Tacrolimus Ointment for Refractory Posterior Blepharitis.

PURPOSE: This prospective, randomized, double-blind interventional case series was designed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of 0.03% tacrolimus ointment as a new therapeutic approach for refractory cases of posterior blepharitis. METHODS: Forty eyes (20 patients) with posterior blepharitis refractory to previous treatment were randomized. Eighteen eyes (9 patients) were treated with 0.03% tacrolimus ointment and 20 eyes (10 patients) with placebo ointment twice daily. Patients were evaluated with a questionnaire and slit-lamp examination 14 days and 28 days after treatment, and symptoms and signs of blepharitis were compared to those observed at baseline. RESULTS: We could observe statistical difference in the outcome measurements of meibomian gland secretion, conjunctival hyperemia, telangiectasia of inferior lid, Rose Bengal, and fluorescein scoring for the study group. As for the symptoms score, we observed statistical difference in the symptoms scoring for pruritus and dry eye sensation in the tacrolimus group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that topical administration of 0.03% tacrolimus ointment can improve some symptoms and some ocular surface status in patients with refractory posterior blepharitis.

Evaluation of visual performance and patient satisfaction with pseudophakic monovision technique.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the distance, intermediate and near visual acuity of patients with bilateral cataract operated on both eyes corrected for distance in one eye and for near in the fellow eye, as well as, their stereo acuity and their general satisfaction. SETTINGS: Hospital de Olhos de São Paulo and Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento - Guarulhos - São Paulo - Brazil. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 76 eyes of 38 patients with bilateral cataract aiming to become spectacle free after surgery. The patients were operated on both eyes; the first eye was corrected for distance and the fellow eye for near vision. The refractive error was programmed between -0.5 D and +0.5 D in the first eye and -2.00 D in the second eye. Patients with preoperative corneal astigmatism equal or higher than 1.0 D were excluded from the study. The uncorrected and best-corrected distant visual acuity (UCDVA, BCDVA) were tested, as well as the uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) and collected at the 3 postoperative months. The Titmus test was performed at the last follow-up. Finally, the modified questionnaire VF-7 was applied and the patient was required to choose, regarding their general satisfaction, between very satisfied, satisfied, or unsatisfied. RESULTS: All patients achieved uncorrected distant visual acuity 20/40 or better (mean SE 0.625 D) and uncorrected near visual acuity J3 or better (mean SE -2.0 D), and intermediate visual acuity J3 in 90%. The Titmus test revealed an average of 197' of arc with reduction of stereo acuity in most of patients as expected and 97.3% of patients demonstrated to be satisfied or very satisfied with this technique. CONCLUSION: It consists in a viable technique for correction of near, intermediate and distant vision on cataract surgery as demonstrated by the high rate of satisfaction (97.3%) by the modified VF-7 questionnaire, especially when the patient has no access to a multifocal intraocular lens.

Evaluation of visual performance and patient satisfaction with pseudophakic monovision technique / Avaliação do desempenho visual e satisfação do paciente com a técnica de monovisão pseudofácica

PURPOSE: To evaluate the distance, intermediate and near visual acuity of patients with bilateral cataract operated on both eyes corrected for distance in one eye and for near in the fellow eye, as well as, their stereo acuity and their general satisfaction. SETTINGS: Hospital de Olhos de São Paulo and Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento - Guarulhos - São Paulo - Brazil. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 76 eyes of 38 patients with bilateral cataract aiming to become spectacle free after surgery. The patients were operated on both eyes; the first eye was corrected for distance and the fellow eye for near vision. The refractive error was programmed between -0.5 D and +0.5 D in the first eye and -2.00 D in the second eye. Patients with preoperative corneal astigmatism equal or higher than 1.0 D were excluded from the study. The uncorrected and best-corrected distant visual acuity (UCDVA, BCDVA) were tested, as well as the uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) and collected at the 3 postoperative months. The Titmus test was performed at the last follow-up. Finally, the modified questionnaire VF-7 was applied and the patient was required to choose, regarding their general satisfaction, between very satisfied, satisfied, or unsatisfied. RESULTS: All patients achieved uncorrected distant visual acuity 20/40 or better (mean SE 0.625 D) and uncorrected near visual acuity J3 or better (mean SE -2.0 D), and intermediate visual acuity J3 in 90%. The Titmus test revealed an average of 197" of arc with reduction of stereo acuity in most of patients as expected and 97.3% of patients demonstrated to be satisfied or very satisfied with this technique. CONCLUSION: It consists in a viable technique for correction of near, intermediate and distant vision on cataract surgery as demonstrated by the high rate of satisfaction (97.3%) by the modified VF-7 questionnaire, especially when the patient has no access to a multifocal intraocular lens.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a acuidade visual para longe, perto e intermediária dos pacientes operados de catarata bilateral em ambos os olhos corrigidos para longe em um olho e para perto no olho contralateral, bem como sua acuidade estereoscópica e sua satisfação geral. LOCAL: Hospital de Olhos de São Paulo e Complexo Hospitalar Padre Bento - Guarulhos - São Paulo - Brasil. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo prospectivo com 76 olhos de 38 pacientes com catarata bilateral e desejo de ficar independente de óculos após a cirurgia. Os pacientes foram operados em ambos os olhos; o primeiro olho foi corrigido para longe e o contralateral para perto. O erro refrativo programado foi entre -0,5 D e +0,5 D para o primeiro olho e -2,0 D no segundo. Pacientes com astigmatismo corneao pré-operatório igual ou maior que 1,0 D foram excluídos do estudo. A acuidade visual sem correção e melhor acuidade visual para longe foram testadas, bem como, a acuidade visual sem correção para perto, e coletadas no terceiro mês pós-operatório. O teste de Titmus foi realizado na última visita. Finalmente, o questionário modificado VF-7 foi aplicado e ao paciente foi solicitado escolher, em relação à satisfação geral entre satisfeito, muito satisfeito ou insatisfeito. RESULTADOS: Todos pacientes atingiram acuidade visual sem correção para longe de 20/40 ou melhor (EE médio de 0,625 D) e acuidade visual para perto sem correção de J3 ou melhor (EE médio de -2,0 D), e acuidade visual intermediária de J3 em 90%. O teste de Titmus revelou uma redução média de 197" de arco na maioria dos pacientes como esperado e 97,3% dos pacientes demonstraram estar satisfeitos ou muito satisfeitos com esta técnica. CONCLUSÃO: Esta técnica consiste em uma opção viável para correção da acuidade visual de perto, longe e intermediária na cirurgia de catarata como demonstrado pela alta taxa de satisfação (97,3%) através do questionário VF-7, especialmente quando o paciente não tem ..

Fidelidade do "potential acuity meter" (PAM) no prognóstico da acuidade visual pós-operatória de cirurgia de catarata / Fidelity of the potential acuity meter in the postoperative visual acuity of cataract surgery

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação da acuidade visual (AV) obtida pelo "potential acuity meter" (PAM) no pré-operatório de cirurgia de catarata com a acuidade visual obtida no pós-operatório, bem como, sua correlação com a classificação morfológica dominante da catarata. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo realizado no setor de Catarata do Centro de Estudos do Hospital Monumento envolvendo 63 olhos de 45 pacientes avaliados de julho a setembro de 2006, submetidos à cirurgia de catarata sob a técnica de facoemulsificação com implante de lente intra-ocular, sendo posteriormente excluído 1 olho. No período pré-operatório, foi realizado o PAM sob midríase e seu resultado foi comparado à melhor acuidade visual pós-operatória do terceiro mês e correlacionado com a classificação morfológica da catarata, sendo denominado satisfatório aquele resultado que não variou mais do que duas linhas na tabela de Snellen. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 45,3 anos com média da acuidade visual obtida pelo PAM de 0,64 logMAR. No terceiro mês pós-operatório, a média da melhor acuidade visual corrigida (MAVC) foi de 0,09 logMAR. O PAM hiperestimou o resultado da MAVC em 8 olhos (13 por cento), hipoestimou em 41 olhos (66 por cento) e nos 13 olhos restantes (21 por cento), as acuidades foram idênticas. Este apresentou uma fidelidade inversamente proporcional à intensidade de opacidade do cristalino no caso da catarata nuclear (1+ com 75,5 por cento e 4+ com 33,3 por cento), entretanto esta acurácia foi maior nos casos de subcapsular posterior (85,7 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: O PAM hipoestimou ou manteve da acuidade visual na maioria dos casos (87 por cento). Apresentou uma fidelidade inversamente proporcional à intensidade de opacidade do cristalino no caso da catarata nuclear, 1+ com 75,5 por cento e 4+ com 33,3 por cento; entretanto esta acurácia foi maior nos casos de subcapsular posterior (85,7 por cento).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between the preoperative visual acuity (VA) obtained by the potential acuity meter (PAM) and the postoperative VA in a patient submitted to cataract surgery, as well as its correlation with the dominant morphologic classification of the cataract. METHODS: This is a prospective study performed at the Hospital Monumento Study Center. Sixty-three eyes of 45 patients submitted to phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation were enrolled in this study and 1 eye had been excluded. Besides the complete examination in the preoperative period, PAM was used and its results were compared with the VA at the third postoperative month and correlated with the dominant morphologic cataract classification. The result was called satisfactory when the variation was equal to or less than two lines at the Snellen chart. We transformed the AV into logMAR for comparison with the literature. RESULTS: The mean age was 45.3 years with a mean VA of 0.64 logMAR by the PAM. At the third postoperative month, the mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.09 logMAR. The PAM overestimated the BCVA in 8 eyes (13 percent), underestimated it in 41 eyes (66 percent) and in 13 eyes (21 percent) the BCVA were the same. The satisfactory results regarding nuclear cataract were reduced in cases of higher density (1+/4 with 75.5 percent e 4+/4 with 33.3 percent) and increased in the posterior subcapsular cataracts (85.7 percent). CONCLUSION: PAM revealed an underestimation or maintenance of the BCVA in most cases (87 percent). Its fidelity was inversely proportional in the nuclear cataracts (1+/4 with 75.5 percent e 4+/4 with 33.3 percent) and higher in the posterior subcapsular cataracts.

[Fidelity of the potential acuity meter in the postoperative visual acuity of cataract surgery]. / Fidelidade do "potential acuity meter" (PAM) no prognóstico da acuidade visual pós-operatória de cirurgia de catarata.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between the preoperative visual acuity (VA) obtained by the potential acuity meter (PAM) and the postoperative VA in a patient submitted to cataract surgery, as well as its correlation with the dominant morphologic classification of the cataract. METHODS: This is a prospective study performed at the Hospital Monumento Study Center. Sixty-three eyes of 45 patients submitted to phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation were enrolled in this study and 1 eye had been excluded. Besides the complete examination in the preoperative period, PAM was used and its results were compared with the VA at the third postoperative month and correlated with the dominant morphologic cataract classification. The result was called satisfactory when the variation was equal to or less than two lines at the Snellen chart. We transformed the AV into logMAR for comparison with the literature. RESULTS: The mean age was 45.3 years with a mean VA of 0.64 logMAR by the PAM. At the third postoperative month, the mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.09 logMAR. The PAM overestimated the BCVA in 8 eyes (13%), underestimated it in 41 eyes (66%) and in 13 eyes (21%) the BCVA were the same. The satisfactory results regarding nuclear cataract were reduced in cases of higher density (1+/4 with 75.5% e 4+/4 with 33.3%) and increased in the posterior subcapsular cataracts (85.7%). CONCLUSION: PAM revealed an underestimation or maintenance of the BCVA in most cases (87%). Its fidelity was inversely proportional in the nuclear cataracts (1+/4 with 75.5% e 4+/4 with 33.3%) and higher in the posterior subcapsular cataracts.