 years). Of the anterior segment parameters, axial length and keratometry did not show significant difference between photopic and mesopic conditions (P=0.541 and P=0.812, respectively). The mean anterior chamber depth measurements was 3.04±0.35 mm and 3.06±0.35 mm, whereas the mean lens thickness was 3.75±0.36 mm and 3.77±0.36 mm in the mesopic and photopic conditions, respectively. The mean pupil diameter measurement was 4.86±0.70 mm under photopic conditions and 6.36±0.94 mm under mesopic conditions. The anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and pupil diameter showed significant difference between photopic and mesopic conditions (P=0.01, P=0.006, and P=0.0001, respectively)., Conclusion: Anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and pupil diameter were affected by the changes in luminance while performing measurements with OLCR. Considering the age of the study group, further studies are needed to test the measurement of accommodation amplitude.

Purpose: Cisplatin and Paclitaxel are two chemotherapeutic agents known to produce neurotoxicity when used for cumulative dose regimens. In this study we aim to assess their toxicity in the optic nerve, and to evaluate the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and visual field changes in lung cancer patients treated with Cisplatin and Paclitaxel., Methods: Fifteen patients who were treated intravenously with 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin and 175 mg/m(2) paclitaxel every 3 weeks, up to a maximum of six courses, were enrolled in this prospective clinical trial. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological assessments before their treatments began, as well as three months after the completion of their treatments. The RNFL thickness measurements were performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Functional testing included the use of frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and the Humphrey visual field analyser (HFA). The main outcome measurements included the average RNFL thicknesses and visual field indices (mean deviation [MD] and pattern standard deviation [PSD])., Results: The median age of the 15 patients (nine male and six female) was 63.49 years old (range: 53-77). The average RNFL thickness measurement during the baseline examination was 103.73 μm (range: 97-111). Three months after the cessation of treatment the RNFL thickness declined to 97.4 μm (range: 91-102). Statistical analysis showed a significant thinning between the two measurements (p = 0.032). The MD and PSD values recorded by the HFA demonstrated no statistically significant changes 3 months after the cessation of treatment (p > 0.207 and p > 0.186, respectively). There were statistically significant decreases in both the MD (0.48 to -1.13 dB) and PSD (2.13 to 0.65 dB) indices measured by the FDT perimetry (p = 0.041 and p = 0.025, respectively)., Conclusions: In our study, the systemic administration of Cisplatin and Paclitaxel affected the peripapillary RNFL thicknesses and visual field indices as revealed by FDT perimetry. OCT and FDT perimetry may be adjunctive tools for the screening of ocular toxicity in patients treated with these agents.

Purpose: To find out whether intravitreally administered bevacizumab and ranibizumab affect the contralateral, untreated, eyes of patients with bilateral diabetic macular edema (DME)., Methods: A retrospective review of patients with bilateral DME, who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab, was performed. All enrolled patients received intravitreal 1.25 mg bevacizumab or 0.5 mg ranibizumab in the eye with more severe macular edema. As outcome measures, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was assessed with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart and central foveal thickness (CFT) measurement was obtained using optical coherence tomography-3 before and at 2 and 4 weeks after injections., Results: The study included 55 eyes of 55 patients who received bevacizumab (group 1) and 32 eyes of 32 patients who received ranibizumab (group 2). The mean age of the 55 patients [35 female (63.6%), 20 male (36.4%)] in group 1 was 54.31±12.67 years, and the mean age of the 32 patients [20 female (62.5%), 12 male (37.5%)] in group 2 was 56.01±13.29 years. The median BCVA in the uninjected eye showed no statistically significant change at any visit after either bevacizumab or ranibizumab injection (P=0.302, P=0.582, respectively). In group 1, the median CFT in the uninjected eye was 417 μm at baseline; this was reduced to 401 μm at 2 weeks and 372 μm at 4 weeks. The change in CFT was found to be statistically significant (P=0.009). No statistically significant change was found in the median CFT of uninjected eyes of patients treated with ranibizumab (399, 403, and 407 μm before and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, respectively)., Conclusions: Compared with ranibizumab, intravitreal administration of bevacizumab resulted in a greater decrease in macular thickness in the untreated eye, in patients with bilateral DME.

Purpose: To evaluate the early retinal changes and its reflection on the visual field examination in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients using pegylated interferon-α (PEGIFN-α) monotherapy., Patients and Methods: Thirty eyes of fifteen patients with CHB were examined prospectively for changes in the fundus examination and visual field examination (both Humphrey Perimetry and Frequency Doubling Perimetry). The patients were examined before and in 3 months intervals after starting the PEGIFN-α treatment. The changes in the fundus examination were noted and the visual field examinations, retinal nerve fiber thickness, Schirmer scores and color vision before and at 3 months of the treatment were compared. The statistical evaluation was performed with paired-t test, using SPSS 16.0 Inc. (Chicago, IL)., Results: The mean age of the 15 patients (seven male, eight female) was 52.5 ± 12.4 years. There was no significant retinal change in none of the patients. Neither the visual field examination with Humphrey Field Analyzer nor the Frequency Doubling Perimetry results has demonstrated any significant change during 3 months follow-up. There was a statistically significant increase in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness; while Schirmer test scores for dry eye assessment was significantly decreased., Conclusion: PEGIFN-α monotherapy, which is used for treatment of CHB, may cause some changes in the thickness of RNFL that may necessitate the close follow-up for further morphological changes of the optic disc in these patients.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic ability of macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary nerve fibre layer (NFL) measurements to detect ganglion cell loss (GCL) in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), at the chronic stage., Methods: This study included 10 eyes from 10 patients with NAION and 15 eyes from 15 age-matched healthy subjects. The measurements included the GCC thicknesses as average, superior and inferior, the GCC parameters as focal loss volume (FLV) and global loss volume (GLV), the NFL thicknesses as average, superior hemisphere and inferior hemisphere, and the disc parameters as rim area and rim volume. The curves for the area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) were generated to assess the ability of each parameter to detect GCL., Results: The patient group had significantly lower GCC thicknesses than the control group (p<0.001, <0.001 and 0.004, for the GCC average, superior and inferior, respectively), and also significantly higher FLV and GLV measurements (p<0.001). The NFL thicknesses were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than the control subjects (p<0.001). Among all the parameters, the FLV and the GLV had the highest levels of AUROC values (1.000, 0.990, respectively)., Conclusions: The FLV and the GLV showed the strongest abilities to detect GCL in patients with NAION. In addition, peripapillary NFL thickness was comparable to macular GCC thickness in detecting GCL. Therefore, macular GCC scans may provide a good alternative or a complementary practice to NFL scans in the detection of GCL in patients with NAION.

Purpose: To evaluate anterior chamber inflammation in eyes with retained presumed intraocular cotton fibers after small-incision cataract surgery., Methods: Fourteen patients with retained presumed intraocular cotton fibers after phacoemulsification were evaluated for anterior chamber inflammation. The control group consisted of 15 patients with no postoperative intraocular cotton fibers. An aqueous flare meter was used to evaluate anterior chamber reaction 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively., Results: Retained cotton fibers were detected in the anterior chamber in 6 cases, and in the corneal incision site, extending into the anterior chamber, in 8 cases. The mean flare values at each postoperative visit were statistically similar between two groups., Conclusions: Following cataract surgery, retained presumed intraocular cotton fibers did not cause any additional inflammation in the eye within the short term. In contrast to other intraocular foreign bodies, which may cause severe inflammation, retained intraocular cotton fibers seem to be well tolerated following cataract surgery.

A causal association between central nervous system neuropathy and oral isotretinoin has been reported. In this study we aimed to assess retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and visual field changes in patients treated with systemic isotretinoin. Thirty-nine patients treated with 1 mg/kg daily oral isotretinoin were enrolled in this prospective clinical trial. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic assessment before treatment, on day 60, and 3 months after completion of treatment. RNFL thickness measurements were performed with Stratus optical coherence tomography. Functional testing included frequency-doubling technology perimetry and Humphrey field analyser. Main outcome measures were average RNFL thicknesses and visual field indices (mean deviation, pattern standard deviation). Measurements of RNFL thickness showed no statistically significant change between the three measurements ( p  = 0.180). No statistically significant differences were observed in the frequency-doubling technology indices (mean deviation and pattern standard deviation, p  = 0.066 and p  = 0.103, respectively) and in the Humphrey field analyser indices (mean deviation and pattern standard deviation, p  = 0.091 and p  = 0.087, respectively) at day 60 of treatment or 3 months after the cessation of treatment. In this study of 39 patients, systemic use of isotretinoin (1 mg/kg daily) does not cause a statistically significant change in peripapillary RNFL thickness or visual field findings within the usage period, and within 3 months after cessation.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of pupil dilation on the biometric parameters of the Lenstar LS 900 (Haag Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland)., Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 33 eyes with cataracts, axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth, intraocular lens (IOL) power, keratometry, and pupil diameter measurements were performed using Lenstar biometry before and after pupil dilatation. Intraobserver repeatability was assessed by taking 2 consecutive recordings of biometric parameters using Lenstar biometry in the undilated pupils of 30 eyes with cataracts., Results: The mean difference in AL measurements from intraobserver readings was -0.001 ± 0.01 mm. The study group showed a statistically significant change in the first keratometry reading and anterior chamber depth values (P < 0.05); however, the mean difference in AL and IOL power was statistically insignificant between the undilated and dilated pupil Lenstar biometry readings. Three cases in the study group (9.1%) and 1 case in the control group (3.3%) demonstrated changes in IOL power >0.50 diopter., Conclusions: Dilated and undilated pupil size did not affect the measurement of IOL using the Lenstar biometry.

Objective: To evaluate corneal endothelium in patients with retinitis pigmentosa using confocal microscopy, and compare their results with those of healthy controls., Methods: This comparative study took place between June 2009 and June 2011 in the Department of Ophthalmology, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. We evaluated both eyes of 17 patients with retinitis pigmentosa (group 1), and the eyes of 17 age- and gender- matched control subjects (group 2). Corneal endothelium of all participants was evaluated using confocal microscopy (ConfoScan 3, Nidek Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan). Endothelial cell density, polymegethism, and pleomorphism values were noted. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the results of these 2 groups., Results: The values for mean endothelial cell density was 2440 +/- 451 cell/mm2 (range: 1438-3037 cell/mm2), 48.3% +/- 8.3 (range: 35.9-81.3%) for polymegethism, and 40.3% +/- 6.8 (range 24.7-53.8%) for pleomorphism in group 1; while in group 2, these values were 2344 +/- 317 cell/mm2 (range: 1445-2903 cell/mm2) for the mean endothelial cell density, 45.3% +/- 9.2 (range: 26.5-80.2%) for polymegethism, and 42.4% +/- 5.3 (range between 24.8-49.5%) for pleomorphism. No statistically significant difference was found between endothelial cell density (p=0.15), polymegethism (p=0.15), and pleomorphism (p=0.16) values of the 2 groups., Conclusion: The endothelial cell density, polymegethism and pleomorphism values in patients with retinitis pigmentosa do not differ from those of healthy individuals. Since retinitis pigmentosa is a heterogeneous group of diseases, further studies with larger number and more homogeneous groups of patients are needed.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of optical low-coherence reflectometry (Lenstar LS 900; Haag Streit, Köniz, Switzerland) and conventional ultrasound pachymetry (UP) (US 4000; Nidek, Japan) for measuring central corneal thickness and to assess the interexaminer reproducibilities of both devices., Methods: Department of Ophthalmology, Selcuklu Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University was the study setting. Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured in both eyes of 65 emmetropic patients by the same examiner using Lenstar LS 900 noncontact biometry and UP. To assess the interexaminer reproducibility, 2 different examiners consecutively obtained CCT measurements in 16 eyes with Lenstar LS 900 noncontact biometry and UP., Results: Mean CCT measurements with Lenstar LS 900 noncontact biometry and ultrasound biometry were 541.09 ± 33.8 and 545.69 ± 34.0, respectively. Significant correlation was present between these 2 measurements; intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be 95.8% (95% confidence interval: 93.2%-97.4%)(P < 0.001). Interexaminer reproducibility with Lenstar was high, and the intraclass correlation was found to be 99.3% (95% confidence interval: 98.0%-99.7%). We have also investigated the interexaminer reproducibility with UP in these 16 patients, and the results showed a 99.2% (95% confidence interval: 97.7%-99.7%) intraclass correlation., Conclusions: The results of Lenstar LS 900 noncontact biometry correlated with the results of UP. It may be used as an alternative method to UP for measuring CCT. Because of the mild underestimation of CCT by Lenstar, the measurements should be carefully evaluated in patients whose intraocular pressure must strictly be monitored.

A 27-year-old man who underwent a previous reconstruction surgery for left orbital blowout fracture and recent revision surgery for left cicatricial ectropion was admitted to the ophthalmology outpatient clinic with a 20-mm irregular conjunctival and scleral incision in the left eye at the 6-o'clock position. The scleral and conjunctival incisions were repaired, and during the operation, the anterior end of the titanium mesh plate was visible at the inferior orbital rim. The plastic surgery team removed the irritating end of the plate. Obvious adherence of periocular tissues onto the titanium implant and fibrovascular ingrowth through the implant were seen during this operation. The possible mechanism for the misdirection of the anterior end of the implant might be explained by iatrogenic rotation during the revision of the cicatricial ectropion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case demonstrating scleral incision caused by an orbital titanium implant.