Sleep apnoea patients had choroidal structural alterations that may have significance on the pathophysiology of the ophthalmic disorders associated with OSAS.

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PurposeThe aim of the study was to analyze the effects of uneventful phacoemulsification surgery on choroidal thickness (CT) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).MethodsIn this prospective study, 38 eyes of 38 patients having phacoemulsification surgery were included. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination, including preoperative axial length (AXL) measurement with optical biometry and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. The CT was measured perpendicularly at the fovea and 1.5 mm temporal, 3.0 mm temporal, 1.5 mm nasal, and 3.0 mm nasal using SD-OCT preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Changes in the CT after surgery and correlation of this change with age, AXL, preoperative IOP, and IOP change were evaluated.ResultsThere was a statistically significant increase in the CT at all regions evaluated. This increment was more prominent in the nasal and subfoveal regions. The IOP decreased significantly 1 month after surgery (16.14±4.94 mmHg vs 13.91±4.86 mmHg; P<0.001). The change in IOP was correlated with the CT changes at all regions, whereas age, AXL, and preoperative IOP had no significant correlations with the changes in CT.ConclusionPhacoemulsification surgery may cause significant increase in CT, which is correlated with surgery-induced IOP change in the short term. Long-term follow-up of eyes having phacoemulsification surgery may provide further insight into the effects of cataract surgery on the choroid.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of different contact lens (CL) replacement schedules and different CL materials on the ocular surface and tear function. Methods: Daily disposable hydrogel CLs were given to group 1 (n = 22), daily disposable silicone hydrogel CLs were given to group 2 (n = 25), and reusable silicone hydrogel CLs were given to group 3 (n = 24). Tear function tests and inflammatory cytokine [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17A, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9] levels were evaluated before and at 1 and 3 months after CL usage. Impression cytology was evaluated before and at 3 months after CL usage. Results: At the first and third months of CL usage, a statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17A in tears, with the lowest levels in group 1 and the highest levels in group 3 (all P < 0.05). At the third month of CL usage, the levels of these cytokines (in picograms/milliliter) were 6.06 ± 0.83, 78.18 ± 12.42, 61.69 ± 13.95, and 37.71 ± 5.95 in group 1 and 8.04 ± 0.89, 107.34 ± 14.40, 68.63 ± 13.72, and 46.26 ± 6.50 in group 3, respectively. A statistically significant decrease was determined over time in the Schirmer test in group 1, in only the tear breakup time in group 2, and in the tear breakup time and Schirmer test in group 3 (all P < 0.05). A statistically significant increase was determined over time in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, and MMP-9 in all groups. In the third month, a significant progression was observed in the Nelson grade (P < 0.05) in all groups. Conclusions: The wear of daily disposable CLs can be considered to cause less damage to the ocular surface and less increase in proinflammatory cytokine levels.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on the meibomian glands, ocular surface, and tear parameters. Methods: The study included 59 individuals (32 subjects with OSAHS, 27 control subjects) who underwent polysomnography in the Chest Diseases Clinic. The right eyes of all individuals were evaluated in the Ophthalmology Clinic. The first noninvasive tear break-up time (f-NTBUT) and the average noninvasive tear break-up time were measured, and Schirmer test was applied. Meibography was taken (Sirius; CSO, Florence, Italy), and meiboscore was used for indexing meibography. Finally, a sample was taken for conjunctival impression cytology. Results: In the study and control groups, the median of f-NTBUT was 2.1 seconds [interquartile range (IQR); 1.5–5.0] and 5.7 seconds (IQR; 2.9–8.8) and the median of average noninvasive tear break-up time was 5.6 seconds (IQR; 3.6–9.5) and 7.2 seconds (IQR; 4.2–10.7), respectively (P = 0.007 and P = 0.487, respectively). The mean Schirmer value was 16.3 ± 5.9 mm (range; 5–25) and 17.3 ± 6.6 mm (range; 5–30) in the study and control groups (P = 0.604). In upper eyelid meibography, the median of loss in the meibomian glands was 20.10% (IQR; 11.60%–40.80%) in the study group and 14.70% (IQR; 10.40%–21.30%) in the control group (P = 0.043). In lower eyelid meibography, the median of loss in the meibomian glands was 19.00% (IQR; 13.60%–35.30%) in the study group and 12.40% (IQR; 9.10%–16.40%) in the control group (P = 0.002). The median of the Nelson grade in conjunctival impression cytology was 1 (IQR; 0–1) in the study group and 1 (IQR; 0–1) in the control group (P = 0.445). Conclusions: The loss in the meibomian glands together with the shortened f-NTBUT shows that there could be a predisposition in OSAHS for evaporative dry eye originating from meibomian gland damage.