Background and Objectives: Early diagnosis of the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is very important for a timely first treatment, which is directly related to the preservation of functional visual acuity over a long period. The goal of this paper was to examine the correlation between the double-layer sign (DLS) and the presence of non-exudative macular neovascularization (MNV). Materials and Methods: Our research included 60 patients with AMD, exudative in one eye and non-exudative in the other eye. We analyzed only the non-exudative form using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). The patients were classified into three groups, depending on the duration of the disease (5 years). The onset of the disease was deemed the moment of establishing a diagnosis of exudative AMD in one eye. We defined the presence or absence of a DLS using OCT and the presence of non-exudative MNV using OCT-A, both on 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm sections. DLS was used as a projection biomarker for non-exudative MNV, with the aim of establishing a rapid diagnosis and achieving early treatment of the disease. Results: We found that there was a statistically significant correlation between the DLS diagnosed using OCT and non-exudative MNV diagnosed by OCT-A for both 3 × 3 mm (p < 0.001) and 6 × 6 mm (p < 0.001) imaging. There was a statistically significant difference between the frequencies of both DLS and MNV in Groups I and III on both 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm imaging. A statistically significant difference was also noted in the frequencies of DLS and MNV on 6 × 6 mm imaging, but not on 3 × 3 mm imaging, between Groups I and II. No differences were found between the frequencies of DLS and MNV between Groups II and III. Conclusions: The DLS on OCT can be used as a projection biomarker to assess the presence of a non-exudative MNV.

Background/Aim. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of the loss of central visual acuity in population older than 70 years. We can distinguish wet and dry form of AMD. The aim of the study was to present our early results in treatment of the wet (neovascular) form of AMD with intravitreal administration of bevacizumab. Methods. The study included 39 patients. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). All the patients received 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab (0.05 mL of commercial phial of Avastin®). The total of three doses was given with a one-month interval between doses. Results. Among 39 patients, 24 were women and 15 men. The average best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was improved from 0.09 before the therapy to 0.24 after the administration of all the three doses of bevacizumab (p < 0.001). The average central macular thickness (CMT) measured by OCT was improved from 474 μm in the beginning to 341 μm after the administration of all the three doses of the drug (p < 0.001). There were no side effects. Conclusions. Our short-term experience indicates that intravitreal administration of three doses of bevacizumab in one-month intervals between the doses leads to a significant reduction of macular edema and improvement of BCVA in patients with neovascular AMD.

Background and objectives: The aim of the research was to investigate the differences in the concentrations of IL-12, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in tears after LASIK and PRK procedures. Materials and methods: The study included 68 myopic eyes up to −3.0 D refractive spherical equivalent, divided into two groups: Group 1 LASIK (n = 31) and Group 2 PRK (n = 37). Three tear samples were taken from each eye: immediately before the procedure (t₀), 1 h after the procedure (t₁), and 24 h after the procedure (t₂). The concentrations of IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the tear samples were determined by flow cytometry. Participants were not taking anti-inflammatory therapy 24 h after the procedure. Results: IL-4 levels 1 h after treatment did not differ between LASIK and PRK (p = 0.990), while 24 h after PRK there was a significant decrease in IL-4 levels (p < 0.05), but not after LASIK (p = 0.476). In both the LASIK (p < 0.05) and PRK (p < 0.05) groups, there is an increase in IL-10 concentrations 1 h after treatment, which persists 24 h after LASIK (p < 0.05) but not after PRK (p = 0.081). There is an increase in IL-12p70 concentration 1 h after treatment in both the LASIK (p < 0.001) and PRK groups (p < 0.001). There is also an increase in IL-12p70 concentration 24 h after PRK (p < 0.005), but not after LASIK (p = 0.775). Conclusions: IL-4 concentration shows a significantly higher value in the LASIK group than in the PRK group after 24 h. IL-10 and IL-12p70 levels increase one hour after surgery in both groups. After 24 h, the IL-10 levels remain elevated in the LASIK group, and the IL-12p70 levels remain elevated in the PRK group. Thus, LASIK and PRK procedures show different inflammatory dynamics.

Background/Aim. Changes in the concentration of various mediators of inflammation in blood, aqueous humor, or eye tissues support the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Inflammatory biomarkers have a great potential for application in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to determine concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-? in the plasma of patients with OAG and subjects without glaucoma and examine the correlation between the TNF-? concentration in plasma in glaucoma patients and specific clinical parameters. Methods. The study included 87 participants (87 eyes) divided into three groups: 35 subjects (35 eyes) with primary OAG (POAG) with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) ? hypertension glaucoma (HTG) (POAG-HTG), 23 subjects (23 eyes) with pseudoexfoliative OAG (XFG), and 29 subjects in the control group (healthy subjects) matched with the patient groups in terms of age and gender. We performed a complete clinical examination, including standard automated perimetry and determination of changes in the participant?s repeated visual field, optical coherence tomography and determination of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. The concentration of TNF-? in participants? plasma was measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ? ELISA. Results. The concentrations of TNF-? in the plasma of glaucoma patients (POAG-HTG 2.04 ? 1.98 pg/mL and XFG OAG 2.05 ? 1.48 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in healthy subjects (1.43 ? 2.00 pg/mL, p < 0.05). In none of the groups of subjects suffering from glaucoma was there a statistically significant correlation of TNF-? concentration in the plasma with any of the clinical parameters, including IOP, cup/disk ratio, mean deviation, average RNFL, and RNFL in the superior and inferior quadrant. Conclusion. The concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-? in the plasma is significantly higher in glaucoma patients compared to non-glaucomatous subjects, and it confirms the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of glaucoma as one of the non-inflammatory ocular diseases. The concentrations of TNF-? in the plasma of glaucoma patients did not correlate with any of the examined clinical parameters; hence, it cannot be considered a measure of progression and damage in glaucoma.

Background/Objectives: The goal of this study was to show the consistency between the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response in the early postoperative period after corneal refractive surgery (LASIK and PRK), represented by the levels of specific cytokines in the tear film. Materials/Methods: A total of 68 myopic eyes (31 in the LASIK and 37 in the PRK group) had 3 samples of tear film taken, one before surgery (t₀), another 1 h after surgery (t₁) and the third 24 h after surgery (t₂). The tear samples were then analyzed by flow cytometry in order to determine the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). Results: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the concentrations of all pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and all anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), respectively, for both t₁ and t₂ in the group of eyes that underwent LASIK. In the PRK group, there was a statistically significant positive correlation for all cytokines (pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory) at t₁; however at t_2, there was no correlation between IL-1β and IL-10, IL-6 and IL-10, IL-8 and IL-10, and IFN-γ and IL-10. In contrast, for other correlations between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the same observation time (t₂), a positive correlation was observed. Conclusions: There is a consistency between the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in the early postoperative period after refractive surgery, which persists longer after LASIK compared to PRK. This difference may explain the different clinical courses in patients after undergoing these procedures.

Background/Aim. The integrity of outer retinal structures, primarily the photoreceptor layer, is important because of its direct correlation with visual acuity. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the foveal photoreceptorinner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction and external limiting membrane (ELM) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD) after the treatment with bevacizumab, as well as the correlation between the above-mentioned parameters and different types of neovascular membrane, classified by fluorescein angiography (FA). Methods. The study included 82 patients with NVAMD, treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. All patients underwent a basic ophthalmological examination, FA and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Based on the results of FA, all the patients were divided into two main groups ? type I (the occult and minimally classic) and type II (classic and predominantly classic) of the choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV). The OCT images revealed either the presence or the absence of IS/OS and ELM. Results. After the treatment, the mean best corrected visual acuity improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.01). Preserved IS/OS and ELM were registered in a smaller number of patients as compared to the condition before the treatment (p < 0.01). After the treatment, the mean BCVA was significantly better in patients with preserved IS/OS and ELM (p < 0.01). In addition, we registered a higher number of patients with preserved ELM in the first group than in the second group (p < 0.01), whereas there was no significant difference in the integrity of IS/OS between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion. The patients with preserved IS/OS and ELM achieved better final visual acuity as compared to the patients without preserved IS/OS and ELM. In our patients, the absence of IS/OS and ELM were more frequent in type II (classic and predominantly classic) CNV than in type I (the occult and minimally classic) CNV.