The use of choline in association with the Bangerter filters for the treatment of amblyopia.

The study investigated the effects of choline combined with Bangerter filter in the treatment of amblyopia. All amblyopic subjects used a Bangerter filter on the corrective spectacle lens (1d over the left eye, 1d over the right eye). Choline was then administered orally to 39 patients once daily, five days per week for the entire study period. Subjects treated with the Bangerter filter showed a mean visual acuity of 0.27 logMAR; at 12mo of treatment, the mean visual acuity reached 0.09 logMAR. Patients treated with the Bangerter filter and citicoline showed a mean visual acuity of 0.35 logMAR; at 12mo of treatment, the mean visual acuity reached 0.01 logMAR. No significant changes in the angle of deviation were observed in both groups. Subjects in both forms of amblyopia therapies demonstrated an increase in visual acuity. However, these effects were markedly enhanced when coupled with the administration of choline. Findings suggest that the effects are particularly relevant in the more severe amblyopic cases.

New surgical intervention for the weakening of the inferior oblique muscle: equatorial scleral anchor.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a new surgical technique in reducing inferior oblique muscle overaction. METHODS: Anterior transposition and myectomy of the inferior oblique muscle represent the gold-standard treatment in dissociated vertical deviation, including cases in which a simultaneous inferior oblique muscle overaction is also present. A new surgical procedure that consists of suturing the muscle to the sclera at the Gobin point with tendon sparing using a micro-incision to minimize the related tissue trauma and induce a faster recovery was developed. RESULTS: Two of 8 patients with essential infant esotropia had a complete resolution of the elevation in adduction with no residual vertical imbalance. All patients experienced an improvement in lateral incomitance. CONCLUSIONS: The new "equatorial scleral anchor" surgical procedure gives a similarly good outcome when compared with the classic inferior oblique anterior transposition technique, with the advantages being simple, safe, reversible, and modular in terms of suturing.

An adolescent treated with rapid maxillary expansion presenting with strabismus: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Few in vivo studies have investigated the effect of maxillary expansion on strabismus; however, some in vitro studies hypothesized that changes in the palatal width obtained with rapid maxillary expansion appliances could involve other bone structures that contain blood vessels and nerves conveying to the orbital cavity. The present case report seems to support that hypothesis, even if no analysis of pathogenetic mechanisms could be drawn. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 14-year-old Caucasian girl affected by strabismus and referred for the treatment of a class III malocclusion with transverse maxillary deficiency, which was corrected by the application of a rapid maxillary expansion appliance (Haas type). At 2 months follow-up, the patient, who had not undergone any ophthalmologic treatment, was submitted to an ophthalmologic examination that revealed a marked change in the vision defect, which slightly relapsed at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our clinical evaluation showed a remarkable modification of the oculomotor system of our patient as an outcome of the rapid maxillary expansion.Further studies are needed to clarify these findings and to investigate the clinical implications of these observations.

Photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK for the correction of hyperopia: 2-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASIK in the correction of hyperopia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 100 eyes of 56 patients with a mean hyperopia of +2.85 +/- 1.1 diopters (D) undergoing PRK and 100 eyes of 50 patients with a mean hyperopia of +4.49 +/- 1.2 D undergoing LASIK. A Zeiss Meditec MEL 70 G scan laser was used. RESULTS: After 24-month follow-up in the PRK group (100 eyes), the mean manifest refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) was +0.34 +/- 0.92 D (36% +/- 0.5 D). Mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.87 +/- 0.1; 8 (8%) eyes gained 1 line, 80 (80%) eyes had no loss or gain of lines, 10 (10%) eyes lost 1 line, and 2 (2%) eyes lost 2 lines. In the LASIK group (100 eyes), at 24-month follow-up, the mean MRSE was +0.29 +/- 0.66 D (70% +/- 0.5 D). Mean UCVA was 0.89 +/- 0.1; 6 (6%) eyes gained 2 lines, 10 (10%) eyes gained 1 line, 78 (78%) eyes had no loss or gain of lines, and 6 (6%) eyes lost 1 line. CONCLUSIONS: Photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK were both effective and safe in the correction of hyperopia. However, PRK manifested an initial temporary myopic overshoot followed by a hyperopic regression over 24-month follow-up (P < .01) whereas LASIK was associated with a faster refractive stability.

Photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis in refractive accommodative esotropia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of excimer laser refractive surgery as an alternative for optical correction in patients affected by fully refractive accommodative strabismus. SETTING: Eye Clinic, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. METHODS: After a simulation of the cycloplegic correction with contact lenses over a 30-day period, 18 patients (6 men, 12 women, mean age 32.4 years +/- 9.4 [SD]) affected by fully refractive accommodative esotropia had refractive surgery using an excimer laser; 8 patients had photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), and 10 patients had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). RESULTS: The correction of the refractive error with excimer laser allowed a reduction of the angle of deviation in all but 1 patient, who presented with a regression of refractive error and of the angle of deviation 2 years posttreatment. The 2-year follow-up showed that the mean angle of deviation in PRK was 2(Delta) esophoria at near and 0.4(Delta) esophoria at distance (P<.06); in LASIK, it was 1.7(Delta) esophoria at near and 0.2(Delta) esophoria at distance (P<.06). The difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant at near (P = .56), at distance (P = .74), or for spherical equivalent (P = .16). CONCLUSION: Excimer laser refractive surgery seems to be useful in the correction of fully refractive accommodative esotropia.

Convergence defects in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

The aim of this study is to show the presence of a correlation between ocular convergence defects (OCD) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among a group of adult subjects. The group studied was made up of 48 subjects (12 males and 36 females). The average age was 35 with a range of 19-45 years of age. The subjects presented with TMD and muscular pain and/or dysfunction. Forty-eight subjects with TMD for the case study were matched by gender and age to 48 control subjects seeking routine dental care (control group). All the subjects were examined by the same orthoptist who classified the ocular convergence degree using two tests. The first test evaluated the distances (in centimeters) of the convergence near point (3-4 cm: normal; 5-7 cm: sufficient; > 7 cm: insufficient). The second test assessed the fusional convergence using a Berens prism test (> 25 diopters: normal; between 18-25: sufficient; < 18 diopters: insufficient). In the TMD group, 36 subjects (75%) showed a compromise of convergence: 13 (36%) were classified in the 5-7 degree range and 23 (48%) in the > 7 cm degree range. The Berens test showed ten subjects (28%) in the group < 18D and 26 (72%) in the group 18-25D. The control-group presented ten (21%) subjects with compromise of convergence: three classified in the group < 18D and seven in the group 18-25D. The TMD subjects presented a higher statistical percentage (p < 0.0001) of ocular convergence defects. The TMD patients also reported a strong association referred to specific signs and symptoms, i.e., limited maximal opening or myofascial pain. There were some subjective reports also of headaches and torcicollis (neck stiffness) which appeared significantly more frequently in subjects with a compromise of convergence. The study showed a much higher prevalence of ocular convergence defects in patients with head, neck, and shoulder pain.