Australian journal of ophthalmology最新文献

See-saw ocular movements are described in two patients, one having obstructive hydrocephalus and the other a thalamic infarct. Electro-oculographic studies demonstrated that the eye movements in patient 1 moved in and out of phase at irregular intervals, in both a horizontal and a vertical direction. The disconjugate eye movements were exaggerated in bright light and less evident during fixation. We suggest a lesion impairing the function of that circuitry of cells thought to include the nucleus centromedianus of the thalamus, the zona incerta, the interstitial nucleus of Cajal and eye movement related cells in the mid brain and pons, causes the disconjugate eye movements but that the controlling influence of multiple connections with other parts of the brain results in the ever changing pattern of disconjugate eye movement.

A survey of 4 selected areas of Papua New Guinea was made during 1979-80 to establish the prevalence of trachoma and its complications, and blindness rates and causes, in those areas. Trachoma was found to be endemic in all the areas studied, but was of mild intensity and rarely caused visual deficit. It is suggested that the most practical step towards reducing the prevalence of trachoma in P.N.G., in the future, is not by a mass treatment campaign, but by basic education in simple hygiene. An overall blindness rate of 0.50% was found in this survey, indicating that blindness is not a big problem in P.N.G. today. However there is still a need for improved Primary Eye Health Care, the training of national ophthalmologists, and provision for one institution for the training of the blind in P.N.G.

A survey of "hospitalised" Herpes simplex infections in otherwise normal healthy children under the age of 13 years over a 15 year period between 1964 and 1979 at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. This survey highlighted the unnecessarily high transference rate of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection to the under 3 year old within the home environment. There were three hundred and forty (340) cases of non-fatal "hospitalized" HSV infections in the under 3 year old of which sixty three (63) were ocular infections. Over all age groups one hundred and forty five (145) children were hospitalised on one or several occasions with ocular HSV infection. Of these children before reaching the age of 13 years, fifteen (15) developed intraocular HSV infection and twenty seven (27) had a permanent visual acuity of less than 6/12. As a result of this survey the Princess Margaret Hospital motto for the I.Y.D.P. is: "Cuddle but do not kiss your child when you have an acute coldsore"

Very high viscosity (12500 centistokes) liquid silicone was injected into the vitreous of 47 eyes of 46 patients with complicated retinal detachment over a two year period. Only eyes judged inoperable by scleral buckling and/or vitrectomy techniques were considered. Complete anatomical reattachment was achieved in 34 cases (72%) while partial reattachment was achieved in a further six cases (13%). All eyes in which complete or partial retinal reattachment was achieved showed improvement in vision but this was usually restricted to count fingers or 6/60 at 3 months to 2 years follow-up. Mounting evidence now suggests that previous clinical opinions claiming an unacceptable toxicity rate with liquid silicone may be misleading.

Ocular trauma caused by lead-acid car battery explosions has been seen in a number of cases presenting to the major teaching hospitals in Adelaide. Injuries range from superficial acid burns to penetrating eye injury and retinal haemorrhage. The cause of the explosions has been ignition of the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture generated by lead-acid batteries. The risk of explosion is known to battery manufacturing and distributing bodies and methods of avoiding explosions are well known to the industry. It is suggested that efforts should be made to design safe car batteries, and that there is an urgent need to educate the public to the risks involved with the present batteries.