Tangential vitreoretinal traction around fovea is known to be the principal cause in the pathogenesis of idiopathic macular holes. According to the recent study, the internal limiting membrane(ILM) may provide a scaffold for fibroblast proliferation and contraction, therefore play an important role in the enlargement of macular hole. We removed the ILM during macular hole surgery and assessed the anatomical and functional outcome of the macular hole surgery. Twelve consecutive patients with full-thickness macular hole were enrolled in this study. They were examed for best-corrected vision, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, Humphrey automated perimetry, focal eletroretinogram, before and after surgery. After surgery, vision was improved in 8 eyes(67%), hole was closed in 10 eyes(83%). Macular thresholds on visual field was increased in 8 eyes and peripheral scotomas developed in 3 eyes postoperatively. The amplitude increased in 7 eyes and the implicit time decreased in 8 eyes on focal electroretinograms postoperatively. Out results suggested that the complete removal of ILM should be attempted to improve vision and to close holes during the full-thickness macular hole surgery.
Fibroblasts ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Photography ; Retinal Perforations* ; Scotoma ; Traction ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: Optic disc harmatoma is usually seen in tuberous sclerosis patients, but, it may be seen in otherwise normal people. Visual acuity is usually not affected by this lesion. METHODS: We experienced a 40-year-old woman with optic disc hamartoma who presented with acute visual defect. With oral triamcinolone 48mg/day, her visions recovered to normal in 2 weeks. RESULTS: Her age, symptom, and course of disease supported the diagnosis of optic neuritis. CONCLUSION: We report this patient as a case of optic disc hamartoma combined with optic neuritis.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Optic Neuritis* ; Triamcinolone ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Visual Acuity

In the Workers' Compensation Insurance (WCI) system in Korea, occupational diseases (ODs) are approved through deliberation meetings of the Committee on Occupational Disease Judgment (CODJ) after disease investigations when workers or medical institutions requested the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (COMWEL) for medical care benefits. Insufficient data presented by employers or workers or lack of objective evidence may increase the possibility of disapproval. The expertise of accident investigation staff members should be reinforced and employers' and related institutions' obligations to cooperate and submit data should be specified under the law. The deliberation meetings of the CODJ are held separately for musculoskeletal, cerebro-cardiovascular, and medical diseases, and the judgments of ODs are made by the chairperson of COMWEL and six committee members by majority vote by issue. To reinforce the expertise of the members of the CODJ, periodic education and a system to accredit the committee members after appropriate education should be introduced. To fairly and quickly compensate for diseases that occur in workers, the criteria for the recognition of occupational diseases should be continuously amended and the systems for disease investigations and judgments should be continuously improved.
Accidents, Occupational/*economics ; Humans ; Insurance, Accident/economics ; Insurance, Health/economics ; Occupational Diseases/*economics ; Organization and Administration ; Republic of Korea ; Workers' Compensation/*economics

To maintain the function of central vision from the sensory retina at the macular area, we performed macular trasnlocation for the treatment of subfoveal lesion. Laser photocoagulation hardly avoid central scotoma and surgical removal of neovascular membrane tends to result in poor visual outcome because of the unhealthy underlying retinal pigment epithelium. We performed macular translocation in four patients with subfoveal lesion using modified macular translocation technique. Surgical steps include trans pars plana vitrectomy, creation of a retinal detachment, scleral shortening, air-fluid exchange and gas injection. The results were the increased visual acuity in two patients and the improved symptom in two patients. Our result suggested that the macular translocation procedure may be considered as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of patients with subfoveal lesion.
Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Membranes ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Scotoma ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Interferon-alpha is known to inhibit the vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro.It has been used systemically for the treatment of choroidal neovascular membrane proliferation.However, significant side effects in systemic administration limit the dosage and duration of its use. It has been suggested that reducing systemic side effects and maintenance of high intraocular concentration would be achieved with the direct intravitreal injection of Interferon-alpha.Thus, this study was undertaken to estimate the toxicity and safe dose of Interferon-alpha when it is given intravitreally in rabbits. Normal saline, Interferon-alpha 50, 000IU, 100, 000IU, 200, 000IU and 300, 000 IU were given intravitreally to 10 rabbit eyes.Toxicity was assessed by serial ERGs after 7 and 14 days.Animals were sacrificed at 14 days after injection for histopathologic study. The ERG was flattened at 14 days in 300, 000IU of Interferon-alpha group.On histologic examination, inflammatory reaction of vitreous and retina remained at an insignificant level upto 200, 000IU, but increased in dose dependent manner above this dose, resulting in prominent reaction in 300, 000IU group. Therefore, we suggest that 200, 000IU of Interferon-alpha may be the safe dose when administered intravitreally in rabbits, and 300, 000IU may be the toxic dose.
Choroid ; Endothelial Cells ; Interferon-alpha ; Intravitreal Injections ; Membranes ; Rabbits* ; Retina

It has been reported that the cause of the bacterial endophthalmitis following cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation was G(+) organisms in most cases. However, the endophthalmitis caused by G(-) organisms has worse prognosis than that by G(+)organisms. We experienced a case of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endophthalmitis which has not yet been reported in Korea. A 77-year-old female presented with blurred vision, conjunctival injection and ocular pain 5 days after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Ocular findings such as corneal edema, hypopyon and thick posterior capsular opacity were consistent with infectious endophthalmitis. Culture of vitreous aspirate isolated Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 15 days after cataract extraction.
Aged ; Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Corneal Edema ; Endophthalmitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Prognosis ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* ; Stenotrophomonas*

No abstract available.
Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Polyps* ; Stomach*

Submacular hemorrhage from various causes induces the irreversible damage to the retina, leading to poor visual outcome. Surgery for removal of submacular hemorrhage was performed but the general results were not satisfactory in spite of better surgical technique. We took this study to identify the effectiveness and safety of intravitreal injection of tissue plasminogen activator(tPA) and SF6 for displacement of submacular hemorrahge. Thirteen patients who have submacular hemorrhage had undergone intravitreal injection of tPA and SF6 and positioned face down for about 1 week. Postoperative complication, best corrected visual acuity, final visual acuity, amount of displacement related to the duration of submacular hemorrhage and causal diseases were checked retrospectively. The average age of the patients was 64. Six eyes(46.2%) improved visual acuity by 2 lines or more, and 2 eyes(15.4%) lost visual acuity 2 lines or more. Complications included vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eyes, increased intraocular pressure in 2 eyes. Causes were trauma in 3 eyes and age-related macular degeneration in 10 eyes. The final visual results after 5 months or longer were related with macular lesion. Complete displacement was achieved in 10 eyes, partial displacement in 4 eyes at 1 month. The authors concluded that brief prone position after intravitreal injection of tPA and SF6 is rapid and effective method for displacement of submacular hemorrhage.
Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intravitreal Injections* ; Macular Degeneration ; Plasminogen ; Postoperative Complications ; Prone Position ; Retina ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

Objective: This study aimed to review domestic and international literature on oral health interven-tions for pregnant women and provide basic data for the development of oral health intervention programs. Methods: We used domestic and international search databases, such as Medline, Embase, Re-search Information Sharing Service, Science On, Korea Citation Index, and DBpia. Among papers published between 2003 and 2023, 22 met the selection criteria by combining “pregnant women,” “oral hygiene,” and “oral health.” Results: Since 2007, foreign literature has steadily increased; however, domestic literature has decreased. Overseas research designs were mostly randomized control trials, whereas domestic designs were mostly non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. The intervention methods in-cluded three preventive programs, five specialized oral care programs, and 14 oral health education programs. Conclusions In-depth research should be conducted to increase the understanding and interest of pregnant women. Systematic intervention programs that consider the effectiveness and sus-tainability of intervention methods should be developed, and policy support should be provided to strengthen the importance of oral health education by experts and institutional improvements.

Objective: This study aimed to review domestic and international literature on oral health interven-tions for pregnant women and provide basic data for the development of oral health intervention programs. Methods: We used domestic and international search databases, such as Medline, Embase, Re-search Information Sharing Service, Science On, Korea Citation Index, and DBpia. Among papers published between 2003 and 2023, 22 met the selection criteria by combining “pregnant women,” “oral hygiene,” and “oral health.” Results: Since 2007, foreign literature has steadily increased; however, domestic literature has decreased. Overseas research designs were mostly randomized control trials, whereas domestic designs were mostly non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. The intervention methods in-cluded three preventive programs, five specialized oral care programs, and 14 oral health education programs. Conclusions In-depth research should be conducted to increase the understanding and interest of pregnant women. Systematic intervention programs that consider the effectiveness and sus-tainability of intervention methods should be developed, and policy support should be provided to strengthen the importance of oral health education by experts and institutional improvements.