The use of the QuantiFERON-tuberculosis gold test in the diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis

Ocular tuberculosis without systemic manifestations may rarely occur. The diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis is important because it has a wide spectrum of presentations and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The QuantiFERON-tuberculosis gold test is a new diagnostic test that may be useful in making a suitable diagnosis.

Topographic optic disc analysis by Heidelberg retinal tomography in ocular Behcet's disease

AIM

To compare the topographic characteristics of the optic discs in patients with severe and mild ocular Behçet's disease by using Heidelberg retinal tomographaphy (HRT).

METHODS

This prospective study included 47 eyes of 47 patients with ocular BD who were being followed-up at the Uveitis Clinic of the Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 21 eyes with mild uveitis, and group 2 consisted of 26 eyes with severe uveitis. All patients underwent topographic optic disc analysis by HRT II, and the quantitative optic disc parameters of both groups were compared by non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The mean cup volume, rim volume, cup area, disc area and cup depth in group 1 were found to be statistically significantly greater than those in group 2 (p<0.0001, p = 0.03, p = 0.021, p = 0.01 and p = 0.017, respectively), while the difference between the mean cup-to-disc ratios in group 1 and group 2 were found to be statistically insignificant (p = 0.148).

CONCLUSION

A relationship was found between the severity of ocular BD and optic disc topography determined by HRT. In eyes with smaller optic discs, uveitis was observed to have a more severe course with more frequent relapses than those with larger discs.

Combined phacoemulsification, vitrectomy, foreign-body extraction, and intraocular lens implantation

PURPOSE

To assess the outcome of simultaneous phacoemulsification, pars plana vitrectomy, intraocular foreign-body extraction, and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

SETTING

SSK Ankara Eye Hospital, Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with corneal perforation, intraocular foreign body, vitreous hemorrhage, and lens opacity had simultaneous clear corneal phacoemulsification, pars plana vitrectomy, intraocular foreign-body extraction, and IOL implantation.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications included massive retinal fibrosis in 2 patients, retinal detachment in 1, and cilioretinal artery occlusion in 1. At a mean follow-up of 15.2 months, best corrected visual acuity improved in the remaining 13 eyes (76%). The IOL was stable in all cases.

CONCLUSION

Combined phacoemulsification with IOL implantation and vitreoretinal surgery was safe in selected cases of penetrating ocular trauma resulting from an intraocular foreign body.