Non-penetrating trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C in open angle glaucoma

The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the results of non- penetrating trabeculectomy [NPT] alone or with the use of adjunctive mitomycin C [MMC] in primary open glaucoma. Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients with uncontrolled primary open angle glaucoma were randomly assigned either to NPT alone [group 1] or with the application of MMC [group 2]. The cases were followed up for one-year. Success rate was defined as an intraocular pressure [IOP] of 21 mmHg or less without glaucoma medications. The rates of success at the final follow up period were 78.5% in the NPT without MMC [group 1] versus 92.8% in the NPT with MMC [group 2]. In conclusion, NPT with the application of MMC is an effective technique in controlling IOP in primary open angle glaucoma with avoiding the potential complications of standard trabeculectomy

Color duplex study in ocular Behcet's disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the haemodynamic characteristics of ophthalmic vasculature of eyes with Behcet's disease. Both eyes of patients with Behcet's disease were evaluated and classified according to criteria recommended by International Study Group for Behcet's disease and after ophthalmological and fluorescein angiographic findings into 3 groups: Behcet's disease patients without ocular involvement, Behcet's disease patients with mild to moderate vasculitis and Behcet's disease patients with severe vasculitis. Color duplex was done to quantitate blood flow velocities and vascular resistance in the ophthalmic artery [OA], central retinal artery [CRA] and central retinal vein [CRV] of these patients and also group of healthy volunteers. All four groups were age and sex matched. In the OA, peak systolic, end diastolic and average flow velocities were significantly higher in patients with retinal vasculitis due to Behcet's disease than in patients with Behcet's disease but without ocular involvement and in control groups [P < 0.05]. CRA blood flow velocities of patients with severe retinal vasculitis were significantly lower than those with mild to moderate vasculitis, Behcet's disease without ocular involvement and control groups. Also, peak systolic and end diastolic velocities in CRA were significantly lower in patients with Behcet's disease without ocular involvement than in the control group. In the CRV, the average blood flow velocities of patients with severe vasculitis were significantly lower than in mild to moderate vasculitis, Behcet's disease patients without ocular involvement and control groups. Color duplex is a non-invasive, rapid and useful technique for assessing patients with Behcet's disease and permitting both quantitative and qualitative examination of the ophthalmic vascular system