Foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in the absence of capsular and zonular support.

PURPOSE: To implant foldable posterior chamber intraocular lenses in the absence of capsular and zonular support. METHODS: Case reports. In two patients, two eyes with aphakia, lack of capsular or zonular support, and contact lens intolerance underwent the implantation of a silicone and an acrylic foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens, respectively. RESULTS: In the two eyes, final visual acuity was 20/25 and 20/50, respectively. No intraoperative vitreal, retinal, or choroidal complications were noted. The postoperative recovery was rapid, and there was minimal induced astigmatism. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of foldable posterior chamber intraocular lenses in aphakic eyes without capsular and zonular support may result in fewer intraoperative complications. It also allows for faster postoperative recovery and less postoperative astigmatism.

Use of autologous Tenon's capsule and scleral patch grafts for repair of excessively draining fistulas with leaking filtering blebs.

PURPOSE: To report the use of autologous Tenon's and partial-thickness scleral tissues for patch graft revisions of excessively draining fistulas associated with leaking filtering blebs. METHODS: Appropriate sized pieces of autologous Tenon's tissue and partial-thickness scleral tissue were dissected near the surgical sites and used as patch grafts to effectively repair excessively draining fistulas with leaking filtering blebs. RESULTS: Both Tenon's and partial-thickness scleral patch grafts were useful in adequately closing the excessively draining fistulas. CONCLUSION: Autologous Tenon's and scleral tissue patch grafts appear to be safe and effective for the repair of excessively draining fistulas, and are useful when patch grafts are unexpectedly needed.

Subtenon's local anesthesia for optic nerve sheath fenestration.

PURPOSE: We used subtenon's local anesthesia for optic nerve sheath fenestration as an alternative to either general or retrobulbar anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty patients with pseudotumor cerebri, who were unresponsive to medical treatment, underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration after administration of topical and subtenon's local anesthesia. RESULTS: When topical tetracaine, in conjunction with subtenon's anesthesia, was administered at the beginning of the procedure, excellent anesthesia and maximal patient comfort were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The use of local anesthesia allows for a pain-free, expeditious operation with fewer potential anesthetic complications.

Adjunctive viscoelastic therapy for postoperative ciliary block.

Following Molteno device implantation, trabeculectomy, or needling revision of trabeculectomy, six eyes of six chronic glaucoma patients developed a flat anterior chamber without hypotony, ciliochoroidal detachment, pupillary block, or external wound leak. The ciliary block did not respond to vigorous medical and laser therapy. We performed an intracameral injection of sodium hyaluronate, which resulted in maintenance of a full anterior chamber and normal intraocular pressure in all of the six eyes. The use of intracameral viscoelastic appears to be a reasonable adjunct for management of ciliary block not responsive to vigorous medical therapy and intracameral air injection trial, before attempting more extensive surgery.

Treatment of pseudotumor cerebri by primary and secondary optic nerve sheath decompression.

We performed optic nerve sheath decompression in 53 patients (101 eyes) with pseudotumor cerebri and visual loss. Sixty-nine eyes (85 patients) with acute papilledema uniformly had improved visual function after optic nerve sheath decompression. Of 32 eyes with chronic papilledema (18 patients), only ten had improved visual function after optic nerve sheath decompression. This difference was significant (P = .0001). Thirteen eyes required secondary or tertiary optic nerve sheath decompression after an initial successful result. Eleven of 13 eyes had improved visual function after repeat optic nerve sheath decompression. We believe that patients with acute papilledema and visual loss should be offered optic nerve sheath decompression, and if symptoms recur, repeat optic nerve sheath decompression is a safe and effective treatment option.

Optic nerve sheath decompression for the treatment of progressive nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.

We performed optic nerve sheath decompression on four patients (five eyes) with visual loss secondary to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Four of the five eyes had marked improvement in visual function after the operation. Optic nerve sheath decompression is an effective treatment for patients with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and progressive visual loss.

Traumatic hyphema in an urban population.

We reviewed 241 patients (178 black and 63 white) who were examined and treated at the Detroit Medical Center between 1980 and 1989 for traumatic hyphema. Secondary hemorrhage occurred in 46 patients (19%) and was significantly higher in black patients (P less than .005). Thirty-one patients (67%) developing secondary hemorrhage had an initial hyphema filling less than 25% of the anterior chamber. Patients treated with aminocaproic acid had secondary hemorrhages at a rate of 11% (six patients) compared to 21% (40 patients) in patients who were not treated with aminocaproic acid. The high risk of secondary hemorrhage with potential ocular damage in patients with traumatic hyphema, especially black patients, supports the benefit of hospitalization and the administration of aminocaproic acid.

A periosteal-temporalis fascia pedicle flap for repairing impending ocular perforations and extruding keratoprostheses.

We repaired four eyes in four patients with impending perforation using a vascular periosteal-temporalis fascia pedicle flap continuous to the periorbita of the orbital wall. Two eyes with extruding keratoprostheses, one eye with severe ocular surface dysfunction and a perforated, infected keratoplasty, and one eye with scleral ectasia were successfully reconstructed. Excellent visual acuity (20/25) was attained in one eye and functional visual acuity (20/100) was maintained in another. Structural integrity was maintained in all eyes. A vascularized flap was an excellent source of tissue for reconstructing eyes with impending perforation and scleral melting.

Optic nerve sheath decompression for pseudotumor cerebri.

We studied optic nerve sheath decompressions for pseudotumor cerebri performed at the Kresge Eye Institute, Detroit, over the past year. Six patients (ten eyes) were operated on. Visual function improved in all ten eyes. A decision to operate was based on progressive loss of visual acuity or visual field unresponsive to medical therapy, accompanied by echographic evidence of a distended optic nerve sheath (positive 30 degrees test). Follow-up ranged from four to 11 months. Four patients underwent subarachnoid iopamidol (Isovue) contrast injection followed by orbital computed tomography. The subarachnoid space totally filled in all patients. No evidence of fibrosis or obstruction of the optic nerve sheath existed; however, leakage of dye from the optic nerve sheath could not be demonstrated. Postoperative complications included transient diplopia and transient atonic pupil (one patient each). Our results indicate that optic nerve sheath decompression improves and protects visual function in patients with pseudotumor cerebri who demonstrate progressive visual field loss and fluid in the optic nerve sheath.

Ocular syphilis 1986. Prevalence of FTA-ABS reactivity and cerebrospinal fluid findings.

Serum FTA-ABS tests were obtained for 247 consecutive patients undergoing ambulatory oculoplastic surgery over a 5-month period. The incidence of FTA-ABS reactivity was 52.8%. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 50 patients with ocular signs of late syphilis and reactive serum FTA-ABS tests was examined. Only 12 (24%) of these patients had reactive serum VDRLs. Thirty patients (60%) had a lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein, or both, in their CSF. No patients had reactive CSF VDRLs. It was concluded that FTA-ABS reactivity is common, serum VDRL tests are inadequate for diagnosing ocular syphilis, and a significant percentage of patients with ocular syphilis have abnormal CSF. More aggressive diagnosis and treatment of ocular syphilis is suggested.