The aim was to estimate association of the oxidative stress with the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) and additionally serum total antioxidant status (TAS) were used as indicators of the oxidative stress level. 57 AMD patients (32 early and 25 late AMD) and 50 healthy, age and gender matched controls were included. GPx activity (P<0.001) and serum TAS (P=0.015) were significantly lower in AMD patients. The difference was not significant for SOD or CAT activities. Significant interaction between GPx and SOD was detected (P=0.003). At high levels of SOD activity (over 75th percentile), one standard deviation decrease in GPx increases the odds for AMD for six times (OR = 6.22;P<0.001). ROC analysis revealed that combined values of GPx activity and TAS are significant determinants of AMD status. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 75%, 95%, 52%, 69%, and 90%, respectively. The study showed that low GPx activity and TAS are associated with AMD. SOD modulates the association of GPx and AMD. The results suggest that erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes activity and serum TAS could be promising markers for the prediction of AMD.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to present our experience in treating 191 patients with eye and orbit injuries that occurred during the war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological management of wartime eye and orbit injuries in patients hospitalized at Clinical Hospital Split. Results: Seventy-nine percent of the war eye and orbit injuries were caused by fragments of explosive devices, 9.9% by high-velocity missiles, and 8.4% by other objects. Most of the patients were admitted to the hospital within 24 hours of injury. The total number of injured globes was 222; 48.2% of globes had intrabulbar (mostly magnetic) foreign bodies, and 13% had extrabulbar intraorbital foreign bodies. Extensive wounds (perforation, double perforation, rupture, and evisceration/enucleation) were encountered in 74% of patients, and 26% of patients had slight trauma. There was a statistically significant correlation between admission within the first 12 hours and postoperative visual acuity (X² = 3.93; p = 0.0474). Conclusion: Along with clinical examination, computed tomography is the most important diagnostic procedure in preoperative evaluation of various forms of globe and orbit injuries. The admission time is the most important factor in determining postoperative visual acuity.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome on intraoperative phacoemulsification (PHACO) parameters and assess the economic cost of PHACO surgery for cataracts in patients with and without PEX syndrome. Methods: This was a retrospective quality register study on 5889 patients (6236 eyes) who underwent PHACO cataract surgery in the Eye Clinic, Clinical Hospital Centre Split, Croatia, over a 7-year period (May 2015 to December 2022), in accordance with the Guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration and approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Centre Split, Croatia. Inclusion criteria were patients with either presenile or senile cataract or cataract related to PEX syndrome who undertook PHACO procedure by the same experienced surgeon using the same PHACO device (Infiniti Vision System, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA). Eyes were categorized according to PEX presence- (PEX group) or absence (Group without PEX). The following recorded data about intraoperative PHACO parameters were collected: Cumulative Dissipated Energy (CDE), Ultrasound total time, PHACO time, torsional time, aspiration time, estimated fluid used, and duration of the surgical procedure. In the economic analysis, all PHACO parameters were considered, with a specific focus on the duration of the surgical procedure, costs associated with additional medical materials and devices, complications during surgery, and surgery procedure Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) codes. Results: A total of 4535 cases were eligible for inclusion in the study, 278 (6.13%) were diagnosed with PEX and 4257 (93.87%) had no PEX. Significantly higher PHACO parameters were observed in the PEX group. Similarly, a statistically significant increase in the values of all PHACO parameters was observed with the increase in nuclear lens density. Intraoperative complications were more frequent in the PEX group. Zonular weakness requiring the use of a capsular tension ring (CTR) and posterior capsular rupture occurred 30 and 13 times more often, respectively, in the PEX group. The expected cost of the PHACO procedure was found to be 1.4 times higher in patients with PEX, compared to those without PEX, for all types of nuclear cataract. Conclusions: All PHACO parameters are significantly higher in patients with PEX. The costs associated with PHACO surgery for cataracts are greater for patients with PEX and are not covered by the present DRG codes, which highlights the need to accordingly adjust the DRGs for PHACO procedures in PEX patients, in order to maintain the quality of healthcare provided for these vulnerable patients.

Background: Open globe injuries (OGI) are the most severe and sight-treating ocular traumas encountered in ophthalmology. The purpose of the study is to analyze the characteristics and prognostic factors of OGI and to evaluate the prognostic value of the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) in predicting final visual outcome. Methods: A retrospective study analyzing OGI in 56 patients referred to the Eye Clinic, University Hospital Centre Split, Croatia, was conducted between January 2020 and January 2023. The characteristics of OGI and other relevant factors contributing to the final visual outcome were analyzed. The comparison between the final visual outcomes predicted by OTS system and those observed in the study was performed. Non-parametric statistical methods (Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests) with the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons were used in statistical analysis. Results: The average age of patients was 45 years; 48 (86%) were males and 8 (14%) females. Most of the patients (68%) were admitted to the hospital and treated within 6 h after the injury. Most of the injuries (88%) occurred during leisure time and most often were located in zone 2 (46%). Penetrating injuries were the most frequent injury type (52%), while globe rupture was present in 16 (29%) patients. The posterior segment was affected in 27 (48%) patients. In 16 (29%) patients, final BCVA reached ≥ 0.5. The worst final BCVA– NLP was most commonly experienced in patients with globe rupture (38%). Poor final BCVA was statistically significantly associated with worse initial BCVA (P < 0.001), globe rupture (P < 0.001), lower OTS category (P < 0.001), and the presence of RAPD (P < 0.001). The final visual results were comparable with predicted visual outcome by OTS. Conclusions: The study cohort from Croatia showed that the most important factors in the prognosis of final BCVA in OGI were initial BCVA, injury type, RAPD, localization and extent of the wound, and appropriate, timely surgical treatment in specialized institutions with experienced surgeons. Furthermore, our study findings are mostly consistent with those of the international OTS group and support the view that OTS is a reliable predictor of the final visual outcome.

Background and Objectives: To provide, for the first time, statistical data on risk factors for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in young-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Croatia, and to develop a predictive health economic model to evaluate the clinical and financial impact of implementing a national diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study at University Hospital Split (June 2020–June 2022) analyzed 58 suitable T1D patients out of 562 screened. Patients were classified based on detailed fundus exams and photos into PDR and non-PDR groups. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed using logistic regression. A health economic model was established to project the number of preventable PDR cases and the potential cost savings under various screening scenarios. Results: PDR was found in 47% of patients. Its presence was statistically significantly linked to longer diabetes duration, poor glycemic control, onset before 18 years of age, and irregular eye exams. Irregular ophthalmologic examinations increased the odds of PDR by nearly 30-fold. Health-economic modeling for 10,000 young-onset T1D patients showed that annual screening with 60% uptake could prevent about 1973 PDR cases and save €14.2 million annually. Screening remained cost-effective even with moderate uptake or less frequent intervals. Conclusions: Strict glycemic control and regular eye examinations are critical for preventing PDR in young T1D, and establishing a national screening program would be cost-effective, especially in resource-limited settings like Croatia, where providing appropriate, timely treatment may be challenging.