INTRODUCTION:T Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (Fs-LASIK) are reftactive surgery methods for treating myopia and myopic astigmatism. Although T-PRK obtains similar results to Fs-LASIK with spherical myopia, it has differences in astigmatism correction. Vector analysis is a perfect tool to see the real difference between these two methods regarding astigmatic refraction and visual acuity.AIM:The aim of the study is to investigate changes in astigmatism and visual acuity following treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism above -5.00DS and up to -2.00DC after either T-PRK or Fs-LASIK.METHODS:Patients (30 eyes per group) underwent unremarkable T-PRK (group I) or Fs-LASIK (group II) using Schwind Amaris 750S laser. Astigmatic data acquired by subjective refraction were subjected to vector analysis to determine the association between surgically (SIA) and target induced (TIA) astigmatic powers and differences in axes(θ).RESULTS:Key results at 6 months were: i) Mean astigmatism changed from -0.92 DC (sd ±0.49,95%CI-1.10to-0.75) to -0.38 DC (sd ±0.40,95% CI-0.52 to -0.24) in group I and -0.93DC (sd±0.55,95%CI -1.07 to -0.67) to -0.14DC (sd±0.31,95% CI-0.25 to -0.03) in group II (P=0.005 at 6 months). ii) Mean (±sd) θ was +9.7° (±19.0°) in group I and -2.2° (±15.5°) in group II (P=0.005).CONCLUSION:There was a greater mismatch between SIA and TIA powers and axes after T-PRK. T-PRK tends to induce more unwanted astigmatism. The predictability of the refractive and optical changes is better following Fs-LASIK.

We describe a case of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) changes in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in a patient that had suffered Berlin's edema after a whiplash neck injury. The patient reported central scotoma throughout the 1-year follow-up, confirmed by visual field examination. OCTA showed FAZ enlargement of the left eye as compared to the healthy right eye in the superficial capillary layer and even more in the deep capillary layer. To the best of our knowledge, FAZ enlargement has not been previously described by OCTA after whiplash-related macular injury.

Malnutrition is usually related to some diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, chronic liver disease and malignant tumors. It is characterized by weight loss, protein deficiency, and deficit of specific nutrients. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of nutritional risk among 160 gastrointestinal patients by use of the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002) score at hospital admission and discharge. The patients stayed in the hospital between 5 and 15 days or longer. Results showed that 40% of patients at admission and 36.2% at discharge were malnourished. There were 53.1% of patients with recognized malnutrition at admission that received nutritional support, whereas at discharge 34.4% of patients at risk were not dietary supported. Malnourished patients were significantly older, had lower body mass index, longer hospital stay and higher rate of malignant diseases than properly nourished patients. Regular screening for malnutrition should be conveyed in hospitals as to provide appropriate dietary support for all patients at risk.

Ruptura žute pjege poremećaj je koji zahvaća najdelikatnije strukture centralne mrežnice. Neliječena uglavnom dovodi do značajnog gubitka centralne vidne oštrine. Mikrokirurško liječenje rupture žute pjege prvi put se spominje 1991. godine u radovima Kelly i Wendela. Od tih relativno jednostavnih početaka uz upotrebu klasičnih vitrektoma velikog promjera i upotrebe zraka kao tamponade na kraju operacije do razvoja bešavnih mikroincizijskih tehnologija prošlo je više od 20 godina. Uvođenjem ljuštenja membrane limitans interne uz pomoć posebnih vitalnih boja i novih vrsta tamponada poboljšao se anatomski i funkcionalni uspjeh ovih operacija. Upotrebom optičke koherentne tomografije omogućena je bolja analiza vitreoretinalnih promjena, kao i praćenje postoperativnih promjena u području žute pjege. Nove metode u liječenju kompliciranih ruptura žute pjege kao što su formiranje inverznog poklopca od tkiva membrane limitans interne, farmakološka vitreoliza, transplantacija retine te novi oblici konzervativnog liječenja kod početnih ruptura žute pjege daju nadu da sve mogućnosti liječenja ove bolesti nisu iscrpljene.

Cilj: Cilj rada je prikazati slučaj Purtscherove retinopatije, rijetke hemoragijske i vazookluzivne vaskulopatije koju obilježava nagli značajni pad vida povezan s teškom traumom glave bez značajne ozljede oka. Može se javiti i u sklopu nekih netraumatskih stanja i tada se naziva retinopatija slična Purtcherovoj. U većini slučajeva javlja se bilateralno, dok je rjeđa unilateralna pojava. Budući da još uvijek ne postoje službene smjernice za liječenje Purtscherove retinopatije, ona svakako predstavlja izazov za kliničare. Prikaz slučaja: 28-godišnji muškarac požalio se na izrazito pogoršanje vida lijevog oka dva dana nakon traume glave zadobivene pri padu s motocikla. Detaljnim oftalmološkim pregledom ustanovljen je uredan nalaz očne pozadine desnog oka, dok su lijevo ustanovljene promjene papile vidnog živca, te krvarenja i blijede, jasno ograničene zone retine (Purtscherove mrlje) te pamučasti eksudati. Idući korak uključivao je kompjutoriziranu tomografiju orbita, optičku koherentnu tomografiju makula i vidnog živca, fluoresceinsku angiografiju i perimetriju te je postavljena konačna dijagnoza Purtscherove retinopatije, a u konzultaciji s neurokirurgom uvedena je pulsna terapija metilprednizolonom. Gotovo potpun oporavak vida i promjena na očnoj pozadini postignut je za 3 mjeseca. Zaključci: Purtscherova retinopatija razmjerno je rijetka bolest, a jednostrano pojavljivanje još je i rjeđe. Nema egzaktnih smjernica za liječenje ove bolesti, naime, neki autori navode poboljšanje nakon terapije metilprednizolonom, a neki su zabilježili i određeni stupanj oporavka bez liječenja. Svakako je potrebno sistematsko praćenje slučajeva koji se pojave te razmjena iskustava u svrhu preciznijeg određivanja adekvatne, eventualno i nove terapije.

The aim of this study was to show the long term recovery after the operative procedure of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with epiretinal membranes (ERM) and macular holes. We wanted to show if there is a difference in operative approach and results of 23 and 25 gauge PPV Twenty eight patients underwent to operative treatment of idiopatic ERM and macular holes grade III and IV In our study there was not a statistical significant difference in visual acuity (VA) between 23 gauge and 25 gauge operated patients, both ERM and macular holes. Although both approaches are good, morphological restitution do not always follow the functional recovery.

Visual impairment, mostly due to cataracts, has been demonstrated to be an important factor associated with traffic accidents. Although vision screening is standard procedure during licensing in order to prevent motor vehicle accidents, an eye exam is not typically administered after an accident has already occurred. Postmortem assessment of lens opacity in victims of car accidents would provide helpful information for attesting to the liability of the parties in specific accidents, determining the circumstances of the accident, and developing preventive measures for both drivers and pedestrians alike. In this paper, we explore the use of different methods and their limitations for assessing lens opacity postmortem. We discuss the possible use and benefits of a simple, but as-yet untested method: retrobulbar translucency. The method would be based on the recording of shadows formed by opaque regions of the lens while the eye is illuminated from the back with a rigid source of light. The efficacy and objectivity of the method, its reproducibility, and the inter- and intra-observer error should be tested before implementing such a technique to be regularly used to determine lens opacity in cadavers.

The vitreomacular traction syndrome (VMTS) is a clinical entity in which incomplete posterior vitreous detachment is causing traction on the macula. Since in some cases the traction may resolve spontaneously when complete posterior vitreous detachment occurs, vitrectomy is indicated when the duration of traction is longer than 4-6 months and is causing severe visual impairment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy in the treatment of macular disorders caused by vitreomacular traction. In our case the outcome of the vitrectomy and the number and severity of the surgical complications did not differ from the complications when vitrectomy was performed in eyes without vitreomacular traction. With the development of new drugs for nonsurgical treatment of vitreomacular traction by enzymatic vitreolysis, in the future vitrectomy could become restricted only to refractory cases.

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the most common syndromes of the modern society. As a rule, this condition is caused by a herniated intervertebral disk. The aim of this article is to evaluate two surgical approaches to low back pain and pain radiating to the leg – a refined classical procedure, i.e. microdiscectomy, and the same procedure coupled with the implantation of a protetic device – Barricaid™. Patients and methods: Patients of both genders were included, with an age range of 18 to 70 years. The group of patients that underwent the classical approach consisted of 46 patients with the median age of 41,1 ± 8,6 years. The group of patients to whom Barricaid™ was implanted consisted of 30 patients (16 males and 14 females) with the median age of 38,2 ±9,5 years. Each of the three clinical results (VAS for leg pain, VAS for back pain and ODI), and the disk height was compared between the two groups of patients. Results: Better results were achieved in the group with the Barricaid™ implants, specifically for the VAS back pain result (97 % vs. 70 %, P = 0,016) and ODI (100 % vs. 87 %, P = 0,08). Conclusions: Our results point to the fact that maintaining the disk space and height decreases the accelerated degenerative processes of the affected spinal segment and assures more long lasting positive effects on decreasing the pain as well as the neurological symptoms.

Central corneal thickness is very important measurement in glaucoma treatment because it influences the eye pressure measurements. A thinner cornea gives us artifactually lower intraocular pressure and a thicker cornea gives higher intraocular pressure reading, so it has to be corrected in both cases. The aim of this study is to compare central corneal thickness between congenital glaucoma patients and normal subjects. Prospective study included 27 patients with congenital glaucoma and 35 patients in control group. First group was subdivided in two subgroups: A--8 earlier operated patients, B--19 patients treated with topic therapy. Patients had no other corneal disorders, history of trauma, corneal surgery and they were not contact lens wearers. Measurements were performed by specular microscope Tomey EM 3000 on central corneas. This study showed that patients with congenital glaucoma have lower central corneal thickness than normal subjects. Also, the study showed that antiglaucomatous operation doesn't influence central corneal thickness. Central corneal thickness need to be a routine part of examination measurements because of need to correct intraocular pressure according to it, but also the thinner corneas values can suggest congenital glaucoma diagnosis beside the other parameters.

Measurements of central cornea thickness (CCT) have a very important value in glaucoma patients; if the central cornea is thinner than it suggests, then the intraocular pressure is falsely low. This study compares the central cornea thickness between patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, open angle glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma and control group. This study included 34 patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, 31 patient with open angle laucoma, 28 patients with angle closure laucoma and 36 normal subjects in a control group. Patients in all groups and also normal subjects in control group had no other corneal disorders, no history of trauma, corneal surgery and were not patients with contacts lens use. Patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and also patients with open angle glaucoma had significantly lower values of central cornea thickness compared with normal subjects in control group. Tomey EM 3000 is a non contact specular microscope which was used to measure central corneal thickness in this study. Pachymetry is an important method for diagnoses of glaucoma and for examination of the intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, because values of the central corneal thickness affect the exact intraocular pressure readings.

The aim of this study is to investigate possible connection between omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio and development and progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). We examined 125 patients diagnosed with ARMD and divided into 5 groups of 25 patients according to CARMS (Clinical Age-Related Maculopathy Staging System). Control group consists of 51 patients with similar ages, without ARMD. All of them underwent stereobiomicroscopy, fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. Dietary fatty acids intake was measured using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The FFQ was based on previously validated questionnaire (DIETQ, Tinuviel Software, Warington, Ches, UK) and FFQ2 from Blue MountainEye Study. The data were analysed using food nutritient dana from McCance and Widdowson's Food Composition Tables, supplemented with a food fatty acid content database (Foodbase, London, UK). We noticed statistically significant difference between omega-6/omega-3 ratio in neovascular ARMD (stage 5) and all other groups including control group (p = 0.000020). The ratio in Stage 5 was about 11:1 like in Western diet. Stage 4-geographic atrophy (GA) has statistically significant difference in o-mega-6/omega-3 ratio compared with stage 1 (p = 0.000571), stage 2 (p = 0.000112) and stage3 (p = 0.000430). The ratio in first three groups is about 7-7.5:1 (greater then Mediteran-4-5:1, but lower then Western Diet-10-20:1). There is no statistically significant difference between first three stages (p > 0.05) and stage 4 and control group (p = 0.172388). Omega-6/omega-3 ratio is connected with development of neovascular ARMD. Decreased ratio protects against neovascular ARMD. On the contrary, GA seems to be connected with prolonged sunlight exposure (the ratio is about 6:1). It is good to know that changing nutrition habits someone can prevent development of severe neovascular form of ARMD because intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy limitations.

Conjunctival melanoma is a relatively rare malignancy. It is presented as pigmented nodule in any area of conjunctiva, amelanotic tumors are pink with smooth appearance. The authors describe an amelanotic melanoma of the conjunctiva in an 82-year-old female patient. Cytological, histopathological and immunohistochemical studies revealed an invasive amelanotic melanoma exhibiting S-100 and MART-1 positivity. The patient undervent surgical and chemotherapy treatment and three years after the initial treatment is in the terminal stage of metastatic disease. Absence of pigmentation delayed early clinical detection and treatment. Awareness of this nonpigmented melanoma is crucial for early recognition and appropriate management.