2021 Issue 6 at a Glance:
This issue of our journal features 6 original articles, 1 review, and 4 case reports on different topics, as well as a letter to the editor and its reply.
Saá et al. reported in their study titled “Association Between Skin Findings and Ocular Signs in Rosacea” that the prevalence of ocular involvement in rosacea patients was 74.5%, the most common findings were lid margin erythema and meibomian gland dysfunction, and patients with low visual acuity presented to dermatology clinics with papules, pustules, and rhinophyma. Interestingly, 2 of the 51 patients were diagnosed as having ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (see pages 338-343).
In their study titled “Effects of Myrtus communis L. Extract and Apocynin on Lens Oxidative Damage and Boron Levels in Rats with a High Fat-Diet”, Kuru Yaşar et al. showed that a high-fat diet increased serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, body weight, and lens malondialdehyde level and decreased reduced glutathione and boron levels and superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in lens homogenates. However, they reported that treatment with Myrtus communis L. extract and apocynin increased levels of boron, reduced glutathione, and catalase activity in lens homogenates, and therefore suggested that they may reduce oxidative stress in the lens (see pages 344-350).
Ekici Tekin et al. reported in their study titled “Follow-up Findings of Non-infectious Pediatric Uveitis Patients” that of 46 uveitis patients under 16 years of age, 45.7% were found to have a rheumatologic disease (juvenile idiopathic arthritis in 23.9%) and 13% had moderate to severe vision loss. The authors reported that methotrexate was the most common treatment (87%) and adalimumab was added to treatment in resistant cases (73.9%) (see pages 351-357).
In their study evaluating the effect of visual quality of life on depression and anxiety levels in patients with Behçet uveitis, Eser Öztürk et al. assessed 105 patients using the Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFQ-25) and showed that of the 58 patients who completed the questionnaires completely, 31% had symptoms of depression, 58.6% had symptoms of anxiety, and visual quality of life was associated with the development of depression (see pages 358-364).
In a study by Garlı et al. titled “Evaluation of the Effect of Intravitreal Dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) Implant on Intraocular Pressure in Vitrectomized and Non-Vitrectomized Eyes with Macular Edema”, non-vitrectomized eyes were found to have significant increases in mean IOP at 1-3 days, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after receiving the first dose compared to before the first dose, whereas in vitrectomized eyes a significant increase in mean IOP was only seen at 6 months after the first dose. Antiglaucomatous medication was initiated in 17.2% of the patients due to elevated IOP (see pages 365-372).
A survey by Önder Tokuç et al. on intravitreal injection techniques and treatment protocols among the members of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association revealed that 13% of physicians prescribed prophylactic antibiotics before injection, 63.8% used antibiotics drops immediately after injection, and 91.8% of the physicians prescribed topical antibiotics. In addition, most intravitreal injection procedures were performed in an operating room (65.3%) or clean room (33.6%) and most of the surgeons worked under sterile conditions (see pages 373-380).
In the review selected for this issue, titled “Evolving Techniques and Indications of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty”, Evren Kemer et al. summarized new DMEK techniques, size and shape modifications, graft placement techniques, and tips for difficult cases such as eyes with prior glaucoma surgery or failed penetrating keratoplasty, in light of the recent literature (see pages 381-392).
In a case report by Berges Marti et al. titled “Palytoxin-Related Keratoconjunctivitis Assessed by High-Resolution Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography”, a 63-year-old man who rubbed his eyes after handling zoanthid corals without gloves was found to have bilateral ring-shaped corneal stroma infiltration, epithelial defect, and marginal stromal infiltration on slit-lamp examination and stromal hyperreflectivity and Descemet’s folds on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Treatment included topical dexamethasone, topical antibiotics, oral doxycycline, and umbilical cord serum eye drops (see pages 393-397).
Straatsma syndrome is the triad of myelinated retinal nerve fibers, myopia, and amblyopia, and can also be associated with strabismus, nystagmus, hypoplastic optic nerve, and iris heterochromia. In a case report titled “Straatsma Syndrome: Should Visual Prognostic Factors Be Taken into Account? A Case Report”, Sevik et al. presented two patients with Straatsma syndrome who showed different responses to occlusion therapy and discussed their treatment responses according to the prognostic factors for post-occlusion visual acuity reported in the literature (see pages 398-402).
In a case report by Kılıç Müftüoğlu et al. titled “Bilateral Sequential Paracentral Acute Middle Macuopathy”, a 57-year-old man presenting with complaints of a black spot in his left eye and visual acuity of 20/200 was diagnosed as having paracentral acute middle maculopathy based on a hyperreflective band pattern at the level of the inner nuclear layer and inner plexiform layer in the left eye on SD-OCT. The patient developed paracentral acute middle maculopathy in the other eye 1 year later (see pages 403-406).
Persistent fetal vasculature syndrome is characterized by abnormal regression of the fetal hyaloid system and may occur in various forms. In a case report titled “Pseudo-hyaloidal Stalk in Anterior Persistent Fetal Vasculature: A Report of Two Cases”, Özdemir Zeydanlı et al. discussed two atypical cases associated with posterior capsule defect and ectopic lens material located along Cloquet’s canal, along with the possible underlying mechanisms (see pages 407-411).
We hope that the articles selected for this issue will be interesting and enjoyable reading.
Respectfully on behalf of the Editorial Board,
Banu Bozkurt, MD
