European journal of ophthalmology (EUR J OPHTHALMOL)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Intravitreal carboplatin concentration and area under concentration versus time curve after intravitreal and periocular delivery.

  Pavel Pochop, Denisa Darsova, Jiri Kukacka, Hundie Tesfaye, Ludek Vajner, Jiri Uhlik, Daniela Kodetová, Josef Malis, Dagmar Dotrelova
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  ABSTRACT: To determine platinum (Pt) concentrations and area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of the vitreous humor after periocular or transcorneal intravitreal administration of carboplatin in rabbits. Eighteen albino rabbits were included in an in vivo experiment. Each animal received a single dose of either 30 mg of carboplatin by periocular injection (POI30 group: n = 6) or 15 mg by periocular injection (PI15 group: n = 6), or 0.05 mg by transcorneal intravitreal injection (TII group: n = 6), respectively, into the right eye. Vitreous humor from the right eyes and plasma samples were collected post dose at 1, 2, 6, 24, 48, 168, and 336 hours or 448 hours, respectively. Flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed to analyze total platinum concentrations in blood and vitreous humor. AUC was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. Pt concentration was mostly < 1 mg/L (0-3.15 mg/L) in the vitreous humor samples and > or = 2 mg/L (2.33-7.3 mg/L) in the blood samples 1 hour after administration in POI groups. Markedly higher Pt concentrations were found 1 hour after intravitreal (TII) administration (10.285-66.759 mg/L) and decreased below 1 mg/L no less than 168 hours after administration. The mean AUC for Pt in vitreous humor was significantly lower (p = 0.0001) after both POI30 and P0I15 administration compared to TII route (8.955 +/- 2.464 mg/L/min). These findings proved that intravitreal carboplatin delivery enables the achievement of relatively stable concentrations and AUC of platinum in the rabbit vitreous humor. This moreover suggests that transcorneal intravitreal delivery of carboplatin aiming to treat retinoblastoma vitreous seeding is a promising mode of chemotherapy.
  European journal of ophthalmology 03/2010; 20(4):745-51.
• Article: Intravitreal ranibizumab for choroidal neovascularization associated with retinal astrocytic hamartoma.

  Giuseppe Querques, Houda Kerrate, Nicolas Leveziel, Gabriel Coscas, Gisele Soubrane, Eric H Souied
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  ABSTRACT: To report on a patient with retinal astrocytic hamartoma, who developed a choroidal neovascularization (CNV), effectively treated by intravitreal ranibizumab injections. A 74-year-old woman who, 12 years before, had been diagnosed with a yellow-gray lesion in the left eye (OS) presented in our department for OS decreased vision of recent onset. Upon a complete ophthalmologic examination including ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography (FA), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), the patient was diagnosed with retinal astrocytic hamartoma and coincident CNV on its foveal border. Six months after 3 monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections, FA and OCT revealed the CNV closure and absence of intraretinal and subretinal fluid on the foveal border of the retinal astrocytic hamartoma. Associations between retinal astrocytic hamartoma and CNV have not been previously reported. Intravitreal ranibizumab injection appears an attractive therapeutic option for patients showing such an unusual association.
  European journal of ophthalmology 03/2010; 20(4):789-91.
• Article: Rarebit perimetry in the evaluation of visual field defects in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

  Nese Celebisoy, Taylan Oztürk, Timur Köse
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  ABSTRACT: Rarebit perimetry (RBP) is a new perimetric technique that has been reported as a sensitive test for the evaluation of the neural structure of the visual system. The aim of this study was to compare RBP with standard automated perimetry in detecting the visual field defects of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Twenty-five patients with IIH and 16 healthy controls were considered. Visual fields were analyzed with Marco automated static perimeter with threshold and central 30-2 programs (MP 30-2) and rarebit perimetry. A visual field was classified into 3 zones for both tests as central, paracentral, and peripheral zones. Mean sensitivity (MS) recorded by the MP 30-2 was compared with the mean hit rate (MHR) recorded by RBP for each zone. MS recorded by MP 30-2 and MHR recorded by RBP for each zone were significantly lower in the IIH group than in healthy control eyes (p < 0.001). Good correlation was present between the visual fields recorded by both tests. Although the sensitivity and specificity values for each zone were lower in the RBP group than the MP 30-2 group, RBP was found to be efficient to differentiate between the visual fields of normal and IIH-affected eyes. The average RBP test duration was significantly shorter than the MP 30-2 test duration (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. RBP is a rapid, comfortable, and widely accessible perimetric test giving reliable results in detecting visual field defects in IIH.
  European journal of ophthalmology 03/2010; 20(4):756-62.
• Article: Retinopathy of prematurity: screening guidelines need to be reevaluated for developing countries.

  Hikmet Başmak, Leyla Niyaz, Afsun Sahin, Nazmiye Erol, Haluk H Gürsoy
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  ABSTRACT: Timely screening of premature babies is an important initial step in the management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as earlier treatment results in improved visual prognosis. Screening criteria for ROP currently recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics may not be applicable in developing countries. The aim of the present study is to find out the incidence of ROP in infants with a gestational age (GA) of > or = 32 weeks in Eskisehir, Turkey, to provide information to assist in determining screening criteria. A total of 96 infants with a GA of 32-35 weeks who were referred for ROP between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2008, were studied. ROP screening, follow-up, and appropriate therapies were applied. During ROP screening, there were 42 of 96 (43.8%) infants with no ROP. A total of 54/96 (56.2%) infants were noted to have ROP. Among all infants, 7 (7.3%) had threshold ROP. Two infants with threshold disease were born at the 32nd, 2 at the 33rd, and 3 at the 34th week of gestation. The mean birthweight was 1857.9 (range 1060-3200) grams. CONCLUSIONS. In our study, it was found that more mature infants may also develop threshold ROP and require early treatment. After more information is gained and widespread screening, screening protocols covering more mature infants can be designed especially for developing countries.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):752-5.
• Article: Epidemiology and etiologic diagnosis of infectious keratitis in Uberlandia, Brazil.

  Rafael Lacerdda Furlanetto, Eduardo G V Andreo, Ioná G A Finotti, Enyr S Arcieri, Magno A Ferreira, Flavio J Rocha
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  ABSTRACT: To study risk factors, microbiological characteristics, and clinical course of nonviral infectious keratitis diagnosed in a referral service of ophthalmology. A total of 65 charts of patients with microbial keratitis were retrospectively reviewed at the Clinical Hospital of Federal University of Uberlandia, Brazil, from July 2001 through August 2004. All cases were submitted to microbiological tests and treated according to local protocol. Risk factors, clinical course, therapeutic keratoplasty, and visual outcomes were analyzed. The mean age of patients was 45.9 years (2-83 years) and male to female ratio 2.6:1. Symptoms at presentation ranged from 1-3 days in 16 patients out of 65 (24.61%), 4-7 days in 19 cases (19/65; 29.23%), and more than 7 days in 27 patients (27/65; 41.53%). The major risk factor was trauma (28/65; 40%), predominantly by organic material. A total of 32 eyes out of 65 (49.23%) were culture positive. Fungi were the most common isolates (18/32; 56.25%), being headed by Fusarium sp. (11/65; 16.92%), and the most common bacteria was Streptococcus pneumoniae (7/65; 10.77%). Final visual acuity was equal to or better than 20/60 in 20 patients out of 65 (30.77%), between 20/60 and 20/400 in 7 patients (7/65; 10.77%), and worse than 20/400 in 35 patients out of 65 (53.85%). A total of 48 eyes out of 65 (73.84%) presented corneal scar, 12 eyes (12/65; 18.46%) needed therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty, and 2 eyes (2/65; 3.08%) were eviscerated. The high incidence of fungal keratitis in the studied population shows their vulnerability to such infections, which may result in devastating visual outcomes.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(3):498-503.
• Article: Evaluation of the effect of topical cyclosporine A with impression cytology in dry eye patients.

  Bora Yüksel, Berkant Bozdağ, Memed Acar, Engin Topaloğlu
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  ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the efficacy of topical cyclosporine A 0.05% treatment with impression cytology in dry eye patients. Forty eyes of 40 patients with dry eye were included. Schirmer tear break-up time, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores and goblet cell densities were noted before and after 6 months of topical cyclosporine A treatment. Patients were graded clinically and biomicroscopically as follows: grade 1, 12 patients; grade 2, 18; and grade 3, 10 patients. Mean age was 57.1 +/- 11.8 (23.0-80.0) years. A total of 36 (90%) of the patients were female and 4 (10%) were male. Mean Schirmer test value was 3.2 +/- 1.6 (0.0-8.0) mm in the beginning and was 8.4 +/- 4.3 (1.0-19.0) mm after 6 months of cyclosporine A topical treatment (p = 0.00). At the first visit, mean tear break-up time was 4.4 +/- 1.8 (2.0-8.0) seconds. It increased to 11.8 +/- 4.8 (2.0-20.0) seconds at the end of the sixth month (p = 0.00). Mean clinical grading was 1.9 +/- 0.8 (1.0-3.0) and this value regressed to 0.8 +/- 1.2 (0.0-3.0) after the treatment (p = 0.00). Mean OSDI score was 30.0 +/- 11.7 (9.0-50.0) before the treatment and 21.3 +/- 11.0 (4.0-47.0) after the treatment (p = 0.00). Mean goblet cell density of all cases was 12.3 +/- 8.7 before the treatment (2.0-28.0). It increased to 33.0 +/- 25.4 (6-70) after the treatment (p = 0.04). Topical cyclosporine A treatment is effective in grade 1 and grade 2 dry eye patients but results are poor in grade 3 patients.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):675-9.
• Article: Three-monthly intravitreal bevacizumab injections for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: short-term visual acuity results.

  Daniel Ferraz, Gláucio Bressanim, Beatriz Takahashi, David Pelayes, Walter Takahashi
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  ABSTRACT: To evaluate the change in vision after 3 monthly consecutive intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg of bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A retrospective analysis of 35 eyes was performed. Visual acuity (VA) at initial visit and at each follow-up visit was compared. The injection of bevacizumab was performed at 30-day intervals and patients were observed for 5 months after the last injection. Of the 35 eyes, 9 had received previous treatment with photodynamic therapy with or without 4 mg of intravitreal triamcinolone. VA was measured in Snellen table and transformed into logMAR for statistical purposes. Mean age was 76.66 years (range, 49-90 years). There were 24 (69%) women and 11 (31%) men. Mean VA at the initial visit was 0.92 +/- 0.50. At month 1, mean VA was 0.84 +/- 0.51 and at month 2 was 0.74 +/- 0.51. At month 3, mean VA remained 0.74 +/- 0.49. Six and 8 months after the initial visit, VA was 0.79 +/- 0.49 and 0.77 +/- 0.50, respectively. The improvement in VA was statistically significant at month 2 and at the end of the follow-up (8 months) compared with the baseline VA. Three consecutive monthly injections of intravitreal bevacizumab to treat neovascular AMD is effective in improving VA in the short-term. Longer prospective studies should be performed to confirm VA stability after the third injection.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):740-4.
• Article: Surgical treatment of esotropia associated with high myopia: unilateral versus bilateral surgery.

  Yair Morad, Eran Pras, Yakov Goldich, Yaniv Barkana, David Zadok, Morris Hartstein
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  ABSTRACT: To compare unilateral versus bilateral surgical treatment of esotropia associated with high myopia. This retrospective study comprised patients who underwent surgery for esotropia with high myopia performed by the first author (Y.M.) between 2003 and 2008. Surgical results and complications were compared between patients who underwent unilateral versus bilateral surgery. Nine patients were identified with average age of 44.9 years (range 8-70 years). All had bilateral high myopia (average -13.35 D, range -9.00 to -17.50 D) and esotropia of 20-75 diopters, together with hypotropia in 5 cases. Bilateral displacement of the lateral rectus inferiorly and superior rectus medially was demonstrated in each patient by computed tomography scan of the orbits and by observation during surgery. Five patients underwent bilateral surgery and 4 underwent unilateral surgery. After an average follow-up of 29 months (range 4-47 months), 4/5 patients who underwent bilateral myopexy achieved good results with postoperative esotropia of less than 8 diopters, as opposed to 2/4 patients who underwent unilateral surgery. No complications were noted. Bilateral superior and lateral rectus myopexy is the preferred method of surgical correction of esotropia associated with high myopia. Additional unilateral or bilateral medial rectus recession is probably not indicated in most cases. Patients who prefer unilateral surgery can benefit from unilateral superior and lateral rectus myopexy together with medial rectus recession. This unilateral approach may yield good results particularly in young patients without markedly restricted and tight extraocular muscles.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):653-8.
• Article: Detecting retinal vigabatrin toxicity in patients with partial symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy.

  Aylin Ardagil Akçakaya, Sevda Gökçeer, Hasan H Erbil, Nihal Işik, Levent Ozdöker, Senem Salar, Fatma Aykan, Tuğrul Aydin, Sevil Ari Yaylali, Ozlem Kesim
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  ABSTRACT: Detecting retinal vigabatrin toxicity in patients with partial symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy can be challenging because of preexisting visual field defects secondary to a structural abnormality in the brain or lack of collaboration. The aim of this study was to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) with optic coherence tomography (OCT), as well as contrast sensitivity, color vision, and perimetry, in patients with partial symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy on vigabatrin, and to determine the efficacy of these tests as markers of vigabatrin-related retinal damage in these subgroups of epileptic patients. The study involved 38 patients with either partial symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy and 16 healthy individuals comprising the control group. At the time of the study, 14 of the patients were using vigabatrin, 10 were receiving sodium valproate monotherapy, and 14 were on carbamazepine monotherapy. All the participants underwent RNFLT imaging with OCT, contrast sensitivity, color discrimination assessment, and perimetry. The average 360 degrees RNFLT of the vigabatrin group was significantly lower when compared to the other groups. The average RNFLT of all quadrants except the temporal one in the vigabatrin group was also significantly reduced. There was no difference in the mean deviation, contrast sensitivity, and color discrimination between the study groups, but they were all significantly lower than the control group. RNFLT measurement with OCT can efficiently identify vigabatrin toxicity in patients with partial symptomatic and cryptogenic epilepsy. Perimetry, contrast sensitivity, and color discrimination assessment might be inconclusive in these particular subgroups of epileptic patients.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):763-9.
• Article: Macular congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium: a case report.

  Ilaria Zucchiatti, Maurizio Battaglia Parodi, Michela Pala, Francesco Maria Bandello
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  ABSTRACT: To describe autofluorescence, microperimetry, and electrophysiology findings in a case of macular congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE). A 58-year-old man was referred to the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Udine for the evaluation of a pigmented macular lesion in the right eye. The patient underwent blue-light autofluorescence (BL-AF), near-infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF), electrooculogram, full-field electroretinogram and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG), microperimetry, computerized visual field, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). BL-AF performed using Heidelberg Retinal Angiograph II revealed a homogeneous hypoautofluorescence, surrounded by a hyperautofluorescent halo. NIR-AF showed a heterogeneous response combining an increased signal in the center of the lesion bordered by a decreased and darker signal. Electrooculogram and full-field electroretinogram were normal in both eyes. mfERG revealed only a limited area of reduced function in the right eye, which matched to location of CHRPE. The segments most functionally altered on mfERG corresponded to the area showing an increased signal in the NIR-AF, possibly reflecting the presence of increased pigment density within a more viable retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch membrane complex. In essence, macular CHRPE is associated with slight defect in retinal sensitivity and outer retinal dysfunction secondary to the anatomic changes characteristic of the lesion.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(3):621-4.
• Article: Anesthesiologist intervention during cataract surgery under topical or peribulbar anesthesia: a propensity model comparison.

  Marco Gemma, Luigi Gioia, Elisa Dedola, Benedetta Basta, Ingrid Bianchi, Francesco Fasce, Luigi Beretta
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  ABSTRACT: To compare the incidence and type of anesthesiologist intervention during cataract surgery under peribulbar (PA) or topical (TLA) anesthesia in a day-surgery monitored anesthesia care setting (monitoring provided by nurses with the anesthesiologist available on an on-call basis). From a prospective database of all phacoemulsifications performed in our hospital (January 2008-January 2009), 97 patients submitted to cataract surgery under PA were matched with 97 patients submitted to the same surgery under TA by a propensity model. The resulting groups were homogeneous as to history of antihypertensive therapy administered on the day of surgery and not administered on the day of surgery, cardiologic history, neurologic history, psychiatric history, anxiolytic assumption, and history of diabetes mellitus. We compared the incidence of intervention of the anesthesiologist between groups and the type of adverse event triggering such interventions. The anesthesiologist was called in 37(38.14%) cases in the PA group and in 27 (27.84%) cases in the TA group (37 [38.14%]) (p = 0.123). Only the occurrence of agitation differed significantly between groups (9 [9.28%] patients in the TA group vs 24 [24.74%] patients in the PA group; p = 0.004). Monitored anesthesia care is feasible for cataract surgery both under PA or TA. PA still remains an appealing alternative to TA during cataract surgery for patients incapable of keeping the operating eye in the primary position or with incoercible blinking, photophobia, or phacodonesis. A greater incidence of agitation is to be expected and adequate premedication with anxiolytics should be considered if PA is chosen.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):687-93.
• Article: PRPH2 (Peripherin/RDS) mutations associated with different macular dystrophies in a Spanish population: a new mutation.

  Rosa M Coco, Juan J Tellería, M Rosa Sanabria, Enrique Rodríguez-Rúa, M Teresa García
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  ABSTRACT: To assess the occurrence of PRPH2 mutations in patients presenting macular dystrophies and to describe their phenotype-genotype correlation. A total of 32 sporadic cases and 13 individuals from 5 families were studied. The patients presented early onset drusen, suspected pattern dystrophy (including adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy [AOFVD]), or any presumed macular dystrophy producing neovascularization or atrophic changes documented before patients reached 50 years of age. In case of atrophy, this could be confined to the macula, which was considered to be central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD), or extend to the midperiphery of the retina, which we called diffuse macular dystrophy (DMD). Clinical workup and analysis of PRPH2, EFEMP1, and TIMP3 genes were done. Four mutations of the PRPH2 gene were found in 3 sporadic cases and 3 families (n = 11). A p.R46X mutation, previously described in CACD, was found in 3 members of a family with AOFVD and in a sporadic case with DMD. A p.L45F mutation, described before in retinitis pigmentosa, was found in a sporadic case of AOFVD. A p.R195L mutation previously described in CACD was found in 2 members of a family with CACD. The latter was found in a family and a sporadic case (from the same village as the family) and all of them presented DMD. A new p.V2091 mutation was found in a patient with AOFVD. New phenotypes were found for known mutations. No phenotype variation was observed in the members of the 3 families. A new mutation in PRPH2 gene was found.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):724-32.
• Article: Adjustable superior oblique tendon spacer with application of nonabsorbable suture for treatment of isolated inferior oblique paresis.

  Masoud A Fard, Ahmad Ameri, Faramaz Anvari, Alireza K Jafari, Ziaeddin Yazdian
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  ABSTRACT: To evaluate and report the outcomes of a superior oblique tendon spacer procedure using nonabsorbable adjustable sutures in patients with inferior oblique (10) paresis. This interventional case series included 6 eyes of 6 patients with 10 paresis. All met Bielschowsky/Parks Three-step Test criteria to identify an isolated 10 paresis. In all patients, the superior oblique tendon was exposed; 2 nonabsorbable polyester sutures were placed 3 mm apart, and the tendon was cut. With the use of a slipknot, the cut ends of the tendon were separated 5 to 7 mm. Tendon separation was adjusted intraoperatively according to the fundus torsion and exaggerated traction test. The mean duration of follow-up was 8.1 months (range, 5-12 [corrected] months). Four patients had congenital 10 paresis and 2 had iatrogenic 10 paresis following denervation/myectomy of 10. Mean primary position hypotropia improved from 15.2 prism diopters (PD) before surgery to 2.7 PD in congenital 10 paresis and from 11.5 PD to 2.5 PD in iatrogenic 10 paresis. In congenital 10 paresis, mean preoperative superior oblique overaction and 10 underaction was +2 and -2, which decreased to 0 and -1.25 respectively; fundus incyclotorsion resolved in all patients. Superior oblique overaction and 10 underaction improved in iatrogenic 10 paresis as well. In no patient did an overcorrection develop. The adjustable superior oblique tendon suture spacer procedure is an effective and safe option for correcting 10 paresis without developing iatrogenic superior oblique paresis.
  European journal of ophthalmology 02/2010; 20(4):659-63.
• Article: Acute ophthalmoparesis associated with human parvovirus B19 infection.

  Julie Le Scanff, Alain Vighetto, Yahia Mekki, Anh Minh Nguyen, Jean-François Dufour, Christiane Broussolle, Pascal Seve
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  ABSTRACT: Parvovirus B19 infection (PVB19) has been linked with a broad spectrum of clinical syndromes. In addition to erythema infectiosum and asymptomatic infection, other less common manifestations include transient aplastic crisis in patients with hemoglobinopathies, pure red cell aplasia and pancytopenia in immunocompromised persons, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, chronic arthritis, myocarditis, and hepatitis. Only 19% of patients had peripheral nervous system damage, mainly including brachial plexitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Two cases of cranial nerves palsies have been described in children in the literature, including one case of peripheral facial nerve palsy and one case of velopalatine hemiparalysis. We report the first case of acute ophthalmoparesis associated with PVB19 infection. We present a 40-year-old man with PVB19 with acute sixth cranial nerve palsy, diagnosed on the basis of serology and polymerase chain reaction carried out both on serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Clinicians should be aware of this possible clinical presentation.
  European journal of ophthalmology 01/2010; 20(4):802-4.
• Article: Cataract surgery in the United Kingdom: a postal survey.

  Carpi A Olali, Anita Priya, Mohit Gupta, Sohail Ahmed
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  ABSTRACT: A postal questionnaire study to evaluate the current practice of cataract surgery delivery in the United Kingdom including strategies for postoperative review was performed. A cataract questionnaire was sent to all hospital departments delivering ophthalmic services in the United Kingdom based on a list from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. It included questions about the staffing level, number of cases operated on per list, and the different strategies employed postoperatively. The results were statistically analyzed. A total of 248 questionnaires were sent and 106 (43%) replies were received. The mean number of consultant teams was 11 (2-20). The average number of cases per list was 6-7 (range 4-9). In 65 hospitals, all patients are reviewed postoperatively in the hospital and some consultant teams review patients postoperatively in 18 hospitals. In 15 hospitals, patients were seen by the community optician. Most hospitals review their patients postoperatively within the first 3 weeks with more hospitals seeing them at 2-3 weeks. A wide variety of health professionals review the postoperative cases and they include doctors, nurses, and opticians (in house and community). There are varied practices for cataract surgery in the United Kingdom including the number of cases on the list and postoperative review protocols. There is room for better service organization in some hospitals in terms of patient flow and better use of medical staff time to improve output.
  European journal of ophthalmology 01/2010; 20(4):684-6.
• Article: Broader corneal characterization with PulseESPI applied to elasticity measurements.

  Muddassir M S Gualini, Salman Iqbal, Willibald Sixt, Wajid A Khan, Khurram Zulfiqar
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  ABSTRACT: A novel application of pulsed electronic speckle pattern interferometry (PulseESPI) techniques in important corneal elasticity measurements is presented in this pilot study. For laser-ablative procedures like laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, it has been found that elastic properties of the cornea have a role in the outcome of corneal refractive surgery, while for optimal ablative laser power calculations this measurement method may possibly be helpful. It may also help in earlier diagnosis of degenerative corneal disorders such as keratoconus. The approach of this study is to observe dynamic behavior of cornea against stresses as mapped with PulseESPI. For this purpose, strain was induced to the cornea using a fine rod with a mechanical vibrator. It was found that cornea has a response pattern to the dynamic stressing. Its surface exhibits a resonance frequency which can be measured with PulseESPI. This information of resonance frequency can be characteristic to the cornea. PulseESPI may help in important corneal elasticity measurements used for complication-free optimized ophthalmic surgery. It seems to be a promising method to conduct stress-related investigations on biological samples. To our knowledge, this is the first time that PulseESPI has been used for such ophthalmic measurements.
  European journal of ophthalmology 01/2010; 20(2):306-9.
• Article: Partial regression of degenerative retinoschisis associated with epiretinal membrane after vitrectomy.

  Marcin Stopa, Izabela Rogalinska, Jaroslaw Kociecki
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  ABSTRACT: To report a new and atypical pathology of epiretinal membrane formation on the top of the retinoschisis (schisis-membrane). We describe a patient with recent visual acuity and visual field deterioration due to a rapid progression of retinoschisis in the macular area resulting from shrinking membrane on the top of the schisis. The patient underwent vitrectomy with membrane removal. Partial regression of the schisis was observed and visual acuity improved from 5/12 to 5/5. Perimetry demonstrated that the corresponding visual field deterioration partially regressed. Release of traction exerted by a shrinking membrane is a surgical option to promote regression of retinoschisis and improvement in visual field and vision in schisis-membrane cases.
  European journal of ophthalmology 01/2010; 20(2):476-8.