Purpose: To evaluate the correction of vertical strabismus associated with exotropia by vertical transposition of the horizontal muscle to an extent equal to half the muscle width combined with muscle recession-resection. Methods: We enrolled patients with vertical strabismus of 4-15 prism diopters (PD) associated with exotropia who were not scheduled for vertical rectus or oblique muscle surgery. Regardless of the strabismus angle, the insertion site of the horizontal muscle was vertically transposed by half the muscle width during surgery. Success was defined as a vertical strabismus angle of 2 PD or less. Results: The preoperative mean exodeviation far angle in 41 patients was 27.8 PD and the average vertical strabismus far angle 8.1 PD. The success rate of exotropia surgery was 68.3%. The mean vertical strabismus angle was 2.8 PD on postoperative day 1 and the success rate of vertical strabismus surgery 92.7%. Undercorrection was evident in 4.9% of patients and overcorrection in 2.4%. The preoperative vertical strabismus angle was strongly associated with the residual angle after surgery (r = 0.386, p = 0.013). Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that the preoperative vertical strabismus far angle cutoff was 11 PDs. No patient factor significantly influenced vertical strabismus correction. Conclusions Vertical transposition of the horizontal muscle by half of the muscle width may correct vertical strabismus of far angle 11 PDs or less.

Purpose: To evaluate the correction of vertical strabismus associated with exotropia by vertical transposition of the horizontal muscle to an extent equal to half the muscle width combined with muscle recession-resection. Methods: We enrolled patients with vertical strabismus of 4-15 prism diopters (PD) associated with exotropia who were not scheduled for vertical rectus or oblique muscle surgery. Regardless of the strabismus angle, the insertion site of the horizontal muscle was vertically transposed by half the muscle width during surgery. Success was defined as a vertical strabismus angle of 2 PD or less. Results: The preoperative mean exodeviation far angle in 41 patients was 27.8 PD and the average vertical strabismus far angle 8.1 PD. The success rate of exotropia surgery was 68.3%. The mean vertical strabismus angle was 2.8 PD on postoperative day 1 and the success rate of vertical strabismus surgery 92.7%. Undercorrection was evident in 4.9% of patients and overcorrection in 2.4%. The preoperative vertical strabismus angle was strongly associated with the residual angle after surgery (r = 0.386, p = 0.013). Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that the preoperative vertical strabismus far angle cutoff was 11 PDs. No patient factor significantly influenced vertical strabismus correction. Conclusions Vertical transposition of the horizontal muscle by half of the muscle width may correct vertical strabismus of far angle 11 PDs or less.

The main mechanism of evolution is that biological entities change, are selected, and reproduce. We propose a different concept in terms of the main agent or atom of evolution: in the biological world, not an individual object,but its interactive network is the fundamental unit of evolution. The interaction network is composed of interaction pairs of information objects that have order information. This indicates a paradigm shift from 3D biological objects to an abstract network of information entities as the primary agent of evolution. It forces us to change our views about how organisms evolve and therefore the methods we use to analyze evolution.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the age-related clinical features, risk factors, and prognoses of bacterial keratitis in Daejeon and Chungcheong provinces and the patterns and trends of fluoroquinolone antibiotic susceptibility. Methods: Medical records of 433 patients (433 eyes) who visited one of the five university hospitals in Daejeon and Chungcheong provinces and were diagnosed as culture-positive bacterial keratitis between January 2000 to December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into younger and older groups based on an age of 60 years. Predisposing factors, prognostic factors, treatment method, causative organisms, and susceptibility to fluoroquinolone were analyzed. Results: Two hundred seventy three males (63.0%) and 160 females (37.0%) were included. The most common risk factors in the younger group were contact lens wear (27.5%) and trauma and foreign body (27.0%). The most common risk factors in the older group were trauma and foreign body (30.5%). Staphylococcus species was the most common causative Gram-positive bacteria, regardless of age, and Pseudomonas species was the most common among Gram-negative bacteria. The older group tended to have more severe keratitis required more surgical treatment and had a worse visual outcome than the younger group (p < 0.05). As of 2011, the resistance to fluoroquinolone did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions Bacterial keratitis in Daejeon and Chungcheong provinces indicated more severe clinical aspects and worse prognoses in older patients showing similar results from previous studies. Caution regarding trauma and foreign bodies and managing previous ocular disease is necessary for all age groups. Education regarding adequate contact lens care and hygiene is required for younger (<60 years) patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the age-related clinical features, risk factors, and prognoses of bacterial keratitis in Daejeon and Chungcheong provinces and the patterns and trends of fluoroquinolone antibiotic susceptibility. Methods: Medical records of 433 patients (433 eyes) who visited one of the five university hospitals in Daejeon and Chungcheong provinces and were diagnosed as culture-positive bacterial keratitis between January 2000 to December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into younger and older groups based on an age of 60 years. Predisposing factors, prognostic factors, treatment method, causative organisms, and susceptibility to fluoroquinolone were analyzed. Results: Two hundred seventy three males (63.0%) and 160 females (37.0%) were included. The most common risk factors in the younger group were contact lens wear (27.5%) and trauma and foreign body (27.0%). The most common risk factors in the older group were trauma and foreign body (30.5%). Staphylococcus species was the most common causative Gram-positive bacteria, regardless of age, and Pseudomonas species was the most common among Gram-negative bacteria. The older group tended to have more severe keratitis required more surgical treatment and had a worse visual outcome than the younger group (p < 0.05). As of 2011, the resistance to fluoroquinolone did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions Bacterial keratitis in Daejeon and Chungcheong provinces indicated more severe clinical aspects and worse prognoses in older patients showing similar results from previous studies. Caution regarding trauma and foreign bodies and managing previous ocular disease is necessary for all age groups. Education regarding adequate contact lens care and hygiene is required for younger (<60 years) patients.