[Dry eye--etiopathogenic and histopathologic correlations]. / Ochiul uscat--corelatii etiopatogenetice si histopatologice.

AIMS: To assess the role of the common inflammatory mechanism in the pathogenesis of the dry eye syndrome. METHODS: 64 patients with eye surface symptoms were studied using a diagnostic algorithm: questionnaire (eye symptoms were graded and a symptomatology SCORE was calculated), objective eye examination (including Schirmer's test and the tear film breakup time-BUT). Histopathological examination of 14 conjunctival bioptic fragments was performed. RESULTS: 59.37% of the patients had a positive Shirmer's test, while only 23% tested positively for the BUT. No statistically significant correlation was established between Schirmer's test and the BUT or the symptomatology SCORE. There was a significant correlation between BUT and the symptomatology SCORE (p<0.05) and between BUT and the duration of the disease (p<0.01). The histopathological examination of the dry eye conjunctival samples evidenced the following alterations: loss of calyciforme cells, squamous metaplasia of the epithelium, subepithelial inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The histological analysis confirms the implication of inflammation in the pathogenesis of the disease. The time of onset of the inflammation cannot be established, it may be initial or it may occur with the quantitative decrease of tears or with eye surface alterations.

[Hyperpneumatization of sphenoid sinus--a possible etiology of posterior optic neuropathy]. / Hiperpneumatizarea sinusului sfenoidal--etiologie posibila a neuropatiei optice retrobulbare.

We take in debate a rare cause of compressive retrobulbar optic neuropathy. We present three patients with bilateral retrobulbar optic neuropathy in which these could not be found any other cause, but the hyperpneumatization of sphenoid sinus. We emphasize the role of cranial computer tomography in the diagnosis of this disease and the necessity to keep in mind this possible etiology of posterior optic neuropathy.

[Posterior scleritis--diagnostic difficulties--a case report]. / Sclerita posterioara--dificultati de diagnostic--prezentare de caz.

We present a patient with pain and trouble vision in her right eye, we want to show how difficult it is to diagnose a posterior scleritis before any complication might occur. Diagnosis was established by ocular ultrasound. Treatment included steroids for several months.

[Is atropine efficient in para-bulbar injections?]. / Este eficienta atropina administrata parabulbar?

Supposing the fact that atropine has antispastic effect on blood vessels, we studied the variation of blood flow in ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and ciliary arteries, by Doppler ultrasound. We used 1 ml Atropine 1@1000 in parabulbar administration to 17 eyes with neuro-retinal diseases and the arterial flow was registered for 3 times: before the injection, at 15 and respective 30 minutes after administration. The results were processed using t-Student method. The atropine effect seemed to be more intensive 30 minutes after administration on central retinal artery.