2021-01-01T00:00:00Z, Hamurcu, Mualla, EKİNCİ, CANSU, Koca, Semra, TUĞCU, Betül, EKİNCİ, CANSU, TUĞCU, BETÜL

Purpose: To investigate the structural and functional changes of the retina and optic nerve in amblyopia. Methods: Eighteen patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia and 27 age-matched healthy controls were involved in this study. All patients underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), pattern visual evoked potential (pVEP), and flash electroretinogram (fERG). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of the fovea] avascular zone (FAZ), perifoveal superficial density, whole superficial density, parafoveal deep density, perifoveal deep density among the eyes (P > 0 0.05). Significant differences were found only in superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density in whole (P = 0.029) and parafoveal (P = 0.008) image. In electrophysiological tests, while VEP latencies of the amblyopic eyes increased compared to nonamblyopic eyes and controls (P = 0.027), VEP amplitudes decreased in amblyopic and nonamblyopic eyes compared to controls (P = 0.01), amplitudes of the rod (P = 0.027) and cones (P < 0.001) also decreased in amblyopic eyes compared to nonamblyopic and healthy eyes. When we assessed the correlation between the parameters of OCTA and electrophysiological test, only a significant correlation was found between parafoveal SCP vessel density and VEP amplitudes (r = 0.341). Conclusion: We found a significant decrease only in SCP vessel density of the OCTA parameters in amblyopic eyes compared to healthy eyes. We detected a significant relationship between parafoveal SCP vessel density and VEP parameters, which might be associated with the underlying pathophysiology of the amblyopia.

2021-03-01T00:00:00Z, Tutar, Nurhan Kaya, Kale, Nilufer, TUĞCU, Betül, TUĞCU, BETÜL

With increasing experience, it has been suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a neurotropic effect. Here, we present a case of a tonic pupil who developed after COVID-19 infection. A 36-year-old woman presented with progressive photophobia and blurred vision. On neurological examination, loss of deep tendon reflexes accompanying a tonic pupil was detected and brain MR imaging was normal. With this case, we aimed to describe a rare pattern of neurological involvement caused by the possible SARS-CoV-2 virus.

2023-03-23T21:00:00Z, Tugcu, Betul, Araz-Ersan, Bilge, Özkan, Seyhan B, TUĞCU, BETÜL

Purposes: To assess the efficacy of botulinum toxin A injection in the treatment of strabismus in patients with neurological impairment and evaluate the factors associated with treatment success. Methods: The study included 50 patients with strabismus and neurological impairment. In all children, botulinum toxin injection was performed into the appropriate extraocular muscle. The relationship between demographic features, clinical characteristics, and treatment success were analyzed. Results: In the study group, 34 patients had esotropia, and 16 patients had exotropia. As neurological problems, 36 patients had cerebral palsy, and 14 had hydrocephalus. The average follow-up period was 15.3 ± 7.3 months. The mean number of injections was 1.4 ± 0.6. The mean angle of deviation was 42.5 ± 13.2 PD before the treatment, which decreased to 12.8 ± 11.9 PD after the treatment. Successful motor alignment (orthotropia within 10 PD) was achieved in 60% of the patients. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that esotropic misalignment and shorter duration of strabismus was significantly associated with treatment success in the study group. Patients with esotropia and lower angles of misalignment were more likely to be treated with a single injection. Conclusion: The use of botulinum toxin A for the treatment of strabismus in children with neurological impairment is a good alternative to conventional surgical therapy with a lower risk of overcorrection. The treatment outcome is better in esodeviations and shorter duration of strabismus, implying an advantage of early treatment.

2017-11-18, Tugcu, BETÜL, NACAROGLU, SA, GEDIKBASI, A, UHRI, M, ACAR, N, ÖZDEMIR, HÜSEYİN, TUĞCU, BETÜL, ÖZDEMİR, MEHMET HAKAN

Aim: To investigate the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) intake on overall oxidation status in retinas of diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-seven rats were divided into four groups as control (CO), diabetic (DM), control treated with PJ (CO-PJ), and diabetic treated with PJ (DM-PJ).The retina tissues were used to determine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Results: The levels of 8OHdG and MDA were significantly increased in the retina of DM group compared to CO group (P=0.001, P<0.001 respectively). Both 8OHdG and MDA levels were decreased in PJ-DM group compared to DM group (P=0.004, P<0.001 respectively). The activities of antioxidant enzymes GSH, SOD, and GDH-Px were significantly decreased in the retina of DM group compared to CO group (P≤0.01). GSH and GSH-Px activities were higher in PJ-DM group compared with DM group (P=0.010, P=0.042, respectively) but SOD activity was not statistically different (P=0.938). Conclusion: PJ intake is found to be effective in decreasing oxidative end products, and in increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic retinas of rats, which suggests it may be effective against oxidative stress in diabetic retinas.

2017-07-01, ÖZDEMIR, HÜSEYİN, Tugcu, BETÜL, SEZER, TAHA, ELBAY, AHMET, TUĞCU, BETÜL, SEZER, TAHA, ELBAY, AHMET, ÖZDEMİR, MEHMET HAKAN

2016-10-01, Tuğcu, BETÜL, Özdemir, HÜSEYİN, TUĞCU, BETÜL, ÖZDEMİR, MEHMET HAKAN

Optic disc drusen (ODD) are benign congenital anomalies of the optic nerve characterized by calcified hyaline bodies. While superficial drusen can be diagnosed easily during fundus examination, detecting buried drusen requires the use of additional imaging methods such as B-scan ultrasonography (USG), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), computed tomography (CT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF). ODD can be detected by USG with the presentation of highly reflective round structures. ODD appear as hyperautofluorescent areas on FAF and bright spots on CT scans. FFA can be helpful in differentiating ODD from true optic disc edema. Optic disc edema shows early hyperfluorescence due to diffuse leakage whereas ODD presents as well-defined hyperfluorescence in the late phase. In recent years, it has been reported that optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination has allowed more detailed evaluation of ODD and yielded useful findings for the differentiation of optic disc edema from ODD. In this review, the role of OCT in the diagnosis of ODD is discussed.

2015-04-01T00:00:00Z, TUĞCU, Betül, Araz-Ersan, Bilge, Inci, Ercan, Gulkilik, Gokhan, TUĞCU, BETÜL

Orbital complications of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) may cause irreversible damage to the orbital structures, including optic nerve, extraocular muscles, and lacrimal drainage system. The clinical diagnosis and management of these patients may be extremely difficult because of the complexity and severity of the injuries. We describe a patient with ocular motility disturbances, anisocoria, and optic neuropathy in the right eye secondary to FESS. Early medical and surgical intervention resulted in symptom resolution.