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

Sjogren's syndrome is a systemic disorder and characterized by keratoconjunctivitis sicca, xerostomia, and connective tissuedysfunction(arthritis). A 42 year-old Korean iemalehad progressive loss of visual acuity in both eyes. In addition she has dry eyes, dry mouth and arthritis of 8 years duration. Clinical findings include cornea punctate, filamentary karatitis and decreased lacrimal secretions of both eyes. A diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome was made. The karatoconjunctivitis siccawas treated with artificial tear and soft contact lens.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic ; Cornea ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca ; Mouth ; Sjogren's Syndrome* ; Tears ; Visual Acuity ; Xerostomia

Postoperative endopthalmitis is one of the most serious complication of intraocular surgery. It has rarely been treated sucessfully. The high incidence of therapeutic failure in bacterial endophthalmitis results in many blind eyes and enucleations. Many species of bacteria may produce endophthalmitis. Staphylococcus aureus has long been generally accepted as the most common causative organism of bacteral endophthalmitis, but Staphylococcus epidermidis hed been known as non-pathogenic organism until Valenton et al (1973) reported two cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis following lens extraction. In 42 year old Korean woman, bilateral endopthalmitis following bilateral cataract surgery were caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis which was identified by smear and culture of the anterior chamber aspirates.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Bacteria ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Endophthalmitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis* ; Staphylococcus*

In the diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma, it is very important to evaluate the outflow facility and intraocular pressure. Although tonography affords one of the most convenient methods for the estimating the outflow facility, there have been many efforts to overcome its inhernt inaccuracy. Honan introcular pressure reducer(HIPR) is widely used prior to cataract surgery because it is believed to be clinically safe and effective in reducing intraocular pressure, vitreous volume and the risk of vitreous loss. For the evaluation of the effects of HIPR in relation to outflow facility, the intraocular pressures were measured with applanation tonometer in 30 nonglaucomatous and 30 glaucomatous patients before and immediately after the application of HIPR at a pressure 30mmHg for 30 minutes, and then repeatedly at 5-minute intervals for 30 minutes thereafter. The results were as follows; 1. Mean initial IOPs were 15.6 +/- 2.71mmHg in nonglaucomatous patients and 20.7 +/- 2.71mmHg in glaucomatous patients. 2. Mean IOPs immediately after commpression were 4.3 +/- 1.38mmHg in nonglauco matous patients and 10.3 +/- 0.95mmHg in glaucomatous patients. 3. Mean IOP reductions were 11.20 +/- 1.89mmHg in nonglaucomatous patients and 10.45 +/- 1.69mmHg in glaucomatous patients. 4. Mean IOP reduction rates were 72.8% in nonglaucomatous patients and 50.3% in glaucomatous patients. 5. Mean IOP recovery times were 24.5 minutes in nonglaucomatous patients and more than 30 minutes in glaucomatous patients. 6. Rates of IOP recovery after 25 minutes elapsed were 76.6% in nonglaucomatous patients and 10% in glaucomatous patients. On the basis of the results HIPR may be considered to be beneficial in clinical diagnosis of open angle glaucoma.
Cataract ; Diagnosis ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure*

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

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

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

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*

"Optic neuritis", described first by Nettleship in 1884, is the general term used to describe involvement of the optic nerve as the result of inflammation, demyelination, or infection. The majority or patients with optic neuritis are between the ages of 20 and 50 years, and the major symptom in most cases is sudden visual loss. It would appear that when optic neuritis occurs in childhood, it is more commonly bilateral and associated with disc swelling. In the majority of cases, the visual prognosis and eventual prognosis with regard to the development of multiple sclerosis is much better than in adult optic neuritis. The authors experienced a case of bilateral optic neuritis in a 14-year-old girl whose visual acuity progressed to no light perception with eventual visual recovery after treatment with steroid and mannitol. A brief review of literature is described.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mannitol ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Optic Nerve ; Optic Neuritis* ; Prognosis ; Visual Acuity