VOLUME 78 - ISSUE 3

Purposes: To evaluate the effects of nalbuphine 1% on the expression of metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and opioid growth factor (OGF) in rabbit corneas after lamellar keratectomy. Methods: The rabbits were assigned to two groups: group nalbuphine (GN, n=30), which received 30 µL of nalbuphine 1% in 4 daily applications at regular intervals until corneal epithelialization, and group control (GC, n=30), which received physiological saline solution under the same conditions adopted in GN. The corneas were collected for immunohistochemistry on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 after lamellar keratectomy, and the expressions of MMP-1, MMP-9, and OGF were analyzed. Results: The expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-9 increased until day 5 of the evaluation, with no differences observed between GN and GC (p>0.05). On days 7 and 9, significant reductions were observed in the expression of MMP-1 (p<0.01), with no differences observed between GN and GC (p>0.05). The expression of OGF was constant in all periods (p>0.05), restricted to the corneal epithelium, and there was no difference between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: The study results showed that nalbuphine 1% did not alter the expression patterns of MMP-1, MMP-9, and OGF in rabbit corneas after lamellar keratectomy.

Keywords: Cornea; Photorefractive keratectomy; Nalbuphine/therapeutic use; Matrix metalloproteinases; Receptors, opioid; Immunohistochemistry; Animals; Rabbits

Purpose: To analyze ocular biometry parameters and evaluate their relationship with gestational age, birth weight, and postmenstrual age in prematurely born infants. Methods: The right eyes of 361 premature infants born before the 36th gestational week were evaluated. Birth weight, gestational week, and gender were recorded. An A-scan Biometer was used for obtaining axial measurements, including anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, vitreous length, and total axial length. Results: Gestational age and birth weight values ranged from 23 to 36 weeks and from 560 to 2,670 g, respectively. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 30.8 ± 2.8 weeks and 1,497.9 ± 483.6 g, respectively. During the first examination (4-5 weeks of postnatal age), birth weight and gestational age of the infants correlated significantly and positively with lens thickness, vitreous length, and axial length (r>0.5, p<0.001), but not with anterior chamber depth (r<0.5). Increased vitreous and axial lengths correlated significantly with increasing postmenstrual age of the infants (r=0.669, p<0.001; r=0.845, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Lens thickness, vitreous length, and axial length, but not anterior chamber depth, were significantly correlated with birth weight and gestational age. All four parameters increased with increasing postmenstrual age, with higher correlations for vitreous and axial lengths than for anterior chamber depth and lens thickness. It was concluded that axial elongation resulted primarily from increasing posterior chamber length.

Keywords: Anterior chamber; Axial length, eye; Biometry; Gestational age; Premature; Birth weight

Purpose: The contrast sensitivity (CS) function in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) may be impaired either frequently as a result of dry eye diseases or rarely as a result of optic neuropathy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the CS function in pSS patients as well as to assess corneal aberrations and thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL). Methods: Fourteen eyes of 14 pSS patients (pSS group) and 14 eyes of 14 healthy participants (control group) were subjected to assessment of CS at the spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12, and 18 cycles/degree (cpd) using a functional visual acuity contrast test (FACT); measurement of corneal high-order aberrations (HOAs) in terms of coma-like, spherical-like, and total HOAs using Scheimpflug corneal topography; and measurement of the thickness of both the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) and pRNFL in all quadrants using optical coherence tomography. None of the participants were under treatment with artificial tears. Results: The results of the CS test did not differ between the 2 groups at all spatial frequencies (p>0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of corneal HOAs (p>0.05) and thickness of mGCIPL (p>0.05). However, among all quadrants, only the inferior quadrant of pRNFL in pSS patients was statistically significantly thinner than that in the healthy participants (p=0.04). Conclusions: The CS function in pSS patients can be maintained with normal thickness of both pRNFL and mGCIPL and with lack of increased corneal HOAs, which may be present even in the absence of artificial tear usage.

Keywords: Sjogren’s syndrome; Corneal wavefront aberration; Dry eye diseases; Optic disk/pathology; Optical coherence tomography

Purpose: To analyze the indications for explantation or exchange of intraocular lenses (IOLs), which were originally implanted for the correction of aphakia during cataract extraction. Methods: All cases that involved intraocular lens explantation or exchange in one institution between January 2008 and December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: In total, 93 eyes of 93 patients were analyzed. The median time interval between implantation and explantation of the anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOL) and posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOL) was 83.40 ± 83.14 months (range: 1-276 months) and 55.14 ± 39.25 months (range: 1-168 months), respectively. Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (17 eyes, 38.6%) and persistent iritis (12 eyes, 27.8%) in the AC IOL group and dislocation or decentration (30 eyes, 61.2%) and incorrect IOL power (nine eyes, 18.4%) in the PC IOL group were the most common indications for explantation of IOLs. The mean logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly from 1.30 preoperatively to 0.62 postoperatively in the PC IOL group (p<0.001) but did not improve significantly in the AC IOL group (p=0.186). Conclusions: The primary indication for IOL explantation or exchange was pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in the AC IOL group and was dislocation or decentration in the PC IOL group. PC IOL explantation or exchange is safe and improves visual acuity.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Lenses, intraocular; Reoperation; Device removal; Lens implantation, intraocular; Pseudophakia; Corneal diseases; Patient satisfaction; Visual acuity

Purpose: In the lacrimal gland (LG) acinar cells, signaling regulates the release of secretory vesicles through specific Rab and SNARE exocytotic proteins. In diabetes mellitus (DM), the LGs are dysfunctional. The aim of this work was to determine if secretory apparatus changes were associated with any effects on the secretory vesicles (SV) in diabetic rats as well as the expression levels of constituent Rab and members of the SNARE family, and if insulin supplementation reversed those changes. Methods: DM was induced in male Wistar rats with an intravenous dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). One of the two diabetic groups was then treated every other day with insulin (1 IU). A third control group was injected with vehicle. After 10 weeks, Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to compared the Rab and SNARE secretory factor levels in the LGs. Transmission electron microscopy evaluated acinar cell SV density and integrity. Results: In the diabetes mellitus group, there were fewer and enlarged SV. The Rab 27b, Rab 3d, and syntaxin-1 protein expression declined in the rats with diabetes mellitus. Insulin treatment restored the SV density and the Rab 27b and syntaxin expression to their control protein levels, whereas the Vamp 2 mRNA expression increased above the control levels. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus LG changes were associated with the declines in protein expression levels that were involved in supporting exocytosis and vesicular formation. They were partially reversed by insulin replacement therapy. These findings may help to improve therapeutic management of dry eye in diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus/chemically induced; Lacrimal apparatus; Exocytosis; secretory vesicles; R-SNARE proteins; Animals; Rats

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of age on the success of transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TCDCR). Methods: Seventy patients (70 eyes) who underwent transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction as a primary surgery were included in this retrospective, nonrandomized study. The patients were divided into two groups according to age. Mean ages were 21.3 ± 3.3 in group 1 and 60.3 ± 7.3 in group 2. The records of the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up examinations were evaluated, and the anatomical and functional outcomes were noted. Functional success was defined as the absence of epiphora as indicated by the patient. Anatomical success was determined as patency of the neo-ostium with irrigation. Results: At the 3-month follow-up, 67% cases in group 1 showed anatomical success and 52% showed functional success; in group 2, the rates were 100% and 92%, respectively. Functional and anatomical success rates were the same for both the 6- and 12-month visits; 46% in group 1 and 76% in group 2. The results in group 2 were significantly better at all three follow-up visits (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study clearly showed that the older patients experienced better transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy results than the younger patients. The diminished inflammatory response in the older population may be a possible contributing factor to these results.

Keywords: Dacryocystorhinostomy; Diagnostic technique ophthalmological; Lacrimal duct obstruction; Nasolacrimal duct; Silicones; Lasers semiconductor

Purpose: To report the anatomical and visual results in patients diagnosed as having retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears after receiving ranibizumab injections. Methods: Eyes diagnosed as having RPE tears with a minimum 6-month follow-up were retrospectively evaluated. Each eye was treated with at least three doses of ranibizumab at monthly intervals. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anterior segment findings, intraocular pressure, and fundus examination results were evaluated during control visits. Color fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiographies, fundus autofluorescence, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images were obtained. The height of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) was measured by SD-OCT. Results: Twelve eyes with RPE tears were studied. Nine eyes (75%) developed RPE tears during ranibizumab injections for choroidal neovascularization (eight eyes with vascularized PED and one eye with choroidal osteoma), and tears occurred in three eyes before any injections. The median number of ranibizumab injections after diagnosis of RPE tears was 3 (min 2, max 5). In the most recent follow-up visit, there was no statistically significant correlation between the grade of RPE and logMAR of BCVA (p>0.05, r=0.112). Eight of twelve eyes had PED, and seven of these had irregular PED contours before injection therapy. The mean PED height was 447 ± 122 µm. Conclusions: In this series, RPE tears developed mostly after intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for vascularized PED. Increased vertical height and irregular contours of the PEDs can be risk factors for the formation of RPE tears. The continuation of anti-VEGF therapy after tear formation is beneficial for vision improvement in eyes with RPE tears.

Keywords: Macular degeneration; Retinal detachment; Retinal pigment epithelium; Intravitreal injections; Antibodies, monoclonal, humanized; Tomography, optical coherence; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Fluorescein angiography

Purpose: To analyze the safety of warfarin therapy during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. Methods: This was a prospective nonrandomized comparative study of 60 eyes of 60 patients treated with or without concurrent oral warfarin anticoagulant therapy, referred for cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. The sample included a treatment (n=30) and a control (n=30) group. Results: There were no records of intraoperative or postoperative intracameral bleeding complications in both the groups. At 1-month postoperative follow-up, 90.0% of patients presented spectacle-corrected visual acuity of at least 20/40. Conclusion: Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification with topical anesthesia can be successfully conducted without discontinuing warfarin.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Anticoagulants; Warfarin/adverse effects; Hemorrhage

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of visual loss (VL), possible predictive factors of VL, and improvement in patients with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) syndrome. Methods: We reviewed 50 PTC patients (43 females, seven males) who underwent neuro-ophthalmic examination at the time of diagnosis and after treatment. Demographic data, body mass index (BMI), time from symptom onset to diagnosis (TD), maximum intracranial pressure (MIP), occurrence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), and treatment modalities were reviewed. VL was graded as mild, moderate, or severe on the basis of visual acuity and fields. Predictive factors for VL and improvement were assessed by regression analysis. Results: The mean ± SD age, BMI, and MIP were 35.2 ± 12.7 years, 32.0 ± 7.5 kg/cm2, and 41.9 ± 14.5 cmH2O, respectively. Visual symptoms and CVT were present in 46 and eight patients, respectively. TD (in months) was <1 in 21, 1-6 in 15, and >6 in 14 patients. Patients received medical treatment with (n=20) or without (n=30) surgery. At presentation, VL was mild in 16, moderate in 12, and severe in 22 patients. Twenty-eight patients improved and five worsened. MIP, TD, and hypertension showed a significant correlation with severe VL. The best predictive factor for severe VL was TD >6 months (p=0.04; odds ratio, 5.18). TD between 1 and 6 months was the only factor significantly associated with visual improvement (p=0.042). Conclusions: VL is common in PTC, and when severe, it is associated with a delay in diagnosis. It is frequently permanent; however, improvement may occur, particularly when diagnosed within 6 months of symptom onset.

Keywords: Pseudotumor cerebri; Visual loss; Intracranial hypertension; Papilledema

Purpose: To evaluate the difference in terms of refractive errors and anterior segment parameters between schizophrenic patients and healthy volunteers. Methods: This study compared 70 patients (48 men) who were diagnosed with schizophrenia with a control group of 60 (35 men) who were similar in terms of age, gender, education, and socioeconomic level. Anterior segment examination was performed using a Scheimflug system. Axial length and lens thickness (LT) were measured using optic biometry. The following tests were administered to the psychiatric patient group: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). Results: Mild myopia was detected in both the schizophrenic and control groups, with no statistically significant difference (p>0.005). Corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and central corneal thickness (CCT) values were lower in the schizophrenic group, and there was a statistically significant between-group difference (p=0.026, p=0.014, p=0.048, and p=0.005, respectively). LT was greater in schizophrenics, and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0.006). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between SAPS and cylinder values (p=0.008). The axial eye length, cylinder value, pupil diameter, mean keratometric value, and anterior chamber angle revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of refraction disorders between schizophrenics and the healthy control group, while some differences in anterior chamber parameters were present. These results demonstrate that schizophrenics may exhibit clinical and structural differences in the eye.

Keywords: Schizophrenia; Refractive errors/complications; Anterior eye segment/pathology; Biometry

Permanent visual loss can be caused by improper use of immunosuppressive therapy in cases of uveitis without differential diagnosis of syphilitic uveitis. We present four cases of syphilitic uveitis that were incorrectly diagnosed as being secondary to rheumatic diseases and were subsequently treated with immunosuppressive therapy, leading to permanent visual loss. These cases highlight the importance of ruling out syphilis in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory ocular diseases before starting use of immunosuppressive therapy.

Keywords: Syphilis; Uveitis/drug therapy; Immunosuppressive agents/therapeutic use; Immunosuppressive agents/adverse effects; Vision disorders/etiology; Case reports

This case report describes peripheral idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV) with a collection of small aneurysmal dilations that masqueraded as choroidal tumors in an elderly patient. A 68-year-old African American woman was referred to us with a suspected diagnosis of asymptomatic vascular choroidal tumor and choroidal capillary hemangioma, affecting the temporal peripheral fundus. Upon examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed two large hemorrhagic pigment epithelium detachments (PED), and indocyanine green angiography (ICG) confirmed the diagnosis of IPCV. One year later, there was reduction in the hemorrhagic pigment epithelium detachments and the lesion took on a different appearance, resembling a choroidal osteoma. No treatment was necessary despite the presence of multiple polyps. IPCV is a rare condition that can resemble other choroidal diseases depending on the stage of presentation. OCT is the best tool to determine the characteristics of the lesions, and indocyanine green angiography should be used to confirm the diagnosis. Not all cases require treatment.

Keywords: Choroid hemorrhage/etiology; Choroid diseases/pathology; Fluorescein angiography; Indocyanine green/diagnostic use; Choroid/blood supply; Peripheral vascular diseases; Pigment epithelium of eye; Tomography, optical coherence; Case reports

Purpose: To evaluate the use of a slow-release dexamethasone 0.7-mg intravitreal implant for cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to intermediate uveitis and refractory to systemic steroids. Methods: A retrospective study of the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular inflammation, intraocular pressure (IOP), fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), inflammation, and adverse reactions of five patients (women, mean age of 35 years) with cystoid macular edema treated with a dexamethasone implant. Patients were evaluated in seven visits until the 150th day after the implant. Results: Four patients had bilateral pars planitis and one had bilateral intermediate uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Six dexamethasone devices were implanted, under topical anesthesia (one each in six eyes, five patients). The mean follow-up time was 5 months. The best-corrected visual acuity improved in all eyes that received an implant, with five having improvements of two or more lines. Optical coherence tomography showed thinning of the macula in all eyes treated, and we saw a correlation between the best-corrected visual acuity and retinal thinning. No serious adverse events occurred and no significant increase in intraocular pressure was observed. Conclusions: Slow-release dexamethasone intravitreal implants can effectively treat CME secondary to intermediate uveitis and refractory to systemic steroids.

Keywords: Macular edema/etiology; Uveitis/complications; Tomography, optical coherence; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use; Visual acuity

Bevacizumab, a monoclonal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody, has been suggested as a potential healing therapeutic following glaucoma surgery. Here, we aimed to improve the bioavailability of bevacizumab when used as an adjunct therapy to non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (DS) by using a bevacizumab-methylcellulose mixture (BMM). Ten previously non-operated eyes in ten patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma underwent DS with a subconjunctival injection of 0.3 ml of BMM (bevacizumab 3.75 mg incorporated into 4% methylcellulose) at the surgical site. Bevacizumab release was evaluated in vitro using size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb morphology, corneal endothelial cell count (CECC), and complications were evaluated at 6 months after surgery. Using HPLC, bevacizumab was detected in BMM for up to 72 h. Moreover, all surgical blebs remained expanded with hyaline material during the first week. A significant IOP reduction (mean ± SD= -10.3 ± 5.4 mmHg, P<0.001) and diffuse blebs were observed at the final follow-up period. Although CECC was slightly reduced (-7.4%), no complications were observed. In conclusion, bevacizumab was released from BMM, and the use of this innovative mixture yielded good results following DS with no complications. Further studies are required to determine its efficacy prior to establishing BMM as an adjunct treatment for penetrating and non-penetrating glaucoma surgeries.

Keywords: Trabeculectomy/adverse effects; Glaucoma/surgery; Sclerectomy; Antibodies, monoclonal, humanized/therapeutic use; Methylcellulose/therapeutic use; Mitomycin/therapeutic use; Chemotherapy, adjuvant; Intraocular pressure/physiology

A systematic review was conducted to investigate the relationship between visual impairment and depression in the elderly. We searched electronic databases (LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) from inception to August 2014 and researched the described references. The search strategy used the following terms: (visual impairment or blindness) and (elderly) and (depression). Of the 641 electronics, 42 works were selected in full and another 20 were identified as being possibly relevant. Ten studies were included. The studies ranged in sample size from 31 to 21,995 participants. Depression was associated with visual impairment in all studies; however, without standardization of diagnostic tests, we could not conduct a meta-analysis or establish a relationship between visual impairment and depression in the elderly.

Keywords: Visual impairment; Depression; Aging; Blindness; Vision loss