Purpose: To compare the achieved corneal pachymetry (AP) with the expected one (EP) after 3 months of LASIK for myopia. Methods: 77 myopic eyes of 39 patients were included in this study. Surgery was performed with the Technolas 217 excimer laser and the Chiron automated corneal shaper microkeratome. Screening pachymetry was performed in all corneas before and 3 months after LASIK. EP was obtained by subtracting the ablation depth from the preoperative pachymetry. Patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: Group A (55 eyes), from -1.00 diopter (D) to -5.75D; group B (14 eyes), from -6.00D to -10.00D and group C (8 eyes), more than -10.00D. Results: The mean spherical equivalent decreased from -2.17D to 0.00 in group A, -8.18D to 0.00 in group B and -11.4D to -1.06D in group C. Mean AP was 491 mum in group A, 431 mum in group B and 427 mum in group C. In 70 eyes (90.9%) AP was superior to EP with a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). Conclusions: Although these data showed a corneal thickness greater than that expected after LASIK, undercorrection was not significant. After 3 months, most of patients have a refraction near emmetropia.

Keywords: Myopia; Photorefractive keratectomy excimer laser; Cornea; Ocular refraction

Purpose: To evaluate the results and complications of a restricted (antral-ethmoidal) orbital decompression in the treatment of dysthyroid orbitopathy. Methods: 14 patients (10 female), with a mean age of 41.7 years, were submitted to 22 orbital decompressions. Three surgeries (2 patients) were performed in the congestive phase of the disease due to severe corneal ulceration. These patients were receiving corticosteroids associated with radiotheraphy and cyclophosphamide and continued these treatments after surgery. Nineteen orbits were operated on during the inactive phase of the ophthalmopathy in order to improve ocular discomfort and for cosmetic reasons. Surgeries were performed by a superior approach, using a conjunctival incision in 19 and a palpebral one in 3. Results: Reduction of proptosis ranged from 1 to 6 mm (average 3.91 mm). Mean reduction was 5.33 ± 0.27 mm in the patients operated on in the acute phase and 3.68 ± 0.25 mm in those operated on in the inactive phase of the ophthalmopathy. None developed diplopia as a result of the surgery. Surgical correction of preexistent strabismus was performed in two patients and temporary blepharorraphy was associated with the decompression in the cases operated on in the acute phase. Six patients were subsequently submitted to surgical correction of preexistent lid retraction. In one, inferior lid retraction worsened as a result of the lid incision. Transient loss of sensitivity in the cheek was common but not permanent. Conclusions: Antral-ethmoidal orbital decompression is efficient in reducing proptosis in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and is associated with a very low incidence of complications. Combined with other treatment modalities it can be helpful in severe cases in the acute phase and in the cosmetic rehabilitation of patients with residual proptosis.

Keywords: Orbital diseases; Decompression; Exophthalmos; Graves' disease

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of amniotic membrane transplantation for recurrent pterygium treatment. Methods: Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed in 27 eyes with recurrent pterygium, 7 with associated symblepharon. We evaluated age, sex, eye, site, number of previous surgeries and postoperative complications with a follow-up period of 6 months. Results: 58.3% of the patients were male and, 58.3% were between 40 and 59 years old. All of them had recurrent pterygium and 47.8% with at least two previous surgeries. We observed recurrence in 18.5% and 11.1% had granulomatous lesions. Conclusion: Amniotic membrane transplantation is a simple procedure and is a good choice to treat recurrent pterygium. However, this technique does not exclude the possibility to present lesion recurrence.

Keywords: Biological dressing; Pterygium; Amnion; Ophthalmic surgical procedures

Introduction: Accommodative convergence (AC) is the convergence induced by a determined amount of accommodation (A). Besides the many techniques described to correct esotropias, great distance/near incomitance is still a challenge in avoiding secondary exotropias and esotropias. Objective: To compare the surgical results obtained with double medial rectus recession and its relationship to distance/near incomitance and high hyperopias. Methods: 33 patients with esotropia and distance/near incomitance who where submitted to double medial rectus recession at Santa Casa de São Paulo, between 1980 and 1990 were retrospectively analyzed. There were two groups: those with more than 3.50 D of hyperopias (Group I) and those with less than 3.50 D (Group II). Results: Group I had a mean of 18.18 PD correction (72.72% of correction) for distance and 27.64 PD (63.36%) for near. Group II had a mean of 20.20 PD correction for distance (87.83%) and 34.60 PD (82.78%) for near. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference regarding the amount of distance/near incomitance reduction, between Groups I and II. The total amount of correction was greater for near but, in percentage, it was similar.

Keywords: Esotropia; Oculomotor muscles

Purpose: Retrospective study of clinical and therapeutic aspects in children with orbital and preseptal cellulitis. Methods: Fifty-two records of patients admitted at the São Rafael Hospital between 1990 and 1998 were reviewed. The age of the patients ranged from one month to twelve years. Based on a protocol elaborated by the authors the following aspects were analyzed: age, sex, predisposing factors, localization of the cellulitis in the orbital region, clinical, laboratorial and image findings as well as the clinical or surgical therapy and the occurrence of complications. Results: Trauma was the most frequent predisposing factor of orbital and preseptal cellulitis in childhood, followed by sinusitis and undefined causes. The great majority of the infections occurred in the preseptal region. Hemocultures revealed 71% of negativity followed by positivity for S. aureus (19.9%) and H. influenzae (4.79%). All the patients were treated and cured with antibiotic therapy using 16 types of antibiotics in 25 different therapeutic schedules. Surgical drainage was performed in only 7 patients. Conclusion: Despite the lack of uniformity and the diversity of treatment used in this series all the patients were cured without complications. This fact indicates the need of future prospective studies in order to elaborate a therapeutic protocol for the treatment of orbital cellulitis in children based on a cost-benefit relation.

Keywords: Orbital diseases; Cellulitis; Child; Preschool

Purpose: To evaluate the use of fibrinogen adhesive in LASIK for minimization of flap complications. Method: LASIK was performed in 312 patients (624 eyes). Both eyes were operated on the same day, one eye with the conventional technique and the other with adhesive application. Results: A significant decrease of flap complications was shown. Conclusion: The use of fibrinogen adhesive showed to be efficient in the decrease of flap complications. Comments: This technique seems to be useful in LASIK following radial keratotomy and astigmatism keratotomy, in gluing free cap, and in interface hemostasis.

Keywords: Fibrin tissue adhesive; Keratomileusis, laser in situ

Purpose: To evaluate clinical features, pregnancy and labour abnormalities and the results of strabismus surgery in patients with Möbius syndrome. Methods: The authors studied retrospectively 7 patients with Möbius syndrome, of whom 6 were submitted to strabismus surgery. Results: In addition to the classical findings that characterize the syndrome, pregnancy and labour insults were observed in all cases. In 2 patients a posterior medial rectus insertion was found during surgery. Due to cross-fixation, these patients usually do not develop amblyopia. Conclusions: Surgery should consist of muscle recessions, but recessing them less than it would be done for similar isolated abducens palsy.

Keywords: Möbius syndrome; Strabismus

Purpose: In this retrospective study the results of surgical management of cataract by the Mini-Nuc Blumenthal technique were analyzed. Methods: ECCE with Mini-Nuc Blumenthal technique was carried out always by the same surgeon (M.W.) on 454 eyes of 284 patients (148 women and 136 men) during a period of six years (from February 1994 to March 2000). Results: Low rates (4.8%) of transoperative complications were recorded; posterior capsule rupture occurred in 3.7% of the cases. Visual acuity equal to or higher than 20/40 was observed in 89.1% of the cases. Conclusion: The technique was efficient for cataract surgery with the advantage of dispensing with sophisticated instrumentation and involving low costs.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Cataract extraction; Anterior chamber; Visual acuity

Purpose: To describe per- and postoperative complications which occurred with the first use of two automated microkeratomes for the performance of LASIK. Methods: Retrospective study of first surgeries performed with two automated microkeratomes. Seventy eyes from 54 patients using Chiron's® microkeratome, Automated Corneal Shaper (ACS) model, from April 1997 to April 1998 and 100 eyes from 82 patients using automated microkeratome Moria® Carriazo-Barraquer (CB), from February 1999 to June 1999. Refractive ablation was performed with the Summit Apex Plus Excimer Laser (193 nm). We evaluated the per- and postoperative complications up to one month of follow-up. Results: Photoablation was not performed in three cases (4.3%) using ACS microkeratome and in one case (1%) using CB microkeratome. Most frequent complications found with ACS were: failure of automated return of microkeratome (7.1%), partial keratotomy (4.3%), presence of stromal folds (14.3%), central de-epithelialization (4.3%). With CB there were: descentered flap (3%), central desepitheliazation (5%), stromal folds (28%) and Sahara Sands syndrome (6%). Conclusions: Initial use of both microkeratomes was related to important per- and postoperative complications, which did not lead to loss of vision. Clinical knowledge of the alterations which occurred with the use of these instruments and a better experience of their utilization may reduce these complications.

Keywords: Keratomileusis; laser in situ; Keratectomy, photorefractive,excimer laser; Laser surgery; Microsurgery

Purpose: To correlate findings on ultrasound biomicroscopy with types of anterior scleritis. Methods: Six patients with clinical findings of anterior scleritis were examined by ultrasound biomicroscopy (50 MHz transducer), performed at the Ocular Ultrasound Section of Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina for elucidation of histopathological alterations in anterior scleritis. Results: Patients with nodular scleritis had well-limited lesions, with homogeneously low reflectivity and localized increased thickness with lower reflectivity of adjacent tissues. Patients with diffuse scleritis had an heterogeneous increased thickness with heterogeneous reflectivity (a mottled appearance). Patients with necrotizing scleritis presented loss of tissue with scleral thinning and inflammatory adjacent vitreous changes. Conclusions: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is an excellent noninvasive method in identifying involved ocular tissues in anterior scleritis, helping the ophthalmologist in his/her diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Scleritis; Scleritis; Ultrasonography; Microscopy

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation with the SRK/T formula in phacoemulsification. Methods: Retrospective review of 119 patients treated with phacoemulsification in 1999 in a University Hospital. Patients with incomplete charts and with intraoperative complications were excluded from this study. Eighty-one patients were selected to establish the accuracy of the SRK/T formula to predict the postoperative refractive error after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. All biometries were performed by the same technician using the same equipment. All procedures were performed by third-year residents. Results: Comparing the final refraction planned by the surgeon, based on biometry with the SRK/T formula, and the postoperative spherical equivalent, patients were divided in to 4 groups: Group 1 - patients with refractive errors up to ± 0.50 diopters (n=33 (40.7 %)). Group 2 - patients with refractive errors between ±0.51 and ±1.25 diopters (n=29 (35.7 %)). Group 3 - patients with refractive errors between ±1.26 and ±2.00 diopters (n=8 (9.87%)). Group 4 - patients with refractive errors above ±2.01 diopters (n=11 (13.5%)). Conclusions: The postoperative refractive results were satisfactory, the majority of patients (n=62 (76.4%)) presented residual refractive errors after phacoemulsification up to ±1.25 diopters.

Keywords: Biometry; Intraocular lens implantation; Ocular refraction; Methods; Postoperative period; Phacoemulsification; Refractive errors

Purpose: Cataract is the main cause of blindness throughout the world, affecting more than 15 million people worldwide. There are different techniques for extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. This study aims to compare limbal incision and scleral tunnel incision in planned ECCE. Methods: Fifty-four consecutive patients (59 eyes) with follow-up of 6 months were studied prospectively. ECCE with limbal incision was performed in 30 patients (Group I), and with scleral tunnel incision in 29 patients (Group II). Corrected visual acuity, intraocular inflammation (cells and flare), surgical time, specular microscopy, induced astigmatism and pachymetry were assessed. Results: Surgical time, endothelial cells loss and induced astigmatism were statistically greater in group I than in group II. No significant differences were found between groups when comparing the corrected visual acuity, intraocular inflammation and pachymetry. Conclusions: ECCE with scleral tunnel incision technique offers advantages regarding surgical time, endothelial cells loss and induced astigmatism if compared with limbal incision technique. Surgical steps used in this technique help in transition for phacoemulsification with low cost and a safer way.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Phacoemulsification; Intra-ocular lens implantation; Suture techniques

The aim of this work is to report two cases of cortical blindness, evaluated at an ophthalmologic service (Clínica de Olhos da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte). Cortical blindness is a rare, usually ischemic, bilateral retrogeniculate lesion. The two diagnoses were based on patient complaints, ophthalmologic data and image signs. Both patients suddenly lost their visual function. None presented a significant improvement in their final vision acuity during the evolution. Subnormal visual acuity is an important ophthalmologic sign that must be seen with concern and attention since it may be caused by cortical blindness, a rare and serious condition not yet well studied in our Country.

Keywords: Cortical blindess; Tomography, x-ray computed; Vision disorders; Case report

Osteopetrosis is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by sclerotic bones associated with hematologic and neurologic abnormalities. The authors review the literature and report a case of a girl aged 2 years and 5 months who presented bilateral amaurosis due to congenital osteopetrosis.

Keywords: Osteopetrosis; Osteopetrosis; Blindness; Case report; Child

The authors present a case of neovascular glaucoma secondary to ocular ischemic syndrome as the initial manifestation of carotid occlusive disease. Color Doppler imaging of the carotids and orbit showed all the factors associated with a greater risk of developing this syndrome: severe bilateral carotid stenosis, high-grade carotid stenosis, and reversed ophthalmic artery blood flow. The authors also discuss how the neovascular glaucoma was controlled with only one topical medication.

Keywords: Neovascular glaucoma; Carotid stenosis; Ischemia; Ciliary body; Carotid arteries; Ophthalmic artery; Case report

Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most frequent systemic mycosis in Brazil, but ocular involvement is rare and, if present, often secondary to another site. The authors report a case of paracoccidioidomycosis of eyelid and conjunctiva where no extraocular focus was found. A brief review of the literature is made discussing the importance of diagnostic suspecion in a population at risk and early treatment for a good visual prognosis.

Keywords: Paracoccidioidomycosis; Eyelid; Conjunctiva; Eyelid diseases