[Assessment of foveal function in eyes of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration before and after argon laser treatment]. / Ocena funkcji dolka w oczach z wysiekowa postacia zwyrodnienia plamki zwiazanego z wiekiem pacjentów przed i po leczeniu laserem argonowym.

PURPOSE: 1. Can foveal cone electroretinogram (FCERG) be a useful diagnostic test in evaluation of efficacy of argon laser treatment in eyes with exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? 2. Comparison of FCERG with visual acuity, static perimetry and fluorescein angiography results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: FCERGs were recorded from 30 eyes with mean visual acuity 0.6 (Snellen Table) of 20 patients (mean age: 61 years) with wet AMD. The fovea was stimulated with 5-degree flickering light spot (f = 31.25 Hz), surrounded by a 20-degree annulus of intensive steady retinali illuminance. FCERGs were recorded and analysed in amplitude according to the computer-aided method recently put in practice in our laboratory. FCERGs were obtained twice for each AMD patients: before and 3 months after argon laser treatment. Electrophysiological data were also compared with the results of fluorescein angiography, visual acuity and static perimetry. RESULTS: In the group of patients with wet AMD, significant increase of FCERG amplitude (p < 0.001) after laser treatment was obtained in group I (33% of analysed eyes) and there were mainly patients with extrafoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Significant decrease of FCERG amplitude (p < 0.01) was obtained in group II (67% of analysed eyes). These were mainly patients with subfoveal CNV and also with extrafoveal CNV. In both groups after laser treatment we did not receive significant changes in visual acuity and macular perimetric mean sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that foveal cone ERG can be a useful, independent from fluorescein angiography, test for objective evaluation of efficacy of argon laser treatment in patients with wet AMD, opposite to visual acuity and static perimetry (macula threshold) examinations. FCERG probably indicates patients with better or worse prognosis.

[Efficiency of laser trabeculotomy in open-angle glaucoma]. / Skutecznosc trabekulopunkcji laserowej w jaskrze otwartego kata.

Results of Nd: YAG laser trabeculotomy performed in 71 eyes of 48 patients with open-angle glaucoma are presented. There were 25 females and 23 males, aged 15-86 years (mean age 67 years). The follow-up was 0.5-1.5 years. Normalization of the intraocular pressure was achieved in 90% of cases and outflow facility was improved in 87.3%. Deterioration of visual acuity was observed in 2.8% of eyes. In 4.2% the procedure was complicated by anterior chamber haemorrhages. The authors discuss principles, indications and techniques of Nd:YAG laser trabeculotomy and compare their results with those of others.

[Laser capsulotomy in cases of posterior capsule opacity in pseudophakia, aphakia and traumatic cataracts]. / Kapsulotomia laserowa w przypadkach zmetnienia tylnej torebki soczewki w pseudofakii, afakii oraz w zacmach pourazowych.

The results of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy performed in 94 eyes of 90 patients (48 males and 42 females) are presented. Visual acuity 0.5 and better was achieved in 58.4% of cases. The authors discussed the techniques of the operations and some possible complications.

[Attempts at treating pigmented iris tumors with argon laser]. / Próby leczenia barwnikowych guzów teczówki laserem argonowym.

4 cases of flat pigmentary iris tumours, spreading out, in three cases, into anterior chamber angle are presented. The lack of patient's consent to surgery made histopathological diagnosis impossible and limited the choice of method of treatment. The several stage photocoagulation with argon laser was performed. The treatment resulted in cicatrization with atrophy of pathological tissue and the structure of iris itself. During follow-up (2-5 years) the growth of tumors was regressed and all patients were in good condition.

[Laser trabeculoplasty in open-angle glaucoma treatment--long term results of treatment]. / Trabekuloplastyka laserowa w jaskrze otwartego kata-odlegle wyniki leczenia.

The authors present the results of open-angle glaucoma treatment, in the cases where laser trabeculoplasty was the basic treatment. The follow-up of 53 treated patients (72 eyes) was approximately a little more than 3 years. The stabilization of the basic eye functions, i.e. the visual acuity in 76.4% and the visual field in 84.7% of the cases, was obtained. As a result of the treatment, a decrease of intraocular pressure below 21 mm Hg was obtained in 84.7% of the cases whereas the outflow facility factor c > 0.15 was observed in 72.2% of the examined eyes. The low outflow facility factor is one of the causes of the failures.

[Results of laser photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy with maculopathy]. / Wyniki fotokoagulacji laserowej w retinopatii cukrzycowej z makulopatia.

Examined were 91 eyes with non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy with coexisting maculopathy in 51 patients in whom segmental or retinal pan-photocoagulation were performed. The period of observation--3 to 4.5 years. Stabilization of the pathological process was observed in 37.3 p.c. of cases, 54.9 p.c. of patients showed further deterioration and 7.6 p.c. loss of vision. The most frequent cause of deterioration was the progression of the macular lesions (72 p.c.), a smaller number of cases (28 p.c.) was due to other changes.

[Laser therapy of ocular toxoplasmosis]. / Laseroterapia w toksoplazmozie ocznej.

The authors present the results of treatment by laser coagulation of inflammatory retino-choroidal foci in 32 persons with ocular toxoplasmosis. The diagnosis of Toxoplasma etiology was set on a basis of positive immunological reaction for Toxoplasma gondii antigen and after exclusion of other etiological factors. Among 42 eyes stabilization of the process after 1 intervention was observed in 34, i.e. in 89 p.c. (period of observation--up to 4 years). In the following 8 eyes arised the necessity to perform additional coagulations because of formation of fresh foci which appeared in 5 eyes after 6 months, in 2 eyes after 1 year and in 1 eye after 2 years since onset. The authors consider the application of laser coagulation in ocular toxoplasmosis as a favourable method together--or independently--with pharmacological treatment.

[Effectiveness of laser therapy in retinal vein thrombosis]. / Skutecznosc laseroterapii w zakrzepach zyl siatkówki.

The authors compared the results of treatment in a group of patients (1st group--20 persons) with a retinal vein thrombosis with a second group (24 persons--25 eyes) treated pharmacologically with a simultaneous laser photocoagulation performed by argon and crypton lasers. Improvement of the visual acuity in late observations was established in 40 per cent of eyes of the 1st group and in 64 per cent of the 2d group; worsening was observed in 55 per cent of eyes of the 1st group and in 8 per cent of the 2d group. The authors consider that an early applied laser photocoagulation is beneficial in the treatment of the retinal vein thrombosis and besides that pharmacological treatment coupled with laser photocoagulation gives much better results than the pharmacotherapy alone.

[Laser trabeculoplasty in open-angle glaucoma. Personal experience]. / Trabekuloplastyka laserowa w jaskrze otwartego kata. Doswiadczenia wlasne.

Twenty one patients (26 eyes) who were subjected to laser trabeculoplasty in the 360 degrees range were observed. Normalization of the intraocular pressure was obtained in 76.9 p.c. of cases. The outflow coefficient (C) increased after trabeculoplasty in 57.6 p.c. of cases. The analysis of results suggests that the trabeculoplasty surgery is less effective in young persons below 40 years of age and in cases with a very low outflow coefficient.