[ISO 9001-2000 certification for refractive laser treatment]. / Certification ISO 9001-2000 des traitements réfractifs par laser cornéen.

PURPOSE: To obtain ISO 9001-2000 certification for laser corneal refractive treatment, never before sought in Europe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The consulting firm Veritas led the certification process with the clinic's staff manager. This ISO norm is dedicated to the implementation of a quality management system. We assessed and optimized all necessary resources, evaluating customer satisfaction using patient and referring-physician surveys. We started quality rounds including surgeons, nurses, and technicians. Based on this preparation, we redefined and explained all processes including staff responsibilities and necessary resources in the quality manual. The procedure lasted 14 months with substantial involvement on the part of the management. RESULTS: Unconditional ISO 9001-2000 certification was granted by the independent audit firm, BVQI, in december 2003 for refractive laser treatment. CONCLUSION: The 2000 version of the new ISO 9001-2000 seeks to meet the demand for improving health care delivery in this field, most particularly by establishing a clear procedural orientation. Such certification enhances team work, stabilizes methodologies, and reinforces cohesion and self-audit. Patients notice that the center follows a consistent quality policy and are assured that the clinic respects rules and regulations. Certification is an advantageous alternative when accreditation cannot be considered. Our article discusses the steps taken in upper management, quality management, procedural guidance, as well as customer and staff counselling. It also discusses the project's cost/benefit ratio for the organization.

National campaign against hepatitis C in France (1999-2002).

Since 1988, several measures have been applied in France to control HCV infection. HCV seroprevalence in the adult population is estimated at 1.1% (500,000 to 650,000 persons) and the number of chronically infected at 400,000 to 500,000 persons. In 1994, most of them might not be aware of their infection. Blood products administration and injecting-drug use are identified as the main transmission routes. The national hepatitis C plan (1999-2002) was based on scientific data and developed after a consensus conference and several expert consultations. It involves six programs and quantified objectives: prevention of new infections, enforcement of screening access; improvement of care management; implementation of a surveillance system, clinical research and evaluation. Specific financial supports were attributed for the implementation of the plan. The 2001 progress report confirmed a major increase in national and regional actions. In 2000, considering the high proportion of persons still unaware of their infection (at least one third) and the increase of treatment efficacy, the target population of the screening strategy was considerably extended after scientific analysis. A national consciousness-raising campaign directed at general practitioners was launched in June 2000. In 2001, a media campaign directed to the general population was developed, in newspapers and on radio stations. Since the end of 1999, a national toll free phone number provides information to the public. In order to improve access to screening, a new regulation added HCV testing to the missions of anonymous and free HIV testing centres, as well as of family planning centres. The hepatitis C prevention strategy is still included in a national public health program and improved in view of its renewal.

[Phototherapeutic keratectomy in the treatment of Groenouw's type I corneal dystrophy]. / La photokératectomie thérapeutique dans le traitement de la dystrophie de Groenouw I.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for the treatment of corneal granular dystrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PTK was performed with the Excimed UV 200, (Summit Technology, Inc) on a series of 27 eyes of 22 patients with corneal granular dystrophy. Mean patients' age was 34.6 years. The mean follow-up period was 31 months (ranged from 6 to 52 months). The changes in best corrected visual acuity and spherical equivalent were evaluated at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: All of patients achieved visual improvement. Mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/100 and mean postoperative BCVA was 20/30 at one year. The mean hyperopic shift caused by tissue ablation was +/- 2.8 D after one year. CONCLUSION: Corneal grafting was the standard treatment for visually disabling granular dystrophy, but PTK has significant advantages over this procedure and must now be the standard method of managing corneal granular dystrophy when intervention is required.

Pseudoaccommodation: BioComFold versus a foldable silicone intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To assess the degree of pseudoaccommodation amplitude correlated with shifts along the anteroposterior axis of the BioComFold foldable intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 30 eyes of 30 patients operated on consecutively for cataract by phacoemulsification and in-the-bag implantation of a BioComFold (15 patients) or a foldable control (15 patients) IOL. The BioComFold IOL has a peripheral bulging ring that pushes the optic forward during the effort to accommodate, creating a zoom effect. Pseudoaccommodation amplitude was evaluated using the blurring of controlled vision by adding spheres, with the best correction for distance vision in place. Pupil diameter was measured with a Goldmann campimeter under constant illumination. Anterior chamber depth was determined by A-scan (Paxial, Biophysic Medical) 30 minutes after cyclopentolate 1% was instilled and again 30 minutes after pilocarpine 2% was instilled. RESULTS: The difference in pseudoaccommodation amplitude and pupil diameter between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P = .6737 and P = .4014, respectively). The IOL's forward shifts from maximal ciliary relaxation to maximal ciliary contraction were significantly greater in the BioComFold group (P = .0215). CONCLUSION: The design of the BioComFold IOL allowed greater forward optic shifts along the anteroposterior axis during the effort to accommodate. Nevertheless, this shift was not correlated with a significantly greater pseudoaccommodation amplitude.

[Reis-Buckler dystrophy: therapeutic photo-ablation with the excimer laser]. / Dystrophie de Reis-Buckler: photoablation thérapeutique au laser excimer.

PURPOSE: Reis-Buckler's corneal dystrophy consist of superficial reticulated opacities with recurring attacks of corneal erosion. Lamellar and penetrating keratoplasties were the traditional surgical means of improving recurrent erosions and vision but the dystrophy recurs following surgery. Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) is now the standard method of managing this anterior corneal disease when intervention is required. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have treated ten eyes with Reis-Buckler's dystrophy using Excimer laser PTK. RESULTS: All of patients achieved visual improvement (preoperative corrected visual acuity: average 0.3 +/- 0.2 SD, postoperative at one month 0.6 +/- 0.3 SD and 0.7 +/- 0.2 SD at one year. The refractive shift changed from a spherical equivalent of -0.92 D to a postoperative refraction of +1.80 D at one month and +1.65 D at one year.

[The optical power of the corneal epithelium. In vivo evaluation]. / Le pouvoir optique de l'épithélium cornéen. Evaluation in vivo.

PURPOSE: The refracting power of the corneal epithelium is relatively unknown. We measured the keratometric refracting power of the cornea on 15 eyes of patients undergoing photorefractive keratectomy with and without epithelium. MATERIALS: The readings were performed with a videokeratoscope TMS-1. Three readings were averaged to obtain the mean and standard deviations. RESULTS: By removing the epithelium, there was an increase in corneal refracting power. The mean change was +1.19 D (standard deviation +/- 0.36 D) at 1 mm of the center of the cornea. On all patients the optical power of the cornea increased after epithelium removal. CONCLUSION: The curvature of the Bowman membrane is steeper than the cornea with epithelium. A change in the thickness of the epithelium is related to a modification of the optical power of the cornea. The optical role of the epithelium is to compensate surface irregularities of the Bowman membrane and could explained in part the hyperopia in the first months after excimer laser.

[Characteristics of corneal topography in candidates for surgery for myopia]. / Caractéristiques de la topographie cornéenne des candidats à la chirurgie de la myopie.

INTRODUCTION: Videokeratography analyses the corneal anterior topography. It is necessary in refractive surgery to estimate the anatomical effect of the surgery and to eliminate early Keratoconus. METHODOLOGY: Corneal anterior topography was studied on 70 consecutive patients (140 eyes) candidates for low myopia surgery (-1 to -6); 87 eyes were wearing regularly contact lenses. With the topographic analysis machine of EYESYS compagny, keratometry (Km) at 3 mm, astigmatism (delta K) at 3 mm, I-S value at 3 mm and 5 mm according to Rabinowitz method were measured in each eye. RESULTS: The average keratometry was 43.50 +/- 1.87 D. The average astigmatism was 0.909 +/- 0.75 D. 51 eyes presented an asymmetric corneal and among them 32 ware contact lenses regularly; 8 eyes out of 140 (6%) presented the association of an high central Keratometry value (> or = 47 D) and corneal asymmetry (I-S > 0.5 value). COMMENTS: The incidence of Keratoconus is higher in a candidate population for refractive surgery by self-selection. Its frequency is difficult to evaluate accurately because of the present limits for the diagnostic measures. In this population, it seems to represent about 6%. CONCLUSION: The videokeratography before refractive surgery is necessary to reveal corneal anterior topography abnormalities and to eliminate early Keratoconus.

Results of transverse keratotomies for astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty: a retrospective study of 48 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: High astigmatism is still a common complication of penetrating keratoplasty which often limits the final corrected visual acuity. Surgical correction of high astigmatism persistent after suture removal remains rather controversial. In our present study, we used the technique of transverse keratotomies for the surgical correction of high astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty because of its simplicity and corrective potential. METHODS: We present a retrospective clinical study based on the results of 48 consecutive transverse keratotomy procedures performed on the graft. Three eyes were operated on twice, for a total of 51 procedures. The astigmatism had to be stable for at least 6 months after suture removal, with poor corrected visual acuity with spectacles or contact lenses. The operative protocol (number of incisions, optical zone size) was decided based on the degree of astigmatism. The mean post-operative observation period was 5.11 +/- 3.93 months (range, 1 to 24 months). RESULTS: The mean preoperative cylinder was 8.96 +/- 2.22 diopters and 4.91 +/- 1.79 D postoperatively. The mean cylindrical change was 4.51 +/- 2.77 D. The spherical equivalent remained unchanged in most cases. In a majority of cases, the corrected visual acuity for distance and near vision was improved. No cases of persistent graft edema caused by immunologic rejection or endothelial failure were observed. Moreover, in no case was there worsening of the best corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of transverse incisions in the graft to correct or reduce high postkeratoplasty astigmatism is simple, efficient, and relatively safe. The main problem was poor predictability.

Damage to the corneal endothelium by minus power anterior chamber intraocular lenses.

We present 16 phakic myopic eyes (from -10.00 to -25.00 diopters) corrected by minus power intraocular lenses implanted in the anterior chamber whose corneal endothelium was observed by specular microscopy during a postoperative period from 6 to 18 months. Significant morphologic endothelial changes were noted in three eyes along the border of the lens optic. Around dark zones, which appeared acellular, endothelial cells were enlarged, deformed, and separated. These findings may be produced by intermittent contact between the endothelium and lens. Corneal indentation during specular microscopy occasionally caused a curvilinear reflection which corresponded to the optic border. In three eyes, dark areas without cellular abnormality were observed near the curved edge of the lens. These findings probably resulted from the disturbance of the specular reflection on part of the endothelium due to this edge.

[Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva with intraocular invasion. Apropos of a case]. / Carcinome mucoépidermoïde de la conjonctive avec invasion intraoculaire. A propos d'un cas.

One case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the conjunctiva with intraocular invasion is described. Review of literature retrieve 15 cases of conjunctival localisation of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. These tumors appear to be locally aggressive, they all invade the intraocular or intraorbital structures. They require always a radical surgery with wide excision. Histopathologically, histochemical stains for glycoproteins confirm the diagnosis with admixture of squamous and mucus secreting cells.

[Treatment of dry eye by temporary punctum plug. Comparison with a control group]. / Traitement des sécheresses lacrymales par occlusion réversible des méats lacrymaux. Résultats comparés à un groupe témoin.

35 patients with chronic dry eye were treated with punctum plug on one side only. The other side was a control: after simulation dilatation, the patient underwent a simulation insertion. This is an open study in which only the patient ignored the reality of treatment. The study was prospective. 28 females and 7 males were enrolled in this study. The age' average was 53. The follow-up average is 5.3 months. The etiologies were: idiopathic dry eye: 10 cases, Sjögren's syndrome: 11 cases, drug induced dry eye: 6 cases, filamentous keratitis: 4 cases. Other: 4 cases. Enrollment criteria were: functional symptomatology not answering to topical therapy (physiological serum drops) associated with one or more of the following items: positive Rose Bengal staining and/or Schirmer lower than 5 mm in 5 min and/or filamentary keratitis. Subjective improvement is significantly better after closing the two puncta on the same side (77%) than the other side (placebo) (17%) (p less than 0.001). This difference is also demonstrated for the improvement of Rose Bengal staining (p = 0.068) and for Schirmer's test (p = 0.002). These results demonstrated the effectiveness of this therapy versus placebo. Results after closing the 2 puncta on the same side are better than after closing one punctum.

[Rapid imaging in orbito-ocular pathology. Contribution of gadolinium]. / Imagerie rapide en pathologie orbito-orbitaire. Apport du gadolinium.

To evaluate Gradient-Echo Imaging (GEI) in orbito-ocular pathology, 15 volunteers and 34 patients (40 lesions) were examined with GEA T1 and GEA T2 (0.5 T). Results were compared with SE T1 in all cases, with SE T2 in 20 cases and with other imaging modalities (CT). 30 patients were examined before and after injection of gadolinium. Final diagnosis was obtained by surgery or biopsy in 24 cases or by combined results of imaging and clinical findings in 16 cases. Compared with SE, GEA demonstrated a better visualisation of optic nerve, orbital muscles, choroidal-retinal layer, lens capsule and episclera and a better detection of small lesions. It is very helpful for characterisation of lesions containing hemorrhages or paramagnetic components (melanine, gadolinium) or of vascular nature (angioma). Gadolinium was useful for detection of small lesions or characterisation of a few lesions. Thus GEA seems to be an efficient method for the evaluation of orbito-ocular pathology.

[Results of transverse incisions in surgical correction of severe post-keratoplasty astigmatism]. / Résultats des incisions transverses dans la correction chirurgicale des forts astigmatismes post-kératoplastie.

Results of a clinical study concerning 40 consecutive cases of high post-keratoplasty astigmatism corrected by the transverse keratotomy technique are presented and analysed. The protocol was determined for each case by keratometry and a qualitative analysis of the anterior corneal topography. The mean preoperative cylinder was 8.60 +/- 2.31 D. The mean postoperative cylinder was 4.79 +/- 1.82 D. The mean cylinder change was 4.40 +/- 2.92 D. In a majority of cases the corrected visual acuity (for distance and reading vision) was improved. There was no change in the spherical equivalent value. The main drawback of the procedure is its poor predictability. The procedure is effective in this indication and relatively safe.