The purpose of this study was to report the effects of smoking on retinal vascular parameters. Methods: In this cross-sectional study design, 24 smokers were included as a study group and 26 age-and sex-matched non-smokers as a control group. A detailed ophthalmic examination including review of medical history, visual acuity testing, intraocular pressure measurement by Goldmann applanation tonometry, ocular movement and pupillary reflex examination, slitlamp biomicroscopy as well as dilated funduscopic examination were undertaken in all participants. Participants underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) scanning with RTVue XR Avanti AngioVue OCT-A (Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) as well as the measurement of axial length using an AL Scan (Nidek Co., Ltd., Gamagori, Japan). Results: The study comprised of 18 men and six women with a mean age of 28.1 AE 4.8 years in the study group and 19 men and seven women with a mean age of 27.4 AE 2.7 years in the control group. The mean exposure to cigarette smoking was 3.3 AE 1.0 pack-years. Total vascular density, parafoveal vascular density and perifoveal vascular density in the deep capillary plexus observed with OCT-A were significantly lower in the smoking group compared to the control group (p = 0.02, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Retinal vascular changes caused by cigarette smoking may occur even at low pack-year exposure. These changes, which can be demonstrated by OCT-A, may reflect the early impact of cigarette smoking on the microvascular system.
Background To assess the impacts of prolonged protective face masks (PFM) wear on ocular surface symptoms among healthcare professionals (HCPs), and how these symptoms affected PFM wear. Methods Thirty-question survey forms were distributed via social media platform to 396 HCPs (110 doctors, 164 nurses, and 122 health technicians) between September 8 and 30, 2021. Participants who could not be reached via social media were given a face-to-face questionnaire. Aside from sociodemographic data, the questionnaire inquired about PFM wear, PFM types, ocular surface symptoms, and how PFM wear has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results A total of 74.5% of HCPs reported wearing PFMs, mostly surgical ones (76.8%), for half a day at work but not at home, with redness (29.3%) being the most frequently encountered ocular surface symptom, followed by burning (15.7%), pain (14.1%), tingling (10.9%), and rash (6.6%). The presence of associated restrictions in conjunction with PFM-related ocular symptoms was more likely in dry and hot environments. There was no significant relationship between PFM type, PFM-wearing duration, and HCPs' daily activities (p > 0.05). Despite the lack of a significant relationship between PFM types and ocular surface symptoms (p > 0.05), there was a significant relationship between PFM-wearing duration and ocular pain (p < 0.05). Conclusions PFM-related ocular surface symptoms can be alleviated by properly wearing PFMs, reducing wear time, and using long-acting topical lubricants. This could improve PFM wear compliance, prevent disease transmission, and ultimately help with COVID-19 protection.
Objectives:
To assess hearing function in chronic glaucoma patients in comparison to healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 24 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients (24 ears) and 22 pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEG) patients (22 ears) who were followed for at least 5 years in the Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Ophthalmology Department, as well as 21 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals (21 ears, control group). Following a thorough ophthalmological examination that included visual acuity and intraocular pressure measurements, as well as anterior and posterior slit-lamp biomicroscopy, audiometry was performed in all participants to determine hearing function.
Results:
Mean ages in the POAG, PEG, and control groups were 64.50±7, 66.90±4.51, and 64.38±4.36 years, respectively. The mean deviation in standard automated perimetry was -14.47±2.89 in the POAG group and -15.02±2.87 in the PEG group (p=0.306). When compared with the control group, the POAG group had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 500 (p=0.011) and 1,000 Hz (p=0.003), while the PEG group had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 250 (p=0.009), 500 (p=0.009), 1,000 (p=0.001), 2,000 (p=0.005), 4,000 (p=0.001), 8000 (p=0.010), and 10,000 Hz (p=0.009).
Conclusion:
Both glaucoma and hearing loss are common chronic diseases that have an impact on the well-being of older people. Potential hearing problems in chronic glaucoma patients make routine ocular and otolaryngology examinations in older patients critical for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
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