[Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis in children from 6 to 9 years of age]. / Análisis del espesor de la capa de fibras nerviosas en niños de 6 a 9 años.

PURPOSE: To establish a database of scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) parameters for children between 6 and 9 years of age and compare the results at each age. METHODS: The retinal nerve layer thickness of 116 children from one school was evaluated with GDx and the results were analyzed for each age and for the entire group to determinate the normal range for that population. RESULTS: In the global analysis of the software-derived GDx parameters, we obtained a TSNIT average of 59.43 (IC95% 58.41-60.45), a superior average of 71.35 (IC95% 69.99-72.70), an inferior average of 70.08 (IC95% 68.71-71.45), and a TSNIT Std. Deviation of 25.11 (IC95% 24.36-25.86). The results from the analysis for age were similar to the global results. CONCLUSIONS: Given the low level of cooperation required, GDx can be used without problem to study the retinal nerve fiber layer in 6-9-year-old children. GDx could provide objective information about the state of development of the retinal nerve fiber layer during this period of life.

[Simultaneous botulism in two brothers addicted to cocaine]. / Botulismo simultáneo en dos hermanos cocainómanos.

INTRODUCTION: Botulism is currently an uncommon disease in which the botulinum toxin causes a progressive muscular paralysis that can lead to the death due to a failure of respiratory muscles. CLINICAL CASE: Two brothers, both addicted to cocaine, came to the casualty department because of a decrease of near visual acuity and bilateral mydriasis. Two days later, they developed eyelid ptosis, asymmetric dysfunction of the extraocular muscles and vomiting. DISCUSSION: The presence of a paralysis of accommodation, with bilateral mydriasis that reacts to pilocarpine, makes it necessary to consider botulism as a possible cause.

Multidrug resistant Fusarium keratitis.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of keratitis in a female contact lens wearer, who developed a deep corneal abscess. The culture of a corneal biopsy scraping was positive for multiresistant Fusarium solani. The patient has a complicated clinical course and failed to respond to local and systemic antifungal treatment, requiring eye enucleation. CONCLUSION: Fusarium keratitis may progress to severe endophthalmitis. Clinical suspicion is paramount in order to start antifungal therapy without delay. Therapy is complex due to the high resistance of this organism to usual antifungal drugs.

[Modification of the conjuntival flora with cleaning palpebral solutions]. / Modificación de la flora conjuntival por el empleo de soluciones de higiene palpebral.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a solution of palpebral hygiene during the preoperative stage of cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 286 patients divided in 5 groups. One control group that did not use the product, and the remaining 4, that used the product during 3, 4, 5 and 6 days. The design of the study was prospective, randomize and masked. We took a sample of the conjunctival fundus in the morning of the day of the surgery, before commencing treatment with eye drops. This sample was sown according to microbiological techniques and analyzed by the microbiology department. RESULTS: The best time for using palpebral hygiene solutions prior to cataract surgery is four to five days. If it is used at less than three days, it does not decrease the rate of positive cultures and if the solution is applied more than six days, microorganisms that are not part of the common conjunctival flora may appear. CONCLUSIONS: Palpebral hygiene products should not be used more than five consecutive days previous to surgery.

[Improving the visualization of non-absorbable T-Flux(®) implants in deep sclerectomy. Colouring technique]. / Mejorando la visualización del implante no absorbible T-Flux(®) para esclerectomía profunda. Técnica de tinción.

PURPOSE: To describe a staining technique that will enhance the visualization of non-absorbable T-Flux implants. METHODS: The technique was applied to non-absorbable T-Flux implants. The implants were submerged for 5 to 10 minutes in a sodium fluorescein solution, and dried with a sponge when removed from the solution. DISCUSSION: This is a very simple and easy procedure that uses a common fluorescein solution to enhance the contrast between the surgical field and a transparent implant used in deep sclerectomy. This colour technique will decrease the risk of loss of the implant in the surgical field.