The outcomes of intravitreal C3F8 gas tamponade combined with laser photocoagulation treatment for optic disc pit maculopathy

International Ophthalmology - To share the anatomical results and visual outcomes of intravitreal gas tamponade combined with laser photocoagulation treatment for optic disc pit maculopathy (ODPM)....     

Effect of mydriasis induced by topical 0.5% tropicamide instillation on the corneal biomechanical properties in healthy individuals measured by ocular response analyzer

Purpose: This observational study aims to investigate the effects of tropicamide (0.5%) on corneal biomechanical properties, with the ocular response analyzer (ORA), in healthy individuals.

Methods: Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) measurements of 38 (21 female and 17 male) healthy individuals, before and after 30?min of 0.5% tropicamide instillation, were performed by using the ORA.

Results: The mean CH, CRF, IOPg and IOPcc measurements of the eyes were 10.2?±?1.9?mmHg, 10.3?±?2.1?mmHg, 15.7?±?3.4?mmHg, 16.4?±?3.3?mmHg pre-tropicamide, and 10.4?±?1.7?mmHg, 10.3?±?2.1?mmHg, 15.3?±?3.4?mmHg, 15.8?±?2.7?mmHg post-tropicamide, respectively. The differences between the pre- and post-tropicamide measurements of the eyes were insignificant (p?=?0.184, p?=?0.659, p?=?0.294, p?=?0.150, respectively; paired t-test).

Conclusions: A tropicamide instillation does not lead to significant changes in the corneal biomechanical properties. Therefore, it can be used safely in disease, i.e. in the diagnosis and follow-up ORA as it does not cause any change.     

Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels.Methods Sixty patients diagnosed with AMD at our clinic between March 2004 and September 2004 were assessed in a prospective cross-sectional study. Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels taken after 8 h of fasting from 30 patients with exudative AMD and 30 patients with dry AMD were compared with the results of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy participants.Results Patients with both exudative and dry types of AMD had significantly higher plasma homocysteine levels (mean 14.19±3.11 μmol/l; 13.07±2.90 μmol/l respectively) compared with the controls (mean 10.79±2.56 μmol/l; (p=0.000 and p=0.008 respectively). Homocysteine levels were higher in the exudative AMD group compared with the dry AMD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.290). Plasma vitamin B12 levels were found to be significantly lower in the exudative AMD group (289.14±113.44 pg/l) compared with the controls (436.17±204.12 pg/l) and dry AMD group (443.47±190.83 pg/l; (p=0.000). Plasma folate levels were comparable among groups (p=0.106).Conclusion This study suggests an association between elevated plasma homocysteine and AMD regardless of the subtype. Further controlled prospective studies are needed to investigate the possible role of homocysteine in AMD and the effect of vitamin B12 and folate supplementation in this process.The study was presented at the 38th National Ophthalmology Congress in Antalya, Turkey