Süleyman VARDAR’s research while affiliated with Baskent Üniversitesi Adana Uygulama ve Arastirma Merkezi and other places

Purpose: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence of self-reported mask-associated dry eye (MADE) in health-care professionals and the possible risk factors that give rise to MADE. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 12 questions about MADE and possible risk factors that give rise to MADE was created on web-based "google forms" application, and was then sent to 437 healthcare professionals working in a coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic hospital, using common telecommunication devices. Results: Three hundred and thirty-three of the 437 health-care professionals, who answered the questionnaire, were included in the study. The prevalence of self-reported MADE among these health-care professionals was found to be 70% (n = 233). Having at least one of the symptoms of dry eye while not having a mask on and advanced age were determined as the possible risk factors for MADE (p = .02 and p < .001, respectively). The clinical examinations of the 195 participants, who had self-reported MADE and accepted the invitation to undergo a clinical evaluation with respect to the symptoms of MADE, revealed that only 60 (30.7%) of these participants had aqueous-type dryness with staining on the ocular surface with fluorescein. Conclusion: The high prevalence of self-reported MADE among health-care professionals can be attributed to the prolonged use of masks associated with longer working hours. Therefore, it is important that the ocular complaints of professionals are addressed by ophthalmology consultants/ophthalmologists during these difficult times.

Aim: To compare the complication and recurrence rates in patients undergoing limbal conjunctival autograft with or without adjuvant cryotherapy for primary or recurrent pterygia.Methods: All information about the cases operated between January 2014 and January 2019 was scanned from the electronic database. Fifty-three eyes undergoing limbal conjunctival autograft combined with cryotherapy were classified as Group 1, and 47 eyes undergoing only limbal conjunctival autograft were classified as Group 2. Any development of new fibrovascular tissue from the limbus to the cornea after surgery was considered a recurrence. Any complications occurring during and after surgery were noted.Results: In Group 1, 45 of the 53 patients had primary and eight had recurrent pterygia. In Group 2, 41 of the 47 patients had primary and six had recurrent pterygia. Both groups were similar in terms of age and gender (p=0.880 and p=0.835, respectively). The mean follow-up period was 27.0±8.6 months in Group 1 and 28.7±7.8 months in Group 2 (p=0.287). No recurrences were observed during the follow-up period in Group 1, while the recurrence rate in Group 2 was 10.6% (p=0.02). All relapses occurred within the first year. No complications were observed during surgery in either group. Graft oedema was observed in the early post-operative period in four patients in Group 1 and three patients in Group 2.Conclusion: Limbal conjunctival graft technique combined with cryotherapy is a successful and reliable method in the treatment of primary and recurrent pterygium.