ABSTRACT
Disturbing binocular problems can be too complex to be treated in such a way that comfortable binocular single vision is restored. The grey filter contact lens could offer a safe and clinically useful way to help these patients. BACKGROUND: In unilateral acquired reduced visual performance or intractable diplopia the binocular performance often is less than the performance of the better eye, possibly leading to complaints of binocular visual functioning. The hypothesis is to use a grey filter contact lens on the affected eye to obtain more binocular visual comfort. The grey filter changes the binocular central visual image in the brain through delaying the image of the affected eye and has minimal effect on the peripheral vision. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the grey filter contact lens on the reduction of patients' binocular complaints in daily life. METHODS: In 19 consecutive patients with unilateral acquired reduced visual performance or intractable diplopia a grey filter contact lens was fitted. The contact lens was chosen from six available filters with different transmissions, based on patient preference. The chosen filter contact lens was fitted according to the normal practice of contact lens fitting. RESULTS: The results of 18 patients are reported, one patient was lost to follow-up. Twelve patients (67%) reported good results when wearing the grey filter contact lens. Five patients (28%) discontinued wear of the grey filter contact lens because their binocular visual complaints disappeared during filter contact lens wear and remained absent after contact lens wear was terminated. CONCLUSION: The grey filter contact lens is a clinically useful, safe, and easily reversible treatment option for patients with binocular visual complaints due to an acquired monocular reduction in visual quality.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of recurrence and to detect pre- or postoperative complications in pterygium surgery using fibrin glue to attach the conjunctival autograft. METHODS: Retrospective case series. In a period of 20 months, 35 patients were operated on for a pterygium using a conjunctival autograft, of which 7 patients were operated (20%) for a recurrent pterygium. The autograft was glued with Tissucol Duo 500, a human tissue glue. Follow-up was at least 1 year. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.4 years (range, 23-80 years), 18 women and 17 men. Success rate was 97.1%. In 1 patient with a primary pterygium, the lesion recurred after 4 months (2.9%). One autograft was lost on the first postoperative day. No other pre- or postoperative problems were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Tissucol fibrin glue seems to be a safe, easy, and effective technique for attaching the conjunctival autograft in pterygium surgery. The recurrence rate of the procedure is low.
