A Case of Conjunctival Melanoma

Primary malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva represents less than 2% of ocular melanomas and less than 1%of malignant tumors of the eye and usually derives from PAM(Primary acquired melanosis). Conjunctival melanoma spreads initially via lymphatics to the regional lymph nodes and eventually to the other organs in the body. Recently, except for advanced unresectable cases, conjunctival melanoma is treated by excision of the mass combined with cryotherapy. We report a case of conservative treatment in a patient who presented recurred conjunctival melanoma, along with the review of literatures.

The effect of the haptic portion of intraocular lens on the development of posterior capsular opacification in rabbit

Using a white rabbit model, the effect of the haptic portion of the intraocular lens (IOL) and intracapsular ring on the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with phacoemulsification was studied. Implantation of both the intracapsular ring and IOL developed less PCO than implantation of the IOL alone. ECCE followed by implantation of the intracapsular ring alone also developed less PCO than ECCE alone. Through this experimental work in a rabbit model, it could be conceived that the haptic portion of IOL and the intracapsular ring can prevent the development of PCO.

Atypical Choroidal Osteoma: A Case Report

The choroidal osteoma is a very unusual, benign osseous tumor of the choroid with unknown etiology. It is typically found in healthy young female in the second or third decade of life. This tumor is clinically unilateral and tend to be located in the juxtapapillary region.It appears as yellow-white to yellow-red lesion with well-defined geographic borders. The characteristic bony lesion could be demonstrated by ultrasonographic and computed tomographic examinations. We report a case of atypical choroidal osteoma located at the posterior pole of both eyes in a 7-year-old boy with chief complaints of headache and blurred vision.

Ciliary Malignant Melanoma with Neovascular Glaucoma

Malignant melanoma is a rare tumor of the eye occuring anywhere on the uvea. Due to its fatal prognosis when it metastasizes to the liver, early diagnosis and treatment are needed.Glaucoma is frequently noted when the tumor is located on the ciliary body. A 73-year-old man who had com-plained of foreign body sensation for 4 months showed increased intraocular pressure, moderate anterior chamber reaction, and rubeosis iridis accompanied by a white exudative mass. The result of localized tumor excision and anterior chamber aspiration proved to be a malignant tumor. Therefore, enucleation was done and pathological examination showed ciliary malignant melanoma with seeding on the iris and anterior chamber angle structures.

Effect of Interferon alpha 2a on Retinal Neovascular Membrane in High Myopia

Despite the progress in the treament of the subretinal neovascular membrane(SRNVM) by the development of laser photocoagulation, it has been reported difficult to manage with laser photocoagu1ation on which developed in high myopic eyes: first, their location in relation to the foveola is usually difficult to discriminate; second, subretinal neovascular m6mbrane developes very close to the foveola; third, the atrophic photocoagulation scar may extend to the foveola. The interferone alpha 2a has been known to suppress angiogenetic activity, and its application to subretinal neovascular membrane in high myopia has been suggested. The effect of interferon alpha 2a on neovascular membrane in high myopia was investigated by the authors. Subjects included 16 eyes with interferon treament and 12 eyes as control who had been followed for 3 months or longer. The median total dose in these patients was 75 X 10(6) units, given over a six- to eight-week period. In the interferon treament group, the activity of neovascular membrane decreased in 9 eyes(56%) and the visual acuity improved in 7 eyes(44%). In contrast, the control group showed a sustained activity of neovascular membrane and the visual acuity was improved in only one eye(6%). Therefore, interferon alpha 2a can be considered as an alternative method in the management of the some subretinal neovascualr membrane in high myopia which is resistant to the other treament.

Effect of Interferon alpha 2a on Retinal Neovascular Membrane in High Myopia

Despite the progress in the treament of the subretinal neovascular membrane(SRNVM) by the development of laser photocoagulation, it has been reported difficult to manage with laser photocoagu1ation on which developed in high myopic eyes: first, their location in relation to the foveola is usually difficult to discriminate; second, subretinal neovascular m6mbrane developes very close to the foveola; third, the atrophic photocoagulation scar may extend to the foveola. The interferone alpha 2a has been known to suppress angiogenetic activity, and its application to subretinal neovascular membrane in high myopia has been suggested. The effect of interferon alpha 2a on neovascular membrane in high myopia was investigated by the authors. Subjects included 16 eyes with interferon treament and 12 eyes as control who had been followed for 3 months or longer. The median total dose in these patients was 75 X 10(6) units, given over a six- to eight-week period. In the interferon treament group, the activity of neovascular membrane decreased in 9 eyes(56%) and the visual acuity improved in 7 eyes(44%). In contrast, the control group showed a sustained activity of neovascular membrane and the visual acuity was improved in only one eye(6%). Therefore, interferon alpha 2a can be considered as an alternative method in the management of the some subretinal neovascualr membrane in high myopia which is resistant to the other treament.

The Plasmin Activity in Tear Film and Chronic Corneal Ulcer

Plasmin is an enzyme which plays an important role in the inflammatory process by activating vasoactive amine and lysis of fibrin. On the other hand, plasmin is also known to activate latent collagenase. Plasmin is an activated form of plasminogen which is stimulated by the plasminogen activator that exists in plasma and tissue. Gordon et al(1980) insisted that collagenase is important to the formation of corneal ulcer because it destroys the collagen which is the main component of the cornea. Berman et al(1980) reported that corneal tissue destruction by plasminogen activator-plasmin system can be a cause of corneal ulcer. We could obtain the following results by checking the plasmin activity in the tear of chronic corneal ulcer patients and necrotizing scleritis patients. 1. The plasmin activity in the tear was increased in all three chronic corneal ulcer patients in concentration of 1/16 sigma unit/ml to 1/8 sigma unit/ml. 2. There was no plasmin activity in the tear of the two necrotizing scleritis patients.

The Temporary Inerement of the Intraoeular Pressure: The Effect on the Retina

After the intraocular bleeding was inuced by amputation of the rabbit retinal artery, the level and duration of the level of the intraocular pressure to control the bleeding was studied. Then, the eyes were enucleated and evaluated for the effect of the increased intraocular pressure. In 3 of 4 eyes studied, the bleeding is controlled at the height of 140-145 cm of the infusion bottle for 10 seconds. And the maintenance of the height of 125 cm for 15 seconds was effective in one eye. Although the expanded intercellular space in the outer nuclear layer, destruction of the photoreceptors and formation of the vacuoles appeared in the first week, they were only the temporary findings for they disappeared after second week. In the rebbit, the retinal arterial bleeding is able to be controlled at the level of about 100 mmHg of the IOP for about 10 seconds effectively and safely.

Result of Aprotinin and Fibronectin Treatment in Therapy Resistant Corneal Ulcer

In two patients with chronic corneal ulcer, resistant to conventional therapy, analysis of tear fluid and observation of the corneal state were performed before and after treatment using autologous fibronectin and aprotinin for the purpose of estimating the effect of treatment. The plasmin activity which was revealed before treatment was absent after treatment, and corneal reepithelialization was observed after treatment. We think the combined therapy with autologous fibronectin and aprotinin may be effective for the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer.

Result of Aprotinin and Fibronectin Treatment in Therapy Resistant Corneal Ulcer

In two patients with chronic corneal ulcer, resistant to conventional therapy, analysis of tear fluid and observation of the corneal state were performed before and after treatment using autologous fibronectin and aprotinin for the purpose of estimating the effect of treatment. The plasmin activity which was revealed before treatment was absent after treatment, and corneal reepithelialization was observed after treatment. We think the combined therapy with autologous fibronectin and aprotinin may be effective for the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic corneal ulcer.