Serum Concentration of Antioxidant Minerals in Cataract Patients

PURPOSE: To determine the levels of antioxidant minerals in serum of normal subjects and patients with cataract. METHODS: Concentrations of antioxidant minerals such as selenium, manganese, copper, zinc were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) 4110ZL in serum of 45 normal subjects (group 1) and 34 patients (group 2) with cataract, and Cu/Zn ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of copper were 108.9 +/- 5.48 (male) and 106.9 +/- 5.25 microgram/dl (female) in group 1, 100.9 +/- 5.87 (male), 105.6 +/- 3.68 microgram/dl (female) in group 2, respectively. For zinc they were 105.8 +/- 7.33 (male) and 103.7 +/- 4.24 microgram/dl (female) in group 1, 80.0 +/- 5.78 (male) and 95.1 +/- 6.18 microgram/dl (female) in group 2, respectively. Zn/Cu ratio were 0.98 +/- 0.02 (male) and 1.05 +/- 0.08 (female) in group 1, 1.58 +/- 0.29 (male) and 1.19 +/- 0.09 (female) in group 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum zinc concentration in male was significantly lower in cataract patients than in normal subjects (p<0.01). Cu/Zn ratio was lower in cataract patients than in normal subjects in male, but not in female. Further nutrional survey is necessary to determine the relationship between level of antioxidant minerals and development and progression of cataract.

Serum Concentration of Lycopene in Normal and Glaucoma Patients

PURPOSE: We measured serum lycopene concentration and compared it in normal subjects, normal tension glaucoma (NTG), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. METHODS: We investigated serum lycopene concentration on 226 subjects, which were divided into 3 groups : group 1 with 136 normal subjects, group 2 with 24 NTG patients, group 3 with 66 POAG patients. Serum concentration of lycopene was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Mean age was 64.1+/-9.2 years old in group 1, 56.4+/-1.2 years old in group 2, 53.8+/-5.3 years old in group 3. Sex ratio (male:female) was 1:1 in group 1, 1.18:1 in group 2, 0.94:1 in group 3 respectively. Serum lycopene concentration was 6.44+/-0.34 microgram/dl in group 1, 2.55+/-0.44 microgram /dl in group 2, 2.17+/-0.27 microgram /dl in group 3 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum lycopene concentration was significantly lower in NTG, POAG patients than normal subjects (P<.05). Further nutritional survey is necessary for new modality of treatment of glaucoma.

The Correlations Between Landmark of Inferior Oblique Muscle Recession and Adjacent Globe Structures

PURPOSE: This study aimed to find out whether there are relationships among anatomic characteristics of inferior oblique muscle insertion, corneal diameter, axial length and inferior oblique recession landmark. METHODS: Thirty-one Korean cadaver orbits were dissected to expose the full length of extraocular muscles and sclera, and then we measured the length from the recession landmark of inferior oblique to the lateral edge of insertion of inferior rectus and to the inferior edge of insertion of lateral rectus. RESULTS: The mean of angles between the inferior oblique muscle insertion and lateral rectus direction is 27.9+/-9.0degrees and the range is from 15 degrees to 50 degrees . There is a statistically significant correlation between cord length of 8 mm recession landmark of inferior oblique and angles of inferior oblique insertion with lateral rectus direction. We divided the shapes of inferior oblique insertion into straight and convexed curves. Twelve insertions are straight and thirteen insertions are curved. There is no statistically significant correlation between shape of inferior oblique insertion and cord length from recession landmark. In corneal diameter and axial length, we found correlations with cord length of 8 mm and 10 mm recession landmark of inferior oblique. CONCLUSIONS: We conclud that there are some correlations among anatomic characteristics, axial length and corneal diameter with recession landmark of inferior oblique.

C avernous Sinus Involvement of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Lacrimal Gland

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is slow growing, but locally aggressive and thus prone to recurrence with late distant metastasis. Intracranial involvement of adenoid cystic carcinoma is rare but most of theses cases are thought to extend directly or by perineural spread from lesions in adjacent structures, such as the paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, salivary glands, or from the lacrimal glands. And hematogenous metastasis is rare. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal glands is known to comprise 30% of epithelial neoplasms of the lacrimal gland, but its cavernous sinus involvement with perineural extension has never been reported in Korea. A cavernous sinus mass was found in a 43-year-old man presenting ophthalmoplegia and facial palsy. The mass was later diagnosed as metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland, whose size was decreased after radiation. Thus we report the case with a brief review of literature.

Comparison of Transpupillary and Transscleral Diode Laser Cyclophotocoagulation

Transscleral and transpupillary diode lasers are methods of cyclophotocoagulation used to lower intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous humor production through ciliary ablation. When compared with the neodymium[Nd]-YAG, the diode laser has characteristics of lower transmission rate through the sclera and more absorption by pigment or melanin in the ciliary body, therefore the transpupillary method might be more effective in Asians who have greater ciliary body pigmentation than caucasian. We compared the efficacy of diode laser transpupillary and transscleral cyclophotocoagulation on lowering of the intraocular pressure in Asian patients. We performed transpupillary[group 2, n=9]and transscleral [group 1, n=21]diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in medically uncontrolled glaucoma patients. Preoperative mean intraocular pressures were 35.0 +/-13.1 millimeters of mercury[group 1]and 31.8 +/-9.8 millimeters of mercury[group 2], respectively. Postoperative mean pressure were 23.0 +/-14.8 millimeters of mercury[group 1]and 24.8 +/-9.9 millimeters of mercury [group 2], respectively. The intraocular pressure decreased in both groups[p=0.002 group 1, p=0.025 group 2]with statistical significance. Complications were phthisis, bullous keratopathy[group 1]and corneal edema[group 2]. Both transscleral and transpupillary diode laser cyclophoto-coagulation may be performed safely to decrease intraocular pressure. Retrospective studies and long term follow up are further needed to determine the safety of laser cyclophotocoagulation.

Morphometric Study of Relationship between Plane of Inferior Oblique Muscle and Adjacent Globe Structure

There are no known data of recession point of inferior oblique muscle (IO) in Korean.The purpose of this study was to determine the accurate reinsertion point of IO and compare the previous data with ours.Thirty-one Korean cadaver orbits were dissected to expose the full length of extraocular muscles and sclera, and then we measured the length from the recession point of IO to lateral edge of insertion of inferior rectus muscle (IR)and to inferior edge of insertion of lateral rectus muscle (LR).Eight mm recession point of IO was measured 6.9 +/-0.6 mm posteriorly along the inferior border of LR from inferior edge of LR insertion, and 4.6 +/-1.5 mm inferiorly.For 10 mm recession, it was 5.6 +/-1.3 mm posteriorly and 6.6 +/-2.0 mm inferiorly.For 12 mm recession, it was measured 4.7 +/-0.7 mm posteriorly and 8.4 +/- 1.5 mm inferiorly.And for 14 mm recession, it was 3.7 +/-1.7 mm posteriorly and 9.5 +/-2.0 mm inferiorly. Eight mm recession point of IO was measured 3.5 +/-0.6 mm posteriorly along the lateral border of IR from the lateral edge of IR insertion, and 6.5 +/-0 .8 mm laterally.For 10 mm recession, it was 2.9 +/-1.0 mm posteriorly and 3.6 +/- 1.0 mm laterally.For 12 mm recession, it was measured 3.3 +/-0.6 mm posteriorly and 2.3 +/-0.6 mm laterally.For 14 mm recession, it was 3.0 +/-1.5 mm posteriorly and 0.5 +/-0.9 mm laterally.The cord length on a straight line from 14 mm recession point of IO to the scleral exit site of the inferior temporal vortex vein was 6.6 +/-1.4 mm (range 4~9 mm).The distance from IO recession points to IR insertion site and to LR insertion site were compared in ten paired eyes, and the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).We made anatomical studies to evaluate the proper placement of scleral reinsertion site of IO in Korean.