Background: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature, extremely low birth weight (BW, ELBW) and extremely low gestational age (GA, ELGA) infants. Methods: The medical records of preterm infants who were screened for ROP between January 2012 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Only one eye of each infant with higher grade ROP was included in the study. BW; GA; medical characteristics; the presence, severity, and need for treatment of ROP were recorded. Infants were divided into groups according to BW (≤1000 g, 1001-1750 g, > 1750 g) and GA (≤25w, 26-28w, 29-31w, 32-34w, ≥35w) and data were analyzed. Results: Data of 2186 infants were evaluated. The overall incidences of any stage ROP and ROP requiring treatment were 43.5 and 8.0%, respectively. These rates were 81.1 and 23.9% in ELBW (≤1000 g) infants and were 92.9 and 64.3% in ELGA (≤25w) infants, respectively. The rates of ROP, the median duration of oxygen therapy and systemic diseases increased significantly as BW and GA decreased. The median duration of oxygen therapy and the rates of sepsis, pulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were statistically higher in infants with ROP compared to those without ROP (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that low BW and GA; prolonged duration of oxygen therapy; presence of PDA and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were important risk factors for ROP. Conclusions: ELBW and ELGA infants develop higher rates of ROP and severe ROP. Prolonged duration of oxygen therapy, the presence of concomitant neonatal sepsis, BPD, IVH, PDA, and NEC further increases the risk of ROP.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the protective ptosis created by botulinum neurotoxin type-A in lagophthalmos cases due to peripheral facial paralysis. Protective ptosis was induced by 7.5 U botulinum neurotoxin type-A injection into levator muscles in 15 patients with peripheral facial paralysis and lagophthalmos. Its efficacy and safety were evaluated prospectively. Complete ophthalmological examinations were performed before and after injections; interpalpebral fissure, upper eyelid margin reflex distance, and levator muscle function were measured. In control visits, degree and duration of ptosis and side effects of the drug were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 55 ± 14.28 years (22-78 years). Ptosis created by botulinum neurotoxin type-A injection was severe in 12 patients (80%), moderate in 2 patients (13.3%), and mild in 1 patient (6.7%). The effect of botulinum neurotoxin type-A began in 2.33 ± 1.44 days and peaked in 5.73 ± 2.63 days. No patient needed a second injection. The mean duration for ptosis was 10.53 ± 2.89 weeks. After development of ptosis, statistically significant improvement in corneal symptoms (p < 0.01) and decrease in daily artificial tear requirement (p < 0.01) were detected. Local or systemic side effects were not observed in any of the patients. In patients with peripheral facial paralysis and lagophthalmos, protective ptosis created by botulinum neurotoxin type-A injection into the levator muscle is a reliable and effective technique for the protection of the ocular surface and treatment of existing corneal complications. It represents an alternative treatment modality in cases requiring surgery.

Purpose: To determine the role of baseline characteristics in predicting visual outcome in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with ranibizumab. Methods: A review was carried out of the charts of 97 eyes that received pro re nata (PRN) intravitreal ranibizumab (IR) 0.5 mg treatment for DME. The change in the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was analyzed. The baseline demographics and ocular and optic coherence tomography findings were analyzed to determine the association with the 2-year visual acuity (VA). Results: BCVA increased from 0.54 ± 0.2 (0.05–1.0) to 0.41 ± 0.3 (0.0–1.0) log of the minimum angle of resolution ( P < 0.001). Age ( P = 0.012), gender ( P = 0.018), baseline BCVA ( P < 0.001), presence of leaking microaneurysms (MA) ( P = 0.018), development of vitreomacular traction (VMT) ( P = 0.001), development of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) ( P = 0.040), and disruption of ellipsoid zone (EZ) ( P = 0.007) were found as predictors of 2-year VA. There was no association between visual outcome and the other characteristics. Conclusions: PRN treatment of IR provides significant benefits in VA gain and anatomic improvement in eyes with DME. Older age, female sex, lower baseline VA, VMT development, and EZ disruption are predictors for the poor final VA. Development of PVD and leaking MA are predictors for the good final VA.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative measurements obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with Behçet uveitis. Methods: A total of 22 consecutive patients with Behçet uveitis and 19 age-matched healthy individuals were included in the study. Quantitative analysis of optical coherence tomography angiography images was performed. Comparisons between the patients and the control groups and correlation analysis between optical coherence tomography angiography results and age, visual acuity, duration of uveitis, central macular thickness, and fluorescein angiography scores in the patient group was performed. Results: The mean superficial foveal avascular zone area was 283.040 ± 113.003 µm² in the patient group and 254.268 ± 75.813 µm² in the control group (p = 0.821). The mean deep foveal avascular zone area was 317.657 ± 116.225 µm² in the patient group and 332.954 ± 94.783 µm² in the control group (p = 0.775). The foveal avascular zone area could not be calculated in eight eyes with macular atrophy in the patient group because of unclear foveal avascular zone borders. Both superficial and deep capillary vessel density in all regions were lower in the patient group than in the control. Superior, inferior, and temporal capillary vessel density were correlated with fluorescein angiography score (Pearson’s r = –0.380, 0.392, and –0.384, p < 0.05 in superficial plexus; r = –0.357, –0.401, and –0.321, p < 0.05 in deep plexus, respectively). The foveal avascular zone area was correlated with central macular thickness in both superficial and deep plexus (r = –0.387 and –0.331, p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Recurrent uveitis attacks affecting the macula are associated with a decrease in capillary vessel density and expansion in the foveal avascular zone area in Behçet disease. The qualitative evaluation of the optical coherence tomography angiography findings may be more valuable in patients with macular atrophy.