Eye exercises - [Letters] Ocular myasthenia: a rare presentation with MuSK antibody and bilateral extraocular muscle atrophy
Tuesday, May 29th, 2007[Letters] Ocular myasthenia: a rare presentation with MuSK antibody and bilateral extraocular muscle atrophy
Source: bjo.bmj.com
[Perspective] The Halifax disaster (1917): eye injuries and their care
Explosions, man-made and accidental, continue to require improved emergency medical responses. In the 1917 Halifax Explosion, an inordinate number of penetrating eye injuries occurred. A review of their treatment provides insight into a traumatic event with unique ophthalmological importance. Archived personal and government documents relating to the Halifax Explosion were reviewed at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Canada, along with a review of current literature. Twelve ophthalmologists treated 592 people with eye injuries and performed 249 enucleations. Sixteen people had both eyes enucleated. Most of the eye injuries were caused by shards of shattered glass. A Blind Relief Fund was established to help treat and rehabilitate the visually impaired. The injured were given pensions through the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which continue to this day. Sympathetic ophthalmia was the feared complication for penetrating eye injuries and a common indication for enucleation in 1917. Even so, the severity and the overwhelming number of eye injuries sustained during the Halifax Explosion made it impossible for lengthy eye-saving procedures to be performed. Enucleation was often the only option.
Source: bjo.bmj.com
[Cover] A stranger in his own home
Source: bjo.bmj.com
[Clinical science - Scientific reports] Clinical assessment of two new contrast sensitivity charts
Background: Contrast sensitivity measurement in UK clinical practice is most commonly performed with the Pelli–Robson chart. Aims: To compare the repeatability of two new contrast sensitivity charts and to measure their agreement with the Pelli–Robson charts. Method: Contrast sensitivity was measured monocularly using two versions of the Mars letter contrast sensitivity chart, two presentations on the Test Chart 2000 and two versions of the Pelli–Robson chart. Bland–Altman techniques were used to assess repeatability and agreement. Results: 53 subjects were recruited with visual acuity from 6/4 to 6/72. The coefficient of repeatability was 0.182 for the Pelli–Robson chart, 0.121 for the Mars chart and 0.238 for Test Chart 2000. Limits of agreement with the Pelli–Robson chart were –0.29 to +0.15 log units for the Mars letter contrast sensitivity chart and –0.32 to +0.78 log units for the Test Chart 2000. For patients with poor contrast sensitivity, the limits of agreement between the Test Chart 2000 and the Pelli–Robson chart improved from –0.33 to +0.15 log units. Conclusion: In a population of hospital ophthalmology patients, the coefficient of repeatability is better for the Mars chart and worse for the Test Chart 2000 when compared with the Pelli–Robson chart. The electronic test chart does not agree well with the Pelli–Robson chart, although this might simply be due to the performance of liquid crystal display screens at low contrast levels. The Mars letter contrast sensitivity chart shows good validity and reasonable agreement with the Pelli–Robson chart.
Source: bjo.bmj.com
[Clinical science - Scientific reports] Positive correlation between pigment epithelium-derived factor and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels in the aqueous humour of patients with uveitis
Aim: To evaluate whether aqueous humour levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) are associated with monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in patients with uveitis. Methods: Aqueous humour levels of MCP-1 and PEDF were determined by ELISA in 34 uveitis samples and 9 cataract control samples. Results: Aqueous humour MCP-1 and PEDF levels were significantly higher in patients with infectious or non-infectious uveitis than in controls (mean (SD) 32.3 (10.7) ng/ml vs 4.48 (1.10) ng/ml vs 0.47 (0.10) ng/ml, and 8.40 (1.30) µg/ml vs 5.01 (0.92) µg/ml vs 1.32 (0.22) µg/ml, respectively, p<0.001). A positive correlation between PEDF and MCP-1 was found in patients with uveitis (r = 0.39, p<0.01). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that aqueous humour levels of PEDF were positively associated with MCP-1 in patients with uveitis. The present observations suggest that aqueous humour levels of PEDF may be a marker of inflammation in uveitis.
Source: bjo.bmj.com
[World view] Prevalence of glaucoma in rural Myanmar: the Meiktila Eye Study
Aim: To determine the prevalence of glaucoma in the Meiktila district of central, rural Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based survey of inhabitants >=40 years of age from villages in Meiktila district, Myanmar, was performed; 2481 eligible participants were identified and 2076 participated in the study. The ophthalmic examination included Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, tonometry, gonioscopy, dilated stereoscopic fundus examination and full-threshold perimetry. Glaucoma was classified into clinical subtypes and categorised into three levels according to diagnostic evidence. Results: Glaucoma was diagnosed in 1997 (80.5%) participants. The prevalence of glaucoma of any category in at least one eye was 4.9% (95% CI 4.1 to 5.7; n = 101). The overall prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) was 2.5% (95% CI 1.5 to 3.5) and of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was 2.0% (95% CI 0.9 to 3.1). PACG accounted for 84% of all blindness due to glaucoma, with the majority due to acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG). Conclusion: The prevalence of glaucoma in the population aged >=40 years in rural, central Myanmar was 4.9%. The ratio of PACG to POAG was approximately 1.25:1. PACG has a high visual morbidity and AACG is visually devastating in this community. Screening programmes should be directed at PACG, and further study of the underlying mechanisms of PACG is needed in this population.
Source: bjo.bmj.com
Astigmatism: Axis in Myopia or Hyperopia
I had astigmatism in my left eye with myopia in the same. When my myopia went all of a sudden one day, astigmatism in the left eye went too! But I had different feelings in the two sides of my body!!
Source: www.thirdeyehealth.com
Low Vision Aids: Helping Low Vision Out
Buy your low vision aids from Amazon’s secure Low Vision Aids Store.
Source: www.thirdeyehealth.com