2021 Issue 1 at a Glance;
This issue of our journal features 6 original studies, 1 review, and 4 case reports from the national and international scientific community that make important contributions to our knowledge regarding eye health.
In the first original study of this issue, Uzman et al. searches for the answer to a common question in anterior segment surgery: Does combined surgery or sequential surgery yield more positive results in cases of cataract with concurrent corneal pathology? They retrospectively evaluated 44 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK), cataract extraction (CE), and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation procedures in the same session and 126 patients who underwent CE and IOL implantation in a second session following PK. The authors reported that the two groups were similar in terms of graft survival, while sequential surgery was more advantageous in younger patients in particular due to lower refractive error and higher visual acuity results (see pages 1-6).
The second original research article, titled “Evaluation of the Cataract Surgery 2018 Survey in Terms of Achieving Refractive Cataract Surgery Targets,” presents the results of a survey carried out with the contributions of many Turkish ophthalmologists. This comprehensive survey study, which sheds light on the current state of cataract surgery performed in our country, evaluated responses from 823 members of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association, collected using the SurveyMonkey application. Based on the results of the study, the authors concluded that a large proportion of Turkish cataract surgeons had access to high technology for surgical preparation and surgery, but that these technical capabilities are not at present being used sufficiently to achieve the current goals of refractive cataract surgery (see pages 7-18).
It is known that secondary problems that occur after ocular surgery can adversely impact treatment success. On this basis, Taşkoparan et al. evaluated complaints of diplopia that developed after Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation and reported that although most of these diplopia cases resolve without treatment, prismatic glasses can be used as a treatment option in patients whose daily life is affected by diplopia, even if temporarily (see pages 19-25).
In another original article, Yılmaz et al. reported a study in which they aimed to determine normal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) values in myopic patients without glaucoma, based on the premise that these values differ due to increased axial length in myopic eyes and this may lead to misinterpretations in glaucoma follow-up. They found that the RNFLT measurements of myopic patients frequently indicated thinning classified as “borderline” or “outside normal limits,” and they underlined the importance of considering this information in order to avoid misdiagnosis in glaucoma suspects (see pages 26-31).
Kaya et al. present an original study evaluating functional and anatomical outcomes in patients who developed non-infectious intraocular inflammation (IOI) after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). They report that non-infectious IOI is typically painless with no conjunctival hyperemia, hypopyon, or fibrin reaction, it responds well to topical steroid therapy, and visual acuity can return to the initial levels within weeks (see pages 32-37).
In another article about AMD, Avcı et al. evaluated the functional and morphologic results of vitrectomy with 5% C3F8 gas tamponade and a combination of subretinal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in patients with submacular hemorrhage. The authors reported that visual acuity could be improved significantly if the hemorrhage was adequately displaced, and that performing surgery within the first 10 days could positively affect final visual acuity by preventing irreversible photoreceptor damage (see pages 38-44).
The review in this issue of our journal is titled “Current Knowledge in Allergic Conjunctivitis” and was penned by Villegas and Benitez-del- Castillo of Spain. In this article containing valuable current information, the authors review the clinical course, characteristics, and differential diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis, and report recent advances in the pathophysiology and treatment of the disease (see pages 45-54).
The first case report in this issue presents a patient with paracentral corneal perforation treated using the single-bite mini-keratoplasty method, which is an interesting and original surgical innovation. Kato et al. of Japan reported that using this simple but effective technique in paracentral corneal perforations enables astigmatism to be reduced, thus preserving high visual function (see pages 55-57).
In another interesting case report from Mexico, Dalma-Weiszhausz et al. highlights the coexistence of multiple penetrating eye injuries and psychological problems in a patient suspected of self-harm. The authors emphasize the importance of psychiatric treatment of such patients due to the possibility of life-threatening complications (see page 58-61).
In another case report, Ng et al. describe an older woman with parasitic infestation of Chrysomya bezziana fly larvae, which are aggressive and feed on living tissues, in the orbit of a phthisic eye. The patient underwent urgent removal of the larvae due to the risk of intracranial invasion, followed by exenteration. While sharing what they believe is the first case of orbital myiasis caused by C. bezziana encountered in Malaysia, the authors emphasize the importance of rapid and effective treatment for this rare but terrifying condition (see pages 62-65).
The last of this issue’s interesting case reports, which have been sent from various corners of the globe and refresh our knowledge, is a case of encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis with bilateral ocular involvement and orbital cyst from Nigeria. We believe that Farouk et al.’s report of this extremely rare congenital disease, which characteristically involves ectomesodermal tissues such as the central nervous system, eyes, and skin, will be an interesting read (see pages 66-69).
Respectfully on behalf of the Editorial Board,
Tomris Şengör, MD