The early ultrastructural changes of basement membrane thickening and degeneration of the pericyte were noted in retinal capillaries in diabetic patients. However no early ultrastructural changes were reported in diabetic iris capillary. The authors studied the ultrastructural features of basement membrane of iris capillaries which were obtained during cataract surgery in five diabetic patients and compared with those obtained in five nondiabetic patients. The endothelium basal lamina, pericyte basal lamina and membrane-like pericyte matrix in didabetic iris capillaries were thicker than those in nondiabetic Iris capillaries. The thickening of pericyte basal lamina is more prominant than the endothelium basal lamina in diabetes. The duration of diabetes had no relationship to endothelium basal lamina but, showed statistically significant relationship to thickness of pericyte bascal lamina and pericyte matrix.
Basement Membrane* ; Capillaries* ; Cataract ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Iris* ; Pericytes ; Retinaldehyde

PURPOSE: Phacoemulsification is now a well-established technique for the surgical treatment of soft cataractous lens, hard lenses being considered less suitable. We have been examined noraml and mature cataractous lenses by transmission electron microscopy. METHODS: A soft cataractous lens and a normal lens were extracted from cadavers. In addition, four hard cataractous and a soft cataractous lenses were extracted from five patients who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction. RESULTS: In transmission electron microscopic investigation of normal lens and soft and hard cataractous lenses, the normal lenses showed classical ball-and-socket inter- digitations and relatively regular arrangement of fiber cell. In soft mature cataracts, disruptions of fiber cell morphology including numerous ball-and-socket interdigitations, abrupt continuities in fiber cell membranes and high amplitude of undulating membranes were present. In the hard cataractous lenses, the fiber cell morphology was severely damaged. The interfibrous spaces were more compact and irregular than soft mature cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: The large amount of irregular undulating membranes and flattening of fiber cells increases the condenssness of hard cataracts, and makes phacoemulsification less suitable.
Cadaver ; Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Cell Membrane ; Humans ; Membranes ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phacoemulsification

Recurrent trichiasis is a persistent annoyance and, too often, resists conventional treatment. We tried the application of argon laser in the treatment of trichiasis. The technique involves the destruction of the follicles of the abnormal cilia. This method proved safe, convenient, precise, and effective in 6 cases out of 6. The technique is most suitable when a few fine cilia are involved, but repeated treatment may be required for more and thicker eyelashes.
Argon* ; Cilia ; Eyelashes ; Trichiasis*

Enlargement of the extraocular muscles may cause diplopia and exophthalmos. The most common cause of the exophthalmos is thyroid associated ophthalmopathy(TAO), followed by inflammatory diseases and orbital tumors. TAO has the classical features of proptosis and lid retraction. However, the diagnosis is frequently confused with other eye diseases due to various symptoms and signs. Therefore, measurement of the size of extraocular muscles in both normal and TAO patients will make diagnosis and treatment plan easier in TAO and other muscular diseases of the orbit. For the clinical application, we measured the size of muscle with and without magnification and the results were compared. Normal mean values of cross sectional length and thickness of the extraocular muscles measured by CT scan showed 8.83x 3.60 in the inferior rectus, 9.20x3.20 in the superior muscle group, 9.45x 3.48 in the medial rectus and 9.65x3.23 mm in the lateral rectus muscle with no sex differences. All four muscles showed statistically significant enlargement in TAO and the thickness showed greater increase than the length. Superior muscle group(superior rectus and levator muscle)was the most frequently involved in TAO in both sexes. There was no significant statistical difference in the methods of measurement.
Diagnosis ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Eye Diseases ; Graves Ophthalmopathy* ; Humans* ; Korea* ; Muscles* ; Muscular Diseases ; Orbit ; Sex Characteristics ; Thyroid Gland* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Troleandomycin

PURPOSE: To evaluate antioxidative and preventive effects of sea tangle extract on selenite-induced cataract formation. METHODS: Eighty SD rat pups were randomized into 8 groups. Group 1 received no injection of reagent (normal); Group 2 to 8 received injection of selenite (15 micromol/Kg, s.c.) was injected. In group 2 (control) and group 3, normal saline (i.p.) and ascorbic acid (i.p.) was injected on days 3~31. In groups 4~8, sea tangle extract (i.p.) was injected at a concentration of 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg, respectively. Development of cataract was assessed and photographed weekly under slit lamp. Rat lenses were analyzed for antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde. Furthermore, an amino acid analysis of sea tangle extract was performed. RESULTS: Significant differences (p<0.05) were seen in cataract development in group 7. Dense nuclear cataracts developed in 8 of 10 of the control group (group 2); Group 4~8 developed nuclear cataract with proportion of 6/10, 3/10, 2/10, 1/10, and 6/10 rats. In sea tangle injected group, levels of GPx were higher than in the ascorbic acid and control groups. In particular, group 7, injected with 100 mg/kg of sea tangle extract, showed significantly high level of enzyme. Results of the amino acid analysis showed sea tangle includes glutamate-glycine-cysteine, major constituents of glutathione (GSH). CONCLUSIONS: The glutamate-glycine-cysteine in sea tangle is supposed to increase the level of lens GSH and this may contribute to lowering cataract development. This study strongly supports the activity of sea tangle as an endogenous antioxidant and anticataract agent.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Cataract ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats ; Sodium Selenite ; Superoxide Dismutase

Recently ankylosing spondylitis have been found to be the most common one among the joint diseases which is associated with anterior uveitis. About 10 to 60% of patients with Marie-Strumpells' ankylosing spondylitis have anterior uveitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is mostly found in young male and characterized by makedly elevated sedimentation and radiological changes; earliest finding in sacro-iliac joints are subchondral sclerosis or demineralization of the bone near the sacro-iliac joints. The joint margins gradually become less distinct until ankylosis develope. The vertebral bodies show "squaring" and the longitudinal ligaments show calcification and ossification on x-ray film (Bamboo spine). The uveitis associated with ankylosing spondylitis is a mild to severe non-granulomatous type (sometimes granulomatous) involving the anterior segment exclusively. Usually it affects one eye at a time. Recurrent attacks may lead to permanent damage depending on the severity and frequency of the attacks and the adequacy of treatment. The main treatment is the administration of steroids. A 35 year old man was seen in our clinic and found to have recurrent anterior uveitis with: hypopyon in his right eye and ankylosing spondylitis while was confirmed by char;acteristic radiological findings. Pathients with acute recurrent non-granulomatous iridocyclitis without apparent cause should have an x-ray of the lumbosacral spine and sacro-iliac joints.
Adult ; Ankylosis ; Humans ; Iridocyclitis ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Male ; Sclerosis ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Steroids ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior* ; X-Ray Film

Some patients are very sensitive to glare after diagnostic mydriasis with tropicarnide or phenylephrine. It would be desirable to reverse the effects of mydriasis rapidly and safely after diagnostic mydriasis. We assessed the effect of topical dapiprazole, an alpha adrenergic receptor blocker, in reversing mydriasis in 40 dark brown Iris subjects who received tropicamide 1% or phenylephrine 2.5%. There was a significant difference in the decrease in pupil size between the eyes that received dapiprazole and the control eyes. This study suggests that dapiprazole 0.5% eye drops are effective and safe in reversing mydriasis after instilation of tropicamide 1% or phenylephrine 2.5% into dark brown irides.
Glare ; Humans ; Iris ; Mydriasis* ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Phenylephrine ; Pupil ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Tropicamide

PURPOSE: To compare intraocular straylight in normal and cataractous eyes as the morphology and to compare straylight as the result of subjective symptoms in early cataract cases using the C-quant straylight meter, the only tool to measure light scattering in media. METHODS: Straylight values were measured in 217 normal eyes and 138 cataractous eyes. Cataractous eyes were classified into posterior subcapsular opacity, anterior subcapsular opacity and nucleosclerosis. Straylight values of each group were measured. The 56 early cataractous eyes were categorized into two groups, depending on the presence of subjective symptoms, and each straylight value was measured. The preoperative and postoperative straylight values of early cataracts were also compared. RESULTS: The mean straylight values of normal and cataractous eyes were 1.34 and 2.46, respectively. The value of posterior subcapsular opacity (2.81) was significantly higher than that of anterior subcapsular opacity (2.33) and nucleosclerosis (1.99). The straylight values of early cataracts were significantly higher in the group with subjective symptoms (2.02) than in the group without subjective symptoms (1.56). The postoperative straylight value decreased to 1.42. CONCLUSIONS: The posterior subcapsular cataract showed significantly high intraocular straylight, indicating that light scattering occurred to a greater extent in this group. Light scattering occurred more in early cataractous eyes with subjective symptoms than in eyes without symptoms, and light scattering was reduced after surgery. The C-quant straylight meter, which measures the light scattering in media, can be a useful tool to determine the time of cataract surgery and to evaluate the quality of vision.
Cataract ; Eye ; Light ; Vision, Ocular

The 1,783 patients with eye injuries, including the 234 in-patients, who visited the Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul Adventist Hospital from Jan. 1, 1987 to Dec. 31, 1988 were clinically analyzed. The results were as follows: 1. The incidence of ocular injuries was 4.7% of all eye patients, and 25.5% of all patients admitted to this ophthalmologic department. 2. The incidence was more common in male(76,8%)and in the age of 3rd to 4th decades(47.0%). 3. The ocular injuries were more common in the spring(27.3%), and in March. 4. The most common cause of ocular injuries was sand or dust or iron piece(29.8%), followed by fist or finger(12.2%) and traffic accident(12.5%), but the injuries by iron products(20.1%) were the most common in the admitted patients. 5. The most common ocular injury was conjunctival foreign body(23.7%), followed by subconjunctival hemorrhage (20.6%) and (9.5%). In the cases of in-patients, hyphema(24.2%) was the most coommon, followed by corneal lacera tion(12.2%) and eyelid laceration(11.2%). 6. Surgical procedure included corneal suture(18.3%), primary closure of eyelid and face(22.2%). 7. Visual acuity was improved in most cases by treatment, but the corrected vision after treatment was less than 0.1 in 20.5%, which was mainly due to the perforating eye injuries. 8. The most common complication of ocular injuries after treatment was corneal opacity(34.1%), followed by vitreous opacity(9.4%).
Dust ; Eye Injuries ; Eyelids ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Incidence ; Iron ; Ophthalmology ; Seoul ; Silicon Dioxide ; Visual Acuity

Exchanging liquid vitreous with an air bubble was used to treat the eye with retinal detachment caused by a myopic macular hole. This retina was successfully reattached after keeping the patient in a prone position for 24 hours. No cryotherapy, diathermy, or photocoagulation was used to creat a choroidal adhesion. This procedure may be the treatment of choice in patients with retinal detachment due to macular holes but withour other breaks or visible vitreous adhesion.
Choroid ; Cryotherapy ; Diathermy ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Prone Position ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Perforations* ; Retinaldehyde*