Solar spectral lines ("solar halo")--healing or harmful for the retina?

The sungazing method has been known for thousands of years as healing method based on chromotherapeutic principle. Our examinations on the island of Rab show that it is acceptable only if applied 10 min before the sunset. Gazing has to be directed towards the green-yellow part of the spectrum, since the remaining part of the sun halo contains harmful energy. However, authors suggest that it would be preferable to use spectacles with medical filters transmitting wavelight of green-yellow colour, especially for treatment of macular degeneration.

Dental inflammation and central retinitis--it is important to protect the retina from the harmful sunlight.

During 3-year study of 73 patients with dental inflammation, sinusitis, otitis and 5 cases with granuloma, in 9 cases we observed the development of central retinitis. All patients were medicated with the same antibiotics and parabulbar depo of Prednisolonacetate. To 50% of these patients, we suggested eye protection with Yellow Medical filters during two months. In the first group with medication we observed better vision in 69%, but in the second group with eye protection with Yellow Medical filters we observed normalization of vision in 100%.

Appearance of age related maculopathy after cataract surgery.

The pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy (ARM), the most common cause of visual loss after the age of 60 years, involves a variety of hereditary and environmental factors. When the cataractous lens is removed and replaced by clear intraocular lens, a significant increase in ocular transmittance of optical radiation occurs. The aim of this study was to assess whether cataract surgery in older persons may increase the risk for development of ARM. This is a retrospective study. Medical records of 307 patients, aged 43 to 96 years, (163 male and 144 female) were randomly evaluated. They had undergone cataract extraction (phacoemulsification or extracapsular lens extraction) with clear intraocular lens implantation from January 2001 to December 2005 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Rijeka. Patients were examined two weeks after surgery and followed up for at least two years. Based on the exclusion criteria, only patients without any sign of AMD at the first postoperative check up were included. A total of 80 patients (26%) showed development of ARM at the last check up, which was at least 2 years after surgery. Our results indicate that pseudophakia is a risk factor for development of ARM.

Histopathology of the pterygium in population on Croatian Island Rab.

In the 1975-2004 period, 130 cases of pterygium were estimated, 83 males and 47 females, on a small island Rab. Island Rab is located in the north part of the Adriatic sea, which has very high index of sun radiation. Pterygium is usually histopathologically defined as a hyperplasia of conjunctival tissue, elastoid degeneration of subepithelieum and fragmentation of Bowman's membrane. Our histopathological findings in 73 eyes are following: conjunctiva with neovascularisation, leukocyte margination and subepithelial basophilic degeneration, proliferation of conjunctival tissue, acanthosis and squamous metaplasia, and mucinous elements, focaly present plasma cells, focuses of increased pigmentisation in basal epithelial layers, tenon capsule with edema, diffuse neovascularisation and fragmentation of fibrils. These findings suggest that in severe cases of pterygium histopathologically exists precancerosis. In conclusion, on the basis of these histopathological findings, especially in the Tenon capsule, we suggest that for surgical procedure of pterygium the excision of the Tenon capsule, extensively under pterygium, is necessary.

Ultraviolet sun radiation and incidence of age-related macular degeneration on Croatian Island Rab.

This epidemiological study is completed on island Rab, located in North Adriatic Sea. For this study it is important that Adriatic Sea has one of the highest solar radiations in geographical area of Europe. The aim of this epidemiological study is to estimate correlation between incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and exposure of sunlight in two different populations on island Rab. In the first group of population of island Rab, agriculturists and fishermen (n = 1300), incidence of AMD was in 18%, but in urban population only 2.5%. It is very interesting that correlation exists between incidence of AMD and exfoliation syndrome. In the group of chronic exposure to sunlight (agriculturists and fishermen) exfoliation syndrome exists in 28%, but in urban population it has never been seen. The age in both populations was 45-65 years. We can conclude that there is a very significant correlation between chronic exposure to sunlight and appearance of AMD.