Assessment of foveal avascular zone in diabetic retinopathy

Purpose: To evaluate the measures of foveal avascular zone [PAZ] in diabetic population and compare it with nondiabetic subjects. Patients and The dimensions of FAZ were done in fluorescein angiogrms in 30 diabetic patients and 20 nondiabetic controls. The longest diameter, the perpendicular diameter, the mean diameter, the circumference, and the area of FAZ were measured and compared with level of fluorescein leakage and capillary nonperfusion the median values for longest diameter, mean diameter, and circumference were significantly greater in diabetic group than in control group. Longest diameters > 1.0 mm were found almost exclusively in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The FAZ dimensions and presence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy were strongly positively correlated with capillary nonperfusion not with fluorescein leakage. Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by an irregular large FAZ. Retinal capillary occlusion is the cause of FAZ enlargement in diabetic retinopathy. It would be better to specify laser treatment guidelines in terms of the actual distance from the center of FAZ not FAZ margin guidelines, since the dimensions of normal FAZ are so variable from subject to subject

Deep sclerectomy with reticulated sodium hyaluronate implant versus trabeculectomy in primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: to assess the efficacy and safety of deep sclerectomy with reticulated sodium hyaluronate drainage implant [DSDII] versus trabeculectmy [T] in primary open-angle glaucoma. Patients and methods: 16 patients [32 eyes] with medically uncontrolled bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma were included in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive deep sclerectomy with reticulated sodium hyaluronate drainage implant in one eye and trabeculectomy in the othe eye. The follow-up period was 18 months. There was significant IOP reduction after surgery in both groups. In DSDI group the post-operative IOP was 37.5% with complete success, 37.5% with qualified success an. 25% with failure results, while in trabeculectorny group 31.25% with complete success, 43.75% with qualified success and 25% with failure results. The number of postoperative complications was significantly lower in the DSDI group than it the trabeculectomy group. DSDI is non-perforating surgery. The success rate of DSDI may be comparable to that of trabeculectomy with fewer complications. Preservation of the thin trabeculo-Descemet's membrane however is technically challenging, particularly before the surgeon gains experience with this procedure

Risk of adrenal suppression and posterior subcapstilar cataract in asthmatic children on inhaled corticosteroids

To investigate some of the expected side effects of corticosteroid therapy, 20 asthmatic children on low dose Belcomethasone dipropionate [BDP] [<400 micro g / day] and another 20 asthmatic children on high dose BDP [= or > 400 micro g / day] were enrolled in this study. They have been compared with 20 asthmatic children who have never been treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Only high doses of inhaled corticosteroids caused significant reduction of 24 hours urinary cortisol excretion. [P<0.01]. Asthmatic children who used BDP directly through Metered Jose inhaler [MDI] showed more suppression of the adrenal function than those who received it by spacers. Posterior subcapsular cataract [PSC] was not detected in any of the patients