Ugurlu, Adem; Içel, Erel; Tasli, Nurdan Gamze; Uçak, Turgay

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the existing eye pathologies of immigrant patients due to visual impairment and to compare them with the local population. Materials and Methods: Between November 2018 and August 2019, a total of 150 participants among immigrants and 440 participants among local people were included in the study. Analysis of disease prevalence was calculated as a ratio of the total cohort screened with available data. The average, standard deviation, percentage, and minimum and maximum values of the data were calculated. Results: Of the 590 patients in the study, 440 were from the local population and 150 were immigrants comprising 90 Afghans and 60 Meskhetian Turks. The rate of the patients wearing glasses at presentation was higher in the local population than among the immigrant patients (p<0.001). The number of uncorrected refractive errors was significantly higher in immigrants than in the local population (p<0.001). The proportion of patients who stated that they had an eye examination for the 1st time was significantly higher among the immigrant patients (p<0.001). Infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, and cataract were significantly higher among the Afghan patients (p<0.001). In the Afghan patients and local population, the history of ocular trauma was significantly higher compared to the Meskhetian Turks (p<0.001). In the Afghan patients, the presence of a corneal or conjunctival foreign body was significantly higher than in the other groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Ocular disorders, such as cataracts and associated legal blindness, infectious eye diseases, and uncorrected refractive error can be seen more in immigrants. To remedy this situation, there are many steps that all of the countries must take for these individuals to access the necessary health care.

Tasli, Nurdan Gamze; Ölmez, Hasan; Ugurlu, Adem; Uçak, Turgay; Içel, Erel; Karakurt, Yucel; Yilmaz, Hayati

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the anterior segment parameters of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by corneal specular microscopy and biometry and to compare the results with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Our prospective study consisted of 122 eyes of 61 patients with COPD and 110 eyes of 55 patients without any systemic diseases. A comprehensive medical history was obtained, and corrected visual acuity, bio microscopic and fundus examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement with applanation tonometry, and non-contact specular microscopy were performed in all participants. Results: The endothelial cell density was lower in the COPD group than in the control group (p<0.001). The coefficient of variation (CV) was higher, central corneal thickness was significantly higher, and hexagonal cell ratio (HEX) was lesser in the COPD group than in the control group (p<0.001). Any significant difference between the control and the COPD groups was not determined in comparison with IOP, mean axial length keratometry (Kmean), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and white-to-white limbus length (WTW) measurements. Patients were grouped into two regarding the disease severity as mild-moderate (group 1, n=20), and moderate-severe (group 2, n=41) according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria. The number of endothelial cells was lesser, the CV was higher, and the HEX was lower in the moderate-severe COPD group than in the mild-moderate COPD group (p<0.001). The duration of smoking was significantly longer in the moderate-severe group than in the mild-moderate COPD group (p<0.001). Conclusion: We suggest that in patients with COPD, due to the reduction of endothelial functional preserve, the risk of corneal endothelial damage is increased in intraocular surgery. In patients with end-stage COPD, caution should be exercised with regard to endothelial decompensation, frequent disease in the general population, corneal parameters, and to define the alterations that the ocular surgeons should be cautious about. Data regarding the alterations in anterior segment parameters in patients with COPD are highly limited in the previous literature.

Gürsu, Sarper; Yıldırım, Timur; Çamurcu, Yalkın; Sofu, Hakan; Demir, Bilal; Issın, Ahmet; Şahin, Vedat

Objective: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgical treatment method applied for isolated-medial gonarthrosis. Successful results were reported in different studies. We have evaluated the satisfaction levels of the patients and the clinical results of HTO. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine patients who underwent open wedge osteotomy as the surgical treatment of medial gonarthrosis between the years 2002 and 2006 were included in our study. The mean age at the time of surgery was 54.9 years, and the mean follow-up time was 6.8 years. Results: Patients were asked whether they were satisfied with the operation or not; 41 of them (41.4%) were completely satisfied, 30 patients (30.3%) were partially satisfied, and 28 of them (28.3%) were dissatisfied. Fifteen patients (15.1%) underwent secondary total knee arthroplasty. and for 2 other patients, arthroplasty was planned. When patients were asked whether they would recommend HTO to others, 74 of them (74.7%) said they would, but 25 patients (25.3%) said they would not. Conclusion: High tibial osteotomy is a very successful surgical treatment. However, patient satisfaction levels may not be as high as expected. In this regard, when assessing the clinical outcomes of HTO, better methods that include the patients’ feedback should be taken into consideration.