Ocular penetration of amikacin following intramuscular injection.

Amikacin sulfate was given intramuscularly (IM) (7.5 mg/kg) to study its ocular penetration in man. Seventy-three patients with cataracts received a single dose and 35 received two doses given 5 1/2 to 12 hours apart. After a single dose the aqueous humor levels of the antibiotic between two and ten hours ranged from 0.15 to 3.10 mg/L (average and median, 1.0 mg/L). Two doses given 5 1/2 to eight hours apart produced an average level of 3.5 mg/L (range, 0.91 to 8.31 mg/L). When the second dose was given nine to 12 hours after the first, the aqueous humor levels were similar to those found for a single dose. Aqueous humor concentrations of 1.0 mg/L of amikacin would be expected to be bactericidal for most gram-negative bacterial pathogens, whereas levels of 3.5 mg/L would inhibit most strains of Staphylococcus aureus and many strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Chinese eye exercises.

Eye exercises are regularly performed by the Chinese children in this highly regimented society. These exercises, based on acupuncture points, are used by children who are approximately 6 to 13 years of age. Chinese eye exercises are reported to be beneficial for myopia, a common Oriental ocular problem. I know of no scientific study that either proves or disproves this.

Update of the worldwide FDA study of the 3M diffractive multifocal intraocular lens.

The multifocal diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) represents a significant technological advance. Results of 671 patients with a year follow-up from a worldwide study are presented. Through this FDA study, it appears that many patients can enjoy uncompromising distance vision as well as unaided near vision. With careful surgical control of astigmatism and competent calculation of IOL power, it may be possible to reduce the post-cataract patients' dependency on glasses.