Topical cyclosporin A is an effective treatment in the management of severe allergic conjunctivitis with a benefit as a steroid-sparing agent.

PURPOSE: Applied pre- and postoperative corneal topography outcomes with visual acuities were evaluated to determine the surgical results in pterygium therapy. METHODS: The study group consisted of 30 eyes of 26 patients with primary and recurrent pterygium. Mean patient age was 52.26±11.50 years (range: 27 to 68 years). Pre- and postoperative visual acuity and corneal topography were evaluated for each case. Statistical analysis was performed using the repeated-measure test. RESULTS: The mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.41±0.30 preoperatively and 0.63±0.26 postoperatively (P<.001). The mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 0.59±0.28 preoperatively and 0.84±0.22 postoperatively (P<.001). Surface regularity index ranged from 1.96±1.08 preoperatively to 1.09±0.76 postoperatively (P<.001). The mean surface asymmetry index was 3.05±2.85 preoperatively and 1.39±1.70 postoperatively (P=.003). The mean topographic astigmatism was 4.65±3.02 preoperatively and 2.33±2.26 postoperatively (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS: Examination of the topographic records reveals pterygium-associated corneal flattening in the horizontal meridian along the line of the pterygium. The improvement in topographic pattern and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity can be used as one indicator of the success of pterygium surgery. [J Refract Surg. 2005;21:166-170.]

HLA B5 plays an important role in the aetiology of Behçet's disease. The frequency of HLA B5 differs between racial groups and geographical regions. Ocular involvement, which could lead to serious complications, is a very important feature of Behçet's disease. Various racial groups having different genetic properties live in the Cukurova region, located in southern Turkey. To investigate the role of HLA B5 in Behçet's disease in Cukurova region, HLA B5 antigens were investigated by lymphocytotoxicity assay in 65 patients and 200 healthy controls. A significantly higher frequency was found in the patient group. Neither ocular involvement, nor the type of uveitis showed any correlation with HLA B5, but it was found that patients presenting with frequent ocular attacks had significantly higher HLA B5 positivity than the patients with rare attacks. This observation suggests that HLA B5 would be a negative factor in visual prognosis in Behçet's disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of surgical management of scleral defects using fascia lata, cornea, and sclera as graft materials. Methods:The scleral defects of 8 patients were repaired surgically.Six had previous intraocular surgery, 1 had eye trauma, and the other had both intraocular surgery and trauma. Corneoscleral grafts were used in 3 eyes, scleral grafts in 4, and fascia lata was used in 1 eye. Results:In 7 patients, we achieved the desired cosmetic and tectonic success. During the follow-up period, a recurrent defect was seen in 1 patient, and a second operation was required.Conclusions: Surgical techniques using fascia lata, corneal, and scleral grafts are effective for scleral defects.

New techniques are being searched for the evaluation of cellular morphology and population of ocular surface. Impression cytology is one of the most preferred techniques in ocular surface sampling in dry eye, keratitis, and conjunctivitis. We evaluated and compared the efficacy of impression and brush cytology in 63 patients. All of the samples collected by the brush technique were sufficient for diagnosis: 88% of the slides revealed abundant cells and 12% adequate number of cells. In 21% of the samples observed by impression cytology the cell number was inadequate for diagnosis. In 58% of them the cells were abundant and in 21% few cells were observed. This study proved the value of brush cytology in collecting ocular surface cells. Diagn. Cytopathol. 17:88–91, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Purpose. To report an unusual case of severe bilateral fungal keratitis following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Method. A 48-year-old man developed bilateral diffuse corneal infiltration two weeks after LASIK. The corneal scrapings revealed fungal filaments but cultures were negative. Results. The corneal ulceration was improved on the left eye whereas spontaneous perforation occurred and finally evisceration was needed on the right eye despite topical and systemic antifungal treatment. Conclusions. Fungal keratitis, especially with bilateral involvement, is a very rare and serious complication of LASIK surgery. Clinical suspicion is crucial because most of fungal keratitis are misdiagnosed as bacterial keratitis and can lead serious visual results, even eye loss.

We report a case of severe acute corneal hydrops in an 11-year-old boy with keratoconus associated with Down syndrome and vigorous eye rubbing. Complete resolution of the corneal edema and a central corneal scar was seen in the 8th week of final follow-up. Eye-rubbing may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute hydrops, and conventional therapy can be successful in its management, even in severe cases.

Construction sector has an important place in Turkey’s economy. Real estate sales for the sector are increasing in parallel. However, the purchase cost is also important for those who are willing to buy a real estate. In the acquisition of real estate, factors such as size, location and age of the house are taken into consideration. The aim of the article is to conduct research on factors affecting real estate values by data mining. In this study, the most important variables that determine the value of the real estate have been investigated by data mining methods. The research has been carried out in Karabük and the variables determined according to the opinions of real estate experts. As classification methods, CHAID and C&RT algorithms have been used. It has been evaluated that both algorithm estimation results can be used. Within the framework of the study, the variables that have the most impact on the unit price have been determined, such as the size of the real estate, the distance to the city centre, the popularity, and the age of the building. The use of advanced technologies, such as statistical modelling and machine learning in real estate valuation and automatic value estimation, is of importance in determining the real value of the real estate.