-
Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research 2023To assess the autofluorescence size and properties of pterygium and pinguecula by anterior segment autofluorescence (AS-AF) imaging and demonstrate the difference of...
PURPOSE
To assess the autofluorescence size and properties of pterygium and pinguecula by anterior segment autofluorescence (AS-AF) imaging and demonstrate the difference of autofluorescence size presented in AS-AF imaging compared to the extend size of the conjunctival lesion measured by anterior segment slit-lamp photography (AS-SLE).
METHODS
Twenty-five patients with primary pterygium and twenty-five with pinguecula were included in the study. In addition, 25 normal subjects were also enrolled as the control group. The AS-AF characteristics of pterygium and pinguecula lesions were analyzed. The size of lesions displayed in the AS-SLE photography versus the AS-AF images were also compared. AS-AF images were obtained using a Heidelberg retina angiograph which focused on the anterior segment. AS-SLE photography was acquired using a digital imaging system (BX900 HAAG-STREIT).
RESULTS
There were 44 (58.7%) male and 31 (41.3%) female patients; 19 (76%) and 20 (80%) patients had bilateral pterygium and pinguecula, respectively. All pinguecula lesions reflected hyperautofluorescence pattern in the AS-AF imaging. In 24 (96%) patients, the hyperautofluoresecence pattern was larger than the size of the clinical lesions displayed with the AS-SLE photography. Twenty-one (84%) patients with pterygium reflected a hyperautofluorescence pattern in AS-AF images; in one (4%) patient, the hyperautofluorescence pattern was larger than the clinical lesion size and four (16%) patients had no autofluorescence patterns in the AS-AF images. In the control group, in 14 (56%) subjects, a hypoautofluorescent pattern was revealed in the conjunctiva in AS-AF images. However, in 11 (44%) patients, hyperautofluorescence patterns were detected.
CONCLUSION
AS-AF is a useful modality to monitor vascularization in conjunctival lesions. Pingueculae and pterygium show hyperautofluorescence in AS-AF imaging. The real size of the pinguecula lesions may be estimated with AS-AF characteristics, mostly presenting larger than the area size in AS-SLE photography. The autofluorescence size of the pterygium is smaller than the extent of visible pterygium in slit-lamp photography.
PubMed: 37600917
DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v18i3.13773 -
Health Science Reports Jun 2023The population of older adults is growing dramatically. Sadly, this populace is highly prone to develop various ocular morbidities, which if left unattended can lead to...
BACKGROUND
The population of older adults is growing dramatically. Sadly, this populace is highly prone to develop various ocular morbidities, which if left unattended can lead to blindness.
AIM
To determine the distribution of ocular morbidities among older adults at a secondary hospital in Malawi.
METHODS
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Mzimba North District Hospital in Malawi. We retrieved 314 patient records from the hospital's ophthalmic outpatient registry from August 2020 to July 2022 using a nonprobability census sampling technique. Data entry and analysis were done employing SPSS (v.26).
RESULTS
More females 164 (52.2%) than males 150 (47.8%) had ocular morbidities. Cataract 108 (34.4%) was the most common ocular morbidity followed by allergic conjunctivitis 104 (33.1%), then pingueculae 44 (14%), and glaucoma 8 (2.5%) Cataract showed a statistically significant difference between males and females ( < 0.05). And Glaucoma portrayed a statistically significant variation according to age groups ( < 0.05). According to the time of the year, most cases were attended to in March compared to August.
CONCLUSION
The majority of blinding conditions among the elderly in Malawi are preventable similar to other geographical settings. Therefore, it is feasible to enhance the quality of life for senior Malawians and lessen the impact of blindness on individuals, families, and communities by addressing preventable causes of blindness through focused interventions.
PubMed: 37275671
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1304 -
Scientific Reports May 2023Ultraviolet autofluorescence (UVAF) imaging is used to visualise ocular surface changes due to sunlight exposure and so is considered to be a biomarker for UV damage....
Ultraviolet autofluorescence (UVAF) imaging is used to visualise ocular surface changes due to sunlight exposure and so is considered to be a biomarker for UV damage. The conjunctival and scleral thicknesses of participants with and without ocular surface UVAF were measured to examine the UVAF associated tissue thicknesses. The presence of UVAF on the ocular surface was associated with significant differences in tissue thickness including thinner conjunctival epitheliums and thicker scleras but predominantly thickening of the conjunctival stroma. Participants were also classified into four groups according to the presence and absence of UVAF on both the temporal and nasal conjunctivas. It was noted that for those that had only nasal UVAF, the temporal conjunctival stroma was significantly thicker even without the presence of UVAF. Some participants with temporal UVAF had signs of pinguecula observed with slit lamp examination and some had OCT SLO enface imaging darkening. These findings highlight the potential of techniques other than slit lamp examination, including tissue thickness measurement and UVAF photography, in the detection of early UV-related changes to the ocular surface.
Topics: Humans; Sclera; Ultraviolet Rays; Cross-Sectional Studies; Conjunctiva; Tomography, Optical Coherence
PubMed: 37193731
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35062-2 -
Journal of Ophthalmology 2023To assess the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of pinguecula and to identify other risk factors associated with pinguecula in patients...
PURPOSE
To assess the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of pinguecula and to identify other risk factors associated with pinguecula in patients attending the eye clinic at two tertiary university hospitals in Jordan.
METHODS
This was a comparative cross-sectional hospital-based study of 241 consecutive patients (122 patients with DM and 119 patients with no diabetes). All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, and data were collected regarding age, sex, occupational activity, presence and grade of pinguecula, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and presence of diabetic retinopathy.
RESULTS
The mean (standard deviation, SD) ages of the DM and non-DM groups were 59.5 (10.8) years and 59.0 (11.6) years (-value = 0.729), respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of pinguecula between the diabetic and nondiabetic groups (66.4% vs. 66.5%, = 0.998). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only outdoor occupational activity (OR = 5.16, 95% CI: 1.98-13.44, = 0.001) was associated with increased prevalence of pinguecula. DM was not significantly associated with pinguecula (OR = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55-1.67, = 0.873). Neither age nor sex were significantly associated with pinguecula (-value = 0.808, -value = 0.390), respectively.
CONCLUSION
DM was not significantly associated with the development of pinguecula in this Jordanian population. The prevalence of pinguecula was significantly associated with an outdoor occupational activity.
PubMed: 36895265
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9060495 -
Vestnik Oftalmologii 2022Investigation of the capabilities of anterior segment (AS) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in evaluation of conjunctival vascular architecture in healthy...
PURPOSE
Investigation of the capabilities of anterior segment (AS) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in evaluation of conjunctival vascular architecture in healthy individuals and in various pathological conditions.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included 17 healthy volunteers (34 eyes; the control group) and 62 patients (68 eyes) with conjunctival lesions of various nature. All participants underwent AS-OCT and AS-OCTA with assessment of qualitative (vessels pattern, lumen, pathologic tortuosity) and quantitative parameters (vessel density (VD, %) in the lesion area). Mean VD (MVD) and local VD (LVD) were determined, as well as VD in perifocal tissues (PVD).
RESULTS
OCTA scans in 8 conjunctival sectors showed mostly radial pattern of the vascular architecture, with vessel lumen remaining the same over their entire visible length. Larger-sized vessels in deeper conjunctival layers were discovered in most cases. The lowest VD value (33.3%) was registered in the superotemporal quadrant, and the highest (38.9%) - in the nasal. Tortuosity of the vessels with course disruption, uneven lumen over the length of the vessels and increase in VD were observed in the area of conjunctival lesions in all cases excluding congenital abnormalities, pingueculae and conjunctival melanocytic intraepithelial neoplasia. The malignant nature of the tumors was indicated by dense vessel distribution and difficulties for visualization of intravascular space, and confirmed by pathohistological analysis. An increase in the number of areas with a lace-like pattern was characteristic for melanomas, with mean VD of more than 50% in the most vascularized areas.
CONCLUSION
AS-OCTA is an informative method for the visualization of vessels in healthy conjunctiva and in conjunctival pathology. Local VD in the lesion area should be measured when the vessels are unevenly distributed.
Topics: Humans; Fluorescein Angiography; Retinal Vessels; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Conjunctiva; Melanoma
PubMed: 36573946
DOI: 10.17116/oftalma202213806132 -
Eye (London, England) Apr 2023This study aims to systematically review the reported literature on the use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in ocular surface tumours and... (Review)
Review
This study aims to systematically review the reported literature on the use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in ocular surface tumours and simulating lesions. A systematic literature search was done using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases between January 2002 and December 2021. On AS-OCT, ocular surface squamous neoplasia typically demonstrate epithelial thickening, epithelial hyperreflectivity, and an abrupt transition between normal and abnormal epithelium. Conjunctival nevi usually show mildly hyperreflective epithelium of normal thickness, internal hyperreflectivity, and intralesional cysts which is the hallmark of this tumour. Primary acquired melanosis presents with normal thickness epithelium, basal epithelial hyperreflectivity, and absence of cysts. Conjunctival melanoma demonstrates hyperreflective normal/thickened epithelium, hyperreflective basal epithelium, internal hyperreflectivity, and absence of intralesional cysts. Conjunctival lymphoma shows homogenous, low-medium reflective subepithelial lesions with smooth borders, and dot-like infiltrates. Benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia findings are similar to lymphoma but the infiltrates are more hyperreflective compared to lymphoma. Pterygium shows thickened conjunctival epithelium, epithelial hyperreflectivity, and subepithelial wedge-shaped hyperreflective tissue separated from the overlying epithelium by a cleavage plane. Pinguecula demonstrates mildly thickened epithelium and similar findings with pterygium but does not extend beyond the corneal limbus. This review shows that AS-OCT, as a noninvasive tool, has potential uses in the differential diagnosis of ocular surface tumours and simulating lesions. Major limitations of AS-OCT include limited visualization of the posterior border of thick, keratinized, and pigmented tumours and lack of assessment of large conjunctival tumours in a single cut.
Topics: Humans; Pterygium; Corneal Diseases; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Eye Neoplasms; Conjunctival Neoplasms; Lymphoma; Cysts
PubMed: 36513855
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-022-02339-1 -
La Medicina Del Lavoro Oct 2022Workplaces play a critical role in developing ocular diseases, owing to the risk of accidents. This study aimed to evaluate the ocular health of industrial workers by...
BACKGROUND
Workplaces play a critical role in developing ocular diseases, owing to the risk of accidents. This study aimed to evaluate the ocular health of industrial workers by determining the prevalence of foreign body injury, refractive error, dry eye, and pterygium/pingueculae, as well as the factors influencing these diseases.
METHODS
This study involved on-site examinations of workers from an industrial area hosting marble processing factories and metal sectors. Data such as refractive error, foreign body injury-related corneal nephelium, pterygium/pingueculae presence, and Schirmer test-assisted dry eye evaluation were all collected.
RESULTS
The average age of workers was 35.78±10.05 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 20:220. The majority of workers had completed primary school (56.3%), smoked >1 cigarette/day (57.6%), and did not use any assistive devices for bodily functions (88.3%). On average, working hours/week were 55.07±8.79, and working years were 5.99±7.00. Dry eyes were found in 31 (22%), and 35 (34%) marble and metal workers, respectively (p=0.042). 11 (7.9%) marble workers and 29 (28%) metal workers had foreign body ocular injury-related corneal nephelium (p=0.0001). Furthermore, pterygium/pingueculae were revealed in 17 marble workers (12.3%) and three metal workers (3%) (p=0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
Ocular health is essential, and routine ocular health screening in industrial workers, as well as workplace safety measures, should be implemented to prevent potential occupational accidents.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Adult; Middle Aged; Pterygium; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dry Eye Syndromes; Refractive Errors; Foreign Bodies; Calcium Carbonate
PubMed: 36282033
DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v113i5.13350 -
Klinische Monatsblatter Fur... Jun 2022Conjunctival tumors result from gain of tissue, which can be either degenerative or neoplastic, but also inflammatory. In this article, degenerative (pterygium and...
Conjunctival tumors result from gain of tissue, which can be either degenerative or neoplastic, but also inflammatory. In this article, degenerative (pterygium and pinguecula) as well as benign and malignant neoplastic conjunctival changes (epithelial, melanocytic and vascular tumors, choristomas as well as metastases) are discussed with regard to pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnostics and current status of treatment.
Topics: Conjunctiva; Conjunctival Neoplasms; Humans; Pterygium
PubMed: 35609810
DOI: 10.1055/a-1831-2648 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia 2022Ocular disorders are among the most frequent manifestations of psoriatic arthritis. The incidence, type, and severity of these disorders may be influenced by genetics,...
PURPOSE
Ocular disorders are among the most frequent manifestations of psoriatic arthritis. The incidence, type, and severity of these disorders may be influenced by genetics, local environmental factors, and access to ophthalmic treatment. Here we describe the ocular manifestations of psoriatic arthritis among denizens of the Amazon region of Para, Brazil, treated by the rheumatology service of Universidade do Estado do Pará.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study examined 23 psoriatic arthritis patients (median age 47.78 years, no sex predominance) diagnosed according to Caspar's criteria. Disease activity was evaluated according to the Clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis. Ophthalmological examinations performed included visual acuity with distance correction, biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, fundoscopy, Schirmer test I, tear breakup time, fluorescein staining, and lissamine green staining. Patients also completed The Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire.
RESULTS
The most common ophthalmic disorders were dry eye (60.9%), cataracts (56.5%), blepharitis (47.8%), keratitis (43.5%), meibomitis (30.4%), pterygium (26, 1%), and pinguecula (13%). More than half of all patients demonstrated recent onset (>5 years), the peripheral disease type, and severe symptoms according to Clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis.
CONCLUSION
The ocular manifestations of psoriatic arthritis are varied and mainly affect the ocular surface. Regular ophthalmological follow-up is recommended for patients in the early stage with high disease activity.
Topics: Arthritis, Psoriatic; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dry Eye Syndromes; Fluorescein; Humans; Middle Aged; Tears
PubMed: 35170643
DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20220086