Chlorambucil versus corticosteroids for management of Behcet's disease

A controlled study to compare the effect of me immunosuppressive drug, chlorambucil, with that of corticosteroids was carried out in 26 patients with the ocular type of Behcet's disease. Twenty patients were males and 6 were females. They were regularly followed up for 4 years in some cases. Chlorambucil was found effective in reducing the inflammation and producing long duration of remission in 85% of cases. On the other hand, steroids alone were found initially effective in about 54%. However, the long-term prognosis for vision with either therapy was nearly similar and remains very poor. Loss of useful vision has occurred in 78.6% of the eyes within 3 to 4 years after initial diagnosis

Orbital surgery

This study represents our experience in orbital surgery throughout 14 years. Our series included 161 patients who underwent surgical interference. The difficulties encountered, the surgical principles, the investigative techniques and the complications were thoroughly discussed

Topical riboflavin and corneal ulcers

The effect of five bases viz., sodium carboxymethyl cellulose [NaCMC] polyethylene glycol [PEG[1]] and [PEG[2]], methylcellulose [MC] and polyvinyl alcohol PVA on in vitro release of riboflavine was investigated in comparison with a fatty base using dialysis technique. The release of riboflavine was slow from the fatty base while maximum release was attained from PEG[2]. followed in order by PEG[1], NaCMC, MC and PVA. NaCMC and MC, gels gave the desired release rate of the drug [moderate]. The effect of different concentrations of riboflavine [0.5,1 and 2%] in the two bases on its release rate was studied. Following the mathematical treatment of these data, 1% riboflavine-NaCMC and -MC gels were selected for further in vivo tests on rabbit's eyes. NaNCMC can deliver riboflavine to the cornea this was elicited by significant healing effect of the drug on the induced ulcer. Preliminary study in humans using NaCMC gel indicates that this formula promotes healing of various types of corneal ulcers and the reaction of the eye was much better than with other modes of therapy

Aphakic retinal detachment

This study included 159 patients with aphakic retinal detachment [ARD] who were admitted to the Ophthalmic Department of Assiut University Hospital through a period of five years. Six patients had bilateral ARD. The type of cataract operation was intracapsular in 141 eyes and extracapsular in 24 eyes. Single retinal break was found in 17%, multiple breaks in 10% and in 28.5% no breaks could be detected. Conventional cryoretinopexy was performed in 124 eyes, vitrectomy in 10 eyes and 31 eyes were not operated upon