Search

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of quantitative corneal subbasal nerve plexus (CSNP) analyses using semi-automated software. Patients and Methods: Forty volunteers who applied to the Ophthalmology Department of the Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine between 20 December 2021 and 20 January 2022 were enrolled in the study. Images showing CSNP were obtained from the right eyes of the participants by using Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III with Rostock Cornea Module. Three best quality images were selected from each case. NeuronJ plugin for ImageJ software was used to trace nerve fibers and calculate nerve fiber length (NFL), nerve fiber density (NFD), and nerve branch density (NBD). All these measurements were performed by two different observers, and repeated for the second time by one of the observers with an interval of one week, and interobserver and intraobserver reliability were determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The mean age of 40 participants (12 female and 28 male) was 34.70±5.86 years. The ICCs for interobserver reproducibility were 0.967 (95% CI 0.939-0.982) for NFL, 0.826 (95% CI 0.696-0.904) for NFD, and 0.949 (95% CI 0.906-0.973) for NBD indicating good to excellent reliability. The ICCs for intraobserver repeatibility were 0.964 (95% CI 0.932-0.981) for NFL, 0.803 (95% CI 0.657-0.891) for NFD, and 0.890 (95% CI 0.802-0.941) for NBD indicating good to excel lent reliability. Conclusion: Quantitative CSNP analyzes using semi-automated software have high interobserver and intraobserver reliability and can therefore be used in both clinical practice and clinical studies for detection and follow-up of corneal nerves' well-being, damage, and evaluation of response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objective: To assess how having a first-degree relative who underwent corneal transplantation influenced people's attitudes regarding corneal donation and transplantation., Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between March 15 and April 15, 2023, in the Ophthalmology outpatient department and cornea division of Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Konya, Turkiye, and comprised first-degree relatives of patients who had undergone corneal transplantation in group A and controls matched age and gender without family history of transplantation in group B. All the participants filled out a 13-item survey form regarding socio-demographic characteristics and their perspectives on corneal transplantation and donation. Data was analysed using SPSS 20., Results: Of the 263 subjects, 133(50.6%) were in group A; 78(58.6%) females and 55(41.4%) males with mean age 46.5±15.2 years. There were 130(49.4%) subjects in group B; 70(53.8%) females and 60(46.32%) males with mean age 44.3±15.8 years (p>0.05). There were 110(82.7%) participants in group A and 72(55.4%) in group B who knew what corneal transplantation meant (p<0.001). In group A, 81(60.9%) subjects wanted to donate their corneas after death compared to 40(30.8%) in group B (p<0.001). In group A, 108(83.7%) participants stated that a first-degree relative's corneal transplantation positively affected their view of organ and tissue donation., Conclusions: Individuals whose first-degree relatives had had a cornea transplant showed higher awareness of cornea transplantation and willingness to donate their corneas. more...