UVEAL MELANOMA IN A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL. CASE REPORT.

Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular tumour in adults, it is a form of cancer that affects mostly older adults, as the average age at detection of this tumour is 60 years, but it can occur in any age group with no significant gender difference. However, uveal melanoma is very rare in children compared to the adult population, accounting for 1 % of all cases. In pediatric patients, malignant uveal melanoma is more frequently manifested during puberty, leading to speculation of an association between uveal melanoma and growth hormone levels. Prognostic factors for uveal melanoma include tumour histology, chromosomal abnormalities, tumour size, extrascleral spread and tumour location. Risk factors for uveal melanoma include melanocytosis, neurofibromatosis type 1 and dysplastic naevus syndrome. Some studies point to a significantly lower risk of developing metastases in younger patients, but the prognosis of uveal melanoma in children is not yet fully known. Clinical signs and treatment options for malignant uveal melanoma in children are still under discussion. Differential diagnosis of uveal lesions in children can sometimes be very difficult, as evidenced by following case report in which authors describe a case of choroidal melanoma in a 15-year-old girl.

RESULTS OF 15 YEARS OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS OF OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STOMATOLOGY IN ONCOLOGICAL SURGERY OF THE ORBIT: A DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACH.

AIM: To report an overview of the most frequent tumors of the orbit, suggest diagnostic approach and possible solution according to experience with own cohort of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From patients files from the Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Stomatology, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, and General Faculty Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, there were selected patients, who underwent the surgery due to the suspicion of malignant development in the orbit during the period 2005 - 2019. From the surgical records we found information about 497 cases. At the Department of Stomatology, there were 282 surgeries under general anesthesia performed, and at the Department of Ophthalmology, there were 215 surgeries, mostly under local anesthesia performed. RESULTS: The number of surgeries in men and women was equal; patients of all ages were present. The median of patients age operated on at the Department of Stomatology was 53 years, and at the Department of Ophthalmology 63 years. The most common primary benign tumor was the cavernous hemangioma (9 %), the most common non-tumorous expansion was the dermoid cyst (7 %); the most common malignant tumor was the lymphoma (17,5 %). The last mentioned tumor was the most common diagnosis in the whole cohort as well. CONCLUSION: Our cohort of patients is comparable with large cohorts published in the literature concerning age and gender distributions. Differences in frequencies of some lesions may be explained by that our cohort includes patients after the surgery only. The malignant lymphoma is the most common diagnosis indicated to surgical procedure, mostly biopsy. Comparing the two cohorts from our departments 20 years apart, the malignant lymphoma remains the most common indication for surgery, but the incidence of adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lacrimal gland decreased. It is not the goal of this paper to evaluate all possible orbital affections. Suggested surgical approaches are just recommendations according to years of experience; however, in some situations, to choose an individual surgical approach is necessary.

Late Functional and Morphological Findings after Methylalcohol Poisoning.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the morphological and functional findings in a patient after methanol poisoning. Examination methods: The patient (male, 38 years old) was suffered methanol poisoning in eight years ago (2012). The following tests and examinations were performed: neurological visual field XR test (Medmont M700), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary vessel density (all using Avanti RTvue, Optovue), pattern electroretinography (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) examination according to ISCEV methodology (Roland Consult Instrument) and brain MRI examination (Philips Achieva Dstream 3 T). RESULTS: The biggest changes were found in RNFL and VD. PERG also showed damage to retinal ganglion cell axons. In left eye we determined decrease in oscillations (in comparison with contralateral eye) at N35-P50 and P50-N95. VEPs in both eyes were significantly reduced, almost inconspicuous in the left eye. Extension of latency time of P100 was not identified. Functional MRI showed a bilateral decrease in voxel activity with a greater decrease in the left eye. There were postmalatical changes in the dorsal parts of the putamen on MRI. The width of the optic nerve and chiasm was physiological. CONCLUSION: Asymmetric damaging of RNFL and cortical centres of the brain were determined. We registered large pathological changes in VD, which are probably responsible for the deepening of optic nerve excavation and further loss of nerve fibers of retinal ganglion cells, which have not yet been described in the literature. Following these results is possible to define direct damage of nerve structures and blood vessels by toxins of methanol metabolism in the acute stage and upcoming reparation processes in following periods.

Ocular Manifestations of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegeners granulomatosis, is an autoimmune vasculitis of small vessels, presenting as necrotizing granulomatous inflammation especially of the upper and lower respiratory tract and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. GPA affects more often Caucasians in northern states, predominantly is affected the age-range group of 50 - 60 years. GPA may affect any organ; the eye symptoms are stated in the range of 16-78 %. The eye symptoms are very variable, and in up to 27 % they are the first sign of undiagnosed GPA. The etiology of GPA was not until now explained. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) play important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. GPA is ranked among ANCA associated vasculitis. The GPA is diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms of systemic vasculitis, laboratory and histological tests and imaging studies. Immunomodulative therapy made a contribution to the improvement of GPA prognosis in the last decades; biological treatment reaches the prominence of the GPA treatment procedures. Good collaboration with other specialties is necessary for the early diagnosis and treatment of this life and vision threating disease. The ophthalmologist in the collaboration with specialists of other medical branches may take an important part in the GPA diagnostics, monitoring of the diseases course, or adverse affects of the medication. This paper pays attention to the eye symptoms of the GPA; the literature is supplemented with own photographs of GPA eye symptoms in patients followed up at the Department of Ophthalmology, First medical faculty, Charles University and General Faculty Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, E.U. Key words: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), orbit, scleritis, peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK), immunomodulation.

Cognitive sequelae of methanol poisoning involve executive dysfunction and memory impairment in cross-sectional and long-term perspective.

Methanol poisoning leads to lesions in the basal ganglia and subcortical white matter, as well as to demyelination and atrophy of the optic nerve. However, information regarding cognitive deficits in a large methanol sample is lacking. The principal aim of the present study was to identify the cognitive sequelae of methanol poisoning and their morphological correlates. A sample of 50 patients (METH; age 48 ± 13 years), 3-8 months after methanol poisoning, and 57 control subjects (CS; age 49 ± 13 years) were administered a neuropsychological battery. Forty-six patients were followed in 2 years' perspective. Patients additionally underwent 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three biochemical and toxicological metabolic markers and a questionnaire regarding alcohol abuse facilitated the classification of 24 patients with methanol poisoning without alcohol abuse (METHna) and 22 patients with methanol poisoning and alcohol abuse (METHa). All groups were compared to a control group of similar size, and matched for age, education, premorbid intelligence level, global cognitive performance, and level of depressive symptoms. Using hierarchical multiple regression we found significant differences between METH and CS, especially in executive and memory domains. METHa showed a similar pattern of cognitive impairment with generally more severe executive dysfunction. Moreover, all METH patients with extensive involvement on brain MRI (lesions in ≥2 anatomical regions) had a more severe cognitive impairment. From a longitudinal perspective, we did not find any changes in their cognitive functioning after 2 years' follow-up. Our findings suggest that methanol poisoning is associated with executive dysfunction and explicit memory impairment, supposedly due to basal ganglia dysfunction and disruption of frontostriatal circuitry proportional to the number of brain lesions, and that these changes are persistent after 2 years' follow-up.

[Blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome]. / Syndrom blefarofimóza-ptóza-inverzní epikantus.

PURPOSE: To report the ocular phenotype of blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES). METHODS: Ophthalmological examination of a 36 year-old proband and detailed family history evaluation, including assessment of available facial photographs of affected relatives, was performed. RESULTS: There were four affected males and one female in three generations. The proband underwent two surgical eyelid procedures in childhood. Upon our examination, he had symmetrical ptosis with shorter eye lids, and incomplete medial canthal closure. The skin in the inner canthi was scarred, and the medial lower lids slightly everted, leading to malapposition of lacrimal punctae. There was no epicanthus inversus, however it was impossible to determine the status prior to the eyelid surgeries. The best corrected visual acuity was 0.66 and 0.33, in the right and left eye, respectively. The rest of the ocular examination was normal. There was no strabismus. Based on inspection of photographs taken prior to eyelid surgeries, the typical signs of BPES were also present in a son and a nephew of the proband. Photographs of the affected brother were not available, but family history indicated that he had BPES and underwent in his childhood two eye lid surgeries. Atypical ocular phenotype of the probands mother has been published previously. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologists need to be aware about the phenotype of BPES, with the potential for visual impairment, and the need for personalized management in the affected families.Key words: blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus, phenotype, FOXL2.

[STORY of the Papilla - a Case Report]. / Príbeh jedné papily.

PURPOSE: To present a case report with "unclear" and sudden decrease of left eye visual acuity and bilateral visual fields defects. METHODS: A case report. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old woman was referred to our Center of Neuroophthalmology and Orbitology by a neurologist for a history of sudden decrease of visual acuity of her left eye 3 years ago. From September 2009, she was examined at various and not only ophthalmology departments. One by one the optic nerve neuritis, traumatic, compressive or toxic neuropathy and also nutritive neuropathy because of vitamin B(12) deficiency were excluded. The patient underwent also a genetic examination for Lebers hereditary optic nerve neuropathy, but this diagnosis was not confirmed. On magnetic resonance imaging, an atrophy of both optic nerves was described, with no further progression found during the follow-up examination after one year. In available patients medical records we found out that on optical coherence tomography scans optic disc drusen of the both eyes are visible, but this wasnt described in the records. Also, an examination of Visual Evoked Potential was performed - this confirmed the diagnosis of optic disc drusen. However, our patient was further examined for visual lost of the left eye. At the time of presentation (January, 2014), her best-corrected visual acuity of the right eye was 0.5, and counting fingers at 50 cm distance with correct light projection in the left eye. Static perimetric examination demonstrated bilateral and concentric narrowing of visual fields. The eyes were parallel, with no limitation of their movements in any direction. The patient was without diplopia, the direct pupil reactions to the light were sluggish bilaterally, and anterior segments of both eyes were with no pathologies. Examination of the fundus revealed bilateral findings of pale optic disc with absent optic cup and indistinct "lumpy" margins. Waxy pearl-like irregularities of the papila of both eyes were visible even without pupil dilatation. Bilateral optic disc drusen were confirmed by ultrasonography, fundus autofluorescence and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. CONCLUSION: Optic disc drusen are often asymptomatic, frequently it is an accidental finding during the biomicroscopy of fundus due to ordinary eye examination. Rarely, optic disc drusen can cause blood circulation failure on the optic disc with typical defects of the visual field. Thats why we shouldnt forget the optic disc drusen in the differential diagnosis considerations.

[Clinical findings in members of a Czech family with retinitis pigmentosa caused by the c.2426_2427delAG mutation in RPGR]. / Klinické nálezy u clenu ceské rodiny s retinitis pigmentosa podmínenou mutací v ORF15 genu RPGR.

PURPOSE: To describe the phenotype of members of the first Czech retinitis pigmentosa family with an identified molecular genetic cause (c.2426_2427delAG in RPGR), followed for more than 13 years. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed and a detailed ophthalmic examination including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and full-field and multifocal electroretinography (ERG) was performed in two affected males, three female carriers and one unaffected female. RESULTS: A 22-year-old male who denied suffering from nyctalopia had a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.63 in both eyes. Moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism were present bilaterally. Color vision and contrast sensitivity were normal. There was an eccentric constriction of the visual fields that spared the central 20 degrees in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed bilateral pigmentary changes in the mid-periphery. Full-field ERG documented a 10% rod and 20% cone response. The phenotype of his cousin, also aged 22 years, was more severe. He complained of nyctalopia since 12 years of age. His BCVA was 0.3 in the right eye and 0.5 in the left eye. Myopia and astigmatism were present bilaterally. Contrast sensitivity and color vision were severely impaired. Full field ERG was extinct, but some activity on multifocal ERG was still detectable. The constriction of the visual fields reached 5 degrees in both eyes. Fundus examination showed the typical retinitis pigmentosa appearance. All carriers denied that they suffered from nyctalopia, but two of them had decreased BCVA in at least one eye. None exhibited typical bone spicules or a tapetal-like reflex. Significant refractive errors were present in all eyes of the carriers. CONCLUSION: The finding of moderate or high myopia and astigmatism in males with retinitis pigmentosa as well as refractive errors in female relatives indicates possible X-linked inheritance, which may be especially important in pedigrees where the transmission pattern can not be clearly established. Our study highlights the inter-individual variability in phenotype observed in similar aged patients with identical ORF15 RPGR mutations.

Team approach in treatment of extensive maxillofacial defects - five case report serie.

Long-lasting functional and esthetic rehabilitation and good health-related quality of life of patients with maxillofacial defects is based on effective interdisciplinary cooperation especially of surgeons, dentists and technicians. Extensive defects occur after the first phase of the oncologic surgery and immediately after injuries. Subsequent plastic surgery is the initial step of functional reconstruction and creates a base for future fabrication of post-operative dentures and implant-born epitheses. Five clinical reports demonstrate complex rehabilitation of typical maxillofacial defects solved within the multidisciplinary cooperation. Four patients with oncological diagnoses and complex surgical treatment, resp. radio- and chemotherapy are reported with interim and long-term prosthetic solutions. One patient suffered from a congenital malformation. Titanium implants were inserted in defect bone margins using two-phase method. Healing time was at minimum three months and after this period superstructures were applied. Artificial eyes were made of both glass and acrylic materials. Retention of presented postoperative prostheses was reliable; patients were satisfied with the functional and esthetical results of the reconstruction. Prognosis of the rehabilitation depends on the histological stability of adjacent tissues, quality of osseointegration and durability of materials used (silicones, acrylates). Satisfactory health-related quality of life of these patients is based on the multidisciplinary healthcare.

Two-year follow-up of two patients after severe thallium intoxication.

Information on the prognosis and electrophysiological follow-up of severe thallium poisoning is limited. We report two patients (mother and daughter) who were repeatedly exposed to thallium poisoning experienced hair loss, polyneuropathy, and visual impairment. Nerve conduction studies (NCSs), visual evoked potentials (VEP), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) changes, and optical neuropathy developed within a few months latency after the first subjective signs. Normal findings of these electrophysiological methods in the first 2 weeks therefore led in one of our patients to exclusion of thallium as the cause of symptoms. Thallium poisoning was, however, later confirmed by toxicological analysis of blood and/or urine and feces in both the patients and in the microscopic hair analysis of the daughter. Both patients were treated with Prussian blue that increased the elimination of thallium in urine and feces. The hair loss was fully reversible. During a 2-year follow-up after the poisoning, polyneuropathy in the lower extremities improved substantially, but residual impairment in both motor and sensory function, NCSs, VEP, and BAEP remained. Additionally, severe asymmetrical vision impairment persists in both women, with central scotomata and impaired color discrimination in both eyes. Substantial improvement of their visual function is unlikely.

[Randomly discovered enlargement in the region of sella turcica]. / Náhodne zjistené expanze v selární oblasti.

Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quite often detect unexpected cases of enlargement in the hypothalamus-hypophysial region, without the above methods being indicated for clinical manifested symptomatology provoked by the tumour. This is not surprising if we consider that autopsies show the presence of hypophysial adenomas of 10-15% of population on an average. X ray, CT or MRI are indicated in the case of head traumas, lateral nasal cavity inflammations, headaches, strokes, neurological diseases and other disorders. A number of tumours of diverse etiology occur in the hypothalamus-hypophysial region, but hypophysial adenomas are by far the most frequent among all (above 90 %). Among other primary enlargements, the most frequent are craniopharyngeomas and meningeomas, while other enlargements are by fare less common. Such randomly detected tumours are mostly asymptomatic, but targeted anamnesis may show some of the symptoms quite clearly. The symptomatology can be linked with possible slight hormonal overproduction of hypophysial adenomas, a deficit of hypophysial hormones or local manifestations of expansion. Exact assessment of MRI results, of hormonal activity of the enlargement, of the relation to surrounding structures, especially the optic nerves, and the assessment of hypophysial functions are important for the therapeutic decision. Depending on the type and extension of the tumour the options considered are pharmacotherapy (the treatment of choice in the case of prolactinomas), surgery, radiotherapy (today prevailingly using the gamma knife), and if no intervention is necessary, follow up with regular MRI examinations. Tumorous growth is more often observed in "macroadenomas" than in "microadenomas" (up to 10 mm).

[Infliximab in the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis: case report]. / Infliximab v lécbe Wegenerovy granulomatózy: kazuistika.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the efficacy of monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody infliximab in treatment of refractory Wegene's granulomatosis. Clinical manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis at the time of infliximab initiation were: proptosis of both eyes due to progressive retrobulbar granulomas, visual impairment, optic disc edema, progressive diplopia, sinus and renal involvement. The disease was refractory to a treatment with various immunosuppressants, including intravenous cyclophosphamide or high doses of mycophenolate mofetil in combination with corticosteroids. METHODS: Observational case report. RESULTS: the patient received six infusions of infliximab (3 mg/kg) in addition to low doses of oral cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. The interval between the first two infusions was 1 week. The interval between the second and third infusions was 4 weeks, thereafter 8, 12 and 34 weeks. Following the third infusion of infliximab the remission of Wegener's granulomatosis was seen. After the regression of retrobulbar granulomas visual acuity increased, ocular motility improved, diplopia and optic disc edema decreased. Remission has been maintained for 17 months. Infliximab was well tolerated during the short-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Infliximab successfully induced remission in case of sight-threatening Wegener's granulomatosis in our patient. It seems that infliximab provides more effective therapeutic option in treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis refractory to standard immunosuppression and offers better perspectives for patients with previously poor prognosis. Furthermore, it enables reducing the exposure to immunosuppressive drugs.

[Chronic postoperative endophthalmitis]. / Lécba chronické pooperacní endoftalmitidy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate our experience with the diagnosis and the treatment of chronic postoperative endophthalmitis. METHODS: A retrospective study. RESULTS: The authors present three cases of chronic postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. Propionibacterium species has been determined as the causative agent in two patients. All patients were men; the mean age was 75 years (from 73 to 78 years). The mean time period from the cataract operation to the onset of intraocular inflammatory signs was 5 months (from 2 to 9 months). Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal administration of antibiotics and intraocular lens explantation with total capsulectomy were performed. This treatment led to the reduction of the intraocular inflammatory reaction and to the improvement of the visual acuity. CONCLUSION: The effective treatment of chronic postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Propionibacterium species is a combined operation--intraocular lens explantation with total capsulectomy and pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal administration of antibiotics.

[Phacoemulsification of cataracts after pars plana vitrectomy (comparison of phacoemulsification with pars plana infusion and without pars plana infusion)]. / Fakoemulzifikace u katarakty po PPV (srovnání peroperacního prubehu fakoemulzifikace s pars plana infuzí a bez pars plana infuze).

PURPOSE: To compare peroperative complications of standard phaco technique and phaco with pars plana infusion performed for cataract after pars plana vitrectomy. METHOD: This prospective study randomly divided group of 64 patients with cataract after PPV into group A (standard phaco, 38 patients) and group B (phaco with par olana infusion, 26 patients). The study verifies the rate of peroperative complications such as deep anterior chamber, diaphragma movement miosis, and zonular dehiscention in these two groups. RESULTS: Peroperative complications had slightly higher rate in group B (with infusion). No specific complication in group A (standard phaco) was found. CONCLUSION: Standard phaco technic without par plana infusion has at least the same level of safety as phaco with pars plana infusion.

[Importance of diagnostic and therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy in endogenous uveitis]. / Význam diagnosticko-terapeutické pars plana vitrektomie u endogenní uveitidy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of diagnostic-therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy in patients with clinical manifestations of endogenous uveitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The diagnostic-therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy (DT PPV) has been performed at the Eye Clinic of General Faculty Hospital and 1st Medical Faculty on Prague on 62 eyes in 49 patients at the mean age of 45 years. The DT PPV was indicated in patients with uveitis of unusual clinical picture or poorly reacting to treatment, suspected infection or tumor etiology. In the beginning of PPV, 0.5 to 1.5 ml of undiluted vitreous body was samples and subsequently examined by microbiology, immunology and molecular genetic methods. PPV was performed on both eyes in 10 patients, on one eye twice in each of three patients. The authors evaluated 62 samples of vitreous body on the whole. The patients were observed for up to 96 months. RESULTS: Laboratory examination of the samples of vitreous body from 22 eyes (35.4%) supported our notion on infection etiology of intraocular inflammation, manifestations of intraocular tumor were in 12 eyes (19.3%), vascular or vitreoretinal pathology was present in 6 eyes (9.6%). Nonspecific inflammatory changes were detected in 22 eyes (35.4%). Drugs were administered into the vitreous body in 16 eyes. In the observation period the authors detected marked late complications in connection with DD PPV in 18 eyes (29%). Visual acuity improved by two or more lines of the Snellen optotypes in 43 eyes (69.3%), remained unchanged in 11 (17.7%) eyes. The vision deteriorated in 8 eyes (12.9%). CONCLUSION: Based on this experience the authors are of the opinion that DT PPV is indicated in patients with uveitis for giving more precision to the diagnosis of intraocular inflammation or a masking syndrome. DT PPV also represents a therapeutic procedure to cure complications connected with a severe form of inflammation and makes it possible to save central visual acuity.

[Mucoceles of paranasal sinuses]. / Mukokely vedlejsích dutin nosních.

In a retrospective study authors refer to the treatment results in four patients with mucocele of the paranasal sinuses, who were hospitalized during a 30-months period at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Charles University Hospital, in Prague, Czech Republic. In all patients the frontal sinus was involved, in three cases the involvement was unilateral, in one case bilateral. In the medical history of all patients, an injury, inflammation, or surgery of the paranasal sinus in the past (5-30 years ago) were present. In three patients, proptosis of the eye, swollen upper eyelid, and diplopia were discovered firstly by ocular examination. All patients underwent external approach surgical treatment, in four cases it was the frontoethmoidectomy sec. Jansen-Ritter, in one case the osteoplastic frontal craniotomy was performed. The postoperative follow-up period is 2-30 months.

[Cataract surgery in eyes treated with vitrectomy for idiopathic macular holes]. / Operace katarakty u vitrektomovaných ocí pro idiopatickou makulární díru.

The authors evaluated the final functional results in 30 eyes where on account of nuclear and cortical cataract an intraocular lens was implanted. The operation was preceded by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with internal gas tamponade on account of an idiopathic macular hole (IMD). The cataract the development of which was recorded in 57 eyes was the manifestation of a late postoperative complication from a total number of 84 phakic eyes (67.9%) which were operated on account of IMD between April 1996 and June 1999. After cataract surgery the corrected visual acuity improved in 23.3% eyes. The investigation confirmed improvement and stabilization of the final corrected visual acuity in 24 eyes (80%) and confirmed the importance of these surgical procedures.

[Ambulatory cataract surgery]. / Ambulantní operace katarakty.

The authors present an account of the experience with the first one hundred out patient cataract surgery which were performed at the Second ophthalmological Clinic in 1993 and 1994. They found that the only absolute contraindication is the need to administer general anaesthesia and they discuss the main problems which ensue from the present state of the health services and society as a whole.

Management of posterior segment foreign bodies and long-term results.

The management of 158 posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies (IOFB) was retrospectively analyzed: transscleral magnet extraction via the pars plana was used for 40 magnetic IOFB, transscleral extraction via the IOFB bed for 35 magnetic and 4 non-magnetic IOFB, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for 44 magnetic and 32 non-magnetic IOFB, and open-sky vitrectomy for 3 non-magnetic IOFB. Final visual acuity of 0.02 and better was achieved in 104 out of 119 magnetic IOFB (87%) and 24 out of 39 non-magnetic IOFB (62%), and final visual acuity 0.05 and better in 79 magnetic IOFB (66%) and 17 non-magnetic IOFB (44%). Transscleral extraction via the IOFB bed under ophthalmoscopic control and IOFB removal by PPV proved to be the operations of choice for an increasing number of IOFB. For magnetic IOFB, these techniques yielded better final functional results than transscleral magnet extraction via the pars plana. Final visual acuity did not depend on the interval between injury and IOFB removal, and with regard to the risk of endophthalmitis, IOFB need not be considered an absolute indication for immediate intervention. IOFB size up to 5 mm2 and initial visual acuity of 0.5 and better were significant positive factors for both magnetic and non-magnetic IOFB.

[ProVisc--a new viscoelastic material for surgery of the anterior segment. A multicenter clinical study]. / ProVisc--nový viskoelastický materiál pro chirurgii predního segmentu. Multicentrální klinická studie.

Within the framework of a multicentric clinical study which was implemented at nine selected departments a new viscoelastic material ProVisc of Alcon company was tested during extracapsular extraction of cataract with implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses. A total of 100 eyes of 100 patients were operated and all pre- and postoperative data were recorded in uniform protocols. The selection of suitable patients and the type of surgical procedure was within the responsibility of the surgeon. The type and frequency of surgical and postoperative complications was similar as when other viscoelastic material ProVisc can be recommended as safe and effective in modern surgery of cataract.