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AIM: To compare two different anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment regimens’-a priori pro re nata (PRN) and PRN regimen following the loading phase-anatomical and functional results in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients. METHODS: Totally 544 nAMD patients followed and treated with aflibercept (n=135) and ranibizumab (n=409) at 9 different centers between 2013 and 2015 were enrolled into this retrospective multicenter study. Patients with initial best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) interval of 1.3-0.3 (logMAR) and a minimum follow-up of 12mo were included. Patients under two different regimens-a priori pro re nata (1+PRN) or 3 consecutive intravitreal injections followed by a PRN regimen (3+PRN)-were compared in BCVA at 3th, 6th and 12th months, and in central macular thickness (CMT) at 6th and 12th months. The total study group, intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) groups were evaluated separately. RESULTS: The mean CMT decreased in the 1+PRN (n=101) regimen from 407 to 358 and 340 µm and in the 3+PRN (n=443) group from 398 to 318 and finally to 310 µm at months 6 and 12, respectively. Anatomically, the CMT reduction at 6th month (48.5 vs 76.4; P

Objectives: To evaluate the real-world outcomes of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients. Materials and Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, interventional, non-comparative study. The records of nAMD patients treated with an anti-VEGF agent on a pro re nata treatment regimen basis between January 2013 and December 2015 were reviewed. The patients who completed a follow-up period of 12 months were included. Primary outcome measures of this study were the visit and injection numbers during the first year. Results: Eight hundred eighty eyes of 783 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Mean number of visits at month 12 was 6.9±2.5 (range: 1-15). Mean number of injections at month 12 was 4.1±1.9 (range: 1-11). Mean visual acuity at baseline and months 3, 6, and 12 was 0.90±0.63 LogMAR (range: 0.0-3.0), 0.79±0.57 LogMAR (range: 0.0-3.0), 0.76±0.57 LogMAR (range: 0.0-3.0), and 0.79±0.59 LogMAR (range: 0.0-3.0), respectively. Mean central retinal thickness at baseline and months 6 and 12 was 395±153 μm (range: 91-1582), 330±115 μm (range: 99-975), and 332±114 μm (range: 106-1191), respectively. Conclusion: The numbers of visits and injections were much lower than ideal and were insufficient with the pro re nata treatment regimen.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results and recurrence rates of external and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) in Turkish Cohort. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed in all patients who underwent surgery for PANDO between January 2010 and September 2014 in a tertiary university hospital retrospectively. The patients were followed up on the first day, first month, third month and sixth month postoperatively. Lacrimal drainage system and recurrence rates were recorded. RESULTS: This study was conducted in 81 patients, 27 of whom were men (33.3%) and 54 were women (66.7%). The mean follow-up time was 30.13+-16.42 months (range 6–62 months). The mean age was 50.51+-12.47 years (range 16 to 77 years). External DCR was used in 44 (66.7%) of the cases and endonasal DCR was used in 37 (45.7%) of the cases. Surgical results of DCR were divided into three groups based on the integrity and openness of the lacrimal drainage pathway in all PANDO patients. Operation success rates of these data revealed that 45 (55.6%) cases were recorded as successful, 20 (24.7%) of the cases were accepted as partially successful and 16 (19.8%) of the cases were deemed as unsuccessful. Based on these data, surgical success rates were found in 38 (86.4%) patients in external DCR and 27 (73%) patients in endonasal DCR. Surgical failure rates were six (13.6%) in external DCR and 10 (27%) in endonasal DCR. There was no statistically significant difference between success rates and recurrences in both groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic DCR produced simple, minimally invasive and preferable results compared to external DCR in the Turkish population. Although the success of external DCR is higher and the recurrence is lower than endoscopic DCR, with the outcomes of this study, endoscopic DCR can be tried as the first choice to protect the patient from major surgery and anesthesia in PANDO.

INTRODUCTION[|]The purpose of the study was to compare the refractive error measurements of pediatric patients performed with a Plusoptix A09 photorefractor (PO; Plusoptix AG, Nuremberg, Germany), a Retinomax K-plus 3 (RTX; Right Group, Tokyo, Japan), and the new handheld auto refracto-keratometer, the Nidek HandyRef-K (HDY; Nidek SA, Créteil, France), and to evaluate the intermethods agreement.[¤]METHODS[|]A total of 194 eyes of 194 children were included in the study. All of the children underwent refraction measurement with the PO before cycloplegia and 2 autorefractors were used after cycloplegia: the RTX and the HDY.[¤]RESULTS[|]The mean age of the patients was 16.65+-10.04 months (range: 3-34 months). There were no statistically significant differences between the spherical values (SV) or cylindrical axis values (CAV) measured with the PO (SV: 1.61+-1.79 diopters [D]; CAV: 94.25+-72.47 D), the RTX (SV: 1.91+-2.06 D; CAV: 94.3+-73.44 D), and the HDY (SV: 1.89+-2.04 D; CAV: 93.55+-73.71 D) (p>0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in the cylindrical values (CV) assessed with the RTX (CV: -0.97+-0.75 D) and the HDY (CV: -1.11+-0.76 D) (p=0.003) and the HDY and the PO (CV: -0.92+-0.68 D)(p=0.002), while there was no statistically significant difference between the values determined with the RTX and the PO (p>0.05). Statistically significant differences were demonstrated for spherical equivalent values (SEV) obtained with the RTX (SEV: 1.43+-1.97 D) and the PO (SEV: 1.15+-1.74 D) (p=0.02), and the HDY (SEV: 1.34+-1.95 D) and the PO (p=0.03), but no significant difference was found between the RTX and the HDY values (p>0.05).[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]No significant difference was found between the SEV measured by the RTX and the HDY, but the PO was significantly less hyperopic than the RTX and the HDY. The CV measured by HDY was higher than that of other devices. These devices can be used for screening in crowded pediatric ophthalmology clinics and may be an easier way of measuring refractive errors in children younger than 3 years of age, but high SEV and CV results should serve as an alert to physicians. It should also be kept in mind that cycloplegic retinoscopy is still the gold standard and these alternative methods can only be used for screening. The prescription of eyeglasses should not be made without cycloplegic retinoscopy.[¤]

INTRODUCTION[|]Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is the second most common type of retinal vascular disorder. Both inflammation and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels play important roles in the pathogenesis of macular edema (ME) secondary to BRVO. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 0.7-mg intravitreal dexamethasone implants with continued anti-VEGF treatment in patients with ME secondary to BRVO who were poor responders to at least 6 previous anti-VEGF injections.[¤]METHODS[|]Patients exhibiting an insufficient response to at least 6 ranibizumab treatments and who subsequently underwent a dexamethasone implant were included Group 1. Patients who were at risk for cataract or glaucoma continued treatment with the same drug and were defined as Group 2. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) changes at month 2, 4, and 6 were measured.[¤]RESULTS[|] Ninety eyes were evaluated. In Group 1, the mean baseline BCVA of 0.71+-0.75 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) improved to 0.53+-0.62 logMAR at month 2 (p

INTRODUCTION[|]The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and anatomical outcomes and the rate of epiretinal membrane (ERM) recurrence in eyes that had undergone ERM-internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling surgery at least 6 months earlier.[¤]METHODS[|]The records of 81 eyes of 81 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and ERM-ILM peeling with the diagnosis of idiopathic ERM between January 2015 and January 2016 in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included. The demographic details of the patients, duration of the follow-up period, use of endotamponade, and any complications were recorded. Best corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness (CMT) at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months were also recorded.[¤]RESULTS[|]A total of 81eyes of 81 patients, 45 (55.6%) males and 36 (44.4%) females, with a group mean age of 65.7+-8.5 years (range: 46-85 years) were assessed. The mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.81+-0.50 logMAR (the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) (0.22 decimals). During the follow-up, the mean visual acuity at 6, 12, and 24 months was 0.61+-0.37 logMAR (0.33 decimals), 0.61+-0.38 logMAR (0.33 decimals), and 0.55+-0.33 logMAR (0.36 decimals), respectively. The visual acuity was significantly better at 6,12, and 24 months compared with the baseline measurement (p

Dexamethasone implant, 0,7 mg (Ozurdex, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA), is drug mostly used in the treatment of the diabetic macular edema and edema related to retinal vein occlusion. By reporting this case we aimed to report a new side effect of 0.7 mg intravitreal dexamethasone implant that has not been reported in the literature before.

Purpose. To report a case report of one patient suffering from retinal artery occlusion secondary to Buerger’s disease, in order to raise awareness to this etiology in the differential diagnosis of retinal artery occlusion. Methods. A retrospective case report of a patient with retinal artery occlusion secondary to Buerger’s disease. Data retrieved from the medical records included exposure, complaints, visual acuity, clinical findings and imaging, laboratory assessment, treatment, disease course, and visual outcome. Results. Diagnosis of retinal artery occlusion secondary to Buerger’s disease was established based on ruling out other causes of retinal artery occlusion. Inflammatory retinal vascular disease, permanent vision loss, and macular atrophy were shown in this case. Conclusion. The very first case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in a 64-year-old male patient with Buerger’s disease. Although diagnosing CRAO based on both fundoscopic and fluorescein angiographic findings is not difficult, revealing underlying condition of CRAO occasionally could be challenging.