[The pathogenesis of cotton-wool spots]. / Patogenia nodulilor disorici.

Cotton-wool spots have been recognized as distinct ophthalmoscopic entities, yet the pathogenesis of these lesions has not been fully appreciated until now. Cotton-wool spots should be regarded as localised accumulations of axoplasmic debris in the retinal nerve-fibre lay, which result from interruption of axoplasmic transport. Cotton-wool spots could be found especially in diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy from nephropathy, collagen diseases, retinal vein occlusions and cachexia. Any factor responsible for local interruption of axonal flow in the retinal nerve-fibre layer will give rise to similar accumulations, although, pathogenically speaking, the cause is usually ischaemia.

[Sympathetic ophthalmia, one missing disease?]. / Oftalmia simpatica, afectiune disparuta?

Between 1992-1996 were treated ten cases with sympathetic ophthalmia, representing 0.16% from all hospitalized patients, in Ophthalmological Clinic from Craiova. The disease appeared after corneo-scleral penetrating wounds with membranes hernia at four cases; three from them was complications after cataract surgery and required long treatments; other two patients had glaucoma with closed angle in irreversible stages; another one presented herpetic cornea perforated ulceration with uveitis. Since ocular trauma until appearance of sympathetic ophthalmia, the time was two months at eight cases and two years at two cases. Under clinical aspect seven cases evolved like an anterior uveitis, two cases like a panuveitis and one like a uveopapillitis. Pathologic exam on the removed eye was not specific for sympathetic ophthalmia and only the clinical examination established the diagnosis. Under corticotherapy and immunomodulator therapy, sympathetic ophthalmia evolves this days benign. The disease should not be underestimated. It is not a disappeared disease..

[Predisposing factors in angle closure]. / Factori declansatori în închiderea unghiului.

The authors present the study of 443 cases of closed-angle glaucoma patients, hospitalized between 1989-1995, which represent 2.45% of the patients hospitalized in this period. The particular anatomic configuration of the anterior pole of the ocular globe (small anterior chamber and big lens), especially in women's case, explains the great number of female patients. According to the age, the greatest incidence was noticed at the age group 61-70 years (170 cases). Only 12 cases were registered for the age group under 40 years. The greater incidence was also remarked during months with low sun lighting 57 in November, 48 in December, 59 in January), due to the mydriasis. The study of 130 cases of closed-angle glaucoma through intumescent lens shows that the increase of antero-posterior lens diameter is just a starting factor for a potential primary closed-angle glaucoma.

[Glial hamartoma of the papilla]. / Hamartom glial al papilei.

There are shown two cases of glial hamartoma of the optic nerve head. In both cases the retinal vessels are tortuous around the optic nerve disc, and the choroid shows a brown colour, like a choroidal naevus. Histologically this kind of tumors of the optic nerve head are astrocytomas and they are met specially under the age of twenty. The glial hamartoma of the optic nerve head is a rare disease.

[The synthesis and effects of nitric oxide at the retinal level]. / Sinteza si efectele monoxidului de azot la nivelul retinei.

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthetized from L-arginine by the aid of an enzyme--NO synthase (NOS). This enzyme has there isoforms, which are either constitutive; neural NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) or inducible (iNOS). These three isoforms are expressed also in the retina. NO produced in small amounts by nNOS and eNOS is involved in neurotransmission in the retina and in the regulation of retinal arteriolar tonicity. NO produced in large quantities by iNOS is a bactericidal agent but can also generate inflammation of the retina and even retinal degeneration.

[The exacerbating role of the vascular factor in the evolution of open-angle glaucoma]. / Rolul agravant al factorului vascular în evolutia glaucomului cu unghi deschis.

UNLABELLED: The paper proposes to study the ophthalmic and carotid circulation of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in varied stages of evolution. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The lot is formed by 8 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, selected such that one eye to be absolute or quasiabsolute and the congener eye in incipient stage. The average (medium) age is 64 years, the patients having blood pressure within normal limits. The study of ophthalmic and carotid circulation was made by echo-Doppler and the calcul of velocimetric indices. RESULTS: The resistance index is increased in concordance with the stage of glaucoma. The diastolic flux is the most serious affected. There is no parallelism between the blood pressure value and the grade affectation of velocimetric indices. CONCLUSIONS: The local vascular diseases, ophthalmic and carotid, influence unsatisfactory the evolution of primary open-angle glaucoma.