Corneal Astigmatism Change after Simultaneous Surgery for Cataract and Pterygium

It is known that surgically induced astigmatism can be reduced by incision along the steep axis. Also, high grade astigmatism can be induced by pterygium. We evaluated the amount of corneal astigmatism according to the severity of pterygium in cataract patients. We retrospetively analysed the change of astigmatism after simultaneous surgery for cataract and pterygium retrospectively. We divided patients into two groups, temporal incision group. We confirmed that astigmatism is induced by moderate to severe pterygium. The more severe the pterygium, the more the amount of astigmatism. The amount of astigmatism was reduced after surgery irrespective of the incision. Postoperative astigmatic change was stabilized earlier in the temporal incision group than in the superior incision group. We concluded thath simultaneous surgery for cataract and pterygium can be considered when the severity of the pterygium is moderate to severe. Incision location in those surgeries should be decided according to whether the previous astigmatism was with-the-rule or aganinst-the-rule and this can be assumed by the state of astigmatism of the healthy, fellow sys. If the assumption is not possible, temporal incision is more desirable in aspectes of stability and predictability of postoperative astigmatism.

Comparison of Reproducibility between Exophthalmometer Readings Measured with Hertel and Naugle Exophthalmometer

Hertel and Naugle exophthalmometers were used to compare the variability and reproducibility, produced by various observers. Five examiners measured fifty two eyes of twenty-six normal subjects each by using two different exophthalmometers, respectively. The average coefficient of variation among five measurements was 5.6% in the right eye, 5.2% in the left eye and 2.1% in base line by Hertel exophthalmometer. The average coefficient of variation measured by Naugle exophthalmometer was 1.9% in both eyes and 0.8% in pupillary distance. In conclusion, Naugle exophthalmometer showed less variability and better reproducibility; it is more appropriate for comparative exophthalmetry.

Therapeutic Effect of Recurrent Corneal Erosion by Nd: YAG Anterior Stromal Puncture

Many conventional treatments of recurrent corneal erosion have been reported to yield varying degrees of effect. Epithelial basement menmbranectomy, microdiathermy or needle anterior stromal puncture, and excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy have recently been proposed as new treatments for recalcitrant cases of recurrent corneal erosion. We used the Nd:YAG laser to perform anterior stromal puncture of evaluation of therapeutic effects and several advantages effects over conventional treatments. For this purpose, we performed retrospective review of medical records of 7 patients who had been confirmed to have recurrent corneal erosion and given a trial of the Nd:YAG laser anterior stromal puncture due to two or more recurrences in spite of conventional treatments from January 1996 to December 1997. The mean recurrence rate of erosion before anterior stromal puncture and the mean trial number were 1 time(ranging from 1 to 2 times) per month and 4.7 times(ranging from 1 to 10 times), respectively. There were no recurrences after the laser trial in all 7 patients. Compared with various conventional treatments, this study showed the Nd:YAG laser anterior stromal puncture may obtain more permanent healing in mild to moderate epithelial basement membrane dystrophy and traumatic recurrent corneal erosion.

Therapeutic Effect of Recurrent Corneal Erosion by Nd: YAG Anterior Stromal Puncture

Many conventional treatments of recurrent corneal erosion have been reported to yield varying degrees of effect. Epithelial basement menmbranectomy, microdiathermy or needle anterior stromal puncture, and excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy have recently been proposed as new treatments for recalcitrant cases of recurrent corneal erosion. We used the Nd:YAG laser to perform anterior stromal puncture of evaluation of therapeutic effects and several advantages effects over conventional treatments. For this purpose, we performed retrospective review of medical records of 7 patients who had been confirmed to have recurrent corneal erosion and given a trial of the Nd:YAG laser anterior stromal puncture due to two or more recurrences in spite of conventional treatments from January 1996 to December 1997. The mean recurrence rate of erosion before anterior stromal puncture and the mean trial number were 1 time(ranging from 1 to 2 times) per month and 4.7 times(ranging from 1 to 10 times), respectively. There were no recurrences after the laser trial in all 7 patients. Compared with various conventional treatments, this study showed the Nd:YAG laser anterior stromal puncture may obtain more permanent healing in mild to moderate epithelial basement membrane dystrophy and traumatic recurrent corneal erosion.