Ocular findings in Sheehan’s syndrome

Corneal Tonometric and Morphological Changes in Patients with Acromegaly

(1) Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) parameters, corneal endothelium parameters, central corneal thickness (CCT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after the transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma in patients with acromegaly. (2) Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, interventional study. Twenty patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly were examined before and 19 ± 9 months after transsphenoidal resection. The participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination including pneumatic IOP (IOP air puff), Goldmann applanation tonometry (IOP GAT), CCT measured using the iPac pachymeter (CCT_UP), IOP value corrected for CCT_UP using the Ehlers formula (IOPc) ORA measurements included corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc), and Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg). CCT from non-contact specular microscopy (CCT_NSM), the number of endothelial cells (CD) per mm2, and average cell size (AVG) were determined with non-contact specular microscopy. (3) Results: A statistically significant decrease was observed in CCT_UP (p = 0.007), and IOP air puff (p = 0.012) after surgery. Moreover, we noted a statistically significant increase in CD (p = 0.001), and a statistically significant decrease in AVG (p = 0.009) and CCT_NSM (p = 0.004) after surgery. A statistically significant decrease was also observed in IOPg (p = 0.011), CH (p = 0.016), and CRF (p = 0.001) after surgery. The mean value of IOP GAT and IOPc was lower after the surgery. However, the difference was not statistically significant. (4) Conclusions: Our study revealed significant changes in biomechanics, corneal endothelium, CCT and IOP after pituitary adenoma resection in patients with acromegaly. It proves that the eye might be sensitive to long-term overexposure to growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We suggest that disease activity be taken into consideration on ophthalmological examination.

Quantitative measures of the vascular and neural components of the retina in adult individuals with congenital and untreated growth hormone deficiency

Background

The somatotrophic axis, including hypothalamic growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH), pituitary GH and circulating IGF-I, is critical for body size. However, the local production of GH/IGF-I (and IGF-II) and other peptides is relevant for other body functions, such as vascular, brain, and retinal function. The consequences of GH deficiency (GHD) on the retinal structure are still unclear, possibly reflecting the heterogeneity of patients and the different types of assessment in previous publications. Our purpose was to assess quantitative measures of the vascular and neural components of the retina in subjects with severe congenital isolated GHD (IGHD).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 25 adult IGHD subjects and 25 age- and gender-matched controls. Interview, physical examination, laboratory data, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed.

Results

OCT revealed no difference in the areas of the nerve fiber layer average, nor in the areas of superior, inferior, or nasal quadrants, between the two groups. However, areas of the temporal quadrant (p = 0.041), the optical disc (p = 0.042), the cup (p < 0.0001), as well as the cup/disc ratio (p < 0.0001), were higher in IGHD subjects than controls. The rim area was smaller (p = 0.002), although still normal. In OCTA, there was no difference in the minimum foveal thickness, central fovea, foveal avascular zone, and retinal density in any assessed area.

Conclusions

In conclusion, congenital IGHD does not affect quantitative measures of the vascular and neural retina, and it is associated with increased optical disc in this genetically homogeneous cohort.

TFOS DEWS II Sex, Gender, and Hormones Report

One of the most compelling features of dry eye disease (DED) is that it occurs more frequently in women than men. In fact, the female sex is a significant risk factor for the development of DED. This sex-related difference in DED prevalence is attributed in large part to the effects of sex steroids (e.g. androgens, estrogens), hypothalamic-pituitary hormones, glucocorticoids, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 and thyroid hormones, as well as to the sex chromosome complement, sex-specific autosomal factors and epigenetics (e.g. microRNAs). In addition to sex, gender also appears to be a risk factor for DED. "Gender" and "sex" are words that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. "Gender" refers to a person's self-representation as a man or woman, whereas "sex" distinguishes males and females based on their biological characteristics. Both gender and sex affect DED risk, presentation of the disease, immune responses, pain, care-seeking behaviors, service utilization, and myriad other facets of eye health. Overall, sex, gender and hormones play a major role in the regulation of ocular surface and adnexal tissues, and in the difference in DED prevalence between women and men. The purpose of this Subcommittee report is to review and critique the nature of this role, as well as to recommend areas for future research to advance our understanding of the interrelationships between sex, gender, hormones and DED.