Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Infantile and Refractive Accommodative Esotropia

Purpose@#To compare the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with refractive accommodative esotropia (RAET) and infantile esotropia (IET). @*Methods@#The medical records of patients with RAET and IET who were followed-up for more than 36 months were retrospectively analyzed. The RAET patients were prescribed spectacles to correct cycloplegic refraction and those with IET underwent bilateral, medial rectus recession. Visual acuity, refraction, the angle of esodeviation at far and near distances, and near-stereopsis were measured at each visit. The IET patients were divided into two groups by the time of surgery (before and after 24 months of age). Patients in both groups who underwent reoperations after diagnosis of partially accommodative esotropia (PAET) and recurrent IET during follow-up were analyzed. @*Results@#Sixty-nine patients (40 with RAET and 29 with IET) were included. The follow-up period was 69.48 ± 28.41 months. At the final visit, the angles of esodeviation were 2.82 ± 5.46 prism diopters (PD) in the RAET group and 9.28 ± 8.37 PD in the IET group (p < 0.01). In IET patients who underwent surgery before and after 24 months of age, the angles of esodeviation were 4.62 ± 5.25 and 13.06 ± 8.63 PD and the median near-stereopsis values 60 and 140 arcsec at the final visit (p < 0.01, 0.03). Seven patients (17.5%) in the RAET group, and 2 (15.4%) and 10 (62.5%) IET patients who underwent surgery before and after 24 months of age, required reoperations (p < 0.01). @*Conclusions@#RAET and IET patients who underwent surgery before 24 months of age exhibited better alignment and stereopsis at the final visit than those who underwent later surgery and the reoperation rate was lower.

Effect of Classroom Illuminance on the Development and Progression of Myopia in School Children

Purpose@#To evaluate the effect of classroom illuminance on the development and progression of myopia in elementary school children. @*Methods@#The daylight factor, a ratio of inside and outside illuminance, was obtained in 50 elementary schools. The firstgrade students in the school with the lowest daylight (LD) factor (LD school, 145 subjects; 0.51%) and with the highest daylight (HD) factor (HD school, 147 subjects; 13.35%) were selected. A survey was conducted to evaluate parental myopia, the amount of near-work and outdoor activities. The refractive error and axial length (AL) were measured at initial and after 6 months. The spherical equivalent, AL, and the survey results were compared between the two schools. The mean AL of the emmetropic children was obtained, and all subjects were divided into two groups, more and less than mean AL. Changes in refractive errors and AL were also compared according to AL. @*Results@#The amount of change in spherical equivalent and AL after 6 months were not different between the two schools. Initial prevalence of myopia was high in the HD school. However, it became similar between the two schools after 6 months. The mean AL of 155 emmetropic children was 22.7 ± 0.63 mm. In the 185 children with AL ≥22.7 mm, there was no difference in the AL change between the two schools. However, the change in AL in 107 children with AL <22.7 mm was significantly larger in the LD school (0.19 mm) than that in the HD school (0.15 mm, p = 0.049). Parental myopia, near-work and outdoor activities were not different between the two schools. @*Conclusions@#High classroom illuminance during the day reduced axial elongation in eyes of children with a shorter AL. Increase in classroom light level by permitting more sunlight can be a protective measure against the development of myopia.

Effect of Ambient Light Exposure on Ocular Fatigue during Sleep

BACKGROUND: To investigate the influence of nocturnal ambient light on visual function and ocular fatigue. METHODS: Sixty healthy subjects (30 men and 30 women) aged 19 through 29 years with no history of ocular disease were recruited. All subjects spent 3 consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory. During the first and second nights, the subjects were not exposed to light during sleep, but during the third night, they were exposed to ambient light, measuring 5 or 10 lux at the eye level, which was randomly allocated with 30 subjects each. The visual function and ocular fatigue were assessed at 7 a.m. on the 3rd and 4th mornings, using best-corrected visual acuity, refractive error, conjunctival hyperemia, tear break-up time, maximal blinking interval, ocular surface temperature, and subjective symptoms reported on a questionnaire. RESULTS: Three men and three women subjects failed to complete the study (4 in the 5 lux; 2 from the 10 lux). For the entire 54 subjects, tear break-up time and maximal blinking interval decreased (P = 0.015; 0.010, respectively), and nasal and temporal conjunctival hyperemia increased significantly after sleep under any ambient light (P < 0.001; 0.021, respectively). Eye tiredness and soreness also increased (P = 0.004; 0.024, respectively). After sleep under 5 lux light, only nasal conjunctival hyperemia increased significantly (P = 0.008). After sleep under 10 lux light, nasal and temporal conjunctival hyperemia, eye tiredness, soreness, difficulty in focusing, and ocular discomfort increased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nocturnal ambient light exposure increases ocular fatigue. Avoiding ambient light during sleep could be recommended to prevent ocular fatigue.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Use of Eye Care Services in South Korea: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2012

PURPOSE: To estimate the factors and prevalence of eye care service utilization in the South Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional, population-based study included data from 22,550 Koreans aged ≥5 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 to 2012. For people aged 5 to 11 years (young children), information was based on self-reports of contact with eye care service in the past year; for people aged ≥12 years (older population), the information was based on the self-reported lifetime contact with eye care service. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the complex sample survey data were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of eye care service use in young children during the past year was 61.1% (95% confidence interval, 58.1%–64.1%), while that in the older population during their lifetime was 73.5%. Subjects aged 7 to 11 years were more likely to have had an eye examination in the past year than subjects aged 5 to 6 years (odds ratio, 3.83; 95% confidence interval, 2.37–6.19). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher monthly household income, being a National Health Insurance holder, and having private health insurance were related to more frequent use of eye care services in young children. For the older population and women, those living in an urban area and those with a best-corrected visual acuity less than 20 / 40 in the worse-seeing eye were more likely to have had an eye examination during their lifetime. Low education level was associated with low lifetime use of eye care services in the older population. CONCLUSIONS: There are sociodemographic disparities with use of eye care services in South Korea. This population-based study provides information that is useful for determining different intervention programs based on sociodemographic disparities to promote eye care service utilization in South Korea.

Effect of Watching 3-Dimensional Television on Refractive Error in Children

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of watching 3-dimensional (3D) television (TV) on refractive error in children. METHODS: Sixty healthy volunteers, aged 6 to 12 years, without any ocular abnormalities other than refractive error were recruited for this study. They watched 3D TV for 50 minutes at a viewing distance of 2.8 meters. The image disparity of the 3D contents was from -1 to 1 degree. Refractive errors were measured both before and immediately after watching TV and were rechecked after a 10-minute rest period. The refractive errors before and after watching TV were compared. The amount of refractive change was also compared between myopes and controls. The refractive error of the participants who showed a myopic shift immediately after watching TV were compared across each time point to assure that the myopic shift persisted after a 10-minute rest. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 9.23 ± 1.75 years. The baseline manifest refractive error was -1.70 ± 1.79 (-5.50 to +1.25) diopters. The refractive errors immediately after watching and after a 10-minute rest were -1.75 ± 1.85 and -1.69 ± 1.80 diopters, respectively, which were not different from the baseline values. Myopic participants (34 participants), whose spherical equivalent was worse than -0.75 diopters, also did not show any significant refractive change after watching 3D TV. A myopic shift was observed in 31 participants with a mean score of 0.29 ± 0.23 diopters, which resolved after a 10-minute rest. CONCLUSIONS: Watching properly made 3D content on a 3D TV for 50 minutes with a 10-minute intermission at more than 2.8 meters of viewing distance did not affect the refractive error of children.

Long-Term Outcome and Recurrence of Abnormal Head Posture after Surgery in Patients with Nystagmus

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcome and recurrence of abnormal head posture after modified Kestenbaum surgery in patients with nystagmus. METHODS: The medical records of 46 patients who underwent modified Kestenbaum procedure in horizontal recti muscles for nystagmus with abnormal head turn were retrospectively reviewed. We assessed the effect of surgery by comparing preoperative and postoperative clinical data such as visual acuity (log MAR) and degree of head turn. A reoperation or abnormal head turn of 10degrees or more at final visit were defined as recurrence. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of recurrence or reoperation. Clinical factors associated with recurrence or reoperation were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The mean visual acuity was 0.38 in the better eye and 0.42 in the worse eye before surgery, which improved to 0.15 and 0.21 after surgery (each p < 0.001), with a mean follow-up period of 124 months. The mean degree of head turn was 41.41degrees preoperatively and was changed to 2.61degrees postoperatively (p < 0.001). The recurrence rate was 23.9% and the reoperation rate was 10.9%. Mental retardation, amblyopia, preoperative visual acuity, degree of head turn, and presence of strabismus were not associated with recurrence or reoperation. The mean age at first surgery was significantly lower in the reoperation group (p = 0.009). The mean visual acuity in the better eye at postoperative 6 months and in better and worse eyes at postoperative 1 year was significantly worse in the reoperation group (p = 0.034, 0.012 and 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The visual acuity and head turn was improved after modified Kestenbaum surgery in patients with nystagmus and abnormal head posture. The reoperation rates were associated with earlier age of first operation and worse postoperative visual acuity. However, further prospective studies are necessary to clarify these factors.

The Effects of Part-Time Occlusion Therapy Shortened to One or Two Hours in Intermittent Exotropia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the compliance level of therapy and the change in exo-angle after 1 or 2 hours of part-time occlusion therapy in intermittent exotropia. METHODS: This retrospective study included 97 patients with intermittent exotropia who were followed-up for more than 6 months after their initial visit. We evaluated the exo-angle and prescribed either 1 hour or 2 hours of part-time occlusion therapy for the fixating eye. After 6 months, the exo-angle was reevaluated and compliance was examined. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the occlusion therapy time: the 1-hour patching group (33 patients) and the 2-hour patching group (64 patients). Compliance and deviation angle were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the 2 groups. We evaluated the exo-angle of patients with compliance over 50% (1-hour patching group (31 patients), 2-hour patching group (51 patients)). RESULTS: The mean exo-angles on the first visit were 22.61 +/- 5.78 PD (prism diopters) at distance and 22.88 +/- 8.11 PD at close-range in the 1-hour patching group, and 26.17 +/- 4.55 PD at distance and 25.27 +/- 8.54 PD at close-range in the 2-hour patching group. The proportion of patients with compliance over 50% was higher in the 1-hour patching group (93.94%) than in the 2-hour patching group (79.69%, p = 0.013). There were significant decreases in distant and close- range deviation angles after part-time occlusion in patients with compliance over 50% in both groups (1-hour patching group distant p = 0.042, close-range p = 0.002; 2-hour patching group distant p < 0.001, close-range p < 0.001). The magnitude of deviation angle decrease was not statistically significant between the 2 groups (ANCOVA; distant p = 0.461, near p = 0.761). CONCLUSIONS: One or 2 hours of part-time occlusion therapy in intermittent exotropia provided beneficial effects, including decreasing the deviation angle. The magnitude of deviation angle decrease, however, was not different between the 2 times of therapy. Compliance was higher in the 1-hour part-time occlusion therapy group. Therefore, 1-hour part-time occlusion therapy could be effective in patients with poor cooperation.

Influence of Watching 3D Television on Refractive Error in Children with Exodeviation

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of watching three-dimensional (3D) television (TV) on the angle of deviation and refractive error in children with exodeviation. METHODS: Twenty-three volunteers with exodeviation, aged 6 to 12 years, without any ocular abnormalities other than refractive error and exodeviation were recruited for this study. The subjects watched 3D TV for 50 minutes at a viewing distance of 2.8 meters. The image disparity of 3D contents was -1 to 1 degree. Refractive errors were measured before and immediately after watching TV and after a 10-minute rest. The changes in angle of deviation were also obtained. Refractive errors and angle of deviation before and after watching 3D TV were compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 9.30 +/- 1.58 years. The mean baseline angle of deviation was 13.04 +/- 5.25 (6-30) prism diopters (PD), which did not change significantly immediately after watching 3D TV and after a 10-minute rest (p = 0.452). The mean refractive errors were -2.15 +/- 1.55 D in the right eye and -2.06 +/- 1.55 D in the left eye before and changed to -2.14 +/- 1.57 D and -2.11 +/- 1.45 D, respectively, immediately after watching 3D TV. After a 10 minute rest, the mean refractive errors were 2.14 +/- 1.53 D in the right eye and -2.07 +/- 1.53 D in the left eye. All changes in refractive errors were not statistically significant (p = 0.991 in right eye, 0.495 in left eye). The amount of myopic shift in both eyes immediately after watching 3D TV was correlated with the angle of exodeviation (r = 0.468, p = 0.024). However, the correlation disappeared after a 10-minute rest (r = 0.345, p = 0.107). CONCLUSIONS: Watching properly made 3D contents on 3D TV for 50 minutes at more than 2.8 meters of viewing distance did not affect the refractive error in children with exodeviation. Further studies on the relationship between the amount of myopic shift and the angle of exodeviation are necessary.

The Ocular Fatigue of Watching Three-Dimensional (3D) Images

PURPOSE: To compare ocular fatigue, non-ocular symptoms, and ocular surface changes, such as tear break-up time (BUT) and ocular surface temperature, after watching 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) images. METHODS: Fourteen volunteers were enrolled in the present study. Subjects watched 2D as well as 3D images and answered questions regarding ocular fatigue and general symptoms such as headache. Before and after watching images, the spherical equivalent, degree of conjunctival injection, tear BUT, and ocular surface temperature were measured and the amount of change was analyzed. While watching images, subjects answered questions regarding ocular fatigue and the time when they began to feel definitive symptoms. RESULTS: Watching 3D images induced a greater degree of ocular fatigue, headache, and decreasing concentration than watching 2D images (p = 0.038, 0.003, and 0.045, respectively). While watching images, 3D images induced a greater degree of ocular fatigue than 2D images and caused subjects to feel earlier ocular fatigue (3D: 54.86 min, 2D: 78.57 min, p = 0.002). Spherical equivalents became more myopic after watching 3D images. CONCLUSIONS: After watching 3D images, a greater degree of ocular fatigue, headache, and decreasing concentration was induced and a shorter time to feel definitive ocular fatigue was observed than after watching 2D images. In addition, spherical equivalents changed myopically after watching 3D images.

The Surgical Outcome of Intermittent Exotropia with Type Conversion Subsequent to Preoperative Part-Time Occlusion Therapy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of converted intermittent exotropia type with part-time occlusion therapy on final postoperative outcomes. METHODS: The present study included 140 consecutive intermittent exotropia patients. On the patient's first visit, the type of intermittent exotropia was determined according to the deviation angle. After preoperative part-time occlusion therapy, the type of intermittent exotropia was reevaluated. The surgical success rates of each group was compared retrospectively according to the converted type. RESULTS: At the first visit, the basic type was the most prevalent (n = 112), followed by convergence insufficiency type (n = 18) and pseudo-divergence excess type (n = 10). Mean deviation angle on the first visit was 25.42 +/- 6.05 PD at distance and 26.19 +/- 8.20 PD at near. There were significant changes in near deviation angle after part-time occlusion in patients with the basic and convergence insufficiency types (p = 0.045, 0.03, respectively). Twenty-seven patients who had converted from basic type to pseudo-divergence excess type and from convergence insufficiency type to basic type showed better surgical success rate (89%) than other patients (69%) (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Part-time occlusion therapy converts the type of intermittent exotropia by reducing near deviation angle and is related to a better surgical success rate.

Analysis of the Effects of Medial Rectus Muscle Resection for Recurrent Exotropia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how much correction is obtained per millimeter of medial rectus (MR) resection for recurrent exotropia after bilateral lateral rectus (BLR) recession, and to determine the difference in the effects between unilateral and bilateral resection, and the influence of previous lateral rectus (LR) recession on the effects of MR resection. METHODS: A total of 59 patients who had undergone MR resection after BLR recession were included in this study. The unilateral group consisted of 38 patients and bilateral group, 21 patients. Thirty patients in the unilateral group were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone previous LR recession of 7 mm or greater (21 patients) and less than 7 mm (9 patients). Main outcome measures were average deviation corrected per millimeter of MR resection at 1 month postoperative. RESULTS: The average effect of MR resection was 4.2 prism diopters (PD, 2.0 to 6.7 PD)/mm. The average effect in the unilateral group was 4.2 PD/mm and 4.1 PD/mm in the bilateral group. There was no significant difference between groups (P = 0.60). The average effect in the recession 7 mm or greater group was 4.0 PD/mm, and the average effect in the recession less than 7 mm group was 4.2 PD/mm (P = 0.698). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of MR resection per millimeter was variable. The laterality and previous amount of LR recession did not influence the effect of MR resection. These variable outcomes dictate that caution be exercised when MR resection is performed for recurrent exotropia.

Analysis of the Effects of Medial Rectus Muscle Resection for Recurrent Exotropia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how much correction is obtained per millimeter of medial rectus (MR) resection for recurrent exotropia after bilateral lateral rectus (BLR) recession, and to determine the difference in the effects between unilateral and bilateral resection, and the influence of previous lateral rectus (LR) recession on the effects of MR resection. METHODS: A total of 59 patients who had undergone MR resection after BLR recession were included in this study. The unilateral group consisted of 38 patients and bilateral group, 21 patients. Thirty patients in the unilateral group were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone previous LR recession of 7 mm or greater (21 patients) and less than 7 mm (9 patients). Main outcome measures were average deviation corrected per millimeter of MR resection at 1 month postoperative. RESULTS: The average effect of MR resection was 4.2 prism diopters (PD, 2.0 to 6.7 PD)/mm. The average effect in the unilateral group was 4.2 PD/mm and 4.1 PD/mm in the bilateral group. There was no significant difference between groups (P = 0.60). The average effect in the recession 7 mm or greater group was 4.0 PD/mm, and the average effect in the recession less than 7 mm group was 4.2 PD/mm (P = 0.698). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of MR resection per millimeter was variable. The laterality and previous amount of LR recession did not influence the effect of MR resection. These variable outcomes dictate that caution be exercised when MR resection is performed for recurrent exotropia.

Clinical Findings of Constant Exotropia Developed from Intermittent Exotropia

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical characteristics of constant exotropia patients with a previous history of intermittent exotropia. METHODS: Constant exotropia patients (CXT) with a previous history of intermittency, and intermittent exotropia patients (X [T]) who had undergone surgery for exotropia were included in the present study. Patching therapy of the fixating eye was performed for all patients. Surgical results, the effect of patching, lateral incomitancy, and suppression were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The number of CXT was 51 and X (T) was 84. The angles of deviation at the initial visit and at surgery were significantly larger in CXT. After 3 months of patching therapy, there was no difference between the 2 groups in the reduction of distant angle of deviation. However, the reduction of near angle of deviation was 0.29 +/- 5.44 in CXT and 4.42 +/- 6.26 Delta in X (T), which was significantly different (p = 0.04). Lateral incomitancy was observed in 7.8% of CXT and 34.5% of X (T) (p < 0.001). The angles of deviation at the final visit and surgical success rate were not different between the groups. Preoperative suppression at distant was found in 100% of CXT and 88.7% of X (T), and postoperative suppression was in 17.6% and 18.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical success rate and postoperative suppression were not different between constant exotropia and intermittent exotropia. However, the frequency of lateral incomitancy and the response to the patching therapy was lower in constant exotropia.

The Objective Methods to Evaluate Ocular Fatigue Associated With Computer Work

PURPOSE: To develop methods for the objective measurement of ocular fatigue. METHODS: Fifteen patients were enrolled in the present study. Subjects performed visual tasks on a computer for one hour. A survey of ocular fatigue was conducted with a questionnaire. Tear break-up time, blinking rate, ocular protection index, conjunctival injection, maximal blinking interval, temperature of the ocular surface, and visual evoked potential were evaluated before and immediately after the task. Surface electromyography of the orbicularis oculi muscle was performed before and during the task. RESULTS: The survey showed increases in subjective ocular fatigue in all subjects. Tear break-up time, ocular protection index and maximal blinking interval decreased, while temperature of the ocular surface increased after the task. Conjunctival injection showed a tendency to increase. Electromyography, and visual evoked potential did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, tear break-up time, ocular protection index, maximal blinking interval, and temperature of the ocular surface changed as ocular fatigue increased. Therefore, these measures can be objectively used for the evaluation of ocular fatigue.

A Case of Congenital Absence of the Superior Oblique Muscle Treated With Anterior and Nasal Transposition of the Inferior Oblique Muscle

PURPOSE: To report a patient with absence of the superior oblique (SO) muscle of the left eye, who showed improvement after anterior and nasal transposition of the inferior oblique muscle for left hyperdeviation and right head tilt. CASE SUMMARY: A two-year-old boy presented with hypertropia of the left eye and right head tilt. Alternate prism-cover test in the primary position demonstrated 18 prism diopters (PD) of left hypertropia, which increased to 35 PD in the left head tilt position. A version test demonstrated overaction of the left inferior oblique muscle and underaction of the left superior oblique muscle. As an orbit CT scan showed absence of the SO muscle, the patient was diagnosed with congenital absence of SO and left anterior and nasal transposition of the inferior oblique muscle was performed. Three weeks after surgery, the patient presented with orthotropia at distant and near. The version test revealed normal oblique muscles. There was no vertical deviation shown on the Bielschowsky head tilt test. The abnormal head posturing was no longer observed. CONCLUSIONS: The authorsreport a patient manifesting abnormal head posture and hypertropia, diagnosed with absence of SO muscle, which was successfully corrected using anterior and nasal transposition of the inferior oblique muscle.

A Case of Acquired Brown Syndrome after Surgical Repair of a Medial Orbital Wall Fracture

A case of acquired Brown syndrome caused by surgical repair of medial orbital wall fracture is reported in the present paper. A 23-year-old man presented at the hospital with right periorbital trauma. Although the patient did not complain of any diplopia, the imaging study revealed a blow-out fracture of the medial orbital wall. Surgical repair with a calvarial bone autograft was performed at the department of plastic surgery. The patient was referred to the ophthalmologic department due to diplopia that newly developed after surgery. The prism cover test at distant fixation showed hypotropia of the right eye, which was 4 prism diopters (PD) in primary gaze, 20 PD in left gaze, while orthophoric in right gaze. Eye movement of the right eye was markedly limited on elevation in adduction with normal elevation in abduction with intorsion in the right eye present. Forced duction test of the right eye showed restricted elevation in adduction. Computerized tomography scan of the orbits showed the right superior oblique muscle was entrapped between the autografted bone fragment and posterior margin of the fracture. When repairing medial orbital wall fracture that causes Brown syndrome, surgeons should always be careful of entrapment of the superior oblique muscle if the implant is inserted without identifying the superior and posterior margin of the orbital fracture site.

Consecutive Esotropia in Intermittent Exotropia Patients with Immediate Postoperative Overcorrection More Than 17 Prism Diopters

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and the factors of consecutive esotropia (ET) in patients with immediate postoperative overcorrection of at least 17 prism diopters (PD) after surgery for intermittent exotropia (X(T)). METHODS: Four-hundred-five patients under the age of 18 were included in this study. They underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession (LROU-rec) or unilateral recession-resection (R&R) for X(T). On postoperative day one, the patients with at least 17 PD overcorrection were classified as group 1 and those with less than 17 PD as group 2. Age, refractive error, type of surgery, lateral incomitancy, and the incidence of consecutive ET were analyzed for each group. RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 116 patients (28.6%) and group 2 consisted of 289 (71.4%). At the six-month follow-up visit, consecutive ET had developed in 16 patients (13.8%) in group 1, and in five patients (1.7%) in group 2 (p<0.001). The occurrence of consecutive ET was not related to age at the time of surgery (p=0.46 in group 1 ; p=0.54 in group 2), refractive error (p=0.18 in group 1 ; p=0.08 in group 2), or the type of surgery (p=0.69 in group 1 ; p=1.00 in group 2). The incidence in group 1 was 23.8% in patients with lateral incomitancy and 8.1% in patients without lateral incomitancy (p<0.05). In group 2, the incidence was 4.4% in patients with lateral incomitancy and 0.5% in patients without lateral incomitancy (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Consecutive ET developed in 13.8% of patients with immediate overcorrection of at least 17 PD. Lateral incomitancy was the most important risk factor.

Subconjunctival Juvenile Xanthogranuloma Involving the Limbus Associated with Neurofibromatosis

PURPOSE: To report a case of isolated subconjunctival juvenile xanthogranuloma invading the corneal limbus in a patient with neurofibromatosis. METHODS: A 2-year-old boy visited the hospital with a conjunctival yellow-brown, non-tender mass of the left eye, which had been found 2 months earlier. Anterior segment examination revealed a 9 x 7 mm-sized subconjunctival elevated mass with an ill-defined border, invading the supero-temporal limbus. Additional ophthalmic examinations did not show any abnormal findings. In the trunk and extremities, there were multiple soft nodules and brown macules. An excisional biopsy of the subconjunctival mass, histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. RESULTS: The mass was adhered to the episcleral tissue, without scleral or conjunctival involvement. The histological examination showed a granulomatous lesion consisting of multiple lipid-laden macrophages and other inflammatory cells. The immunohistochemical study showed positive staining for CD68 and negative staining for S100 protein. The multiple soft nodules and brown macules in the trunk and extremities were identified as neurofibromas and caf -au-lait macules by a dermatologist, and the patient was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. CONCLUSIONS: We report a rare case of subconjunctival juvenile xanthogranuloma involving the limbus, associated with neurofibromatosis.

The Influence of Part-time Patching Therapy on Types of Intermittent Exotropia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of part-time patching therapy on the types of intermittent exotropia. METHODS: Forty-four children with basic type intermittent exotropia and 26 with convergence insufficiency type, aged 4 to 12 years, were evaluated. At initial examination, the deviating angles were obtained at distant and near with the alternate prism cover test after correcting for refractive errors. The types of intermittent exotropia were classified based on the reference values of distant-near difference as follow. In the patients with distant angle more than 30 PD, the reference value of distant-near difference was 10 PD, whereas in the patients with distance angle less than 30 PD, the value was one third of the distant angle. Three-hour per day patching of the non-deviating eye was performed for 3 months, and the change in the types of intermittent exotropia was investigated. RESULTS: At initial examination, mean deviating angles (PD) were 27.1 +/- 7.46 PD at distant, and 30.6 +/- 7.92 PD at near. After 3 months with 3-hours patching, the deviating angles were both reduced significantly to 25.9 +/- 9.10 PD at distant and 21.4 +/- 11.00 PD at near (p=0.005, <0.001 respectively). Fourteen patients (32%) of basic type were transformed to pseudodivergence excess type. Among the patients with basic type who showed no change in type, 9 (20%) showed a reduction of angles at both near and distant. Among the patients with convergence insufficiency type, 18 (69%) were converted to basic type and 2 (7%) to pseudodivergence excess type. CONCLUSIONS: Three-hour patching therapy converted the basic and convergence insufficiency type to the pseudodivergence excess and basic type in more than half of the intermittent exotropes.

Corneal Endothelial Protection of Ascorbic Acid against Free Radicals during Phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To evaluate corneal endothelial protection effect of ascorbic acid (AA) at the most appropriate concentration, and determine the synergistic effect of glutathione in irrigation solution during phacoemulsification. METHODS: Phacoemulsification was performed in the anterior chamber of 30 rabbit eyes for 5 minutes without damage to other ocular structures. Thirty rabbit eyes were divided into 6 groups, of 5 eyes each, according to the following irrigation solutions in phacoemulsification.: BSS(R) in group 1, BSS(R) with 1 mM AA in group 2, BSS Plus(R) in group 3, BSS Plus(R) with 0.1 mM AA in group 4, BSS Plus(R) with 1 mM AA in group 5 and BSS Plus(R) with 10 mM AA in group 6. Corneal endothelial loss was measured with specular microscopic photographies taken before and 1 week after surgery. RESULTS: Postoperatively endothelial counts were reduced by 592.0 +/- 100.0, 275.9 +/- 51.9, 658.2 +/- 107.1, 466.3 +/- 88.6, 259.3 +/- 61.6 and 451.6 +/- 63.7 (mean cells/mm2 +/- SD) in groups 1-6, respectively. Endothelial cells in group 2 were less reduced than in group 1 (P=0.009), but there was no difference between groups 2 and 5. Though the reduction of endothelial cells in groups 4, 5, and 6 were less than in group 3 (P<0.05), group 5 showed more significant endothelial protection effect than groups 4 and 6 (P=0.009, 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: AA in irrigation solution showed endothelial protection effect against free radicals during phacoemulsification, and 1 mM was the most effective concentration. Combination of glutathione with AA did not show any synergistic endothelial protection effect.