VOLUME 69 - ISSUE 2

PURPOSE: To compare the Full Threshold (FT) and SITA Standard (SS) strategies in glaucomatous patients undergoing automated perimetry for the first time. METHODS: Thirty-one glaucomatous patients who had never undergone perimetry underwent automated perimetry (Humphrey, program 30-2) with both FT and SS on the same day, with an interval of at least 15 minutes. The order of the examination was randomized, and only one eye per patient was analyzed. Three analyses were performed: a) all the examinations, regardless of the order of application; b) only the first examinations; c) only the second examinations. In order to calculate the sensitivity of both strategies, the following criteria were used to define abnormality: glaucoma hemifield test (GHT) outside normal limits, pattern standard deviation (PSD) <5%, or a cluster of 3 adjacent points with p<5% at the pattern deviation probability plot. RESULTS: When the results of all examinations were analyzed regardless of the order in which they were performed, the number of depressed points with p<0.5% in the pattern deviation probability map was significantly greater with SS (p=0.037), and the sensitivities were 87.1% for SS and 77.4% for FT (p=0.506). When only the first examinations were compared, there were no statistically significant differences regarding the number of depressed points, but the sensitivity of SS (100%) was significantly greater than that obtained with FT (70.6%) (p=0.048). When only the second examinations were compared, there were no statistically significant differences regarding the number of depressed points, and the sensitivities of SS (76.5%) and FT (85.7%) (p=0.664). CONCLUSION: SS may have a higher sensitivity than FT in glaucomatous patients undergoing automated perimetry for the first time. However, this difference tends to disappear in subsequent examinations.

Keywords: Glaucoma; Visual fields; Perimetry

PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics of a new artificial anterior chamber (MALKS®, Loktal, São Paulo, Brasil). METHODS: Characteristics analysis and description of a new artificial anterior chamber MALKS® (Micro automated lamellar keratoplasty system). RESULTS: MALKS®is composed of eight parts: a) artificial chamber; b) cornea's fix ring; c) nut to join the cornea's fix ring; d) rail and adjuster of lamellar diameter; e) flatteners, to pre-determine lamellar diameter; f) infusion system, that allows the digital objective peroperative control of the intracameral pressure; g) automated microkeratome, and h) marker. CONCLUSION: MALKS® uses the same automated microkeratome developed for LASIK, can allow corneal lamella obtention with predetermined thickness and diameter, as well as the digital objective peroperative control of the intracameral pressure. This new artificial anterior chamber can be an important tool for superficial and endothelial keratoplasty.

Keywords: Keratomileusis, laser in situ/methods; Cornea; Corneal transplantation; Keratoplasty; penetrating; Laser surgery

PURPOSE: To describe comparatively the outcomes of macular hole surgery followed by internal limiting membrane removal with and without indocyanine green staining. METHODS: We evaluated 142 consecutive macular hole surgeries with internal limiting membrane removal performed in the period from January 2001 to March 2004. These were divided into two groups, based on the use or not of indocyanine green staining. RESULTS: Both studied groups were similar concerning the patients' profile and preoperative stage of the macular holes. Mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.12±0.15 in the group with indocyanine green staining and 0.18±0.18 in the group without internal limiting membrane staining (p=0.02). Mean postoperative visual acuity was 0.27±0.27 in the group with internal limiting membrane staining and 0.43±0.25 in the group without internal limiting membrane staining (p=0.0002). We observed improvement of visual acuity in 63% of cases in the group in which internal limiting membrane staining was performed and in 80.3% of cases in the group without internal limiting membrane staining. Macular hole closure rates were 76.5% in the group treated with internal limiting membrane staining and 95.1% in the group treated without internal limiting membrane staining. CONCLUSIONS: Macular hole surgeries followed by internal limiting membrane removal without use of staining have better visual and anatomic results when compared to macular hole surgeries followed by internal limiting membrane removal guided by indocyanine green staining. We recommend caution in using indocyanine green staining in macular hole surgeries due to its possible toxic effect.

Keywords: Macula lutea; Retinal perforations; Macula lutea; Indocyanine green; Basement membrane; Comparative study

PURPOSE: To assess matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in pterygium lesion. METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical trial was done to evaluate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase in normal and in primary or recurrent pterygia in Tenon's capsule by immunohistochemical analysis and a computerized image analysis system. The data were submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Matrix metalloproteinase expression showed no difference in normal Tenon's capsule and in primary or recurrent pterygia. CONCLUSION: The similar expression of the matrix metalloproteinase in normal Tenon's capsule and in primary or recurrent pterygia allowed us to conclude that matrix metalloproteinase is not implicated in the genesis or the recurrence of pterygium lesion.

Keywords: Pterygium; Matrix metalloproteinases; Immunohistochemical; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To evaluate optical coherence tomography as an objective diagnostic and follow-up method for central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: Observational descriptive study of 16 (sixteen) eyes of 16 patients with unilateral acute central serous chorioretinopathy. These patients had their visual acuity measured and complete ophthalmological examination was performed, including macular slit lamp examination, angiofluoresceinography and optical coherence tomography. No treatment was given to any patient. RESULTS: Of the 16 central serous chorioretinopathy eyes, 12 patients completed follow-up until total resolution of their disease. Age varied between 27 and 50 years, with mean age of 38.9 years. Most patients were male. On optical coherence tomography, neurosensorial retinal detachment was observed in all cases and 33.3% had retinal pigmented epithelium detachment. There was a significant difference regarding all studied variables. Visual acuity was better, macular thickness and volume diminished when the disease resolved. CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography showed good efficacy to detect and measure macular changes in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy, being useful in clinical evaluation during the disease's acute period and resolution.

Keywords: Macula lutea; Retinal detachment; Retinal detachment; Image processing, computer-assisted; Fluorescein angiography; Tomography

PURPOSE: To compare indication criteria, intra- and postoperative complications, visual outcomes and time interval between the first and second eye surgery (phacoemulsification). METHODS: Prospective study was done in 96 eyes of patients who underwent bilateral consecutive phacoemulsification surgery, performed by a third-year ophthalmology resident. An established protocol was filled out before, during and after the surgery. The same surgical technique was used. Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn multiple comparison and Student's t tests were used for statistical analysis. Bicaudal tests were used in all situations. p<0.05 rejected the null hypothesis. RESULTS: The indication for the second eye surgery was done earlier and with best correct visual acuity when compared with the first eye (p=0.016). The mean phacoemulsification ultrasound time (US time) of the first eye was significantly higher (p=0.026). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in relation to type of cataract, previous intraocular diseases, final visual acuity and mean spherical equivalent. The incidence of intra- and postoperative complications was smaller in the second eye, but was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Time interval between the first and second eye surgery was significantly lower along the trimesters. CONCLUSION: The patients underwent the second eye phacoemulsification surgery earlier (with better visual acuity and shorter time interval), had a shorter phacoemulsification time and tendency to be followed by less intra- and postoperative complications.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Phacoemulsification; Lens implantation, intraocular; Postoperative care; Time factors

PURPOSE: To analyze clinical findings of ocular tuberculosis and its epidemiological features. METHODS: Were reviewed clinical files of patients who attended the Ophthalmology - Uveitis and AIDS sector of UNIFESP-EPM, São Paulo, Brazil between January 1999 and July 2002 and had a diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis. Patients who had Mantoux test higher than 10 mm, epidemiological history of tuberculosis and ocular findings that improved after specific treatment were included. RESULTS: Seventeen medical files were analyzed, of those, 12 (70,6%) were females. The mean age was 54 (24-84) years. The average time between symptoms and diagnosis was 100 days. Ocular findings at the first interview were multiple but most were at the anterior segment of the eye and 41% of patients who had clinical findings that suggested tuberculosis other than ocular. Situations as glaucoma, retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage were responsible for reduction of visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular tuberculosis showed a low prevalence but important visual loosing morbidity. The multiplicity of clinical findings is responsible for the delay of diagnosis.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, ocular; Uveitis; Glaucoma; Retinal detachment; Eye manifestations

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of compliance with treatment, severity of amblyopia and age at the beginning of treatment in patients with strabismic amblyopia submitted to patching. METHODS: The data were selected from medical records of 569 patients seen at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo during the period of 1983 to 2000. Exclusion criteria: loss of follow-up, age over 12 years, presence of nystagmus and other ocular diseases. The patients were divided into four groups according to age and classified based on the type of strabismus, compliance with treatment and severity of amblyopia. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's test. RESULTS: 198 (34.8%) patients were enrolled in the study. There was no difference regarding compliance among the age groups. The best success rate was obtained when there was good compliance with the treatment, independent of the degree of amblyopia. But worse compliance was observed among the patients with more severe amblyopia, who were the majority of patients of the study, and who showed the worst success rate. The success rate was not related to the patients' age. CONCLUSION: The study showed that compliance with patching plays a fundamental role in therapeutic efficacy. Thus, age at the beginning of treatment alone did not influence the success rate since it was possible to obtain good compliance independent of age. In addition, worse results were associated with severe amblyopia and less compliance.

Keywords: Amblyopia; Patient compliance; Occlusive dressings; Efficacy; Strabismus; Visual acuity; Hospitals, university; Retrospective studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correction of lower eyelid cicatricial ectropion due to shrinking of anterior lamela with the surgical technique of bipedicle myocutaneous flap from the upper eyelid. METHODS: Prospective study with eight eyelids of six patients. There were two patients with unilateral ectropion who had received external local radiotherapy. RESULTS: There were three male and three female patients, with mean age of 72 years. One patient presented an incomplete blinking for one month that spontaneously resolved. Three eyelids of two patients maintained a residual ectropion; one of them had received local external radiotherapy. Follow-up ranged from 19 to 23 months (mean of 20 months) and all patients improved their ocular condition. CONCLUSION: The bipedicle myocutaneous flap is effective for correction of cicatricial ectropion due to shrinking of anterior lamella.

Keywords: Eyelids; Ectropion; Cicatrix; Surgical flaps

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ibopamine provocative test for the diagnosis of glaucoma in glaucoma patients using antiglaucomatous drugs. METHODS: Two 2% ibopamine eyedrops were instilled 5 minutes apart in one eye selected at random in both glaucoma and normal subjects. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was assessed prior to the drops and 30, 60 and 180 minutes after instillation. The test was considered positive when there was an intraocular pressure increase of greater than 4 mmHg at any one of the timepoints. The amount of intraocular pressure change was compared to the types of medical treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-eight eyes were included (38 glaucoma patients and 20 normal individuals). The intraocular pressure rise was significantly higher in glaucoma patients (p<0.001 at all times). The sensitivity and specificity of the ibopamine test were 68% (87% if we exclude eyes using prostaglandin analogues) and 95%, respectively. Glaucoma patients using prostaglandin analogues did not present a significant intraocular pressure elevation. CONCLUSION: The ibopamine provocative test may be an auxiliary test in glaucoma diagnosis. Despite the small sample size, concurrent use of prostaglandin analogues apparently reduces the test's sensitivity.

Keywords: Glaucoma; Opthalmic solutions; Intraocular pressure; Dopamine agonists; Sensitivity and specificity

PURPOSE: To analyze the ametropy, way of acquisition, the care and complications related to contact lens wear among medical students from Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu da Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP - Botucatu (SP). METHODS: Questionnaire applied to students from the 1st to the 6th year of the Medical school of the Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu da Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP - Botucatu (SP), forming an analytical cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: 27.4% of the students use contact lenses, and among them 94.8% use soft contact lenses and 98% have negative degree. 46.9% discard their contact lens monthly. 63.9% have an average daily use of 14 hours, 14.1% acquire the contact lenses from optician stores or at pharmacies and 46.5% of the students clean their contact lenses when they put them on and take them off. Regarding complications, 51.0% reported ocular redness; 44.5%, blurred vision; and 42.6%, foreign body sensation, whereas only 4 students reported "keratitis". CONCLUSION: We concluded that the inadequate adaptation that occurs even in users knowledgeable about this issue such as medical students, has increased the risk of complications. This fact indicates that more attention must be paid to contact lens care in order to prevent permanent visual deficit.

Keywords: Contact lenses; Accommodation, ocular; Eye infections, bacterial; Keratitis; Students, medical

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence of fundus changes in degenerative myopia. METHODS: Forty patients with refractive error of at least -6.00 diopters were selected for ophthalmologic examination followed by posterior pole photograph and echobiometry. RESULTS: We studied 57 eyes of 37 patients with refractive error ranging from -6.25 to -28.50 diopters, with mean -14.05, and axial length ranging from 26.06 to 32.86 mm, with mean 28.01. We found a temporal crescent in 36.5% and a peripapillary one in 20% of the eyes. Choroidal vessels were seen in 35% of the eyes. Posterior pole changes were as follow: posterior staphyloma in 10.5%, Fuchs' spots in 3.5% and lacquer cracks in 1.5%. Peripheral retinal examination revealed paving stone chorioretinal atrophy in 17.5%, white without pressure in 10.5%, lattice degeneration in 5%, retinal tears in 3.5% and retinoschisis in 1.5% of the examined eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Fundus changes that lead to decreased vision are common in patients with degenerative myopia. Peripheral retinal examination is very important in these patients due to the increased risk of retinal detachment.

Keywords: Myopia; Myopia; Refractive errors; Retina; Macular degeneration; Fundus oculi

PURPOSE: To verify perceptions and conduct of students with visual impairment regarding devices and equipment utilized in schooling process. METHODS: A transversal descriptive study on a population of 12-year-old or older students in schooling process, affected by congenital or acquired visual impairment, inserted in the government teaching system of Campinas during the year 2000. An interview quiz, created based on an exploratory study was applied. RESULTS: A group of 26 students, 46% of them with low vision and 53.8% affected by blindness was obtained. Most of the students were from fundamental teaching courses (65.4%), studying in schools with classrooms provided with devices (73.1%). Among the resources used in reading and writing activities, 94.1% of the students reported they used the Braille system and 81.8% reported that the reading subject was dictated by a colleague. Most of the students with low vision wore glasses (91.7%), and 33.3% utilized a magnifying glass as optical devices. Among the non-optical devices, the most common were the environmental ones, getting closer to the blackboard (75.0%) and to the window (66.7%) for better lighting. CONCLUSIONS: It became evident that students with low vision eye-sight made use of devices meant for bearers of blindness, such as applying the Braille system. A reduced number of low vision students making use of optical and non-optical devices applicable to their problems were observed, indicating a probable unawareness of their visual potential and the appropriate devices to improve efficiency.

Keywords: Audiovisual aids; Reading; Vision, low; Visually impared persons; Blindness; Students

PURPOSE: To identify the perception of the ophthalmic service quality provided for outpatients of the public healthcare system as well as to detect which actions should be considered necessary and priority in order to improve its quality. METHODS: A quantitative descriptive study was carried out on 100 outpatients of the public healthcare system which were submitted to ophthalmic tests at Fundação Hilton Rocha - Belo Horizonte - MG, from July 1st - July 30th 2004. Individual interviews were carried out by giving the interviewees two structured questionnaires adapted from the modified SERVQUAL. This scale is in agreement with the reality of the studied institute. RESULTS: The adapted SERVQUAL scale was submitted to statistical validation and it showed a suitable internal consistency index. In general terms, a slight general dissatisfaction was detected regarding ophthalmological service quality. The interviewees cared more about safety and reliability. A higher degree of dissatisfaction was detected mainly concerning fulfillment of procedures at scheduled appointments related to the execution of services within due timelimits. CONCLUSIONS: The institute is supposed to plan as well as carry out actions which lead to a general improvement in the patient's satisfaction regarding service quality and mainly reliability. Service quality monitoring through periodic use of the SERVQUAL scale will not only make it possible to plan highly precise and effective intervention strategies in these and in other healthcare services but it will also allow monitoring the responses to these actions. All these actions will contribute to the improvement of the service in the system as a whole.

Keywords: Marketing of health services; Ophthalmology; Quality of health care; Quality indicators, health care; Ambulatory care; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To develop the design of a near low vision aid that has esthetic and functional qualities intending to give its user a better life quality. METHODS: To verify low vision people's main needs concerning the current devices for near distance; to identify possible design interventions to make a project that fulfills their main needs. RESULTS: A prototype having a reading stand tied to the end of a magnifier that moves horizontally and vertically permitting the horizontal reading of a text line was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The developed device fulfills low vison people's visual and handling needs for near distance, contributing to the easiness to read and write.

Keywords: Vision, low; Equipment and supplies; Equipment design; Reading

PURPOSES: To evaluate the importance of objective examinations together with ocular history and orbital and periorbital anatomy, to identifying patients at risk of developing a post-blepharoplasty dry eye complication. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 29 patients with dermatochalasis that were studied before and three months after blepharoplasty. Changes in ocular symptoms, physical examination and in objective tests, like Schirmer's test, tear film break-up time and rose bengal coloration were evaluated. RESULTS: No statistical significant alteration in results of objective tests, except Schirmer II test, between pre and postoperative period were found. In relation to eyelid anatomy, alterations in palpebral fissure and in excursion of the upper eyelid, that were statistically significant were found after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It may be stated that palpebral fissure alterations occur frequently in patients submitted to esthetic blepharoplasty. It is also possible to conclude, that in this study, the objective tests for dry eye evaluation, did not demonstrate significant postoperative alterations, except for Schirmer II test.

Keywords: Blepharoplasty; Dry eye syndromes; Rose bengal; Prospective studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ophthalmological alterations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze 70 patients with diagnosis of SLE based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Data regarding sex, age, ethnicity, duration of disease, disease activity, use of corticosteroids and antimalarial drugs, and presence of ophthalmological symptoms were recorded and a full ophthalmic examination was carried out. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (88.6%) were females, 43 patients (61.4%) were white. Mean age was 43.9 years, 57 patients (81.4%) presented no sign of active disease and 46 patients (65.7%) had no ophthalmological complaints. Dry eye syndrome was diagnosed in 22 patients (31.4%), bilateral subcapsular cataract in 15 patients (21.1%) and glaucoma in 2 patients (2.9%). Fundoscopic evaluation disclosed 8 patients (11.4%) with drusen, 7 (10.0%) with RPE atrophy, 2 patients (2.9%) presented pathological disc excavation, 2 (2.9%) vascular tortuosity and arteriovenous crossing changes, 1 patient (1.4%) had macular chorioretinitis scar and 1 patient (1.4%) had branch retinal vein occlusion. CONCLUSION: SLE is a disease that can present with ophthalmic involvement, usually benign in outpatients. Dry eye and cataract are the commonest ocular findings. The former seems to be more related to SLE itself while the latter probably relates to the chronic use of corticosteroids for the disease treatment. Antimalarial drugs do not frequently cause ophthalmic lesions, although further studies must be conducted in order to assess their impact on patients' long-term visual quality. In the patients with the disease under control, ocular damage is more related to systemic treatment what enhances the need for ophthalmological examination as a routine even in these patients.

Keywords: Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Keratoconjunctivitis sicca; Antimalarials; Adrenal cortex hormones; Cataract

PURPOSE: There is a general acceptance among the scientific community of Cartesian symmetry wavefront sensors (such as the Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor) as a standard in the field of optics and vision science. In this study it is shown that sensors of different symmetries and/or configurations should also be tested and analyzed in order to quantify and compare their effectiveness when applied to visual optics. Three types of wave-aberration sensors were developed and tested here. Each sensor has a very different configuration and/or symmetry (dodecagonal (DOD), cylindrical (CYL) and conventional Hartmann-Shack (HS)). METHODS: All sensors were designed and developed in the Physics Department of the Universidade de São Paulo - São Carlos. Each sensor was mounted on a laboratory optical bench used in a previous study. A commercial mechanical eye was used as control. This mechanical eye has a rotating mechanism that allows the retinal plane to be positioned at different axial distances. Ten different defocus aberrations were generated: 5 cases of myopia from -1D to -5D and 5 cases of hyperopia, from +1D to +5D, in steps of 1D following the scale printed on the mechanical eye. For each wavefront sensor a specific image-processing and fitting algorithm was implemented. For all three cases, the wavefront information was fit using the first 36 VSIA standard Zernike polynomials. Results for the mechanical eye were also compared to the absolute Zernike surface generated from coefficients associated with the theoretical sphere-cylinder aberration value. RESULTS: Precision was analyzed using two different methods: first, a theoretical approach was used by generating synthetic Zernike coefficients from the known sphere-cylinder aberrations, simply by applying sphere-cylinder equations in the backward direction. Then comparisons were made of these coefficients with the ones obtained in practice. Results for DOD, HS and CYL sensors were, respectively, as follows: mean of root mean square (RMSE) for all aberrations, when theoretical Zernike coefficients were used as control, was 0.22, 0.66 and 0.26 microns; RMSE of sphere-cylinder values when compared to autorefractor measurements was 0.18D, 0.22D and 0.35D for sphere, 0.14D, 0.24D and 0.17D for cylinder, 34.36°, 35.16° and 26.36° for axis; RMSE of sphere-cylinder values when theoretical values were used as control was 0.11D, 0.29D and 0.46D for sphere, 0.15D, 0.28D and 0.17D for cylinder, 19.71°, 25.56° and 18.56° for axis. CONCLUSION: The main conclusion is that the symmetry of an optical sensor is not an important consideration when measuring typical eye aberrations such as defocus (myopic and hyperopic), but there are differences. In this sense, the polar symmetry sensors render results that are equivalent to the traditional Cartesian Hartmann-Shack sensor, but furnish an easier method for determining the optical center.

Keywords: Diagnostic techniques, ophthalmological; Refractive errors

Blindness as a complication of nasal septoplasty is a devastating occurrence with only a few cases reported in the literature. In most of these cases, visual loss was attributed to retinal embolism following intra-arterial injection of substances into the nasal turbinate. This paper documents one case of complete unilateral blindness from direct optic nerve trauma following an apparently uneventful septorhinoplasty. Ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists should therefore be aware of the possible occurrence of such complication.

Keywords: Blindness; Rhinoplasty; Optic nerve; Postoperative complications; Visual loss; Case reports

PURPOSE: To report abnormalities of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT TM) in patients with pituitary adenoma. METHODS: Two patients with long-standing bitemporal visual field defects and optic nerve band atrophy were submitted to optical coherence tomography examination (Stratus OCT TM). RESULTS: Both patients with band atrophy revealed diffuse loss of the retinal nerve fiber layer on Stratus OCT TM, with severe reduction in the nasal and temporal areas of the optic disc. Retinal nerve fiber layer loss correlated well with visual field loss and with previous histological studies of band atrophy of the optic nerve. CONCLUSIONS: Stratus optical coherence tomography can provide useful information in the diagnosis of band atrophy from chiasmal lesions such as pituitary adenomas.

Keywords: Pituitary neoplasms; Retinal ganglion cells; Tomography, optical coherence; Optic chiasm; Nerve fibers; Vision disorders; Case reports

Interferon is an immunomodulating cytokine used to treat patients with different diseases, such as hepatitis C chronic infection. Pegylated interferon is a new type of interferon, developed to increase the half-life of the drug. Many side effects have been related to its use, including ocular toxicity and retinopathy. The most reported ocular findings are cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages located at the posterior pole and surrounding optic nerve head. We describe one case of pegylated interferon-associated retinopathy with visual loss. The patient had visual acuity improvement four weeks after discontinuation of the medication and the ocular findings became much more subtle.

Keywords: Hepatitis C; Interferon alfa-2a; Ribavirin; Drug therapy; combination; Retina; Retinitis pigmentosa; Visual acuity; Case reports

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) technique in the reduction of anisometropy in adults, for whom conventional treatment was not successful. METHODS: A sequence of cases of three eyes of three adult patients, two females and one male, age ranging from 28 and 49 years (average 38.3 years), who underwent LASIK. Two patients were followed up for eighteen months and one for six months. RESULTS: Comparing the corrected visual acuity before surgery with the non-corrected visual acuity after surgery, one eye gained two lines of vision, one eye remained the same and one eye lost one line of vision. All eyes remained without spheric refraction, and astigmatism did not exceed - 0.75 D after surgery. There has been an improvement in the symptoms of asthenopia in the three patients. CONCLUSION: The LASIK technique proved to be efficient in the correction of anisometropy in adults, improving visual accuity and asthenopia complaints, and leading to a similar refraction in both eyes.

Keywords: Amblyopia: Anisometropia; Keratomileusis, laser in situ; Refractive errors; Visual acuity; Case reports

This paper is about a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome empirically treated for miliary tuberculosis. During the clinical evolution the patient presented lesions compromising the right eyelid and tarsal conjunctiva. The initial diagnostic hypothesis was ocular tuberculosis with conjunctival and eyelid involvement. The biopsy of the conjuctival lesion identified an encapsulated yeast-like fungus: Criptococcus neoformans. After starting treatment with B anfotericin, the cutaneus lesions cleared.

Keywords: AIDS-related opportunistic infections; Cryptococcosis; Cryptococcus neoformans; Eyelid diseases; Eye infections, fungal; Amphotericin B; Case reports

The vitelliform macular lesion is usually observed in Best's disease and the adult type of foveomacular dystrophy. We describe a rare case of macular vitelliform lesion in association with basal laminar drusen. The patient has been followed at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo for the last four years. The differential diagnosis, clinical evolution, pathogenesis and treatment of this rare condition are discussed.

Keywords: Basement membrane; Fluorescein angiography; Fundus oculi; Macula lutea; Pigment epithelium of eye; Retinal drusen; Fovea centralis; Retinal detachment; Case reports

Many studies have been trying to identify genetic markers for opthalmological diseases, including, among others, the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigens). Localized on the short arm of chromosome 6, the human leukocyte antigen system is well known for its capacity to confer susceptibility or resistance to different diseases. In view of its accentuated polymorphism, the strength and type of association differs with the disease and sometimes, with the studied ethnic-racial group. The development of molecular methods to typify HLA alleles and recent updates of their nomenclature has contributed to a better understanding of this system. In this review, some aspects of the human leukocyte antigen system are discussed, such as the methods of detection, nomenclature and association with acute anterior uveitis, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, young-onset keratoconus and birdshot retinochoroidopathy.

Keywords: HLA antigens; Major histocompatibility complex; Retinitis; Uveitis; Keratoconus