Late Surgical Correction of Longstanding Constant Strabismus in Adults: Is Fusion Possible in All Successfully Aligned Patients?

PURPOSE: To determine whether late surgical correction provides fusion in adults who have constant strabismus beginning in early childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study that included 34 consecutive adults with a history of early onset strabismus who had not previously undergone surgery. They were tested with the Bagolini striated glasses (BSG), Worth four-dot (W4D) test, cover test, and four-prism diopter (4-PD) test, preoperatively, and 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age was 23.8 years, 17 patients had esotropia and 17 patients had exotropia. Preoperatively, all patients demonstrated a manifest horizontal deviation ranging from 30∆ to 60∆ and had suppression. At 6 weeks postoperatively, 33 patients had a horizontal manifest deviation of <15∆ (range, 2∆-14∆; median, 6∆), and none were orthotropic as determined by the cover test together with the 4-PD test. All of these 33 patients achieved anomalous retinal correspondence (ARC) with the BSG at near, and 25 (75%) had ARC with the W4D test at near. CONCLUSIONS: Although our study has limited number of patients its findings suggest it is possible to develop ARC after surgery in almost all adult patients with childhood-onset strabismus associated with suppression, and who have not previously been operated upon, if satisfactory alignment is achieved in adulthood.

Congenital retinal macrovessel: atypical presentation using optical coherence tomography.

To describe a congenital retinal macrovessel with macular thickening. This case was investigated using fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, Spectralis optical coherence tomography and a 10-2 visual field test. A 23-year-old man was referred to our clinic with decreased vision in the right eye. Fundus examination of the right eye revealed a congenital retinal macrovessel that originated inferior to the superotemporal branch of the central retinal vein. Using fluorescein angiography, early filling and delayed emptying of the aberrant vein were observed. Spectralis optical coherence tomography demonstrated macular thickening and was supported by a 10-2 visual field test that revealed a relative scotoma corresponding to the same location. At the 18-month follow-up, visual acuity remained stable. Although rare, this case demonstrated that macular thickening can cause decreased visual acuity in the presence of a congenital retinal macrovessel.

Intracameral Perfluoropropane (C(3)F(8)) Gas in the Repair of Extensive Descemet's Membrane Detachment During Phacoemulsification Surgery.

Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) is one of the rare complications seen during or after cataract surgery. It can cause permanent corneal decompensation if untreated or not reattached spontaneously. A patient with an extensive DMD (involving approximately upper two-thirds of the cornea) during uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery is reported. After the aspiration of cortical remnants, Descemet's membrane was detached progressively from the clear corneal incision. Descemet's membrane was reattached at the end of the procedure using an air bubble injection. However, DMD was observed again the day after surgery. It was successfully treated with intracameral injection of 0.2 mL volume of 14% perfluoropropane (C(3)F(8)) gas with resultant immediate resolution of his corneal edema. It is believed that early surgical intervention (if possible intraoperatively) with intracameral injection of 14% isoexpansile mixture of C(3)F(8) is a safe and efficient treatment modality for DMD. Appropriate and prompt management may prevent the complications and visual loss.

Capsulorhexis in white cataract using a green-light endoillumination probe.

The authors describe a technique for performing a safe and controlled continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) in white cataracts using the contrast-enhancing effect of green light from an endoillumination probe. After attaching a green filter to the endoillumination unit of the vitrectomy set, a CCC was performed under the green light of the endoillumination probe, which was placed on the periphery of the cornea in a manner that followed the tearing edge of the capsulorhexis. This technique may be an alternative to capsular dyes in performing a safe and controlled CCC in white cataracts.

Management of persistent glaucoma secondary to depot methylprednisolone.

This article describes two patients with recalcitrant ocular hypertension persisting 6 and 4 months, respectively, after periocular injection of methylprednisolone acetate despite maximum medical therapy. White sub-Tenon's plaques of residual methylprednisolone acetate were excised surgically and analyzed for steroid activity using spectrophotometry. In both cases, intraocular pressure was normalized promptly after surgical removal of visible steroid. In both instances, biochemical analysis of the excised samples revealed residual steroid. Surgical removal of a residual methylprednisolone depot is an effective management choice in patients developing persistent intraocular pressure elevation after periocular injection.

Laser suture lysis or releasable sutures after trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and complication rates of laser suture lysis (LSL) or releasable sutures techniques after trabeculectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 43 consecutive patients with uncomplicated glaucoma who were recruited for primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 and group 2 comprised 27 and 21 eyes that were randomly assigned to a standard surgery and releasable suture groups, respectively. A target intraocular pressure (IOP) had been determined on the basis of the severity of the glaucoma and was called a complete success, qualified success, or failure. RESULTS: In group 1, the mean change in IOP after LSL was 7.31+/-1.98 mm Hg, 6.1+/-1.1 mm Hg, and 3.9+/-1.5 mm Hg when sutures were lysed on the first, second, and third months. In group 2, the mean change in IOP after releasable suture removed was 8.20+/-2.74 mm Hg, 5.12+/-1.65 mm Hg, and 4.4+/-1.0 mm Hg when sutures were released at the first, second, and third months. At the end of 6 months, the success (complete and qualified success) rates were 92% and 90% for LSL and releasable suture groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in success (P>0.05) and complication (P>0.05) rates between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an effective IOP reduction in eyes that had suture release both in the early and late postoperative periods after LSL and suture release. We believe that both the laserable and releasable suture techniques can be preferred to permanent sutures for closing scleral flaps in primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C in uncomplicated glaucoma.

Ocular trauma score in deadly weapon-related open-globe injuries.

PURPOSE: To assess prognostic value of the ocular trauma score (OTS) in deadly weapon-related open-globe injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case series. METHODS: In 82 patients (88 eyes) with deadly weapon-related open-globe injuries, certain numerical values rendered to the OTS variables (visual acuity, rupture, endophthalmitis, perforating injury, retinal detachment, afferent pupillary defect) at presentation were summated and converted into OTS categories. The likelihood of the final visual acuities in the OTS categories were calculated and compared with those in the OTS study. RESULTS: The likelihood of the final visual acuities (no light perception NLP, light perception LP/hand motion HM, 1/200 to 19/200, 20/200 to 20/50, and > or = 20/40) in the OTS categories (1 through 5) in this group were similar to those in the OTS study group except for LP/HM in the category-2 (53% vs 26%, P < .001). No study eye was in the category-5 (the best prognosis). CONCLUSIONS: OTS calculated at initial examination may provide prognostic information in deadly weapon-related open-globe injuries.

Increase in central corneal thickness in dry and normal eyes with application of artificial tears: a new diagnostic and follow-up criterion for dry eye.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of artificial tear application on central corneal thickness (CCT) in dry and normal eyes. METHODS: Forty eyes of 40 patients with symptomatic dry eyes and 20 eyes of 20 controls were included in the study. A combination artificial tear therapy was given to both groups for 1 week. The CCT was measured with ultrasonic pachymetry before and after the therapy. In addition, at the beginning of the study, 11 dry eye patients and eight control patients were evaluated separately as a subgroup: they received artificial tears every 10 min for an hour to determine whether this might constitute a diagnostic criterion. Results were analysed with a Wilcoxon test, accepting p < 0.01 as significant. RESULTS: The mean CCT in the dry eye group before and after 1-week therapy was 531.5 +/- 16.5 and 559.6 +/- 26.1 microm, respectively (p < 0.0001); thus yielding an average CCT increase of 28.1 +/- 9.4 microm (=5.30%: 1.65% minimum; 7.03% maximum) from baseline. The mean CCT in the control group before and after 1-week therapy was 549.2 +/- 37.8 and 552.3 +/- 39.8 microm, respectively (p = 0.001); thus, yielding an average CCT increase of 3.1 +/- 1.9 microm (=0.56%: 0.00% minimum; 1.18% maximum) from baseline. When the subgroup was evaluated separately, the average increase from baseline in 11 dry eye patients was 10.4 +/- 4.0 microm (=1.89%: 0.60% minimum; 4.26% maximum) after 1 h of artificial tear application, while it was 2.9 +/- 2.0 microm (=0.51%: 0.00% minimum; 0.58% maximum) in eight control patients (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The CCT in dry eyes increases rapidly and significantly compared to normal eyes after application of artificial tears. It is suggested that this increase could be used as a criterion in the diagnosis and follow up of dry eyes, and that this increase in thickness should be considered in intra-ocular pressure measurements as well as in refractive surgical procedures.

The association between hypermetropia and essential hypertension.

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between the refractive state of the eye and high blood pressure in a representative population. DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-one patients with essential hypertension (mean age 53.9 +/- 15.5 years) and 188 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects (mean age 50.9 +/- 7.3 years) from the same regional Health Maintenance Organization were consecutively included for the study (P > .05 for age and sex). The refractive state of the eyes was identified objectively by an autorefractometer and retinoscopic examination, recording the autorefractometer values. Spherical equivalents between -0.50 (included) and +0.50 (included) diopters were regarded as emmetropia. Values below or above this interval were regarded as either myopia or hypermetropia. Mean spherical equivalents of the groups were compared using independent samples t test; distributions of refraction were compared with chi(2) test. RESULTS: The mean spherical equivalent of the patients with essential hypertension was +0.88 +/- 1.34 diopters (range -3.75 to +6.38 diopters), whereas the mean spherical equivalent of the control subjects was -0.26 +/- 1.12 diopters (range -5.00 to +3.38 diopters) (P < .0001). Whereas 61.4% of hypertensive patients were hypermetropic, 18.1% of normotensive patients were hypermetropic (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association of essential arterial hypertension with hypermetropia, which has not been previously reported. Given the findings of this study, we recommend that patients who have hypermetropia and have had no recent systemic examination should at least have their blood pressure checked.

The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in the treatment of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits. It was hypothesized that HBO therapy improves the regression of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An experimental animal study was conducted on 48 rabbits (48 right eyes of these rabbits) to evaluate the effects of HBO therapy on endotoxin-induced acute anterior uveitis in rabbits. To induce acute anterior uveitis, Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) was intravitreally injected into the right eyes of the rabbits. The animals were randomly assigned to five groups. No treatment was given to the rabbits in Group A. Prednisolone acetate was topically administered to the rabbits in Group B. Methylprednisolone acetate was administered by anterior subtenon injection to the rabbits in Group C four hours after LPS application. HBO therapy was administered to the rabbits in Group D. Both HBO therapy and anterior subtenon injection of methylprednisolone therapy were administered to the rabbits in Group E. To compare the effects of the different therapies on the progression of endotoxin-induced uveitis, examinations including clinical scoring of anterior uveitis, microscopic examination of aspirated aqueous humor for inflammatory responses, and aqueous protein level assessment were performed once a day after LPS injection. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the control group (Group A) and other groups (Groups B-E) with respect to the number of inflammatory cells and protein levels in the aqueous one and three days after LPS injection (p < 0.05), indicating that the treatments resulted in less inflammation in Groups B-E compared to Group A. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and C, Groups B and D, Groups B and E, Groups C and D, and Groups C and E with regard to the number of inflammatory cells in the aqueous at Day 1 after LPS injection (p > 0.05). In addition, Groups B and C and Groups B and D were comparable with regard to cell counts at Day 3 (p > 0.05), showing that HBO was comparable to corticosteroids in reducing inflammation. The differences between Groups B and E and Groups C and E were significant with regard to aqueous cell counts at Day 3 (p < 0.05), showing that HBO plus steroid was more effective than steroids alone. CONCLUSION: The intensity of ocular inflammation in the group receiving HBO therapy combined with anterior subtenon injection of methylprednisolone therapy was lower than in the other groups. We also demonstrated that HBO therapy was an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of experimental uveitis induced in rabbits with an efficacy comparable to that of corticosteroids. Moreover, HBO plus steroid was superior to steroids alone in reducing inflammation.