Pterygium excision using a conjunctival autograft [abstract]

A pterygium is one of the prices that we pay for living in the tropics. There are several criteria for and several methods of removal. We present the results for a consecutive series of patients who have had pterygia excision using conjunctival autografts. (AU)

Conjunctival autograft in pterygium surgery

Pterygium is a very common eye condition in the Caribbean and, despite the medical and surgical treatment available, the recurrence rate is very high. This paper discusses conjunctival autograft, which has a recurrence rate of 20 percent, and the advantages and disadvantages over other procedures.(AU)

Macular vasculature, visual acuity, and irreversibly sickled cells in homozygous sickle cell disease

Observations of visual acuity and the conjunctival, macular, and perimacular vascularity have been assessed in patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease. There were 17 matched pairs, each consisting of one patient with a high count (>15 percent) and one with a low count (<5 percent) of irreversibly sickled cell (ISCs). The macular vascular bed was assessed by measurements of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), perimacular zones, and counts of perimacular vascular abnormalities (perimacular counts). Small foveal avascular zones and high perimacular counts were commoner in younger than older patients and there was a significant inverse correlation between size of the FAZ and the perimacular count. These observations were compatible with the hypothesis that perimacular vessel anomalies represent the early vaso-occlusive phase which progresses to ischaemia and the formation and enlargement of avascular areas. Visual acuity was assessed by Snell's test type and by measuring contrast sensitvity. There was no obvious relationship between acuity measured by the 2 methods and no relationship between acuity and observations of mascular vascularity. High ISC counts were significantly related to abnormalities of conjunctival vasculature, but no relationship was noted with abnormalities of the macular vasculature or with visual acuity (AU)

The conjunctival sign in sickle cell anaemia: a relationship with irreversibly sickled cells

Patients with sickle cell disease were divided into 5 groups according to the extent of abnormal vessels in the conjunctival vasculature. There was a significant relationship between the degree of abnormality and the number of irreversibly sickled cells, suggesting that these cells must be related to the genesis of these vessel anomalies. Evidence is accumulating that irreversibly sickled cells are related to several pathological processes in sickle cell anaemia, and we believe the sign may be useful not only in suggesting the diagnosis but also in gauging the severity of the condition (AU)

Mycetoma of the palpebral conjunctiva caused by allescheria boydii (monosporium apiospermum)

Mycetoma of the left upper palpebral conjunctiva due to allescheria boydii is reported in a 44-year-old male Negro gardener. The infection was associated with symblepharon and corneal scarring. This appears to be the fourth reported case of mycotic infection of the eye caused by allescheria boydii and the first in which the organism had produced a mycetoma of the conjunctiva (AU)