Intraocular endoscopic surgery.

We have successfully used a new small endoscope in posterior segment surgery in situations where the operating microscope or binocular indirect ophthalmoscope provided an inadequate view. In this series of 18 procedures, we preformed posterior vitrectomies, removed retained foreign bodies, and reattached persistent retinal detachments. The only major complication was a retinal detachment. Learning to use a monocular system requires practice and preparation with experimental animals.

Prophylactic photocoagulation of the fellow eye in exudative senile maculopathy. A preliminary report.

Information on the fate of the fellow eye in patients who have suffered loss of central vision in the first eye due to exudative senile maculopathy suggests that there is a high incidence of later loss of vision in the second eye due to the same disease process. It has been speculated that prophylactic photocoagulation of the macula in the fellow eye might have a protective effect. This is a preliminary report of a series of patients in which argon laser photocoagulation of the second eye has been performed.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

A 17-year-old white woman had an acute left maculopathy of unknown etiology. She was in excellent health and had only had rubeola at 3 years of age. Hruby lens examination of the left eye, visual acuity of 6/60 (20/200), revealed a normal vitreous, macular edema, intraretinal hemorrhage, and cotton-wool exudates. Xenon photo-coagulation was performed on the left eye. The visual acuity remained 6/60 (20/200) with drying of the retina. The patient remained in excellent health until 22 months after the initial ocular problem when she developed a left homonymous hemianopia. Then her mind deteriorated, and she became demented. We diagnosed subacute sclerosing panencephalitis after finding an increased spinal fluid gamma globulin, raised serum and spinal fluid titers of measles antibodies, and an electroencephalogram pathognomonic for this condition.