Relationship of hypertropia and excyclotorsion in superior oblique palsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between hypertropia and excyclotorsion in acquired superior oblique palsy (SOP). METHODS: Thirty-one patients with acquired unilateral SOP were recruited for this study. The torsional angle of each patient was assessed via one objective method (fundus photography) and two subjective methods (double Maddox rod test and major amblyoscope). The patient population was divided into two groups (concordance group, n = 19 and discordance group, n = 12) according to the correspondence between the hypertropic eye (paralytic eye) and the more extorted eye (non-fixating eye), which was evaluated by fundus photography. RESULTS: The mean value of objective torsion was 5.09° ± 3.84°. The subjective excyclotorsion degrees were 5.18° ± 4.11° and 3.65° ± 1.93° as measured by double Maddox rod test and major amblyoscope, respectively. Hypertropia and the excyclotorsional angle did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.257). Although no correlation was found in the discordance group, the concordance group showed a significant and positive correlation between hypertropia and excyclotorsion (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Torsional deviation was not related to hypertropia. However, in the concordance patients in whom the hypertropic eye showed excyclotorsion, a significant positive correlation was found between hypertropia and excyclotorsion.

The Comparison of outcomes between lateral rectus muscles re-recession and medial rectus muscles resection in recurrent exotropia.

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical outcomes between bilateral lateral rectus muscles (BLR) re-recession and bilateral medial rectus muscles (BMR) resection in recurrent exotropia. METHODS: The medical records of patients with recurrent exotropia who underwent surgery for intermittent exotropia during the 6 years from January 2001 to December 2006 and followed up for more than 6 months were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In group A, BLR recessions was performed at the first surgery and BLR re-recession was performed at the second surgery. In group B, BLR recession was performed at the first surgery and BMR resection at the second surgery. Success rates at the last follow-up after the second operation were 81.9% in Group A and 83.3% in Group B, showing no statistical difference between the two groups. In group A, no significant underaction of the BLR was noted. Success rates were not statistically different between the 2 mm re-recessed subgroup and 3 mm re-recessed subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the notion that BLR re-recession successfully corrects recurrent exotropia without producing significant limitation of abduction.

A case of photic retinal injury associated with exposure to plasma arc welding.

PURPOSE: To report of photic retinopathy induced by plasma arc welding, and the OCT (optical coherence tomography) results of damaged retinal lesions. METHODS: We describe a case report of a 37-year-old male, working in the steel industry, who presented with central scotoma in both eyes. RESULTS: On his first visit, one day after performing plasma arc welding with protective gear at work, his best corrected vision was 0.7 for both eyes. Ophthalmic examination of the fundus showed a round yellow lesion with an approximate size of 300 micrometers superonasal to the fovea of both eyes. On his next visit, one month later, his vision had recovered to 1.0, his symptoms had improved, and the ophthalmoscopic examination of the fundus revealed that the round yellow spots had disappeared from both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of photic retinopathy induced by plasma arc welding, and the OCT (optical coherence tomography) results of damaged retinal lesions have not previously been reported. For these reasons, we report this case.