'Punctal switch' grafting for the treatment of dry eyes: our experience.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of 'punctal switch' grafting, a proposed new technique for permanent punctal occlusion. We prospectively evaluated the results and complications in 22 patients (5 males and 17 females) who underwent the procedure in our department over a period of 3 years. Patients' ages ranged from 41 to 81 years. The average follow-up was 12.8 months. Subjective and clinical improvement was documented in 91% of the cases with a low rate of recanalization (9%). Only 1 patient developed epiphora postoperatively, and the operation has been successfully reversed in that case. There were no serious complications. As a conclusion, punctal switch grafting is an effective technique for permanent punctal occlusion. The complication rate is low, recanalization is rare and the occlusion can be reversed if symptomatic epiphora develops.

Quantification of relative afferent pupillary defects induced by posterior sub-Tenon's, peribulbar, and retrobulbar anaesthetics.

AIMS: The effect of local anaesthetics on optic nerve function can be investigated by quantifying the relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). METHODS: The study compared the depth of induced RAPD following posterior sub-Tenon's, retrobulbar, and peribulbar local anaesthetics using crossed polarising filters before cataract surgery (time 1 = 5 minutes), immediately after surgery (time 2 = 42 minutes (av)), and once again on the ward (time 3 = 107 minutes (av)). RESULTS: All patients developed a RAPD. There was no significant difference in the depth of RAPD between the groups at any one time period. The peribulbar group had a significantly steeper decay in RAPD from time 1 to time 2 (p = 0.014). This effect was reduced when the shorter operation time for this group was entered as a cofactor (p = 0.063). By time 3 the RAPDs for all groups had decayed similarly so that no differences could be detected. CONCLUSION: All three anaesthetic methods caused a similar level of disruption to optic nerve conduction immediately following administration and at the time of day case discharge.

Visual impairment in children with acute nontraumatic coma.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and severity of visual impairment in children following acute nontraumatic coma. METHODS: An 18-month prospective epidemiologic study of acute nontraumatic coma was undertaken in the former Northern NHS Region of England. Children aged >1 month and <16 years were included in the study if they had a Glasgow Coma Score of < or = 12 for >6 hours or if they died within 6 hours of the onset of decreased levels of consciousness. For survivors, ophthalmologic assessments were performed 6 weeks and 12 months after presentation. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-seven children were included in the study, of whom 127 died. Of the 137 examined survivors, 35 had visual abnormalities suspected by the examining neurologist during the ophthalmic assessment. Of these, visual impairment was confirmed in 10 children at the 6-week assessment by the pediatric ophthalmologist. At the 1 2-month assessment, visual impairment remained stable in 9 children and improved in 1. CONCLUSION: In this study, 6.6% of children surviving acute nontraumatic coma had visual impairment that persisted at the 12-month follow-up examination. Incidence of visual impairment in acute nontraumatic coma is 0.97 per 100,000 children per year.

Stickler's syndrome associated with congenital glaucoma.

A case report of Stickler's syndrome associated with congenital glaucoma is presented. Stickler's syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by progressive arthropathy, midfacial flattening, Pierre Robin anomaly or cleft palate, sensorineural hearing loss, progressive myopia, vitreoretinal degeneration, and retinal detachment. Congenital glaucoma and Stickler's syndrome are two diagnoses frequently considered in high myopia in infancy. The case report described presents a case of Stickler's syndrome in association with congenital glaucoma. This association is unusual, but important to recognise in the neonatal period. The possibility of coexistence of these clinical entities, should be considered in the future.

Changing indications for penetrating keratoplasty in the west of Scotland from 1970 to 1995.

In an attempt to predict the trends which might occur in the changing patterns of corneal surgery in the next decade and hence the financial implications, a retrospective study of the treatment of corneal disease was carried out using the pathological reports issued during the last 25 years in the West of Scotland Ophthalmic Pathology Service. This is a supra-regional specialist service which covers the major population areas in Scotland, although most of the specimens were submitted by consultants in the teaching hospitals in Glasgow. The major indications for surgery in the 1486 specimens received were post-inflammatory scarring (387 cases), repeat penetrating keratoplasty (309), keratoconus (257), Fuchs' dystrophy (120) and secondary endothelial failure after cataract surgery (158). In the past 6 years the indications changed and the commonest indications were secondary endothelial failure and post-inflammatory scarring. The study demonstrates a regional difference when compared with other reports and highlights the increasing demand for penetrating keratoplasty and the consequent resource implications.