Investigation of the morphometry of the pre-lacrimal recess of the maxillary sinus for the pre-lacrimal approach of the maxillary sinus and paramedian skull base. A computed-tomography study.

The pre-lacrimal recess approach is modernly used for lesions of the anterior maxillary wall and for reaching paramedian cranial base regions. In this computed-tomography study, we assessed the pre-lacrimal recess types as well as the angles between the anterior and medial maxillary walls and between the anterior maxillary wall and the lateral margin of the nasolacrimal canal to show the feasibility of the pre-lacrimal recess approach in reaching lesions of the infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae, using 30 computed-tomography studies (60 sides). A type I pre-lacrimal recess was identified in 22 cases (35%), type II was identified in 31 cases (53.30%), and type III in 7 cases (11.66%). We found that angle 1 (the angle between the anterior maxillary wall and the medial maxillary wall) had a mean value of 80.8° (minimum 75.5°, maximum 85.8°), while angle 2 (the angle between the anterior maxillary wall and the lateral margin of the nasolacrimal canal) had a mean value of 59.1° (minimum 57.6°, maximum 60.1°). We consider the pre-lacrimal recess approach a very good option for the anterior maxillary wall, the alveolar recess, and in reaching the infratemporal fossa and lateral part of the pterygopalatine fossa. In cases where direct visualization of the medial part of the pterygopalatine fossa is needed, the pre-lacrimal recess approach could not be the perfect option.

Correlations between corneal biomechanics and specular microscopy in patient with cataract.

This study aimed to analyze the connection between corneal biomechanics (corneal hysteresis, CH) and endothelial cell density of cornea (mean endothelial cell density, MCD) in patients diagnosed with cataract. This retrospective, observational study was performed in the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest. Of 60 patients (120 eyes) with cataract, who were included in this study, we analyzed the CH values obtained using with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and the MCD values obtained using the specular microscopy. The study groups comprised both men and women with ages ranging from 45 to 63 years. Patients were divided into three study groups according to CH values. In each batch, the CH values obtained with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) were correlated with age, gender and MCD, then the subgroups were compared. All the data gathered showed no correlation to be statistically significant regarding the biomechanical properties of the cornea and the corneal endothelial cell density in patients with cataract.