2017 issue 4 at a glance:
In the age group of patients undergoing cataract surgery, benign prostate hypertrophy is another extremely common age-related health problem. Loss of iris tone caused by the alpha-blockers used to treat benign prostate hypertrophy gives rise to a condition called intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, which complicates cataract surgery. Though this is now questioned before cataract surgery, Acar et al. found that discontinuing alpha-blocker therapy 10 days before surgery resulted in no favorable changes in anterior segment parameters, including pupil dilation, in their ultrasound biomicroscopic evaluation of 31 eyes of 19 patients.
Biberoğlu et al. observed no significant differences in retinal nerve fiber layer or intraocular pressure (IOP) values before and after carotid artery stenting in 15 patients diagnosed with carotid artery stenosis (CAS) with no signs of Ocular Ischemic syndrome (OIS) when compared to 18 healthy male controls. As the effect of CAS treatment on IOP in the presence of OIS is well described in the literature, OIS emerges as a determinant of IOP levels post-stenting.
Tufan et al. compared the IOP reduction of eye drops vs. selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in order to determine whether the procedure could replace medication and found that over a period of 6 months, 180 or 360 degree SLT lowered IOP comparably to medical therapy in eyes previously treated with timolol-containing fixed combination eye drops. Considering that preservative-free glaucoma medications are not available in our country and that compliance with eye drop therapy decreases with age and the number of drops to be applied, Tufan et al.’s study raises awareness of this replacement option and will impact the treatment preferences of patients and physicians.
Polat et al. investigated factors influencing compliance to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy among patients with wet type age-related macular degeneration (AMD). They determined the main factors leading to noncompliance to this therapy, which is probably the most expensive medical treatment in ophthalmology, were fear of injection, disbelief in the benefits of the treatment, financial limitations, continuation of treatment in another province, and systemic comorbidities. The authors state that raising the awareness of patients and their families may improve treatment compliance and success rates.
Erkan Turan et al. report that patients with similar strabismus diagnoses may exhibit different types of abnormal head position (AHP) and that patients may develop amblyopia or lack binocularity despite AHP. They conclude that attention to these details is required when diagnosing and treating patients with AHP.
In their screening study of schools for the visually impaired, Bingöl Kızıltunç et al. report that the causes of low vision and blindness was preventable in 27.6% and visual acuity improved with the use of low vision aids in 57.5% of 120 students, bringing attention to the serious deficiencies in the early diagnosis and rehabilitation of students in these schools.
In this issue’s review, Özyol et al. compare the currently available intraocular lens materials in terms of uveal and capsular biocompatibility and review studies aimed at increasing the biocompatibility of intraocular lenses.
Serin et al. present two cases of molluscum contagiosum, a cause of unilateral chronic conjunctivitis. In their article, they include a valuable literature review on the differential diagnosis of unilateral chronic conjunctivitis, as well as discuss current treatment options for ocular molluscum contagiosum, which they diagnosed clinically and histopathologically.
Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is a relatively new imaging method primarily used in the assessment of anterior segment pathologies. Aslantürk Eren et al. evaluated AS-OCT findings such as lesion size, inner structure, degree of vascularity, and anterior and posterior surfaces in a patient diagnosed pathologically with spindle type iridociliary melanoma to determine whether AS-OCT can be used to distinguish benign and malignant tumors.
Koban et al. present what they believe to be the second case in the literature of mantle cell lymphoma with central nervous system involvement presenting with ophthalmoplegia. The authors remind us that ophthalmoplegia should also be considered among the initial signs of mantle cell lymphoma.
Cebeci et al. present a case of bullous type central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), which can often be confused with the ocular symptoms of acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Because corticosteroid therapy administered for a diagnosis of intraocular inflammation may exacerbate CSCR and lead to irreversible damage, the authors emphasize that atypical, bullous CSCR should be considered in the presence of serous retinal detachment.
Sarıgül Sezenöz et al. offer a detailed discussion of their use of ranibizumab to treat secondary choroidal neovascularization in a rare case of choroidal osteoma.
We believe that this issue will become a frequently used reference for our colleagues due to the original research articles, the results of which will inform our clinical practice and future studies, and the review article and case reports, which present updated literature summaries in their fields.
Respectfully on behalf of the Editorial Board,
Sait Eğrilmez, MD