Ocular trauma in the United States. Eye injuries resulting in hospitalization, 1984 through 1987.

The discharge rate for ocular trauma resulting in hospitalization and variations in rates between US census subdivisions were examined by using hospital discharge abstracts from the 1984 through 1987 National Hospital Discharge Surveys. The average annual rate of hospitalization with a principal diagnosis of ocular trauma was 13.2 per 100,000. The rate for any ocular trauma (principal or secondary diagnosis) was 29.1 per 100,000. Males were three times more likely to be hospitalized for a principal diagnosis of ocular trauma than females. Age-specific rates for principal and secondary diagnoses of ocular trauma were distributed bimodally, with the highest peak in adolescents and young adults, and another peak among those 75 years or older. This study has begun the first step in profiling ocular trauma resulting in hospitalization in the United States.

Acceptance of pharmacists' suggestions by prescribers: a literature review.

Acceptance of pharmacists' suggestions by prescribers is a necessary component of the evaluation of clinical pharmacy services that is often overlooked. A literature search was performed to review the information on this topic. Acceptance was defined as a measure of a prescriber's compliance with a pharmacist's recommendation regarding drug therapy. In order for the pharmacist to impact upon the quality of patient care or drug costs, the prescriber must accept the suggestions. A total of 23 studies was found that addressed the topic. The average rate of acceptance was 85.5%. Factors affecting acceptance included time, communication, solicited versus unsolicited recommendations, type of prescriber, and type of pharmacist. Factors leading to non-acceptance included lack of physician awareness of pharmacokinetic parameters, quality of suggestions, prescribers' exercise of caution with respect to patient safety and well-being, and negative attitude toward clinical pharmacy. More research needs to be done in order to evaluate the importance of these factors.

OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Act) and the optometrist.

The purpose of this article is to describe the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and how this law affects optometry. The mandate, coverage, and administration of OSHA will be highlighted. A brief perspective on developments since the beginning of OSHA will be presented. Caution is advised in view of the uncertainties in a political process that involves labor, business, and government in the complex subject of occupational safety and health.

Traumatic maculopathy.

The macula is extremely vulnerable to trauma. Acute trauma originates from three general categories of injury: blunt, remote, and photic. In all these types of trauma, minor injury may yield little or no permanent damage. The more severe cases of macular edema and tissue disorganization, however, can result in macular holes and scarring, which command the clinician's attention. Careful observation of the signs and symptoms involved in the natural history of macular trauma is needed.

Effects of environmental air pollution on the eye.

The eye is vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Manifestations of air pollution can range from minimal or no symptoms to chronic discomfort and eye irritation. There may also be specific situations, in contact lens wearers for example, where the eyes may be adversely affected by air pollution. Despite the presence of air pollution in many indoor and outdoor environments, the ocular effects of air pollution are often overlooked by optometrists when examining their patients. In this article, background knowledge needed to understand the effects of air pollution on the eye will be reviewed. Suggestions for management of air pollution-related eye symptoms are provided.

Weber's syndrome.

We examined a young patient with sickle cell anemia and a history of spinal meningitis who presented with signs of Weber's syndrome. Weber's syndrome is manifested by a homolateral third nerve palsy and contralateral hemiplegia. Evaluation and management of this case is presented, with a discussion on the probable association of Weber's syndrome and the spinal meningitis that occurred.

Long-lived radionuclides in food: 90Sr and 137Cs in the Israel diet.

Routine monitoring of Strontium-90 and Cesium-137 levels in the main classes of food consumed in Israel has been carried out for a number of years. Calculations have been made of the intake of these isotopes by various groups in the Israel population using Food Consumption Survey data made available by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. More detailed analyses have been carried out to calculate the exposure of groups selected on the basis of demographic, economic and family-size criteria. This was carried out in an attempt to detect "critical groups" in the population who might be overly exposed. Results of these data indicate that in the case of Israel the monitoring of a single food item such as milk or the extrapolation of local fallout data cannot be relied on to give an estimate of radionuclide exposure through food. The relation between high consumption groups and the intake of "average" consumers is discussed in detail and the use of the statistical models developed in these studies for the estimates of radionuclide exposure during periods of high fallout levels which occurred in the past and possible applications with regard to other environmental contaminants is discussed.