Incidence of diabetic retinopathy and blindness in diabetics

A longtudinal study for diabetic patients, who attended Al-Zahraa ophthalmological diabetic clinic for local care and laser treatment was carried out. Incidence of retinopathy was 30%, 25% and 18.8% among young onset diabetics, old onset insulin users and old onset non insulin users respectively.Rate of improvement in retinopathy was higher among the young onest diabetic patients [25%] than the old onset insulin users [21.2%] and than the old non insulin users [17.6%].Also worsening of retinopathy occured in 5.6%, 13.3% and 16% among young onest insulin dependents, insulin users when age at diagnosis was 30 years or more and non insulin users respectively. Loss of vision was more frequent before the follow up period than the two year examination. Incidence of vision loss was 5.3%, 6.5% and 5.3% among the three groups respectively. The rate of blindness increased with increasing age, increasing diabetic retinopathy severity, and lower baseline visual acuity in all three groups. Blindness increased with increasing duration of diabetes in all the diabetics

Evaluation of cases of hyperprolactinemia using different methods

Twenty five infertile women with chronic hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea [4-144 months] were investigated. Serum PRL, x-ray sella turcica and full ophthalmic examination were done for all patients, 10 patients were C.T. scanned. One patient of the studied group proved to have pituitary macroadenoma with suprasellar extension, with serum PRL level 210 ng/ml and asymmetric constriction of peripheral visual field indicating chiasmal compression. The other 24 women have serum PRL level < 100 ng/ml [mean 51.92 ng/ml] and normal visual field with no evidence of suprasellor extension. Based on these result, hyperprolactinemic women with serum PRL level < 100 ng/ml, and normal visual field showed no x-ray or CT scan diagnostic criteria.As these studies are invasive, expensive and non conclusive they are unnecessary to this group, However hyperprolactinemic women with serum PRL level between 100 - 200 ng/ml and normal visual field must be followed by Serial serum PRL/ 6m and visual field examination 13m. Serum PRL level >200 ng/ml and or peripheral field defects indicates suprasellar extension which is a different pathologic entity need to be dealt with in an aggressive fashion.Therefore, this study showed that baseline serum PRL and visual field examination are the best means for predicting suprasellar extension of pituitary adenoma and on effective, non invasive and unexpensive way of following tumor therapy

Esotropia and binocular vision in young age group

Bimedial rectus resecion more than the traditional 5.mm [6 mm] proved to be an effective surgical procedure for cases of congenital esotropia. It gives good post- operative alignment especially when the angle of deviation was less than 45 D. The success rate in our series was 60%. The remaining 40% developed post-operative residual angle which ranged from 10- 12 D [pre- operative angle of deviation was more than 50 D]. It can be considered as a success because the residual angle was corrected by hyperopic glasses. Early interference for cases of congenital esotropia helps to improve binocular vision and minimizes the development of amblyopia, the older the child the less will be the improvement in binocular vision. Cases of accommodative esotropia with large AC/A ratio and poor response to hyperopic correction for 6 months are better to be operated upon early by 2 or 3 muscle surgeries according to the pre- operative angle of deviation

New laser technique for pterygia

Thirty eight cases of pterygia [47 eyes] had been examined and treated by preoperative laserisation, excision, and postoperative laserisation, This new laser technique proved satisfactory and it resulted in no recurrences either in the primary or recurrent pterygia. The electron micrographs showed the massive changes which had been observed. These changes were the primary cause for absence of recurrences in both groups, together with the postoperative laserisation done on the second postoperative day

Argon laser thermo-ablation versus cryotherapy of cilia in trichiasis

Foutry cases of symptomatic lower lid trichiasis were chosen and classified into two groups [20 patients group]. Group I was treated by Argon laser thermoablation, group II was treated by cryoablation of the lashes. Laser thermoablation proved to be simple, effective and accurate. The rate of recurrence was minimal and no post operative side effects were noticed during the follow up period [6 months]