Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ocular pathology was introduced in 1956 and received great attentions throughout the world. Its fields of applications have been extended to almost all pathological conditions of eyeball and its adnexa. During the past two years I have used this method for the diagnosis in ophthalmology, and some comments on experiences in the diagnosis of intraocular tumor, intraocular foreign body, retinal detachment, vitreous opacities, orbital tumor and ocular biometry were discussed.
Attention ; Biometry ; Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Ophthalmology ; Orbit ; Pathology ; Retinal Detachment ; Ultrasonography*

Twelve albino rabbits were treated with cryoretinopexy on the left eye and surface diathermy coagulation on the right eye at the equatorial region in two parallel rows concentric with the limbus. Cryopexy was applied for 10 seconds with Krwawicz's probe (the diameter of the tip was 1.5 mm) after cooling with dry ice and alcohol mixture. Diathermy coagulation was performed with 40 mA currents for 2 seconds with needle electrode without perforating the sclera. After the treatment, ERG was recorded with varying length of intervals up to 30 days. The light stimulus was given by 100 watts incadenscent lamp and the illumination at the eye was 800 lux, its duration being 20 msec. Only the sizes of the b-potentials after 30 minutes of dark adaptation were considered. The patterns of the b-potential changes after cryopexy were roughly divided into 3 types. The first type was seen in 5 eyes, and it consisted of abrupt reductions, followed by slight augmentations, never reaching the pre-treatment level of b-wave even after 30 days. The second type (seen in 3 eyes) showed initial slight decreases followed by marked increases and remained supernormal at the end of 30 days. The third type(4 eyes) showed marked increases from the early post-operative days and returned to the original level after 30 days. These changes were demonstrated graphically in figures 3, 4 and 5. By diathermy coagulation, the same kinds of patterns were observed. The same animal, however, did not show the same pattern as with the cryopexy. The final b-potential after 30 days were 105.4% of the pre-operative value by cryopexy and 82.7% by diathermy coagulation. Thus the cryopexy produced less severe changes in ocular tissues than the diathermy coagulation. The histological observations performed also supported this conclusion.
Animals ; Dark Adaptation ; Diathermy* ; Dry Ice ; Electrodes ; Lighting ; Needles ; Rabbits* ; Sclera

The effects of Cryosurgery of the ciliary body on the aqueous humor dynamics of ten albino rabbits were studied by perfusion experiments. The cryo-probe (tip diameter, 3 mm) was frozen by dry ice and alcohol mixture and applied over the full circumference of the eye 2 mm from the limbus for 30 seconds. Eight applications were made in each eye. Intraocular pressure fell during the first 10 days after surgery, the amount of fall averaged 2.5 mmHg (12.6% of the pre-treatment level). Thereafter the intraocular pressure rose gradually in all eyes and reached almost to the original level 3 weeks after surgery. Facility of outflow changed inconsistently, showing no definite pattern. Aqueous flow showed significant reductions during the 2 to 3 weeks after treatment, then gradually recovered. There was no significant reduction in flow after the end of 3 weeks. No complications were encountered except mild iridocyclitis during the first week. The unsatisfactory outcome of this cryotherapy is considered to be due to the insufficient freezing of the ciliary body, and more applications is recommended in order to produce more sustained reduction of intraocular pressure.
Aqueous Humor ; Ciliary Body ; Cryosurgery ; Cryotherapy ; Dry Ice ; Freezing ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iridocyclitis ; Perfusion ; Rabbits*

The effects of antihypertensive drugs on the choroidal blood flow in rabbits were studied by an apparatus based on the principle of internal calorimetry of Grayson. Thermistors, as the sensing elements, were fastened on the scleral surface of the eye, and determinations were performed up to 60 minutes after intravenous administrations of drugs. The drugs studied were: ganglion blocking agents (pentholinium tartarate, 4 mg; hexamethonium bromide, 1 mg; and mecamylamine chloride, 0.15mg), alpha-methyldopa, 4 mg; guanethidine, 0.5 mg; reserpine, 0.2 mg; hydralazine, 5 mg; and diuretics (dichlorothiazide, 2.5 mg; frusemide, 2.5 mg). Except the diuretics, all the drugs employed produced considerable increase in the choroidal blood flow. The relationships between blood pressure, intraocular pressure and the choroidal blood flow were discussed and the clinical applications were suggested.
Administration, Intravenous ; Antihypertensive Agents* ; Blood Pressure ; Calorimetry ; Choroid* ; Dental Calculus ; Diuretics ; Furosemide ; Ganglion Cysts ; Guanethidine ; Hexamethonium ; Hydralazine ; Intraocular Pressure ; Mecamylamine ; Methyldopa ; Rabbits* ; Reserpine

Experimental ocular siderosis was induced in fourteen albino rabbits by the insertion of iron fragments through the scleral incision made at equatorial region. ERGs were recorded up to 30 days after the insertion of iron, both in scotopic and photopic conditions. Light stimulus used was electronic photoflash of 2 msec duration. The changes in the scotopic b-wave were classified into 3 types. The first type (4 eyes) showed gradual decrease finally attaining 54.6% of the original amplitude. The second type (3 eyes) showed supernormal b-wave during whole period of study, the increase reached 43.0% after 30 days. In the third type (6 eyes) the b-potential remained almost stationary. The scotopic a-wave changed in a similar way as the b-wave. Sometimes negative (-) type ERGs were recorded, especially during the falling stage of the b-potential. The photopic a- and b-waves changed almost parallel to the scotopic components. By slitlamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy, fibrous connective tissue proliferated around the iron fragments, never extending deep into the vitreous body. Fundi were well visible except the insertion site. Histological section revealed moderate scar tissue formation around the insertion site of iron, and mild visual cell and ganglion cell destructions.
Cicatrix ; Connective Tissue ; Ganglion Cysts ; Iron ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Rabbits ; Siderosis* ; Vitreous Body

Copper fragment was introduced into the vitreous body of fourteen albino rabbits through the scleral incision at equatorial region. Both photopic and scotopic ERGs were recorded for 30 days thereafter stimulated by the electronic photoflash of 2 msec duration.The changes in scotopic b-potential were roughly classified into 3 types. The first type (5 eyes) showed acute, severe reduction, extinguishing from 6 to 24 days. The second type (3 eyes) was characterized by the absence of any remarakble changes during the whole observation period, the final b'potential being 82,4% of the original value. In the third type (6 eyes), the b-potential decreased gradually and 24.3% of the pre' operative value was attained after 30 days. The latent time and the implicit time of the b-potential increased proportionally to the reduction of the b-wave. The scotopic a-wave behaved parallel to the b-wave, and in later stage, negative (-) type of ERGs were frequently encountered. The photopic a- and b-waves changed in the similar way as the scotopic a- and b-waves, respectively. The slitlamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy revealed the fibrous tissue proliferation around the copper fragment in relatively early stage. When the proliferation progressed and extended into the vitreous body, ERG showed reduction in b-potential, and sometimes increase in b-potential was noted In cases in which connective tissue encapsulated the copper and did not extend into the vitreous body, ERG changes were much milder and slower. In histological sesctions performed 2 weeks and 3 weeks after the insertion of copper fragment, the degeneration of the retina began both in the visual cell layer and ganglion cell layer almost simultaneously. When the ERG was extinguished, the retinal tissue showed complete destruction.
Connective Tissue ; Copper* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Rabbits ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Vitreous Body

The purpose of this report is to investigate experimentally how the corea, sclera, crystalline lens and focusing lens influence the ultrasound intensity and beam width and to find characteristic differences due to the transducer parameters; frequency and size. A time-amplitude ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, Aloka Model SSD-2D was used with transcucers of 10 MHz and 5 MHz, 10 mm and 5 mm diameters. The metal ball, 1 mm in diameter, was served as the echo-reflecting target which was immersed in water and moved horizontally under the transducer with a micrometer screw. The distances between the transducer and the metal ball varied from 10 mm to 50 mm in 10 mm step. The amplitudes curves of the echoes so obtained were represented by relative values. In water control experiment, the nearer the metal ball from the transducer, the more irregular the curves, with multiple amplitudes maxima and minima. These irregular curves became homogeneous as the transducer moved away from the target. The multiple peak curves were more marked when measured with transducers of higher frequency and larger diameter. At the end of the near field only a single peak was found in the axial portion of the sound field. In the far field, the beam width reduced slightly due to the divergence of the beam accompanied by slight attenuation of the echo amplitudes. When the sound beam passed through the cornea and sclera, the form of the curves remained almost unchanged, but the amplitudes decreased slightly due to the absorption of the sound energy. Scleral tissue absorbed the energy more strongly then the corneal tissue. When the crystalline lens was placed under the transducer, divergence of the beam and themoderate absorption took place. This effect was more pronounced with the use of transducers of higher frequency and smaller diameter. When a focusing lens, 25 mm focal length, was attached to the transducer surface, sound beam converged to a narrow zone, followed by later scattering. These results suggest that the transducer should be selected as to the frequency and diameter according to the site of the lesion suspected and the nature of the pathology.
Absorption ; Cornea ; Lens, Crystalline ; Pathology ; Sclera ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics* ; Ultrasonography ; Water

The tension lowering effects of Diamox and other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are well known and they are widely used against a various forms of glaucomas. This paper deals with the clinical experiences in normal and glaucomatous human eyes with Diamox-Sequels, kindly supplied by Lederle Laboratories and Yuhan Corp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal healthy persons, 15 females and 20 males, were studied on their 45 eyes. Glaucomatous disease had been ruled out by careful examinations of intraocular pressure, visual fields and fundus. They had been also checked for the diurnal variations of intraocular pressure during the daytime. One capsule (500mg) of Diamox Sequels was given to each individual and the changes in the intraocular pressure were studied at various time intervals up to 53 hours after the administration. Tonometry was carried out by the Goldmann's applanation tonometer. The effects of Diamox Sequels on the glaucomatous eyes were studied in the same way. The glaucomatous eyes included 10 eyes of 7 chronic simple glaucoma patients, 5 eyes of 3 chronic narrow-angle glaucoma patients and 5 eyes of 5 secondary glaucoma subjects. They received one capsule of Diamox Sequels and the intraocular pressure was measured one or two times daily. The results of long-term treatment were also studied by daily administration of one capsule of Diamox Sequels, follow-up periods being from 3 to 19 days. No medication, oral or local, of antiglaucomatous drugs were allowed for at least 3 days prior to this study. The differences due to age, sex and type of glaucoma were not considered here. At the same time, the effects of a single 500mg of ordinary Diamox tablet were studied in normal ~md glaucomatous eyes. RESULTS: (1) Normal eyes. The intraocular pressure began to fall 1 hour after the administration. The tension gradually fell and the maximal reduction of tension occurred after 9.8 hours and the extent of maximal fall was 4.5mm Hg on the average, 29.4 % of the original intraocular pressure. The tension gradually rose and returned to the original level between 23~50 hours (average 43 hours). Side effects were noted in 4 cases, e.g., 11.4 %. (2) Glaucomatous eyes. The effects were noted within the first 1~2 hours and became maximal after 13 hours, the extent of the maximal fall 40.1 % of the original pressure, e.g., 16.2 mmHg. The original tension was restored after 30 hours. By long-term administration of Diamox Sequels, 8 eyes(40 %) showed excellent results, their intraocular pressure maintained below 21 mmHg. Sede-effects were noted in 3 cases(20.0 %). COMMENTS: The effects of Diamox Sequels and Diamox tablet on normal and glaucomatous subjects were summarized in table 1. As shown, Diamox Sequels has the longer duration of hypotensive actions and the time of maximal fall of intraocular pressure delayed considerably, as compared with Diamox tablet. In almost all cases, its action continued for more than 24 hours. In glaucomatous eyes, the time of maximal reduction of ocular tension was slightly later and the maintenance of low tension was slightly shorter than those in normal eyes. The extent of the maximal fall, however, was almost the same after administration of Diamox Sequels and Diamox. Side effects were encountered in 11~20% of cases by Diamox Sequels, and in 40-60% of cases by Diamox. This is one of the most striking advantages of Diamox Sequels over Diamox. Thus it is concluded that Diamox Sequels has the longer hypotensive actions and fewer side effects.
Acetazolamide* ; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Manometry ; Strikes, Employee ; Visual Fields

Vitreous hemorrhages of white rabbit eyes were obtained by the following three methods and their ultrasonographies were checked several times for four weeks. 1 st group: fresh human blood was injected into the vitreous cavity through the sclera, 2 nd group: oxalated human blood was injected into the vitreous cavity in the same way, 3 rd group: a 26 gauge needle was inserted into the vitreous cavity and retinal vessels were mechanically ruptured to cause vitreous hemorrhage. Ultrasonography of the above groups revealed no definite differences between groups, but a high echo from the vitreous hemorrhages in initial stage changed to several low echoes in later stage. This fact was well matched with funduscopic observation for gradual absorption of the vitreous hemorrhage.
Absorption ; Humans ; Needles ; Retinal Vessels ; Sclera ; Ultrasonography* ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

A sensitive thermometer utilizing thermistor as a sensing element has been constructed in order to measure the temperatures in various ocular tissues. The Wheatstone bridge was used to detect the changes in thermistor resistance. The out-put of the bridge was fed into a single-stage differential DC amplifier and read by an micro-ammeter. There was a linear relationship between temperature and meter scale. The thermistor was inserted into the inferior conjunctival sacs of 158 healthy normal human eyes. The average temperature was found to be 35.14 +/- 1.08 (in C). No difference due to sex and age distribution was found to exists. Preliminary temperature measurement has been done on rabbits. Their results are shown graphically in Fig. 3.
Age Distribution ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Thermometers*