Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the conjunctival microbiota of patients requiring intravitreal injections due to diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: A total of 182 participants (46 DR, 71 AMD, 16 RVO, and 49 controls) were enrolled between August and November 2024. Conjunctival swabs were collected from both eyes under sterile conditions prior to injection and cultured on 5% sheep blood and chocolate agar. Microorganisms were identified using Vitek MS. Results: No significant differences were observed among the groups in overall microbial growth frequency (all p > 0.05). Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and polymicrobial growth were more frequently detected in DR and AMD patients, suggesting a trend toward greater microbial diversity, although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: DR and AMD patients exhibited higher prevalence of gram-negative, fungal, and polymicrobial colonization. These findings underscore the importance of strict aseptic preparation, povidone-iodine disinfection, and targeted prophylactic strategies to minimize post-injection infection risk in high-risk populations.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial disease characterized by abnormal vascularization of the immature retina. Although the most important risk factors are gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW), the quality of neonatal intensive care also affects its incidence. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of ROP and the need for treatment in infants screened for ROP according to the 2021 Turkish Prematurity Screening Guidelines for Retinopathy. Records of premature babies screened for ROP at a single center between January 2021 and December 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. The results of the examinations, need for treatment, and hospital centers where premature infants were examined in accordance with the new guidelines were recorded. Between 2021 and 2024, 8,503 premature infants were screened for ROP at our clinic. A total of 1,623 infants were diagnosed with ROP, and 147 were treated using either laser photocoagulation or intravitreal bevacizumab. The number of babies with a BW over 1,700 g who were screened for ROP was 6,581; of these, 738 (11.21%) developed ROP, and 28 babies (0.42%) were treated. The number of babies born at ≥34 weeks’ GA and who were screened for ROP was 4,029; of these, 173 (4.29%) developed ROP, and one baby (0.024%) was treated. Among the 1,623 patients diagnosed with ROP, 147 were treated, and 1,476 had spontaneously regressed ROP. Significant ROP requiring treatment may occur in infants born at >34 weeks of gestation and/or with a BW ≥1,700 g.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of ophthalmologic consultations, demographic data of patients, and reasons for hospital admission among patients presenting with ophthalmologic complaints to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital. Method: This retrospective study included 3,617 patients with ocular complaints. The patients presented to a tertiary care ED in Istanbul between August 2021 and August 2022. The hospital’s automation system was used to evaluate emergency ophthalmologic consultations. Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.17 ± 16.60 years, and 66.8% were male. The majority of visits (63.9%) occurred outside of working hours. Of these, 1,642 (45.4%) patients presented due to trauma. Intraocular foreign bodies were detected in 2,419 patients (66.9%). Among non-traumatic conditions, conjunctivitis (26.6%), subconjunctival hemorrhage (8.9%), and blepharitis (3.3%) were the most common diagnoses. A total of 91 patients (2.5%) were admitted to the ophthalmology department. The hospital admission rate was higher among older patients, those with non-traumatic conditions, and those without a foreign body. Conclusion: Our study highlights the predominance of non-emergent consultations among ophthalmologic cases. It underscores the need for improved triage protocols to optimize consultations. Further research is required to enhance ophthalmologic case management and patient referral systems to optimize emergency care resources.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia characterized by stromal thinning and collagen disruption. Despite being primarily considered an ocular disease, recent evidence suggests the possibility of systemic connective tissue involvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate arterial stiffness parameters in patients with keratoconus to explore potential systemic vascular alterations. METHODS: The study included 43 consecutive patients with keratoconus (mean age: 38.4±12.5 years, 21 male) and 50 healthy controls (mean age: 39.8±7.9 years, 29 male). Arterial stiffness was assessed in all participants using the Mobil-O-Graph system. RESULTS: The patients with keratoconus had significantly higher pulse wave velocity (6.1±1.1 m/s vs. 5.6±0.5 m/s, p=0.014), augmentation index (21 vs. 12%, p=0.005), peripheral systolic blood pressure (123±12 mmHg vs. 115±8 mmHg, p<0.001), peripheral pulse pressure (46±11 mmHg vs. 39±9, p=0.001), central systolic blood pressure (112±12 mmHg vs. 107±8 mmHg, p=0.016), and central pulse pressure (34±9 mmHg vs. 30±8 mmHg, p=0.037) compared to controls. Pulse wave velocity was significantly correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, Kmax, thinnest corneal thickness, and posterior corneal elevation. Keratoconus remained independently associated with pulse wave velocity after adjustment for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index (B=0.289, 95%CI 0.083–0.494, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Patients with keratoconus had higher pulse wave velocity and augmentation index values than controls, suggesting an association between keratoconus and increased arterial stiffness. These findings highlight the need to consider cardiovascular risk assessment in individuals with keratoconus.

Background. We aimed to determine the risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and investigate the effects of the expanded screening criteria according to the 2021 update of the Turkish Neonatology Society guidelines on the clinical outcomes of premature infants and the incidence of severe ROP. Materials and Method. Patient records of infants treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between January-December 2020 and January-December 2023, who were identified as at-risk for ROP were retrospectively analyzed. Infants with severe ROP were compared with those without ROP or with mild ROP not requiring treatment in terms of risk factors. Results. Among the cohort of 169 patients at risk of ROP, the median gestational age was 30.2 (interquartile range [IQR]: 27.4-32.1) weeks and the median birth weight was 1354 g (IQR: 920-1760). Severe ROP was detected in 2.9% (n=5) of the premature infants included in the study. When comparing the periods before and after the 2021 guideline update, the incidence of severe ROP was found to be 3.7% vs. 2.2%, respectively (p=0.085). After the 2021 update, the number of infants examined at ≥33 weeks increased approximately 2.5-fold, but no severe ROP was detected in this group. Small gestational age, low birth weight, multiple erythrocyte suspension transfusions, patent ductus arteriosus, prolonged oxygen duration, and prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation were found to be statistically significant risk factors for severe ROP (p