The effect of ocular dominance on the performance of professional baseball players.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether a performance difference exists between baseball players with "same" (right-right) and "crossed" (right-left) hand-ocular dominance. DESIGN: A cohort study design was used. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and ten major and minor league members of the Los Angeles Dodgers professional baseball team. INTERVENTION: Measurement of ocular dominance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Batting average and earned run average (ERA). RESULTS: Same/crossed dominance (with P values in parentheses) are as follows: Batting averages: major league-0.271/0.251 (0.20); minor league-0.274/0.270 (0.57); ERA: major league-3.34/3.56 (0.66); minor league-4.00/4.20 (0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Hand-ocular dominance patterns do not have an effect on batting average or ERA.

The visual function of professional baseball players.

PURPOSE: To measure the visual acuity, stereoacuity, and contrast sensitivity of professional baseball players. METHODS: Three hundred eighty-seven professional baseball players underwent several tests of visual function including distance visual acuity. Stereoacuity was evaluated at near by the Randot test and at distance by both contour and random dot targets. Distance stereoacuity was also tested under timed and untimed conditions. Contrast sensitivity was evaluated by the Vision Contrast Test System, Contrast Sensitivity Viewer, and Binocular Visual Acuity Tester. RESULTS: Visual acuity (measured with players' regular distance correction) in 774 eyes ranged from 20/8.89 to 20/100. Near stereoacuity ranged from 23 to 37 seconds of arc, mean untimed distance contour stereoacuity from 55 to 35 seconds of arc, and mean untimed distance random dot stereoacuity from 98 to 76 seconds of arc. The results under timed conditions were 86 to 65 seconds of arc (timed distance contour stereoacuity) and 104 to 83 seconds of arc (timed distance random dot stereoacuity). Statistically significant differences were found between major and minor league players on tests of untimed distance contour and random dot stereopsis, and on contrast sensitivity testing with the 3.0- and 6.0-cpd gratings using the Contrast Sensitivity Viewer. CONCLUSIONS: Professional baseball players have excellent visual skills. Mean visual acuity, distance stereoacuity, and contrast sensitivity are significantly better than those of the general population.

Anterior segment findings in AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis.

BACKGROUND: Anterior segment findings in AIDS patients presenting with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis have not been specifically addressed in the American literature. METHODS: Our study evaluated 21 AIDS patients with CMV retinitis. RESULTS: Nineteen (90%) of these patients exhibited corneal endothelial deposits concurrent with CMV retinitis. The endothelial deposits were microscopic, opaque, linear flecks arranged in a reticular-like fashion. Of 42 eyes evaluated, 32 (76%) demonstrated active CMV retinitis. Corneal endothelial deposits were noted in 26 (81%) of the 32 eyes with retinitis. These corneal endothelial deposits were absent in the eyes which did not have CMV retinitis. CONCLUSION: Meticulous examination of the retina of an HIV-positive or AIDS patient who presents with reticularly arranged, linear, flecked corneal endothelial deposits should be performed to ensure that the diagnosis of CMV retinitis can be ruled out.

Increased numbers of mast cells in pterygia.

PURPOSE/METHODS: We examined the mast cells in 12 pterygium specimens of patients who underwent primary excisions and the conjunctival specimens of ten normal age-matched control subjects. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The mean mast cell count per cubic millimeter was twice as high in the pterygium specimens as in the control specimens. Mast cell proliferation and activation may contribute to the pathogenesis of pterygium formation.

Adjustable vertical rectus muscle transposition surgery.

Transposition of the vertical rectus muscle to the insertion of a paralytic or aberrantly innervated lateral rectus muscle is useful in treating esotropia associated with abducens palsy and Duane syndrome. However, this procedure may cause a manifest vertical deviation, requiring either prismatic or additional surgical correction. In an attempt to reduce the incidence of this surgical complication, we performed vertical rectus muscle transposition surgery, using an adjustable suture technique on each muscle, in 10 consecutive patients with abnormal lateral rectus function. Preoperative diagnoses included abducens palsy (70%) and Duane syndrome (30%). Preoperative deviations ranged from 14 to 85 prism diopters esotropia (mean, 39 delta) in the primary position. No vertical deviation was present preoperatively. Following transposition surgery, 8 of 10 patients were esotropic, 1 of 10 patients was exotropic, and 4 of 10 patients had a manifest vertical deviation. At the time of adjustment, all vertical deviations were corrected by "recessing" the appropriate vertical rectus muscle. Additionally, exotropia was lessened by "recessing" both vertical muscles in one patient.

Steroid treatment of radiation-induced choroidopathy.

Irradiation has been an important form of treatment of both ocular and cerebral neoplasms for decades. We report the case of a patient who underwent external beam irradiation to treat an astrocytoma of the left parietotemporal region. Sixteen months later, the patient developed radiation choroidopathy OS. Although not spontaneously resolvable, this case suggests that radiation choroidopathy can be treated successfully by the prompt and repeated application of both local and systemic corticosteroid preparations.

Treatment of outer retinal necrosis in AIDS patients.

We report a patient with AIDS who developed rapidly progressive, acute outer retinal necrosis. Cytomegalovirus etiology was proposed as a possibility in view of the histopathologic identification of the virus in the fellow concomitantly affected eye. Treatment with ganciclovir resulted in disappearance of the posterior pole lesions and inactivation of the peripheral lesions. We suggest that ganciclovir be used as soon as this condition is suspected in order to optimize the outcome.