Background/Objectives: Certain aspects of retinal thickness assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) require additional clarification. It is supposed that attributing reduced retinal thickness in PD to dopaminergic loss may not be acceptable as it also happens in diseases where dopaminergic loss does not occur. The objective of our study is to compare the ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), and macular thickness of PD and dopa responsive dystonia (DRD) patients with healthy controls (HC), to investigate whether DRD patients, as a distinctive model of genetically induced dopamine deficiency, have reduced retinal thickness in comparison with PD, and to analyze correlation between retinal thickness and various PD clinical parameters. Methods: We analyzed 86 patients with PD, 10 patients with DRD, and 96 age- and sex-matched HC. Results: GCIPL, pRNFL, and central macula thickness (CMT) are statistically significantly thinner in PD patients compared to HC (p < 0.001, all). GCIPL and CMT are also statistically significantly thinner in DRD patients compared to HC (p = 0.012, p = 0.001, respectively). GCIPL thickness correlates positively with the daily dose of levodopa (r = 0.244, p < 0.01). The thickness of GCIPL and pRNFL correlate negatively with current age (r = −0.219; p < 0.01 and r = −0.358; p < 0.05, respectively). All retinal parameters are statistically significantly thinner in females than in males (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with PD and DRD did not differ in GCIPL and pRNFL thickness when compared to one another. These results, supported by positive correlation of levodopa dose and GCIPL thickness in PD patients, emphasize the importance of dopamine in maintaining retinal thickness.

Background/Objectives: Clinical differentiation between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonism (AP) remains complex. Current diagnostic procedures helpful in their distinction lack specificity, making non-invasive tools like optical coherence tomography (OCT) crucial in evaluating possible retinal changes as potential biomarkers. Our study examined the thickness of the ganglion cell inner plexiform layer complex (GCIPL), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular segments in individuals with PD, multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and healthy controls (HC). The objective of our study was to determine if OCT analyses can effectively discriminate PD patients from HC and whether retinal thickness can distinguish typical PD patients from those with AP. Methods: Research was an observational, cross-sectional study. Multiple retinal layers measured with OCT of PD and AP patients were compared with age- and sex-matched HC. An intergroup assessment was conducted. Results: Patients with PD and PSP exhibit a thinner GCIPL compared to HC, with no difference observed in the MSA group. GCIPL thickness between investigational groups does not differentiate between PD and AP. The RNFL and central macula thickness were statistically significantly reduced in all patient groups compared to HC. The RNFL was thinner in PSP compared to PD. Nearly all inner and outer macular segments were thinner in the investigational groups compared to HC. The preservation of outer nasal segments distinguished HC from both typical and AP. Patients with PSP and PD differed in the thickness of all macular segments, being thinner in PSP patients. Conclusions: Thickness of multiple retinal layers and macular regions might serve as a distinguishing feature between PD, AP and HC.

The aim of this study was to evaluate tear cytokine and chemokine profiles in keratoconus (KC) and to assess their association with long-term tomographic outcomes after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). In this cross-sectional observational study, 30 KC eyes and nine healthy controls were enrolled. KC severity was graded using the modified Amsler–Krumeich classification. Tear samples were collected and analyzed using multiplex bead-based immunoassays (LEGENDplex™) for cytokines, chemokines, and TGF-β1. Patients were followed for five years after CXL. Treatment response was categorized according to corneal flattening (3 D). Individual cytokine levels showed no major differences between the KC and controls, although IL-6 and MCP-1 tended to be higher in the KC group. However, IP 10 and IL-17 were higher in controls (p < 0.05). In contrast, multiple pro-/anti-inflammatory ratios (TNF/TGF-β1, IL-17/IL-10, MCP-1/IL-10, IL-6/IL-10, IL-8/TGF-β1, MCP-1/TGF-β1, IL-6/TGF-β1, and IL-8/IL-10) were significantly elevated in the KC group (p < 0.05), indicating immune imbalance. After five years, all treated eyes remained stable or flattened. Lower baseline MCP-1 and IL-8 levels correlated with greater postoperative corneal flattening (p < 0.05). Keratoconus is characterized by disturbed tear immune homeostasis rather than isolated cytokine elevation. Lower preoperative inflammatory activity may predict a more favorable biomechanical response to CXL, supporting the potential role of tear cytokine profiling in patient stratification and prognostication.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and inflammatory disease of the airways that often leads to cardiovascular and microvascular changes. This study aimed to analyze retinal microcirculation in patients with COPD using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study. A total of 44 subjects were analyzed, including 28 with COPD and 16 healthy controls. Inclusion criteria were subjects older than 18 years with a confirmed COPD diagnosis based on spirometric parameters.Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups for the following parameters: deep capillary plexus macular (p = 0.009), parafoveal (p = 0.026), and perifoveal (p = 0.034). A significant negative correlation was observed between the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC) and the vessel density in the macular and perifoveal superficial capillary plexus regions (p<0.05). The choriocapillaris flow also demonstrates a significant inverse relationship with the RV/TLC ratio. Regarding the deeper retinal layers, our analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between outer retina Flow and forced vital capacity (FVC).Conclusion: Monitoring changes in OCTA parameters, particularly in relation to lung volume parameters such as RV/TLC and FVC, suggests that OCTA may provide valuable insights into systemic vascular progression and the overall severity of the disease in COPD patients.

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the correlation between substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity, detected via transcranial sonography (TCS), and retinal thinning in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 86 PD patients (172 eyes) underwent clinical assessment (UPDRS, Hoehn–Yahr), TCS for SN area measurement, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), and macular thickness analysis. Results: PD patients exhibited significant thinning of the GCIPL, average RNFL, and central macular thickness compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001 in all instances). Pathological SN hyperechogenicity (>0.19 cm²) was detected in 85.9% of patients with a preserved temporal bone window (71 out of 86). A significant negative correlation was found specifically between the SN echogenic area and central macular thickness (r = −0.248, p = 0.003). Patients with pathological SN findings had a significantly thinner central macula (p = 0.006) compared to those with a normal SN, while no significant correlations were observed between the SN area and RNFL or GCIPL. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate a specific correlation between SN hyperechogenicity and central macular thinning. While RNFL and GCIPL effectively differentiate PD from controls, the central macula might serve as a promising biomarker candidate reflecting SN changes. Further longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the role of these combined markers in the PD diagnostic algorithm.

(1) Background: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) requires timely surgical repair, most commonly using pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling (SB), or pneumatic retinopexy (PR). Surgical practice varies across regions, while contemporary real-world data from Southeastern Europe remain limited. This study evaluated contemporary surgical management and 12-month outcomes of primary RRD at a Serbian tertiary referral center. (2) Methods: This retrospective, single-center observational study included 188 patients who underwent primary RRD repair between January and December 2024. Patients were treated with PPV, SB, or PR and followed for up to 12 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was assessed preoperatively and at postoperative day 1, day 7, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Longitudinal BCVA changes were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model, with generalized estimating equations used as a complementary population-averaged analysis. Retinal re-detachment and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation were also evaluated. (3) Results: PPV was performed in 104 patients (55.3%), SB in 48 (25.5%), and PR in 36 (19.1%). Baseline characteristics differed significantly among groups, including age, lens status, macular status, symptom duration, and preoperative BCVA. Longitudinal analysis demonstrated significant effects of time (F = 119.53, p < 0.001), macular status (F = 86.36, p < 0.001), symptom duration (F = 2.93, p = 0.035), and a significant time-by-surgery interaction (F = 4.86, p = 0.009). Model-estimated BCVA at 12 months was 0.77 logMAR after PPV, 0.58 after SB, and 0.28 after PR. However, PR patients had more favorable baseline characteristics. Retinal re-detachment occurred in 18.6% of patients, with no significant difference among surgical groups (p = 0.246). Early postoperative IOP elevation was significantly more frequent after PPV (22.3%) than after SB (0%) or PR (2.9%) (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: All three surgical approaches were associated with substantial visual recovery during 12 months of follow-up. PPV was the predominant surgical strategy, while SB remained frequently used and PR provided favorable outcomes in carefully selected patients. Because of substantial baseline differences among treatment groups, between-group outcome differences should not be interpreted as causal evidence of surgical superiority. Macular status and symptom duration were important determinants of functional recovery.