Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency of Demodex infestation of eyelashes in patients with and without blepharitis and to determine the effects of Demodex infestation on blepharitis and the ocular symptoms. Methods: The study included patients with chronic mixed (anterior + posterior) blepharitis who presented to our clinic. Patients with refractive error and no ocular disease were enrolled as the control group. From each participant, a total of 4 eyelashes were removed and were then examined under a light microscope for Demodex infestation. Symptoms, fluorescein tear breakup time, and ocular surface staining pattern were recorded. Results: The prevalence of Demodex infection in the blepharitis group was 67.2%, versus 54.9% in the control group (P=0.18). The incidence of itching in the blepharitis group was significantly higher in the Demodex (+) patients than in the Demodex (−) patients (P<0.001). Fluorescein tear breakup time in the Demodex (+) patients was significantly shorter than in the Demodex (−) patients (P<0.001). There was not a significant difference in the fluorescein staining pattern between the 2 groups (P=0.57). The incidence of advanced stage blepharitis was significantly higher among the Demodex (+) patients (P=0.007). The incidence of cylindrical eyelash dandruff in the blepharitis group was significantly higher in the Demodex (+) patients (P<0.001). There was a significant difference in meibomian gland dysfunction between the 2 groups (P=0.039). Conclusion: Demodex infestation must be investigated in patients with advanced stage blepharitis, itching, and shorter than normal fluorescein tear breakup time.

Ocular melanoma consists of posterior uveal melanoma, iris melanoma and conjunctival melanoma. These malignancies derive from melanocytes in the uveal tract or conjunctiva. The genetic profiles of these different entities differ from each other. In uveal melanoma, GNAQ and GNA11 gene mutations are frequently found and prognosis is based on mutation status of BAP1, SF3B1 and EIF1AX genes. Iris melanoma, also originating from the uvea, has similarities to the genetic makeups of both posterior uveal melanoma (UM) and conjunctival melanoma since mutations in GNAQ and GNA11 are less common and genes involved in conjunctival melanoma such as BRAF have been described. The genetic spectrum of conjunctival melanoma, however, includes frequent mutations in the BRAF, NRAS and TERT promoter genes, which are found in cutaneous melanoma as well. The BRAF status of the tumor is not correlated to prognosis, whereas the TERT promoter gene mutations are. Clinical presentation, histopathological characteristics and copy number alterations are associated with survival in ocular melanoma. Tissue material is needed to classify ocular melanoma in the different subgroups, which creates a need for the use of noninvasive techniques to prognosticate patients who underwent eye preserving treatment.

Purpose: To assess the serum level of mediators and their relation with posterior ocular involvement in patients with Behçet disease (BD). Methods: This study was a prospective, institutional clinical trial including 43 patients with ocular BD. Patients were divided into two subgroups: those with active posterior segment involvement (Group A) and those with inactive ocular BD (Group B). Group A included patients with posterior uveitis (vitritis or chorioretinal involvement), while Group B included patients with no active intraocular inflammation within the last 3 months. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometric assay and compared among the groups by independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: Serum levels of the mediators in Group A (IL-6 [23.1 pg/mL], IL-8 [161.1 pg/mL], TNF-α [30.5 pg/mL], VEGF [455.9 pg/mL], MDA [10.7 μm]) were found to be significantly higher than those in Group B (IL-6 [12.2 pg/mL], IL-8 [48.4 pg/mL], TNF-α [18.6 pg/mL], VEGF [138.0 pg/mL], MDA [5.1 μm]). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that increased serum levels of inflammatory mediators including IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, VEGF, and MDA were possibly involved in the development of posterior uveitis in BD.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate changes in retinal, choroidal, ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in genetically diagnosed adult patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods: A total of 50 eyes of 50 genetically diagnosed patients with FMF and 50 eyes of controls were analyzed. Patients were recruited from the Genetic Diagnostic Center of Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research and Training Hospital, Turkey. Retinal and choroidal thicknesses were obtained using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography from choroid, retina, GCC, and RNFL. Results: Average baseline choroidal thickness was statistically significantly thinner in patients with FMF than controls at C_center (325.85 ± 30.8 µm and 338.97 ± 23.9 µm, respectively, p = 0.038), C_nasal500 (328.77 ± 31.6 µm and 349.00 ± 23.3 µm, respectively, p = 0.002), C_nasal1000 (324.97 ± 33.6 µm and 351.23 ± 23.8 µm respectively, p = 0.0001) and C_nasal1500 (324.75 ± 37.1 µm and 344.61 ± 27.3 µm, respectively, p = 0.008). However, there was no significant difference in temporal choroidal thickness (C_temporal500, C_{temporal1000 and} C_temporal1500) in patients with FMF compared to controls (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in retinal, GCC and RNFL thicknesses between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We hypothesize that the chronic inflammation seen in FMF could be the reason for the reduction seen in choroidal thickness in adult patients with FMF. Retinal, GCC and RNFL thicknesses did not differ from controls.

Objective. To determine the effect of hemodialysis (HD) on choroidal thickness (CT).Methods. The right eyes of 41 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing HD were included. All patients underwent an ophthalmic examination, including CT measurement via optical coherence tomography, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure, and body weight measurement immediately before and after a HD session.Results. Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after HD decreased significantly from 254.59 ± 84.66 µm to 229.34 ± 77.79 µm(p<0.001). CT at the temporal and nasal regions also decreased significantly after HD (bothp<0.001). IOP changes after HD were insignificant(p=0.958). CT difference was insignificant in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and without DM before and after HD, respectively (p=0.285andp=0.707). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis showed that diastolic blood pressure was the best fitted factor to explain the changes in CT (r=0.327andp=0.040). Conclusion. CT was decreased in the patients with ESRD following a HD session. This study suggested that the changes in CT may be related to the changes in systemic blood pressure.