No abstract available.
Cataract*

Epidemiological data on visual disabilities in Korea are rare. In order to partly understand the situation of visual disability in Korea, the authore performed a retrospective study on the major causes and the degree of visual disability of patients who got the authorized document of vusual disability between January, 1993 to June, 1996. Of the 150 patients with availble clinical data, men were more than women(75.3%). The patients in their forties were most common(45 patients, 30.3%). First degree and fourth degree visual disability(4/9) were most common(43.2%, 49.1%) until 1995 and from 1996, respectivelly. Of the 300 eyes, 257 eyes were diagnosed to have visual problems. Optic neuropathy (52 eyes, 20.2%), trauma(31 eyes, 12.1%), retinitis pigmentosa(29 eyes, 11.3%), and corneal opacity (23 eyes, 8.9%) were the common causes of visual disability. These results might be helpful for partly understanding the visual disability in Korea.
Corneal Opacity ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Retinitis ; Retrospective Studies

Delayed reattachment of the muscle to the sclera may be desirable to correct the deviation of eye developed after the surgery. Based upon the results of the author` s previous experimental study on rabbits, polytetrafluoroethylene was placed around the cut end of the muscle as a physical barrier between the free muscle end and the sclera in seven strabismus patients in order to prevent the postoperative adhesions. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was effective in delaying the adjustment more than 2 weeks after surgery in 4 out of 7 patients. In 3 remaining patients, adjustment was not necessary in 2 patients up to 22 days postoperatively because of the desirable postoperative state and suture was lost in a 65-year-old patient. In every case, PTFE was removed after final adjustment. In conclusion, PTFE may be clinically useful for delaying the timing of adjustment.
Aged ; Humans* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Rabbits ; Sclera ; Strabismus* ; Sutures

The author attempted to discover a method for performing delayed suture adjustment to investigate whether it actually provides more relable and stable results. In order to prevent the fromation of postoperative adhesions and delay the time of adjustment, the author used 0.1mm-thick polyteetraful-oroethylene(PTFE) as a physical barrier. PTFE was placed between the free muscle end and the sclera in 60 strabismic patients during adjustable strabismus surgery. Adjustment was not necessary in eight patients until PTFE removal. In thirteen patients, adjustment was not necessayr after first adjustment until two weeks postoperatively. PTFE was effective in delaying the adjustment after two weeks postoperatively in the remaining 39 patients. To my knowledge, this study represents the longest delayed adjustment in humans. In conclusion, PTFE can be clinically beneficial for delaying the timing of adjustment in strabismus surgery.
Humans* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Sclera ; Strabismus* ; Sutures

PURPOSE: In order to know the outcome in patients with initial overcorrection of 20 delta or more after the surgery of exotropia. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients initially overcorrected 20delta or more following surgery for an exotropia were managed with an alternate full time occlusion, echothiopate iodide, or prism glasses for the period of overcorrection. The alternate prism cover test was performed at near and distance during the follow up period. Reoperation was performed if esotropia of 20delta or more persist more than three months postoperatively. RESULTS: Most patients (87%) had a preoperative deviation of 35 delta or less at distance. Forty nine patients (72%) had 10 delta or less within 4 weeks postoperatively at distance and near, and 11 patients (16%) including 7 patients with prism glasses between five to 16 weeks postoperatively. One patient who was lost to follow up was found to be orthophoric 32 months postoperatively, and another patient refused to come to the hospital for having straight eyes. Four patients with consecutive esotropia and one patient for postoperative hypotropia after combined recession of superior rectus needed a reoperation. One remaining patient was managed with an alternate full time occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Initial overcorrection of 20 delta or more occurred mostly in patients with a preoperative exotropia of 35 delta or less at distance. Most patients had 10 delta or less within 3 to 4 months postoperatively; however, 6% needed a reoperation for consecutive esotropia.
Esotropia ; Exotropia* ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Reoperation

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of polyurethane with sustained release dexamethasone in delayed adjustable strabismus surgery in rabbits. METHODS: After recession of the superior rectus muscle(SRM), balanced salt solution or polyurethane film with/without sustained release dexamethasone was applied beneath and over the SRM in the control group(group C), polyurethane-steroid group(group P-S) and polyurethane group(group P), respectively. Delayed adjustment was performed once on each SRM at four and six weeks postoperatively by a masked observer. The possible length to adjust and the necessary force required for the adjustment, as well as the degree of any adhesions, were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the control group, adjustment was impossible in all of the eyes at four and six weeks postoperatively. In group P-S, adjustment was possible in 11 out of 11(11/11) eyes four weeks postoperatively and in 10/11 eyes six weeks postoperatively. In group P, adjustment was possible in 9/11 eyes four weeks postoperatively and in 10/12 eyes six weeks postoperatively. In addition, the degree of adhesion was significantly less in group P and in group P-S compared to the control group. The degree of adhesion between the SRM and the sclera was marginally better(p=0.051) in group P-S four weeks postoperatively than in group P. CONCLUSIONS: Use of polyurethane film could delay adjustment in most of the rabbit eyes for up to six weeks postoperatively. Sustained release dexamethasone is helpful for delaying adjustment in rabbit eyes until six week postoperatively without the need for frequent topical instillation of steroids.
Dexamethasone* ; Masks ; Polyurethanes* ; Rabbits ; Sclera ; Steroids ; Strabismus*

We report a false positive case of I-131 scan due to a sialolithiasis in right submandibular gland. I-131 images showed not only remnant thyroid tissues and functional metastases in the anterior neck but also a hot uptake near right submandibular gland. We confirmed the sialolithiasis by radiologic studies. Sialolithiasis should be regarded as a false positive cause when I-131 scan shows a hot spot near salivary bed.
Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Submandibular Gland ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

The fat adherence syndrome is a type of restrictive strabismus resulting from the formation of adherence of orbital tissues to the globe or extraocular muscles in association with violation of Tenon`s capsule. The treatment of fat adherence syndrome has been extremely difficult. In order to determine the efficacy to prevent the development of restrictive scar tissue, the authors created adhesion of inferior rectus muscle to inferior orbital rim in 40 eyes of 20 rabbits. This was followed by placement of normal saline in control group, and Viscoat, Interceed(TC7), polyglactin 910 mesh and polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) in experimental groups as physical barriers between the inferior rectus muscle and hole of Tenon`s capsule. Forced ductions were performed 4 weeks postoperatively and histologic examinations were performed. Viscoat made less adhesion, although no difference was noted in terms of length and force for duction. Polyglactin 910 mesh failed to make less adhesion and any difference in length and force for duction. Interceed caused less force for duction, but no difference in the degree of adhesion and the length for duction. Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) did prevent the formation of adhesion between the body of PTFE and the muscle, however the fibrous membrane formed at the edge of PTFE prevented the eye movement. Thus there was no difference in terms of length and force for duction as well as the degree of adhesion in PTFE group. In conclusion, these results may be helpful for studying the management of fat adherence syndrome.
Cicatrix ; Eye Movements ; Membranes ; Muscles ; Orbit ; Polyglactin 910* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Rabbits ; Strabismus

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of occlusion therapy in amblyopia patients older than 9 years of age. METHODS: A retrospective study on 16 amblyopes older than 9 years was performed to evaluate initial best-corrected visual acuity, final best-corrected visual acuity, the type of amblyopia, and compliance. RESULTS: The average age at initiation of amblyopia therapy was 10.5 years and the average follow-up 24 months. Anisometropia was present in 11 patients, strabismus in 2, and both anisometropia and strabismus in 3 patients. The initial visual acuity was 0.2 or less in three, 0.3 to 0.5 in seven, 0.6 to 0.7 in six patients. The refractive errors of amblyopic eye were myopic in seven, hyperopic in seven and astigmatism in two patients. The amount of anisometropia was 2.56 diopters. Strabismus was exotropia in 5 patients. Initial therapy consisted of optical correction for the amblyopic eye and full-time occlusion for the nonamblyopic eye in 14, and part-time occlusion in two patients. Maintenance therapy of part-time occlusion with a patch in 11 patients and with Min's glasses in 3 patients followed improvement of visual acuity. Fifteen out of 16 patients improved their visual acuity over 3 lines of visual acuity and one remaining patient showed poor compliance. Final visual acuities were 0.7 or better in 14 patients, and 0.5 and 0.4 in each remained patient. CONCLUSIONS: Given compliance, occlusion therapy for anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia can be successful even if started after 9 years of age.
Amblyopia* ; Anisometropia ; Astigmatism ; Compliance ; Exotropia ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies ; Strabismus ; Visual Acuity

Simultaneous contraction of various muscles with levator palpebrae have been reported as a phenomenon of the paradoxic synkinesis. The authors observed an unilateral eyelid retraction induced by the postural change from supine to sitting position in a 33-month-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. In both cases, the levator function of both eyes was normal and ptosis was not observed. These cases were presumed to be related with postural righting reflex, but the exact neurological basis is not fully defined yet.
Child, Preschool ; Eyelids* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Reflex, Righting ; Synkinesis