[Course and prognosis of serous detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium]. / Uber den Verlauf und die Prognose der serösen Abhebung des Netzhautpigmentepithels.

In a 15-year retrospective study the spontaneous evolution of serous detachment of the pigment epithelium was investigated functionally, by perimetry, biomicroscopically, and angiofluorographically, in order to identify the manifestations of this syndrome and determine its prognosis. Serous detachments of the retinal pigment epithelium are generally associated with senile macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, diffuse pigment epitheliopathy, or are idiopathic. The patients studied were divided into two groups: 45 patients under 55 years old (64 eyes), kept under observation for an average of 70 months, and 42 patients over 55 years old kept under observation for an average of 38 months. These two groups were compared with a group of cases of isolated colloidal degeneration. The good prognosis for the first group is emphasized. Stabilization or improvement of visual acuity was normal. In the second group, complications included subretinal neovascularization in 29% and tears in the retinal pigment epithelium in 3.5% of the cases. Visual acuity deteriorated in one-third of the cases. Factors which adversely affected prognosis were an initial detachment larger than the diameter of the optic disk, macular location, and contralateral neovascularization. However, the results with spontaneous evolution were not worse than those in laser-treated cases reported in the literature.

[Evaluation of macular functional capacity by helium-neon laser interferometry]. / Evaluation de la capacité fonctionnelle maculaire par interférométrie au laser hélium-néon.

We describe the principles of the measure of visual acuity by using the laser interference retinometer. Interference fringes are projected on the retina, with variation of direction and thickness varied, to study the functional capacity of the macula. This method is particularly useful in patients with cataracts, because it is much less influenced by the clarity of the media than Snellen chart listing. We give the results of a series of 122 eyes with cataract, comparing pre-operative laser acuity and post-operative Snellen visual acuity. The pre-operative interfermometric measure is possible in 77% of the cases, but in most cases of mature cataract or dense posterior subcapsular opacities, the patients do not discern any interference fringes. In immature cataracts according to other results of the literature, post-operative Snellen visual acuity reaches preoperative laser acuity in 60% of the cases, and is better in 29% of the cases. Clinical conditions such as macular degeneration, cystoid macular oedema, amblyopia, visual field cuts through fixation or myopic choroïdopathy, may make the interferometer test unreliable.

[Urrets-Zavalia syndrome and glaucomatous cataract. Etiopathogenic and nosologic discussion]. / Syndrome d'Urrets-Zavalia et cataracta glaucomatosa. Discussion étiopathogénique et nosologique.

After penetrating keratoplasties for different congenital or acquired corneal diseases, the presence of characteristic cataracta glaucomatosa lens opacities was noted in 9 cases of fixed, dilated pupil iris atrophy of Urrets-Zavalia. This association--rarely mentioned in the literature--is an opportunity to study again the different physiopathological theories on this syndrome (pupillary block by mydriasis with hypertony, upsetting of iris neurovegetative balance, particular sensitivity of ocular tissues to the surgical aggression in keratoconus), to analyze their arguments, and the preventive measures that proceed from them. The almost complete extinction of this type of complication of the corneal graft surgery, since the routine use of these preventive measures, proves the multifactorial origin of this syndrome.

[Specular microscopy: principles, choice of apparatus and applications (author's transl)]. / Principes, choix et applications des biomicroscopes spéculaires.

Following a brief summary of the optical principles and problems inherent in endothelial specular microscopy, the authors describe the two types of specular microscopes used in the Ophthalmological Department of the University Hospital of Besançon. Their advantages and draw-backs are discussed, and a few representative pictures taken with these two instruments presented.