Thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in amblyopic and normal eyes: a scanning laser polarimetry study.

PURPOSE: To compare scanning laser polarimeter (GDx, Laser Diagnostic Technologies, San Diego, Calif) measurements of the peripapillar retinal nerve fiber layer in amblyopic and normal eyes. METHODS: Scanning laser polarimetry was performed on 21 patients with unilateral strabismic amblyopia who had an absence of neurologic diseases or glaucoma and a minimum age of 7 years. A mean retardation map was calculated from separate scans or was considered to be the best scan obtained for each eye. Polarimetric indices were analyzed comparing amblyopic and contralateral normal eyes. RESULTS: The mean age was 15 +/- 9 years (7-35 years) and the male:female ratio was 13:8. There were 6 right and 15 left amblyopic eyes, with the amblyopic group having a mean visual acuity of 0.3 +/- 0.1. The mean (+/- SD) indices did not differ significantly between normal and amblyopic eyes, except the number that summates information from the individual parameters, which was higher in normal (20.71 +/- 11.98) than in amblyopic (15.14 +/- 6.81) eyes, P =.02. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference in thickness of the nerve fiber layer between amblyopic and normal eyes. A previous study found similar results in adults with strabismic amblyopia.

Chronic dacryocystitis in American mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

PURPOSE: This study describes lacrimal tract involvement and surgical outcome in patients with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS: Four patients, ages 20 to 75 years, had nasal lesions resulting from mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and sought treatment for chronic dacryocystitis. Each patient had had lacrimal symptoms since childhood or early adulthood, concomitantly with the development of upper airway lesions. Dacryocystography showed nasolacrimal duct stenosis in all cases on the affected side. Three patients underwent dacryocystorhinostomy (one bilaterally), and one patient had bilateral dacryocystectomy. RESULTS: Two patients had surgical fistula closure soon after surgery. A sequential endoscopic operation for remotion of a synechia between the fistula and the middle turbinate was successful in one of these patients. Histopathologic analysis of lacrimal sacs and nasal mucous membranes close to the anastomotic site revealed chronic nonspecific inflammatory process and negative immunohistochemistry for Leishmania. CONCLUSIONS: Dacryocystitis may result from nasal mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The surgical outcome was unsatisfactory in one of the four patients.