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PURPOSE: We aimed to compare retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and peripapillary vessel density values between COVID-19 patients with or without olfactory/gustatory dysfunction symptoms and healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated RNFL and radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPC-VD) values of 41 patients who had COVID-19 history and age- and gender-matched control group including 31 healthy individuals with optical coherence tomography angiography. First, post-COVID-19 group's and control group's RNFL and RPC-VD values were compared, then post-COVID-19 patients were divided into subgroups according to the presence (subgroup-A) and absence (subgroup-B) of olfactory/gustatory dysfunction symptoms, and same parameters were analyzed for subgroups. RESULTS: Forty-one eyes of 41 post-COVID-19 patients and 31 eyes of 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. In RNFL analysis, inferior sector thickness was found significantly lower in post-COVID-19 patients by comparison with control group (P = 0.041). In subgroup analyses, COVID-19 patients who first presented with olfactory/gustatory dysfunction symptoms had higher peripapillary and whole image optic disc capillary density (P = 0.011 and P = 0.002) compared to those who had not had these symptoms. CONCLUSION: Lower RPC-VD and RNFL thickness were detected in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. Higher Disc-VD values were found in COVID-19 patients with chemosensorial dysfunction (CSD) symptoms compared to those who had not had these symptoms probably due to milder disease course in COVID-19 with CSD. Sectorial RNFL attenuation in COVID-19 might have occurred secondary to peripapillary capillary circulation defect.

An ophthalmology consultation was requested for a 29-year-old woman complaining of visual field defects. The patient had presented to the emergency department with cough and high fever one day earlier. Chest computed tomography demonstrated pneumonia and two severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction tests were positive. The patient had undergone renal transplantation 11 years ago due to glomerulonephritis. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/40 in the right eye and 20/30 in the left eye. Fluorescein angiography showed macular hypoperfusion, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed hyperreflectivity in the inner nuclear, outer plexiform, and outer nuclear layers, as well as discontinuity of the ellipsoid zone. Perimetry confirmed bilateral central scotoma. Levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen were 0.86 g/mL and 435.6 g/mL, respectively. The patient was diagnosed as having concurrent acute macular neuroretinopathy and paracentral acute middle maculopathy and was given low-molecular-weight heparin treatment for one month. Her BCVA improved to 20/20 in both eyes, and regression was observed in the retinal findings, hyperreflectivity and ellipsoid zone disruption on OCT, and scotoma in perimetry. Inflammation, thrombosis, and glial involvement may play a role in the pathogenesis of retinal microvascular impairment in COVID-19.

Objectives:Retinal vascular complications have been described in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to analyze retinal microvascular changes and their correlations with clinical findings.Materials and Methods:This case-controlled study was conducted in a university hospital. The right eyes of 52 otherwise healthy patients recovered from COVID-19 and 42 healthy controls were examined with optical coherence tomography angiography. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters. Associations with treatment choices, pneumonia, and laboratory findings were analyzed.Results:Twenty-nine patients (56%) and 18 healthy controls (43%) were men. Mean age of the COVID-19 group was 39.00±13.04 years. Twenty-two patients had pneumonia, 18 (35%) received hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), 17 (33%) received HCQ plus low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and 10 (19%) received favipiravir. The patient group had lower parafoveal VD in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and lower parafoveal VD and perifoveal VD in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) than controls (p=0.003, p=0.004, p=0.001). FAZ area did not differ significantly (p=0.953). Perifoveal VD in the DCP was also significantly lower in the HCQ+LMWH group than the HCQ group (p=0.020) and in the presence of pneumonia (p=0.040). C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin levels were negatively correlated with perifoveal VD in the DCP (r=-0.445, p=0.023; r=-0.451, p=0.040). Ferritin was also negatively correlated with parafoveal VD in the SCP (r=-0.532, p=0.013).Conclusion:Parafoveal and perifoveal VD was found to be lower in the COVID-19 group. Presence of pneumonia, need for LMWH prophylaxis, and levels of CRP and ferritin were found to be negatively associated with retinal VD. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the clinical importance.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) used for the macular edema on intraocular pressure (IOP) and to determine the risk factors for IOP elevation. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 93 eyes of 85 patients who had 4 mg intravitreal triamcinolone injection. Of the 85 patients, 56 (65.8%) had diabetic macular edema, 22 (25.8%) had branch retinal, and 7 (8.2%) had central retinal vein occlusion. IOP changes after injection as well as the relation between IOP elevation and age, sex, lens status, etiology of macular edema, baseline IOP were evaluated. Results: Fourty-six male and 39 female patients with mean age 61.58±9.5 years were evaluated. IOP was recorded to be >24 mmHg in 30 eyes (32.2%) at follow-up visit after an average of 7.5 weeks. Normalization of IOP with medication was achieved in all IOP elevated eyes. Fifteen of 29 eyes (51.7%) with vein occlusion and 15 of 64 eyes (23.3%) with diabetic macula edema had IOP elevation (p=0.01). Twenty-six of 73 phakic (35.6%) and 4 of 20 pseudophakic eyes (20%) had IOP >24 mmHg (p=0.16). There was no association between IOP elevation and sex (p=0.33). Baseline IOP was 16.47±2.8 mmHg in eyes which had elevated IOP and 14.78±2.4 mmHg in the remaining. There was significant relation between IOP elevation and baseline IOP level (p=0.01). Conclusion: Elevated IOP is common side effect after IVTA, but normalization is usually achieved by topical medication. Patients with baseline IOP ≥15 mmHg and vein occlusion have higher risk for IOP elevation. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2015; 45: 86-91)

Laser applications on iris for the treatment of glaucoma include laser iridotomy (LI) and laser peripheral iridoplasty (LPI). LI is a simple and effective modality for treatment of closed-angle glaucoma with pupillary block. LPI is an easy and effective treatment for closed angle in situations in which LI either cannot be performed or does not repair the appositional angle closure because mechanisms other than pupillary block are present. The aim of this review is to summarize the indications, technique details, and complications of laser applications on iris for the treatment of glaucoma. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2013; 43: 190-4)

We described a post-COVID-19 patient who presented with central retinal vein occlusion and macular ischemia. A 50-year-old male presented with decreased vision for a month in his right eye (RE). The patient had no systemic risk factors for vascular disease but recent COVID-19 infection. Fundus examination revealed dense intraretinal dot hemorrhages especially at macula and ischemia-related retinal whitening in the posterior pole in RE. Expanding of foveal avascular zone was also detected in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) sections. After systemic steroid therapy, subretinal fluid resolved but visual acuity did not increase. Depending on the fundus fluorescein angiography and OCTA findings, clinical picture was compatible with previous central retinal vein occlusion with superimposed occlusive vasculopathy at macula. COVID-19 patients with visual problems must be considered with care in regard to thrombotic retinal diseases.

Purpose: To compare the long-term results of the patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) secondary to Behçet's syndrome (BS) with the patients with unknown etiology. Methods: Medical records and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging results of the patients with BRVO secondary to BS and with unknown etiology were reviewed retrospectively between 2016 and 2018 at a single center. The anatomical location of the BRVO, involvement of the macula, application of laser photocoagulation, and intravitreal injection were evaluated. Results: Twenty-eight eyes of 23 patients with BRVO secondary to BS as the study group and 22 eyes of 19 idiopathic BRVO patients as the control group were included in the study. The mean duration of follow-up after the development of BRVO was 74.6 ± 57.4 months in the study group and 63.6 ± 59 months in the control group. The rate of bilaterality, macular involvement, and application of laser photocoagulation was not statistically significantly different between the groups. However, the frequency of injection requirement was significantly lower in the patients with BRVO secondary to BS in comparison to the control group (P= 0.009). Conclusion: Although the treatment of BRVO is laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents or dexamethasone implant, the patients with BS might respond very well to systemic immunomodulatory agents in case of BRVO. Thus, rearrangement of the immunomodulatory treatment before starting intravitreal injections should be considered in the patients with BRVO secondary to BS.

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A 64-year-old Caucasian man referred for decreased vision after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). Slit lamp examination revealed diffuse corneal edema. Despite intensive topical treatment including steroids, corneal edema did not resolve; on the contrary, it advanced to bullous keratopathy. Corneal edema after SLT is an exceptionally rare complication and in all of the previous reports edema resolved with medical treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report presenting persistent corneal edema after SLT.

Behçet’s disease is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, characterized by oral and genital ulceration, skin lesions, and uveitis as well as vascular, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal system involvement. It is prevalent in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Eastern Asia. The aim of this review is to evaluate the gender differences in clinical manifestations of Behçet’s disease, treatment responses, mortality, and morbidity. Behçet’s disease has been reported to be more prevalent in males from certain geographic regions and particular ethnic groups; however, recent reports indicate more even gender distribution across the world. There are gender differences in clinical manifestations and severity of the disease. Ocular manifestations, vascular involvement, and neurologic symptoms are more frequently reported in male patients whereas oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, and arthritis occur more frequently in female patients. The disease can have a more severe course in males, and overall mortality rate is significantly higher among young male patients.