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Biomedical subjects

Ahmet Ozmen

Publications and source records attributed to Ahmet Ozmen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Tear function and ocular surface findings in premature and term babies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the ocular surface and tear function findings in premature and term babies. DESIGN: Prospective, case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight eyes of 24 premature babies seen at the Department of Ophthalmology of Uludag University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey, from March 2002 through September 2002 and 50 eyes of 25 healthy term babies were studied. INTERVENTION: The subjects underwent routine ophthalmic examinations; corneal sensitivity measurements; Schirmer test with anesthesia, with and without nasal stimulation; primary Jones test; fluorescein staining of the ocular surface; and conjunctival impression cytology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Premature and term babies were compared for corneal sensitivity, lacrimal drainage system patency, tear function and ocular surface staining parameters, goblet cell density, and squamous metaplasia grade. The relation of these parameters to the status of the ocular surface was also investigated. RESULTS: Mean corneal sensitivity scores were 45+/-5.0 mm and 55+/-4.5 mm in the premature and term babies, respectively (P<0.001). Premature babies had a mean corneal fluorescein staining score of 1.5+/-0.25 points, compared with 0.22+/-0.28 points in the term babies (P<0.001). The mean Schirmer test scores without and with stimulation were 1.5+/-2.5 mm and 4.15+/-2.5 mm in the premature babies, respectively, compared with 15+/-3.5 mm and 18.75+/-4.5 mm in the term babies. The intragroup and intergroup Schirmer test scores were statistically significant (P<0.001). The primary Jones test was positive in 20.8% of the eyes in the premature babies, whereas it was positive in 84% of eyes in the term babies. The premature babies with positive primary Jones test results all had corneal epithelial defects or severe superficial punctuate keratopathy. Mean conjunctival impression cytology squamous metaplasia scores were 1.86+/-1.2 in the premature babies and 0.86+/-0.47 in the term babies (P<0.001). Mean goblet cell densities were 393+/-484 cells/mm(2) and 739+/-503 cells/mm(2) in the premature and term babies, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Decreased corneal sensitivity, reduced tearing, and lacrimal drainage patency are important determinants of ocular surface disease in premature infants. Premature newborns with low Schirmer test scores and a patent lacrimal system may experience corneal and conjunctival epithelial problems and should be carefully checked for the presence of dry eye complications.

Case-Control Studies↗

Tear function and ocular surface changes in keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To describe the ocular surface disorder in patients with keratoconus. DESIGN: A prospective, case-controlled study. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-five eyes of 38 patients with keratoconus seen at Uludag University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, from March 2000 through April 2001, and 80 eyes of 40 normal control subjects were studied. INTERVENTION: The subjects underwent routine ophthalmic examinations, corneal sensitivity measurements, Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (BUT), fluorescein and rose bengal staining of the ocular surface, and conjunctival impression cytology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients and control subjects were compared for corneal sensitivity, tear function, ocular surface staining parameters, goblet cell density, and squamous metaplasia grade. The relation of these parameters to the severity of keratoconus progression was also investigated. RESULTS: The mean corneal sensitivity was significantly lower in keratoconus patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.001). The BUT values were also significantly lower in the keratoconus group. Patients with keratoconus had significantly higher fluorescein and rose bengal staining scores (P < 0.001). Corneal sensitivity and tear function changes seemed to get worse with advanced stages of keratoconus. Impression cytology showed goblet cell loss and conjunctival squamous metaplasia, both of which again related to the extent of progression of keratoconus. CONCLUSIONS: The ocular surface disease in keratoconus is characterized by disorder of tear quality, squamous metaplasia, and goblet cell loss, all of which seem to relate to the extent of keratoconus progression.

Adolescent↗

Changes in tear function and the ocular surface after topical olopatadine treatment for allergic conjunctivitis: an open-label study.

BACKGROUND: Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% eye drops represent a new class of anti-allergic agent with combined antihistaminic and mast cell-stabilizing properties. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe alterations in tear function and the ocular surface in patients with allergic conjunctivitis and to analyze the effect of topical olopatadine treatment on corneal sensitivity, tear function, and impression cytology variables. METHODS: This was a single-center, 3-visit, prospective, open-label study conducted in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Patients received 1 drop of topical olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% BID for 3 weeks. At each visit, patients and healthy control subjects underwent routine ophthalmic examinations and measurements of corneal sensitivity and tear function (Schirmer test of tear quantity, tear film break-up time [BUT], fluorescein staining of the cornea). All control subjects and a subgroup of patients also underwent conjunctival impression cytology for assessment of squamous metaplasia and goblet cell density. The outcomes of interest were changes in corneal sensitivity, tear function, and impression cytology variables after 3 weeks of treatment with olopatadine eye drops, both in patients with allergic conjunctivitis and between patients and controls. RESULTS: At enrollment, the study included 46 eyes of 23 patients (9 men, 14 women; age range, 20-42 years) with allergic conjunctivitis; results were calculated based on the 21 patients who completed the study. The control group consisted of 70 eyes of 35 healthy subjects (13 men, 22 women; age range, 22-39 years). Before treatment, 64.3% of the eyes of patients with allergic conjunctivitis had a fluorescein staining score of >1 point, whereas after treatment, 14.3% had a score of >1 point (P < 0.001). Patients' mean (+/- SD) corneal sensitivity improved to 55.0 +/- 2.5 mm from the pretreatment value of 42.5 +/- 2.5 mm (P < 0.001). Mean BUT values before and after treatment were 8.1 +/- 3.5 and 14.0 +/- 7.0 seconds, respectively (P < 0.001). Before treatment, patients' mean squamous metaplasia grade was 2.5 +/- 0.5; at the end of treatment, it had decreased to 1.0 +/- 0.5 (P < 0.001). The mean pretreatment goblet cell density of 545 +/- 85 cells/mm2 improved to 1,090 +/- 100 cells/mm2 after treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the patient population studied, the disorder of tear function, squamous metaplasia, and loss of ocular surface goblet cells associated with allergic conjunctivitis improved with topical olopatadine treatment.

Adult↗