Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the sub-400 corneal cross-linking protocol: initial clinical and morphological findings.

Purpose: To assess the safety and the efficacy of the "Sub-400 corneal cross-linking (CXL) protocol" for progressive keratoconus (KC) in ultrathin corneas.

Methods: The study included thirty four patients with progressive KC, who underwent CXL using the "Sub-400" protocol due to intraoperative thinnest corneal pachymetry ranging from 295 to 398 μm after epithelial removal. After the epithelium was removed, the following ultraviolet A irradiation was applied at a fluence of 3 mW/cm and the duration was adjusted based on the specific corneal stromal thickness.

Clinical and surgical outcomes of tectonic corneal patch grafts : insights from a tertiary referral hospital.

Purpose: This study aimed to report the clinical characteristics, surgical indications, outcomes and long-term complications of full-thickness or lamellar corneal patch grafts for various indications.

Material-method: This retrospective study included 48 eyes of 47 patients who underwent full-thickness or lamellar corneal patch keratoplasty for treatment of corneal perforation, melting and descemetocele. Patient demographics, preoperative features, best-corrected visual acuity before and after surgery, mean follow-up time, corneal graft type, long-term complications, need for additional surgery, and anatomical success were analyzed.

Predicting Success in Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Using Machine Learning.

Purpose: This study aimed to predict early graft failure (GF) in patients who underwent Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty based on donor characteristics.

Methods: Several machine learning methods were trained to predict GF automatically. To predict GF, the following variables were obtained: donor age, sex, systemic diseases, medications, duration of stay in the intensive care unit, death-to-preservation time (DPT), endothelial cell density of the cornea, tightness of Descemet membrane roll during surgery, anterior chamber tamponade, tamponade used for rebubbling, and preoperative best corrected visual acuity.

Machine learning based endothelial cell image analysis of patients undergoing descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty surgery.

Objectives: In this study, we developed a machine learning approach for postoperative corneal endothelial cell images of patients who underwent Descemet's membrane keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: An AlexNet model is proposed and validated throughout the study for endothelial cell segmentation and cell location determination. The 506 images of postoperative corneal endothelial cells were analyzed.

Cell Type-Specific Extracellular Vesicles and Their Impact on Health and Disease.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), a diverse group of cell-derived exocytosed particles, are pivotal in mediating intercellular communication due to their ability to selectively transfer biomolecules to specific cell types. EVs, composed of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, are taken up by cells to affect a variety of signaling cascades. Research in the field has primarily focused on stem cell-derived EVs, with a particular focus on mesenchymal stem cells, for their potential therapeutic benefits.

Optical quality of the cornea after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty surgery: early results from Türkiye.

Background: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is increasingly favored in the treatment of endothelial dysfunction due to its benefits, which include swift visual rehabilitation and recovery, a relatively low rejection rate, and superior refractive stability. In this study, we examined alterations in corneal clarity among patients who underwent DMEK and correlated these densitometry findings with other optical parameters of corneal topography.

Methods: The study incorporated 35 eyes from 35 patients who had previously undergone DMEK surgery for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.

Corneal characteristics in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Background: To evaluate corneal topography and specular microscopic findings in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Methods: One hundred and two eyes of 51 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and 60 eyes of 30 healty subjects were included in our study. A detailed ophthalmological examination involving best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was performed.

Evolving Techniques and Indications of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Endothelial keratoplasty has replaced traditional penetrating keratoplasty for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction. It offers faster, more predictable, stable visual recovery and low rejection rates while the surgery itself is less invasive. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is currently the gold standard for the treatment of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, bullous keratopathy, and corneal edema after cataract surgery.

Evaluation of Corneal Densitometry and Endothelial Layer in Soft Contact Lens Users.

Significance: Soft contact lens wear may lead to physiological changes in the cornea. Corneal densitometry is a new software tool that may detect these physiological changes by monitoring their effects on corneal transparency.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess corneal densitometry values and corneal endothelium in patients using soft contact lenses.

The effect of conjunctivochalasis detected by anterior segment optical coherence tomography on tear function in an elderly population.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate conjunctivochalasis (CCH) and its relationship with tear meniscus and tear function in an elderly population.

Materials And Methods: This prospective, observational study included 144 eyes of 144 patients aged >65 years who were referred to our clinic for various reasons. The patients were separated into group 1 including 64 eyes of 64 patients with CCH and group 2 including 80 eyes of 80 patients without CCH.

Comparison of Corneal Densitometry Between Penetrating Keratoplasty and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty in Keratoconus Patients.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare corneal densitometry values in keratoconic eyes undergoing deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty with the "big bubble" and manual lamellar dissection techniques, as well as penetrating keratoplasty.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the postoperative outcomes of 31 eyes treated with big bubble-deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, 23 eyes with manual lamellar dissectiondeep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, and 37 eyes with penetrating keratoplasty. Corneal densitometry, best corrected visual acuity, and other corneal tomographic parameters were recorded at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

Accelerated corneal cross-linking with hypo-osmolar riboflavin in thin keratoconic corneas: 2-year follow-up.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the outcomes of accelerated corneal cross-linking in keratoconic corneas with thinnest pachymetry values of <400 µm.

Methods: The study included 28 eyes of 24 patients. The uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuities (logMAR), flattest and steepest keratometric readings, central corneal thickness at the thinnest point, corneal higher-order aberrations, and contrast sensitivity were assessed before and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after corneal cross-linking.

Clinical outcomes of ocular surface in patients treated with vitamin D oral replacement.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical outcomes of the ocular surface in patients with vitamin D deficiency after oral replacement.

Methods: A total of 40 patients with vitamin D deficiency were enrolled in the study. The patients received 50,000 units of oral vitamin D weekly over a period of 8 weeks.

Efficacy of cyclic therapy with terpinen-4-ol in Demodex blepharitis : Is treatment possible by considering Demodex's life cycle?

Purpose: To describe the effectiveness of cyclic treatment with terpinen-4-ol, a tea tree oil component, on Demodex blepharitis.

Methods: The presence of Demodex was determined by eyelash rotation as proposed by Mastrota. Schirmer test, tear breakup time, ocular surface disease index, lid margin score, meibomian gland expressibility score, and Oxford grade were performed.

Comparison of optical coherence tomography angiography results of adult patients with Familial Mediterranean fever and healthy individuals.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the macular ultrastructure measuring by optical coherence tomography angiography in adult patients with Familial Mediterranean fever.

Methods: Participants were 62 Familial Mediterranean fever patients and 54 healthy individuals in control group with similar age and sex. The superficial and deep vascular plexus structures covering the central fovea in an area of 6 mm × 6 mm were measured using AngioVue images taken with optical coherence tomography angiography.

Comparison study of two different topical lubricants on tear meniscus and tear osmolarity in dry eye.

Purpose: To compare the effect of single-drop administration of two different ophthalmic solutions on tear meniscus and tear osmolarity in patients with mild to moderate dry eye disease.

Methods: This prospective study comprised of 122 patients with mild to moderate dry eye disease. These patients received a single dose of either unpreserved trehalose 3%, hyaluronic acid 0.

Penetrating keratoplasty in patients with traumatic corneal scarring.

Background: To evaluate the results of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) due to trauma-related corneal scarring.

Methods: We evaluated 24 eyes of 24 patients who underwent PK due to trauma-related scarring of the cornea between May 2010 and June 2016. The postoperative visual acuity, graft transparency, and complications were evaluated.

Intense regulated pulse light for the meibomian gland dysfunction.

Purpose: To assess the effect of intense regulated pulse light (E-Eye; E-Swin, France) on the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Setting: Health Sciences University, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology.

Methods: A total of 26 patients underwent intense pulsed light treatment (E-Eye; E-Swin), with homogeneously sequenced five light pulses delivered to one eye at 1, 15, and 45 days following baseline evaluation.

The optical coherence tomography angiography findings of rheumatoid arthritis patients taking hydroxychloroquine.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to measure retinal vessel density and thickness of the macula by optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking hydroxychloroquine.

Methods: The study included 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking hydroxychloroquine and 20 age-, gender-, and axial length-matched control subjects. Patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of hydroxychloroquine use.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with β-thalassemia major.

Purpose: To measure the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in children with β-thalassemia major and to compare with healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 47 patients with β-thalassemia major and 51 healthy controls were included. Each subject underwent a standard ophthalmological examination.

Autologous serum eye-drops and enhanced epithelial healing time after photorefractive keratectomy.

Background: The aim of the study is to test whether use of autologous serum eye-drops can provide earlier epithelial healing following the application of photorefractive keratectomy.

Method: Sixty patients (60 eyes) underwent photorefractive keratectomy for myopia. Thirty eyes received autologous serum drops (Study group) while 30 eyes received conventional artificial tears (Control group) after photorefractive keratectomy.

The effect of endothelin receptor antagonists in the endotoxin-induced uveitis rabbit model.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Bosentan (non-selective endothelin receptor antagonist) and BQ123 (ET receptor antagonist) on intraocular inflammation in an endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rabbit model.

Methods: Uveitis was induced by intravitreal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The animals were divided into 7 groups and there were six rabbits in each group (saline, saline and ethanol, bosentan, BQ123, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), bosentan and LPS, BQ123 and LPS-injected groups).

Evaluation of Ocular Surface Health in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate ocular surface health in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to investigate the tendency of these patients toward dry eyes.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients who underwent polysomnography and were diagnosed with OSAS and 50 normal control subjects were compared with respect to ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer I test and tear film break-up time (TBUT) values.

Results: Patients were grouped as mild (n=15, 30%), moderate (n=15, 30%) and severe (n=20, 40%) according to apnea-hypopnea index values.

Surgical management of traumatic nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate etiologies, demographics, and surgical outcomes in cases of traumatic nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO).

Methods: Charts of 35 patients with the diagnosis of traumatic NLDO were reviewed retrospectively. Patient demographics, type of trauma, previous lacrimal surgery history, surgical treatment, follow-up time, and anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated.