We reviewed the records of 101 eyes who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction without intraocular lens implantation at Kosin Medical Center from Feb. 1987 to Mar. 1990. Of these, 47 eyes that showed postoperative corrected visual acuity of 0.5 more and more than 2 months' follow-up periods, were recruited for this study. To detect the changes of preoperative predicted aphakic refractions and postoperative observed aphakic refractions. we studied the changes of pre- and postoperative axial lengths, keratometric measurements, and observed aphakic refractions at postoperative 2 months were compared with predicted aphakic refractions, using linear regression formula. The results were as follows: 1. Distribution of age were in the range of 24 to 79 years(mean, 59.4 years), and seventh decade(31.8%) was most common. 2. Postoperative keratometric measurements was decreased in power of mean +/- SD; 0.04 +/- 0.14 diopters(p>0.05). 3. Postoperative axial length was increased by 0.20 +/- 0.09mm(p<0.05). 4. The difference between pre- and postoperative refractive power was mean +/- SD; 0.58 +/- 0.16 diopters(p<0.05).

No Abstract Available.
Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy*

Metastatic endophthalmitis is attributed to endogenous spread when the causative organisms enter the eye from a site of infection from elsewhere in the body. Usually such patients have no history of ocular trauma or surgery. The author experienced two cases of metastatic endophthalmitis. The pathogens were proved to be Candida albicans and Escherichia coli by culture of the specimen obtained from the vitreous.
Candida albicans ; Endophthalmitis* ; Escherichia coli ; Humans

There were many instances in which glaucoma, esp. primary, combined with hearing disturbance. The etiology of these cases has not been known until now. We had 15 primary glaucoma patients for whom pure tone audiometry wa~ performed, and could find the hearing defect in high tone in 5 cases (1/3 among those patients). The audiometric curve was similar to that in the presbycusis, but severer in degree than that occured within the normal physiological aging process. The average age was 62.4 year in the group with the hearing defect, and 45.6 year in the group without the hearing defect. There were no relationship between the hearing defect and intraocular tension, visual field change, glaucomatous cupping, and duration of glaucoma. These results may support the opinion of the authors that the hearing disturbance in glaucomatous patients is related to the arterioscIerotic changes which aggrevate the presbycusis, and not related to glaucoma itself. On the otherhand, however, it is stilI impossible for us to rule out that the pleiotropic and multifactorial genetic factors may play as a common important role in the hearing disturbances and glaucoma. And further studies would be necessary for these problems.
Aging ; Audiometry ; Glaucoma* ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Presbycusis ; Visual Fields

Laboratory diagnostic methods, applied for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Keratitis, were evaluated for their usefulness in 16 patients of suspicious Acanthamoeba keratitis. Wet smear, Acridine orange(AO) stain, Gram stain and culture on nonnuturent agar plate were routinely used in all patients, and among them, and used saline of 7 contact lens not ideal for the corneal scraping specimens. AO and Gram stains were very useful in the identification of acanthamoeba, and culture on nonnutrient agar plates was essential to confirm this infection. Light and electron microscopic examinations were also useful in patients with negative results of ordinary diagnostic techniques. Suspicion of Acanthamoeba infection in patients that are recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment or related to contact lens wear, is the mont important step for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Keratitis. And also examination of corneal specimens by experienced observer is prerequisite for the accurate diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Acanthamoeba ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; Agar ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques* ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Keratitis*

In 44 out of 218 cases of contact lens related infectious keratitis from 19 hospitals throughout the country, contact lenses or contact lens storge cases were cultured. Microorganism was detected in 40 cases[90.9%]. Two or more organisms were isolated in 31 cases[77.5%]. Pseudomonas was the most common organism isolated from contact lens or contact lens storage medium[31 out of 84, 45.2%], followed by Serratia[15 out of 84, 17.9%], fungi [4], and acanthamoeba[4]. Acanthamoeba was found only in one hospital. Antibiotic sensitivity test for isolated pseudomonas showed that 96%of cases was sensitive to ciprofloxacin and 88%to ceftazidime.
Acanthamoeba ; Ceftazidime ; Ciprofloxacin ; Contact Lenses ; Fungi ; Keratitis* ; Pseudomonas

Epidemiologic study of contact lens related infectious keratitis was performed in 19 hospitals which were located nation wide, Two hundred eighteen cases of contact lens related infectious keratitis(male 55 patients, female 163 patients) were diagnosed among 649 infectious keratitis patients between April 1995 and September 1997. Patients were mainly in twenties (54.6%) and residents of Seoul and Pusan(65.6%). Their major occupations were student(31.7%) and office worker(25.5%). Soft contact lens was involved in infectious corneal ulcer in 96.8% and disposable lens in 13.3%. Lenses were puchased at optical shop in most cases (72%). Unfortunately, 51.6% of patients was not aware of possible contact lens complication and 66.7% was not able to use contact lens properly due to improper education. Pseudomonas was isolated from corneal ulcer in 65.4% of cases and Serratia in 9%. This study reveals that contact lens related infectious keratitis can be devastation disease especially socially active age group, and proper education of both contact lens usage and proper lens dispense system should be needed.
Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic ; Corneal Ulcer ; Education ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Occupations ; Pseudomonas ; Seoul ; Serratia

PURPOSES: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a causative agent of bacterial keratitis and the authors performed an epidemiologic study to identify the risk factors, clinical features and treatment results. METHODS: Epidemiologic study on Staphylococcus epidermidis keratitis, which were confirmed by cultures in 6 university hospitals, was performed prospectively under the identical protocol. RESULTS: Seventeen cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis keratitis were diagnosed by culture with corneal scraping and comprised 4.1% of 401 cases of confirmed bacterial keratitis. Male patients were affected more than female patients and the highest prevalent age was in the seventies. Most of their occupation was farming. The most prevalent season was fall and it mostly occurred after corneal trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcus epidermidis keratitis usually occurred in a relatively old age group followed by corneal trauma. Its prevention along with early and proper antimicrobial therapy based on sensitivity results is important.
Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Keratitis* ; Male ; Occupations ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Staphylococcus epidermidis* ; Staphylococcus*

PURPOSE: Alternaria spp. is opportunistic fungus and the most prevalent cause of asthma and allergic disease. Keratitis caused by the fungus Alternariaspp. is quite rare. The authors performed an epidemiological study to identify the risk factor and to evaluate clinical manifestations, methods and results of treatment in Alternaria keratitis. METHODS: Epidemiological study of Alternaria keratitis was performed prospectively under the identical protocol from April 1995 to May 2000 in 5 hospitals. RESULTS: Seven cases of Alternaria keratitis were identified by culture with corneal scraping or corneal biopsy. They were 8.5% of the 82 cases of fungal keratitis. Of the 7 patients, 5 were men (71.4%). All patients were over 50 years and 5 of them (71.4%) were farmers. In terms of trauma history, 6 out of 7 patients had previous history of corneal traumas, and most of these corneal traumas were vegetable matter-related. CONCLUSIONS: The most common (83.3%) predisposing factor for Alternaria keratitis was vegetable matter-related corneal trauma. The prompt referral for diagnostic studies and specific antifungal management, or surgical therapy might be helpful to reduce the incidence rate of complication of keratomycoses.
Alternaria* ; Asthma ; Biopsy ; Causality ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratitis* ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; Risk Factors ; Vegetables

By using Factor analysis on the variables relating to the subjective symptoms of total 56 workers, who have exposed to mixture of organic solvents at the musical instrument manufacturing plant, as experimental group, and 70 workers, who worked in noisy working environment as control group, the study was performed. It was confirmed that the variables found in hematological figures, age specification, occupational history and physical examination have a influential factor on the subjective symptoms of both groups. It was explicated that the ratio of these to total Eigen Values showed 31.1 percent in experimental group and the control group revealed 37.7 percent.
Factor Analysis, Statistical* ; Music ; Occupations* ; Physical Examination ; Plants ; Solvents*