Annals of Ophthalmology

A 24-year-old myopic woman with familial, bilateral, congenital cataracts underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in her left eye, with resulting 20/20 visual acuity. She postoponed cataract surgery on her right eye for 4 years. Axial myopia progressed in the right eye from 27.99 to 29.11 mm, and the left eye also elongated, from 28.25 to 28.72 mm, as indicated by A-scan ultrasonography. Axial elongation apparently is not a purely local phenomenon.

A double-masked study randomly assigned 60 eyes of 60 patients undergoing neodymium: YAG (Nd:YAG) laser iridotomy to pretreatment with either placebo (group 1) or 2% dorzolamide eyedrops in a single dose (group 2). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured 30 minutes and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 24 hours after iridotomy. Group 2 pressures were lower and returned to normal levels faster than in group 1. Thus, dorzolamide used preoperatively may safeguard IOP.

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictive and neural peptide functionally active in the eye. We demonstrated that the concentration of immunoreactive endothelin-1 in subretinal fluid was higher in patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) vs. uncomplicated retinal detachment. No differences in plasma concentrations of immunoreactive endothelin-1 were found. Intraocular synthesis of endothelin-1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of PVR.

The prevalence of pterygium was studied in a Saharan population in 1322 subjects, with ages ranging from 6 to 80 years old. Pterygium was diagnosed in 238 subjects and classified using 3 parameters: invasion, extension, and thickness. Prevalence increased with age in both males and females. Statistically significant differences with regard to age also were found in the 3 parameters.

Preoperative ultrasonography in postoperative endophthalmitis was correlated with outcome following vitrectomy. Final visual acuity <20/400 in 14% of eyes with mild/moderate vitreous opacities vs. 67% with dense vitreous opacities. More virulent isolates were found in 67% of eyes with dense opacities vs. 9% with mild/moderate opacities. Dense vitreous debris on ultrasonography was associated with infection by virulent organisms and poorer outcome.

Một phụ nữ trẻ bị suy giảm thị lực nặng, nhìn đôi, sưng dây thần kinh thị giác hai bên, xuất huyết dưới màng hyaloid và viêm mạch đã được chẩn đoán mắc bệnh brucellosis. Các triệu chứng lâm sàng và các phát hiện về mắt, ngoại trừ teo đĩa thị, đã cải thiện trong vòng 3 tháng sau khi điều trị chống brucella. Những phát hiện này mở rộng các biểu hiện về mắt của brucellosis, và nên được xem xét trong chẩn đoán phân biệt với viêm dây thần kinh thị giác, xuất huyết dưới màng hyaloid, viêm mạch và teo đĩa thị.

We report on a case of subconjunctival cysticercosis in a patient who presented with redness on the medial side, fever, and pain and swelling on the inside of the right eye. There was no diplopia, restriction of ocular movements in any gaze or diminution of vision. Cyst excision was scheduled and oral albendazole was administered. However, the cyst extruded spontaneously prior to surgery.

Examination of the conjunctiva/sclera and surrounding structures is an important component of any physical exam. The articles by Dr. Fuentes-Paez et al. and by Dr. Sharma et al. provide critical information for a good exam of the eye and surrounding structures. Reading these two articles in conjunction with a basic text of ocular microanatomy will provide a great refresher course on this topic. More importantly, it will also provide an invaluable guide to understanding the dynamics of changes in color and texture of the conjunctiva and surrounding tissue. We report a 29-year-old white woman with conjunctival pigmentation after a Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) episode triggered by sulfasalazine. The patient developed bilateral tarsal and forniceal conjunctiva and black pigmentation. Diagnostic biopsy showed stromal monocyte infiltration consistent with chronic phase SJS and conjunctival pigment of melanic origin that was not due to drug deposition. Treatment with topical steroids and unpreserved artificial tears resulted in improvement of clinical symptoms; however, pigmentation was unchanged after 2 years.

We report a case of endophthalmitis who underwent a vitreous biopsy to assess sensitivity and to inject broad-spectrum intraocular antibiotics. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of antibiotics against a coagulase-negative staphylococcus and Proprionibacterium acnes were also assessed.