Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis is thought to be caused by a solitary helminth migrating within the subretinal space. Laser photocoagulation of the located worm is the preferred mode of therapy. METHODS: We describe the clinical and electrophysiological features of a case of a 15-year-old Caucasian male with a longstanding diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN), in whom two worms were seen in the fundus examination. Focal photocoagulation of the worms was applied as treatment. RESULTS: No signs of inflammation could be seen after treatment. Three months later, the patient was doing well. Follow-up examination 4 years later revealed an unchanged fundus appearance in the affected eye, with no evidence of progression of the syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: If a worm is identified in DUSN, focal laser treatment of the located area is the treatment of choice, regardless of whether fundus changes suggest late stages of the disease. However, the eye of the patient should be thoroughly examined to rule out the presence of more than one worm that might cause the failure of therapy.

Endothelial study of iris-claw phakic lens: four year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To study quantitative and morphometric endothelial changes in phakic eyes implanted with the Worst iris-claw lens to correct high myopia. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital "La Fe", Valencia, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved 111 phakic eyes (73 patients) implanted with the Worst iris-claw lens. Noncontact specular microscopy and computer-assisted analysis was performed preoperatively and 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean cell loss was 3.85% at 6 months, 6.59% at 1 year, 9.22% at 2 years, 11.68% at 3 years, and 13.42% at 4 years. At 2 years, the hexagonality and coefficient variation in cell size were close to the preoperative levels. No major complications were seen; early postoperative corneal touch required intraocular lens (IOL) removal in 1 case (0.9%). Four eyes (3.6%) needed a reoperation because of poor IOL fixation (2 eyes), traumatic subluxation of the IOL (1 eye), and miscalculation of the IOL power (1 eye). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was a slight progressive cell loss after IOL implantation, the morphometric changes recovered and were close to the preoperative levels. This suggests that endothelial damage occurred primarily during the surgical procedure.

Iris claw phakic intraocular lens for high myopia.

BACKGROUND: The implantation of a Worst-Fechner iris claw intraocular lens (IOL) is one of the surgical procedures used for the correction of high myopia. This technique reduces myopia with stable refractive results; however, its potential long-term risks have not been evaluated. We report results in 94 eyes with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. METHODS: We studied 94 eyes of 62 patients with myopia > or = -7.00 diopters (D) who underwent Worst-Fechner IOL implantation. Lens decentration, permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier by iris angiography, and changes in corneal endothelial density were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 48.9 months (range 36 to 72 mo). Three years after surgery, 58 eyes (61%) had an uncorrected visual acuity > or = 20/40, and 77 eyes (82%) gained two or more lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity with respect to the preoperative value; 75 eyes (79%) were within +/- 1.00 D of emmetropia and 46 eyes (48%) were within +/- 0.50 D of emmetropia. The mean endothelial cell loss was 17.9% at 5 years after surgery, while the percentage of hexagonality and the coefficient of cell variation tended toward preoperative levels. No vision threatening complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of a Worst-Fechner iris claw phakic IOL reduced high myopia with a stable refractive outcome. Endothelial cell damage was within acceptable limits. The absence of major complications makes this procedure an acceptable method for correcting high myopia.