Smoking causes a significant decrease in the blood flow index of the choriocapillary area by the acute effects of nicotine and other chemical substances in cigarettes on peripheral vascular structure, as evaluated by OCTA. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:617-622.].

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) in treating diabetic macular edema (DME) with serous retinal detachment (SRD) based on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) patterns.MethodsOne hundred thirty-four eyes of 134 patients with DME who underwent SD-OCT evaluation were included in this study. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who received IVR for the treatment of DME. Their eyes were classified into three groups according to the following SD-OCT features: SRD, diffuse retinal thickness and cystoid macular edema. The three groups were compared regarding changes in best-corrected visual acuity and central foveal thickness (CFT) after IVR.ResultsThe mean age was 61.4 ± 9.2 years (range, 44 to 81 years). The average length of the follow-up period was 9.4 ± 3.4 months (range, 6 to 24 months). The mean CFT value was significantly reduced in all groups (p < 0.001) after treatment. Increases in best-corrected visual acuity were statistically significant for the diffuse retinal thickness and cystoid macular edema groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant improvement after IVR injection in the SRD group (p = 0.252). In the SRD group, patients with ellipsoid zone disruption and external limiting membrane disruption demonstrated poorer visual gains at the last follow-up visit (p < 0.005 and p = 0.002, respectively).ConclusionsA significant reduction in CFT with required IVR injections in DME with SRD was achieved but was accompanied by a worse functional outcome in the SRD group. The presence of subretinal fluid on SD-OCT in study eyes may be a poor prognostic factor for visual acuity.

We aimed to analyse the clinical characteristics of OGI and evaluate the correlation between baseline ocular trauma score (OTS) and visual outcomes in cases with OGI. The charts of 257 OGI patients who had at least six months of follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. Demographics, data about the etiology, localization and size of the OGI, baseline and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were noted. At the time of approval OTS was calculated and compared with final BCVA. All analysis was performed in both entire study population and our pediatric subgroup. A total of 261 eyes of 257 patients with a mean age of 34.9 ± 19.8 years were enrolled. Globe injury with a mean size of 6.7 ± 4.5 mm was within zone I in 46.7% of the eyes. Older age (p < 0.001, OR = 1.029, 95% CI = 1.015–1.043), higher baseline logMAR BCVA scores (p < 0.001, OR = 4.460, 95% CI = 2.815–7.065), bigger wound size (p < 0.001, OR = 1.159, 95% CI = 1.084–1.240), relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) positiveness (p < 0.001, OR = 0.021 95% CI = 0.005–0.087), lower OTS (p < 0.001, OR = 27.034, 95% CI = 6.299–116.021), presence of concomitant retinal detachment (p < 0.001, OR = 0.157, 95% CI = 0.080–0.306), and endophthalmitis (p = 0.045, OR = 0.207, 95% CI = 0.044–0.962) were found to be related to poor visual prognosis. Cases with OGI caused by a sharp object (p = 0.007, OR = 0.204, 95% CI = 0.065–0.641) and those injured by a glass (p = 0.039, OR = 0.229, 95% CI = 0.056–0.931) had more favorable final vision. This study highlights that baseline BCVA, wound size, RAPD, retinal detachment, and OTS were the most significant markers for poor visual outcomes in both the entire population and pediatric subgroup. In cases with OGI, OTS was also found effective in predicting visual prognosis.

No abstract

The relations between Turkish and Syrian people are based upon a common historical and cultural heritage. Recently, the civil war having broken out in Syria and the following mass migration waves have brought the relations between the two countries to a different level and led to new community and relation formats. This paper addresses to the associations in Şanlıurfa established by the Syrian Arabic and Turkmen refugees who escaped the Syrian war in 2011 due to civil disturbances and conflicts and took refuge in Turkey. This research consists of the data obtained by the literature and media review and semi-structured interview with association administrators, focus group and persons. This study deals also with what activities the refugees are engaged in through associations, the problems with public legislation and bureaucracy, the social and cultural points of conflict and harmony with Turkish people from the perspective of association administrators, exclusion/discrimination fields, experiences and the attitudes towards the ongoing civil war. The following findings were obtained by this research: the refugee associations established by Syrians play an intermediary role between state and immigrants and aim for cooperation and solidarity. These associations fulfill important functions in terms of expression of refugees' problems on their social, economic and living conditions, political lobby and propaganda, rehabilitation of legal rights, education on human rights and democracy, professional skill acquisition, psycho-social support, meeting, spending time, cultural and art activities. The legal legislation regarding the associations in Turkey makes it difficult for the Syrians, who have residence and passport problems, to establish association, find economic support and perform activities. It is understood by this research that the members of Syrian associations are mostly culturally adapted and they are happy to live in Şanlıurfa and they don't feel alienated significantly. However, the issues regarding labor exploitation, shopping deception, marriage conditions, polygamy and prostitution is a basic source of disturbance among the members of Syrian associations in terms of discrimination, conflict and exclusion. Concerning the solution suggestions for the ongoing war, it was observed that the association members are hopeless, exasperated and war-weary. The interviewers desire that the war ends and finalized as soon as possible. It is required to make legal arrangements in order to meet immigrants' needs of organization, education, health, job and security and to rehabilitate their living conditions.

Purpose: To determine whether serum chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels correlate with serous retinal detachment (SRD) in diabetic macular edema (DME) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: In this cross-sectional case-control study, 394 patients (treatment-naive DME patients, n = 218; diabetic patients without DME, n = 96; nondiabetic controls, n = 80) were included in the study. Eyes were classified according to SD-OCT features of DME: SRD, cystoid macular edema (CMO), and diffuse retinal thickness (DRT). Serum concentrations of CHI3L1 and IL-6 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum CHI3L1 and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in DME with SRD compared to patients with CMO and DRT (p < 0.001 for all groups). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CHI3L1 and IL-6 had a stronger influence on the presence of SRD in DME (r = 1.162, p = 0.026, and r = 1.242, p = 0.016, respectively). Serum concentration of CHI3L1 was significantly correlated with that of IL-6 (r = 0.386, p = 0.0015). Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum concentrations of CHI3L1 and IL-6 are involved in the process of SRD in DME. CHI3L1 can be investigated further as a new diagnostic biomarker for DME with SRD.

No abstract

Choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is currently treated successfully with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal agents. Emerging evidence suggests that anti-VEGF treatment may potentially increase development of geographic atrophy. However, there is not yet direct proof of a causal relationship between geographic atrophy and use of anti-VEGF agents in neovaskuler AMD. The aim of this review is to discuss the evidence concerning the association between anti-VEGF therapy and progression of geographic atrophy.