Search

Purpose To determine the change in pattern electroretinogram (PERG) amplitude during the ibopamine test in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT).Methods A total of 32 eyes (16 patients) with OHT (8 male, 8 female), mean age 54.19 years (range 22–76 years), mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) 23 ± 2 mm Hg, received a PERG assessment in both eyes every 5 minutes from baseline to 60 minutes. All the patients were pretreated by thymoxamine eyedrops to avoid the mydriatic effect of ibopamine. All the data were evaluated by descriptive statistics and paired t test. The results were considered with a significance level of p<0.05.Results All the patients enrolled matched the inclusion criteria and they did not have any local or systemic effects with the ibopamine test. The mean PERG amplitude decreased significantly from baseline after 45 minutes during the ibopamine test (paired t test = 0.05). The results were statistically not correlated with the positivity to the ibopamine test (p = 0.5).Conclusions These data stress that, even in presence of a moderate and transient IOP increase, inner retinal function of patients with OHT may be transiently affected.

To assess ocular and orbital structure by ocular echography and magnetic resonance imaging, fluoroangiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography before and after therapy with rituximab (Mabthera) and chlorambucil in a patient with concurrent intraorbital and intraocular lymphoma and diplopia.

Purpose TO report a case of a lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC), which is a variant of carcinoma most commonly involving the nasopharynx and rarely occurring in a variety of sites outside its typical location.Methods We present the case of a 79-year-old Caucasian man with LELC of the lacrimal gland undergoing surgical resection of the mass.Results The patient had remained disease-free for 2 years, and then he developed homolateral metastases in latero-cervical and parotid lymph nodes, detected by computed tomography and confirmed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. He did not receive any surgical treatment, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy because of the advanced stage of the disease and poor health condition.Conclusions This case report suggests that a diagnosis of lacrimal gland LELC makes combined early and radical therapy necessary.

Background:Corneal astigmatism changes after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) with single running suture (SRS) or double running suture (DRS) were evaluated in this prospective randomized study. Methods:Sixty-eight consecutive eyes underwent PK: 35 received a SRS and 33 an anti-torque DRS using the same Hanna Suction System. All sutures were removed between 12 and 20 months after surgery. Results: Within the first month after PK, a statistically significant difference was noted, with a lower mean value of astigmatism for the DRS group. The final mean postoperative videokeratographic astigmatism was 3.51±1.93 and 3.42±1.94 in the SRS and DRS group respectively (36 months' follow-up). Conclusions:Although the final astigmatism was about the same in the two suture groups, the DRS seems to lead to faster restoration of visual function due to early stability.

To establish whether or not glaucomatous damage is reversible, we obtained pattern-reversal electroretinograms (PERGs) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in 25 eyes of 25 patients suffering from bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) before and after argon-laser trabeculoplasty. The laser treatment was carried out in only one eye chosen at random, and the fellow eye was used as a control. In the present study we intended to verify the possibility of using electrofunctional techniques to determine the two distinct and, probably, consecutive glaucomatous alterations occurring in ganglion cells: functional (reversible) and anatomical (irreversible). The results obtained indicate that glaucomatous damage is irreversible. We propose that such alterations differ very slightly and that the current electrofunctional techniques may not be sufficiently sophisticated to distinguish between them.

Purpose:To assess by electrophysiologic testing the effect of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on the retina and optic nerve.

Purpose:To evaluate endothelial cell morphology and density after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Standard electro-oculography was performed in 10 patients with malignant unilateral uveal melanoma All eyes were treated by means of surgical local excision. After a mean ± standard deviation follow-up of 10.5 ± 5.5 months (range, 6 to 20 months) in the five patients with choroidal melanoma, the electro-oculographic recordings, which had appeared reduced or flat before the surgery, increased significantly just after the local excision. Thereafter the amplitudes of the electro-oculographic light peaks were reduced in all cases up to extinction, possibly because of a retinal detachment. On the contrary, the electro-oculographic value in the five melanomas localized at the iris and ciliary body, normal before the surgery, showed a marked and persistent increase after surgery, probably related to an ‘electric hole’ in the globe.

• Background: In Graves' disease the optic neuropathy (ON) is due to direct compression of the nerve and/or of its blood supply. The aim of the present study was to detect early changes in the visual functions of patients affected by ophthalmic Graves' disease (OGD) by using electrophysiological tests (P-VEP and PERG). • Methods: We studied 50 OGD patients who were in a range between class 2 and class 5 according to the Donaldson-American Thyroid Association classification, i.e. had no evident ON and normal visual acuity. We recorded transient reversal PERG and P-VEP in response to the stimulation of one eye at three spatial frequencies (2.2, 1.1 and 0.5 c/d). • Results: Our results showed a statistically significant reduction in PERG amplitude in class 5, while the P-VEP amplitude was already reduced in class 2. • Conclusion: The electrofunctional tests were useful to detect small changes in the visual function of patients affected by initial stages of OGD. Therefore, P-VEP and PERG recordings appear to be a useful tool for early diagnosis of the optic nerve involvement in Graves' disease.

Abstract: Purpose: The electro-oculogram (EOG) is a powerful test to diagnose primary and metastatic choroidal tumors. While in benign tumors light-peak to dark-trough ratio values are in the range of normal subjects, these values appear highly altered in eyes affected by malignant choroidal tumors. Here we report a clinical case of a patient with intraretinal metastasis from cutaneous melanoma; notwithstanding the malignancy of the tumor, the EOG doesn't present alterations. Methods and results: Standard electro-oculographic recordings were performed before and after local excision of the tumor; recordings from the normal eye were taken as control. The EOG values were always normal in both eyes. Histological sections showed no evident change in the cell population of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of an intact RPE is a crucial requirement to obtain a normal EOG.

Purpose To report on the efficacy of surgical management of total bilateral ankyloblepharon in a child.Methods An 8-year-old African girl from Burundi presented with complete lid-corneo-conjunctival adhesion in both eyes, dating back 6 years. Preoperative ultrasound evaluation of anterior and posterior segment was detected. Electrophysiologic examinations showed low responses. Surgery was performed with scarring tissue removal through manual cleavage in order to separate tarsal conjunctiva and corneal stroma, followed by multiple human amniotic membrane grafts on the cornea, the entire bulbar surface, and fornices.Results Ankyloblepharon removal, excellent width of fornices, and lid motility recovery were obtained. Nevertheless, corneal stroma remained cloudy. The patient's visual acuity reached hand movements perception at 6 months follow-up.Conclusions Even in the presence of deep deprivation amblyopia, total ankyloblepharon surgical removal and anatomic restoration of ocular surface is mandatory in children. Subsequent surgery including corneal keratoplasty or keratoprosthesis implant should be taken into consideration after an accurate evaluation of the cost/benefit ratio. Furthermore, these young patients could be enrolled in specific visual rehabilitation programs to enhance residual visual abilities.