No Abstract Available.
Trabeculectomy*

PURPOSE: We investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of amniotic membrane(AM) ointment in filtering surgery of rabbits. METHODS: After filtering surgery was performed on both eyes of 10 rabbits, the AM ointment was applied over and under the scleral flap on one eye whereas base ointment excluding AM element was applied to the other as a control. The shapes of blebs were observed under slit-lamp biomicroscopy at postoperative 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks, and the tissues were excised for histologic studies. RESULTS: Serial changes of intraocular pressures had no significant difference. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy demonstrated that conjunctival blebs of AM ointment group were more elevated and cystic at 1 and 2 weeks. The heights of conjunctival blebs were significantly higher at 1, 2 and 4 weeks, and the width of scleral tracks was significantly wider at 1 and 2 weeks in AM ointment group. The number of inflammatory cells in the scleral track was significantly less at 3 days and 1 week, the number of fibroblasts in scleral track was significantly less at 2 and 3 weeks in AM ointment group. Masson s trichrome stain was less positive in AM ointment and the stain area of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive fibroblasts was insignificant with image analysis system. Collagen type 3 appeared in scleral track from postoperative 1 week in control group, however, in AM ointment group, from 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: AM ointment is beneficial to suppress fibroblast differentiation, proliferation and inflam-matory reaction in filtering surgery and might be safe and effective adjunctive for enhancement of success in filtering surgery.
Amnion* ; Blister ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Filtering Surgery* ; Humans* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Rabbits*

The authorsinvestigated the effects of UV-B and amniotic membrane graft about PRK induced inflammatory cell infiltration into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Total 20 white rabbits were divided into 5 groups; 1)mechanical epithelial removal, 2)epithelial removal and UV-B irradiation, 3)PRK only, 4) PRK and UV-B irradiation, 5)Amniotic membrane graft after PRK and UV-B irradiation. All corneas were harvested after 24hrs. H & E stain for PMNs infiltration, MDA immunohistochemical stain for lipid peroxidation and TUNEL stain for keratocyte apoptosis were performed. UV-B had little effect on infiltration of inflammatory cell into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Amniotic membrane suppressed infiltration of PMNs into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Environmental UV-B exposure should not be avoided after PRK. Amniotic membrane graft is beneficial to reduce keratocyte apoptosis and related corneal haze.
Amnion* ; Apoptosis* ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Membranes ; Rabbits ; Transplants

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of photo-astigmatic refractive keratectomy(PARK) with Schwind excimer laser for one year. We performed PARK procedures on 28 eyes with compound myopic astigmatism. Twenty eight eyes were divided into two groups according to their astigmatism: low(up to -1.5D, 15 eyes), high(over -1.5, 13 eyes). Mean preoperative astigmatism was 1.17+/-0.28 in low astigmatism group and 2.67+/-0.90 in high astigmatism group. Mean one year postoperative astigmatism was 0.40+/-0.39 in low astigmatism group and 0.48+/-0.56 in high astigmatism group. Correction rate of astigmatism was 62.3% in low astigmatism group and 79.4% in high astigmatism group. Complications were loss of best corrected visual acuity 2 line or more(2 eyes), temporary increased intraocular pressure(4 eyes), over 0.25mm eccentric ablation(2 eyes). We concluded that the Schwind excimer laser PARK appeared to be a safe and relatively accurate proceudre to correct myopic astigmatism, especially predictability of astigmatism correction was very satisfactory.
Astigmatism ; Lasers, Excimer ; Visual Acuity

Epidermal growth factor(EGF), which exists as a constant component of human fluid, was known to stimulate the proliferation and migration of corneal epithelial cells. We investigated the effect of EGF on cornea epithelial wound healing after excimer laser keratectomy. The corneal wound healing was evaluated at every 6 hours on 30 rabbit eyes (5 group) exposed to different EGF concentrations during the organ culture. The results obtained are as follows: The area of epithelial defect was significantly smaller in the EGF treated groups as compared with the control group. However, there was no statistical difference in the area of epithelial defect among the different concentrations of the EGF treated group. The rates of the wound healing in the EGF treated groups seem to be faster than the control group, however, it was statistically insignificant. At 6 and 12 hours after the culture, the rates of wound healing of all the EGF treated group were significantly faster than thouse of the control group. Therefore, the exogenous EGF was found to be effective on the experimental cornea epithelial wound healing after excimer laser keratectomy, showing its maximal effect at 12 hours after treatment.
Cornea* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Rabbits* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation which has anti-inflammatory functions and facilitates epithelialization on leaking blebs. METHODS: Patients who had bleb leakage after trabeculectomy were included, 2 eyes of 2 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 1 eye of 1 pa-tient with primary angle-closure glaucoma. After amniotic membrane was transplanted in the conjunctiva and cornea at the center of bleb leakage, the state of bleb leakage was observed retrospectively. RESULTS: In the first patient, there was no bleb leakage at postoperative day 1 and showed epithelialization at postoperative day 10. At two days after surgery, bleb leakage was controlled in the second patient and it showed epithelialization at four days after surgery. From the first day after surgery, there was no bleb leakage in the third patient. The patients were put on T-lens because of foreign body sensation, which was improved two days after surgery, and were epithelialized in 1 week. Out of all three eyes, there was no avascular bleb with leakage. CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane can be a useful therapy of bleb leakage , which may cause the complications after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients.
Amnion* ; Blister* ; Conjunctiva ; Cornea ; Foreign Bodies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensation ; Trabeculectomy

The epidemiologic study to evaluate the risk factors and types of cataract had been performed in 210 cataract patients and in 103 normal controls at Chang-Nyung District, Kyung-Nam Province, from September 1995 to April 1996, using the slitlamp biomicroscopy and Scheimpflug camera(EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan). All the patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The most common type of cataract in Chang-Nyung District was nucleosclerotic opacity. 2. The dominant jobs were farmer and housewife. 3. The more sunlight exposure and heavy drinker were related to nucleosclerotic opacity and smoking habit also related to peripheral cortical opacity of lens. 4. The patients with diabetes mellitus were related with posterior subcapsular opacity ; those with arthritis related with nucleosclerotic opacity. 5. The patients with long-term use of herb medicine were related with peripheral cortical and nucleosclerotic opacity ; those with corticosteroid related with posterior subcapsular opacity. 6. There was no relationship between cataractogenesis and family history of cataract and parity in female. 7. The patients with nucleosclerotic opacity preferred grain and vegetables and those with posterior subcapsular opacity, fruit, meats and coffee. In conclusion, multi-factors are involved in the cataractogenesis including age, occupation, outdoor working hours, smoking, drinking habits, systemic disease, long-term used drug, family history, parity, favorite food, etc. Each factor is considered to be related to specific type of lens opacity.
Arthritis ; Cataract* ; Edible Grain ; Coffee ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meat ; Occupations ; Parity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sunlight ; Vegetables

To create an experimental glaucoma model in rabbit and to study the effect of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) on rabbits ocular tissues, we treated trabecular meshwork of 7 adult pigmented rabbits with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. And then we studied the IOP lowering effect of topical verapamil in experimental glaucoma model. The IOP and outflow facility were measured with an applanation pneumotonograph (Alcon, Texas). During sustained rap elevation, 50ul of 0.25% verapamil was instilled in one eye and normal saline in the fellow eye. The IOP was measured 1, 2, 4, 8 hours after instillation. The measurement was repeated twice at 2 weeks interval. After 5 weeks, the IOP increased from an average baseline IOP of 16.6mmHg to 25.51mmHg, an increase of 55.6%. The outflow facility was decreased from 0.21 microliter/min/mmHg to 0.09 microliter/min/mmHg. There were statistically significant reductions in IOP in both verapamil and placebo-treated eyes(p<0.05). The reduction was greater in verapamil-treated eyes than in placebo-treated eyes(p<0.05). Maximal reduction of IOP was observed 2 hours after single-drop of verapamil, with significant reduction of IOP up to 4 hours duration(p<0.05). During the observation period of this study, cupping of the optic nerve head developed. Histopathologic examination revealed extensive scarring of the anterior chamber angle structure. There are marked hyaline degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in temporal retina.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Cicatrix ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Intraocular Pressure ; Optic Disk ; Rabbits* ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Trabecular Meshwork ; Verapamil*

We evaluated the safety, stability, predictability and efficacy of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with Schwind excimer laser for one year. We performed one-step procedures on 114 eyes of 92 patients. They were divided into three groups according to their manifest refractive error (spherical equivalent): Group ! (<-5 D, 39 eyes) , Group I (-5. 01 to -8 D, 40 eyes) , or Group III (>-8.01 D, 35 eyes). One year after PRK, uncorrected visual acuity of 0.8 or better was achieved in 95% of eyes in group I, 97% of eyes in group I and 63% of eyes in group III. In the group I , 90% of eyes were within +/-1 D of attempted correction, as were 95% in group II and 63% in group III. Complications were corneal haze above grade 2(8.8%), temporarily increased intraocular pressure (18.4%), central island (14.9%), eccentric ablation more than 0. 5mm(34.2%) and halo (0.9%). We conclude that the Schwind excimer laser PRK appears to be 8 safe and relatively accurate procedure to correct low to moderate myopia, but long-term and more frequent follow-up is needed for high myopia.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lasers, Excimer ; Myopia ; Photorefractive Keratectomy ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

The Scheimpflug photography was used to evauate objectively changes in lens opacity at a month interval in 143 eyes of 78 patients affected by early cataract. from Dec. 1993 to Dec. 1994. A total of 48 patients were treated daily with 1.5g bendazac-lysine, and 30 patients constituted the control group. We checked visual acuity and analyzed change of lens opacity by using axial densitometry and retroillumination of Scheimpflug photography after Bendaline(R) medication up to 9 months After treatment, improvement or no change of subjective visual acuity was observed in 65 eyes(78.3%) of treated group, whereas decrement in 35 eyes (58.3%) of control group. In the axial densitometry, the nuclear opacity began to improve after 3 months of medication and opacities of lens between anterior supranucleus and posterior capsule were statistically significant improved after 5 months of medication (p<0.05). There's no correlation in the change of opacity area under retroillumination (p>0.05). The result show that bendazac lysine may be effective in improvement of visual acuity and delay the formation of lens opacity in early cataract.
Cataract* ; Densitometry ; Humans ; Lysine ; Photography ; Visual Acuity