[Prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis. A comparative clinical and bacteriologic study of 2 eyedrops: silver nitrate and oxytetracycline chlorhydrate]. / Prévention des conjonctivites néonatales. Etude comparative clinique et bactériologique de deux collyres: nitrate d'argent et chlorhydrate d'oxytétracycline.

This study carried out at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Hospital maternity ward included all the neonates delivered between February and September 1989 who exhibited no abnormal manifestations during their stay in the ward, except for ocular symptoms in some subjects. Nine hundred neonates were enrolled. Each day, one of two eyedrop preparations for the prevention of neonatal ocular infections was selected at random. Investigators were blinded to the preparation used. Study subjects were evaluated twice, between D1 and D7 (900 infants) and between D15 and D30 (407 infants). Ocular findings were classified as follows: normal, minimally abnormal (isolated swelling of the eyelids, clear discharge), or frankly abnormal (conjunctivitis, purulent discharge). A bacteriologic study was performed in all patients with minimally abnormal or abnormal findings. Between D1 and D7, ocular symptoms were significantly (p less than 0.05) more prevalent in neonates treated with silver nitrate than in neonates treated with oxytetracycline hydrochloride. This difference was no longer present between D15 and D30. Bacteriologic studies recovered no gonococci. One enfant in the oxytetracycline group had bacteriologically confirmed Chlamydia trachomatis ocular infection. The other organisms recovered were mainly Staphylococcus aureus and non-hemolytic streptococci. In inclusion, no currently available eyedrop preparation offers complete protection against C. trachomatis but tolerance is considerably better with oxytetracycline hydrochlorate than with silver nitrate.

[The Marcus Gunn phenomenon]. / Le phénomène de Marcus Gunn.

Ten cases of the Marcus Gunn phenomenon are reported. This synkinesis presents as an involuntary raising of the upper eyelid, often exhibiting ptosis at rest, when the lower jaw drops or deducts towards the opposite side. Hypotheses proposed to explain its mechanisms are reviewed, and the differential diagnosis is discussed in relation to the Marin Amat syndrome, the significance of which is considered. In addition, a case of rarely reported faciopalpebral synkinesis is also reported, the patient presenting involuntary raising of an upper eyelid during spontaneous or voluntary smiles.

[Argon laser in the prevention of retinal detachment]. / Le laser à l'argon dans la prévention du décollement de rétine

The prevention of retinal detachment by the argon laser photocoagulation of the peripheral degenerations of the retina was unsuccessful in 6 p. 100 of the cases. The proportion of failures is about the same as that of xenon photocoagulation. It is much more important than that of cryocoagulation. In the contrary the results are better in the management of macular holes without detachment.

[Puncture in retinal detachment surgery]. / La ponction au cours des interventions pour décollement de la rétine

This survey has been carried out over 186 operations for retinal detachment during which a voluntary or accidental drainage took place in 2/3 of the cases. Its frequency is studied according to the type of the detachment, its age, the duration of the preperatory rest, the number of operations and the surgical technique. The postsurgical evolution of detachments with drainage shows that the vitreous is more frequently clouded, later cleared up, and that there are more choroidal detachments and more retinal hemorrhages. The frequency of the early retinal flattening, the only one which has been studied, is not increased by drainage. It is no use debating the opportunity of drainage because indeed it is often imposed on the surgeon a as a last resort by the type of the detachment. The means for limiting its frequency are reviewed.