Simplified use of suture fixation associated with lateral rectus myectomy in management of complete third nerve palsy.

Different techniques have been used with varying success in third nerve palsy. Globe tethering technique is one treatment option. The authors describe a novel surgical technique in which permanent suture is used as a tethering agent associated with lateral rectus myectomy. Three patients underwent this technique. Horizontal alignment was satisfactory postoperatively.

Case report: Duane Retraction Syndrome associated with hand anomaly.

Duane Retraction Syndrome is a congenital eye movement disorder characterized by a failure of cranial nerve VI to develop normally, resulting in restriction or absence of abduction, restricted adduction and narrowing of the palpebral fissure and retraction of the globe on attempted adduction. Patients with Duane Retraction Syndrome appear to have a significant increase in the number of associated congenital malformations. In the present paper, the authors report a case of Duane Retraction Syndrome with a unique hand abnormality not reported previously.

A new modfied anchored suspension-recession (so-called "hang-back" technique for high risk strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To intruduce a new method for rectus muscle recession in order to minimize the riSk of a lost or slipped muscle and scleral perforation and compare it with the conventional method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study between May 2002 and December 2006, 69 patients underwent recession with the modified technique, and 50 patients underwent recession with the conventional method. We compared the results of strabismus surgery in these non-randomized series with esotropia or exotropia treated with conventional surgery with the modified technique surgery. Patients in the modified technique group were high risk patients that had large angle recession, thin sclera or less exposure sugical field. RESULTS: Surgical outcomes were not significantly different in the two treatment groups that based on their findings had been classified into four subgroups. No complications such as globe penetration, muscle slippage or lost muscle were observed during the follow up period of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the modified method introduced in this study can reduce the complications and risks involved in conventional and suspension-recession methods and it is safe and effective for muscle recession. It can decrease the risk of globe perforation since the sclera behind the insertion is penetrated only superficially because of anchor suturing to the muscle insertion stump, and the possibility of lost or slipped recessed muscles would be minimized.

Adjustable superior oblique tendon spacer with application of nonabsorbable suture for treatment of isolated inferior oblique paresis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and report the outcomes of a superior oblique tendon spacer procedure using nonabsorbable adjustable sutures in patients with inferior oblique (10) paresis. METHODS: This interventional case series included 6 eyes of 6 patients with 10 paresis. All met Bielschowsky/Parks Three-step Test criteria to identify an isolated 10 paresis. In all patients, the superior oblique tendon was exposed; 2 nonabsorbable polyester sutures were placed 3 mm apart, and the tendon was cut. With the use of a slipknot, the cut ends of the tendon were separated 5 to 7 mm. Tendon separation was adjusted intraoperatively according to the fundus torsion and exaggerated traction test. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 8.1 months (range, 5-12 [corrected] months). Four patients had congenital 10 paresis and 2 had iatrogenic 10 paresis following denervation/myectomy of 10. Mean primary position hypotropia improved from 15.2 prism diopters (PD) before surgery to 2.7 PD in congenital 10 paresis and from 11.5 PD to 2.5 PD in iatrogenic 10 paresis. In congenital 10 paresis, mean preoperative superior oblique overaction and 10 underaction was +2 and -2, which decreased to 0 and -1.25 respectively; fundus incyclotorsion resolved in all patients. Superior oblique overaction and 10 underaction improved in iatrogenic 10 paresis as well. In no patient did an overcorrection develop. CONCLUSIONS: The adjustable superior oblique tendon suture spacer procedure is an effective and safe option for correcting 10 paresis without developing iatrogenic superior oblique paresis.

Assessing amblyogenic factors in 100 patients with congenital ptosis.

AIM: To study the frequency of amblyogenic factors in patients with congenital ptosis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 114 eyes of 100 patients with congenital ptosis more than 1 year old were included. Amblyopia was defined as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) less than 10/10 or a difference between the two eyes of at least 2/10. In patients too young to be measured by the linear Snellen E test, fixation behavior was observed. Different types of amblyopia were assessed for each patient as: 1) anisometropic amblyopia: astigmatic anisometropia ≥1 dpt, hyperopic spherical anisometropia ≥1 dpt, myopic spherical anisometropia ≥-3 dpt (with cycloplegia); 2) strabismic amblyopia, and 3) stimulus deprivation amblyopia (SDA). Then the total incidence of amblyopia and each type of it were obtained. Patients with uni- and bi-lateral ptosis were also compared. RESULTS: The incidence of amblyopia in ptotic eyes was 39/114 (34.2 %), and for each specific cause was: refractive amblyopia in 29.8%, SDA in 10.5%, strabismic amblyopia in 4.3%. Amblyopia was more frequent in severe ptosis, 76% in patients with covered optical axes (OA), compared to non-covered OA (22.5%). In unilateral ptosis with covered OA, astigmatic anisometropic amblyopia was more frequent, and in bilateral ptosis with at least one eye covered OA, spherical anisometropic amblyopia was more frequent. In both unilateral and bilateral ptosis, SDA was more common if the OA was covered. CONCLUSION: As refractive anisometropic amblyopia is more prevalent than SDA, paying attention to all causes of amblyopia may be important in preventing amblyopia in a child with a ptotic eye.

Intraoperative adjustable suture surgery for excyclotorsion: a modification of the harada-ito procedure.

This study evaluated the surgical results of intraoperative adjustable tucking of the anterior portion of the superior oblique tendon for treatment of excyclotorsion. Two cases of acquired bilateral superior oblique palsy with symptomatic excyclotorsion and minimal vertical deviation in primary position were considered. Tucking of the anterior one-third of the superior oblique tendon was performed with a nonabsorbable suture. The amount of tuck was adjusted until the fovea was at the level of the superior one-third of the disc through indirect ophthalmoscopy. In the patient with local anesthesia, a double Maddox rod test was used to evaluate subjective cyclotorsion intraoperatively. After surgery, the patients became symptom-free. No regression toward excyclotorsion was noted during 18 months of follow-up. Tucking of the anterior portion of the superior oblique tendon is an effective procedure for improving symptomatic excyclotorsion in patients with bilateral superior oblique palsy without significant vertical deviation in primary position.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle in dissociated vertical deviation with or without inferior oblique overaction.

PURPOSE: Anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle (ATIO) has been reported to be an effective treatment for dissociated vertical deviation (DVD). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of this surgical procedure in patients with DVD alone and in those with DVD with concurrent overactive inferior oblique muscle and compared the results. METHODS: Nineteen eyes with DVD alone (group 1) and 15 eyes with DVD and concurrent inferior oblique overaction (group 2) underwent ATIO. The amount of DVD and inferior oblique overaction before and after the operation was measured and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The average follow-up time for group 1 and group 2 was 9.4 and 9.0 months, respectively. Of a total of 34 eyes, 7 had DVD of more than 15 prism-diopters (pd) [four eyes from group 1 and three eyes from group 2] in which the residual DVD after surgery was more than 5 pd. However, in the 27 eyes with DVD of 15 pd or less (15 from group 1 and 12 from group 2), the residual DVD after the operation was less than 5 pd. (Fisher's exact test, P = .014). CONCLUSION: ATIO is an effective method for correcting DVD with and without inferior oblique overaction, especially in deviations of less than 15 pd.

Bilateral cutaneous leishmaniasis of upper eyelids: a case report.

An 11-year-old girl presented with a 6-month history of bilateral upper eyelid erythema, induration, and blepharitis resistant to conventional antibiotic therapy. The lesions gradually progressed to symmetrical ulcerative nodules within 3 months. Cutaneous smear and biopsy revealed numerous amastigotes in macrophage cells. Therapy with systemic pentavalent antimonial resulted in successful healing of lesions. We conclude that cutaneous leishmaniasis must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of bilateral chronic eyelid swelling in endemic regions of the world.

Koebner phenomenon in xanthelasma after treatment with trichloroacetic acid.

A 47-year-old woman presented with a history of yellow plaques on her eyelids. These lesions had been diagnosed clinically as xanthelasma and treated five times with topical applications of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 33 percent. Despite flattening of the original lesions, the patient noticed extension of the lesions on the site of treatment following each session. Skin biopsy showed characteristic findings of xanthelasma. It appears that, in rare instances, xanthelasma palpebrarum may progress following TCA application by a Koebner-like phenomenon.