Ugurlu, Adem; Yılmaz, Hayati

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of low blood magnesium levels on the optic nerve, retina, and retinal vascular structure. Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2019 and May 2020 with participants aged 20–39 years, who had a visual acuity of ≥20/20, the axial length of 22–24.5 mm, refractive defect spherical equivalent of ≤±3D, and intraocular pressure of ≤21 mm Hg. All participants had a complaint of twitching in their eyes. The participants with normal serum magnesium levels constituted the control group, and patients with hypomagnesemia constituted the patient group. Updated AngioScan software (Navis ver. 1.8.0.) of Nidek’s RS-3000 Advance system was used to analyze the spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) images. Results: A total of 100 right eyes of 100 individuals was included in the study. The mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was 108.52 ± 12.46 μm in the control group, and 97.3 ± 9.7 μm in the hypomagnesemia group (P < .001). In the control group, the global superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel densities (VDs) were 41.92 ± 2.29, and 37.54 ± 3.83, respectively. In the patient group, the global SCP and DCP VDs were 37.66 ± 3.14, and 32.95 ± 5.57, respectively. The SCP and DCP VD percentages were significantly lower in the patient group. The mean foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, perimeter and circularity index (CI) were 0.32 ± 0.13 mm2, 2.89 ± 0.59 mm, and 0.52 ± 0.09, respectively, for the control group and 0.38 ± 0.11 mm2, 2.99 ± 0.64 mm, and 0.38 ± 0.1, respectively, for the patient group. The FAZ area and perimeter were significantly higher (P = .013 and P = .001) and FAZ CI was significantly lower (P < .001) in the patients with hypomagnesemia. Conclusion: Our study revealed that OCT and OCT-A measurements may be used in the determination of the optic nerve and retinal vascular structure changes in hypomagnesemia.

Karakurt, Yucel; Mertoglu, Cuma; Gok, Gamze; Ucak, Turgay; Tasli, Nurdan; Icel, Erel; Erel, Ozcan

Aim: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy causing progressive impairment of visual functions. We aimed to assess the alterations in thiol–disulfide homeostasis and serum ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels, which are the determinants of antioxidant status, in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Material and Method: A total of 140 eyes from 70 patients with POAG and 174 eyes of 87 healthy, control cases were included in the study. All study participants underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation. Alterations in serum thiol–disulfide homeostasis and IMA levels were measured in all participants. Results: IMA levels were significantly higher in glaucoma group (p:0.001). Native thiol, Total thiol and Native/Total thiol ratio were significantly decreased while Disulfide, Disulfide/Native thiol, and Disulfide/Total thiol ratios were significantly higher in glaucoma group (p:0.001). There was no significant difference regarding central corneal thickness (CCT), iridocorneal angle, albumin, IMA and adjusted IMA levels in patients with different stages of glaucoma. In correlation analysis, there was a negative correlation between Native thiol, Total thiol and Native/Total thiol ratio and disease period, number of daily drops required and stage of the disease in glaucoma patients. There was also a positive correlation between Disulfide, Disulfide/Native thiol and Disulfide/Total thiol levels and the disease activity. Conclusion: In patients with POAG, thiol–disulfide homeostasis is disturbed in the favor of pro-oxidant molecules and IMA levels are increased, indicating the presence of augmented oxidative stress. In that aspect, systemic and local anti-oxidant treatments may be new targets in glaucoma treatment. Larger, prospective studies about the role of anti-oxidants in prevention and treatment of POAG are warranted.

Yilmaz, Hayati; Karakurt, Yucel; Icel, Erel; Ugurlu, Adem; Ucak, Turgay; Tasli, Nurdan Gamze; Elpeze, Sumeyye Burcu

Purpose: To establish a normative database for macular and peripapillary vessel densities (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) metrics in healthy subjects with the new version of AngioScan software of RS-3000 Advance (Nidek Co, Ltd) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) device. Methods: The study design was prospective and cross-sectional. VDs of the SCP, deep capillary plexus (DCP), retinal peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) and FAZ area, perimeter and circularity index (CI) along with the structural OCT measurements were scanned by using the Nidek’s RS-3000 Advance OCT-A device in healthy subjects. The new version of the AngioScan software was used for analytics. The relations between the OCT-A parameters with age, gender and OCT parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 128 right eyes of 128 subjects (50% female) were included in this study. We divided subjects into 3 groups in accordance with age; 19–39 years to Group 1, 40–59 years to Group 2, >60 y. to Group 3. The mean SCP and DCP VDs were 41.25 ± 2.51% and 36.01 ± 5.07% respectively (P < .001). The DCP VD was significantly different between groups (P = .001). The mean FAZ area, perimeter and CI were 0.33 ± 0.12 mm2, 2.68 ± 0.6 mm and 0.47 ± 0.09 respectively. Only FAZ CI significantly differed between groups (P = .003). The FAZ area was significantly greater in female subjects than males (P = .025). The SCP and DCP VDs were inversely correlated with FAZ area and perimeter (P < .05). Conclusion: Our study provided for the first time the normative data of the recently updated AngioScan software of Nidek. Additional studies are needed to define pathological vascular changes in ocular and systemic diseases with this new software.