Effects of carteolol and timolol on plasma lipid profiles in older women with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect on serum lipid levels of carteolol hydrochloride 1.0% or timolol maleate 0.5% given twice a day to women age 60 years and older with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHOD: We included 112 patients in this double-masked, randomized, multicenter trial. Fasting clinical laboratory studies were evaluated at baseline and at 12 weeks. Patients were instructed not to change their dietary, alcohol consumption, or exercise habits during the study. RESULTS: For the carteolol group, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) ratio at baseline of 50.1 +/- 1.5 mg/dl and 4.7 +/- 0.2 changed by the 12-week visit to 51.3 +/- 1.9 mg/dl (P = .25) and 4.6 +/- .02 (P = .47), respectively. For the timolol maleate group, the baseline HDL and TC/HDL ratio of 53.6 +/- 2.2 mg/dl and 4.4 +/- 0.2 changed to 50.2 +/- 1.9 mg/dl (P < .001) and 4.7 +/- 0.2 (P = .001), respectively, at the 12-week visit. Carteolol patients showed no significant change from baseline, whereas the HDL (P < .001) and TC/HDL ratio decreased (P = .001) significantly in the timolol maleate group. There also was a significant difference in the change from baseline at 12 weeks between carteolol and timolol maleate groups for the HDL and TC/HDL ratio (P = .01 and .012, respectively). No differences in TC, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or triglycerides (TG) or in changes from baseline were observed between groups at 12 weeks (P > .05). At 12 weeks, no differences were observed between carteolol and timolol maleate groups in intraocular pressure or safety (P > .05), except that patients given carteolol demonstrated fewer solicited ocular symptoms (P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Carteolol appears to be neutral in its effect on serum lipid levels, whereas timolol maleate adversely affects the HDL and TC/HDL ratio in women age 60 years and older with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma.

Effect of the Nd:YAG laser on polymethylmethacrylate, HEMA copolymer, and silicone intraocular materials.

Recent trends of cataract extraction feature both small surgical wounds and preservation of posterior capsules. The development of safe, reliable, and flexible implant materials that can withstand near impact with a Nd:YAG laser during secondary posterior capsule discissions are required. An in vitro experiment was performed to analyze the effects of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), hydroxyethylhydroxymethylmethacrylate (HEMA-MEMA) copolymer combination, and a silicone compound. The HEMA and HEMA-MEMA compounds were the least susceptible to Nd:YAG laser damage in this laboratory setting.

The effect of chitosan on corneal wound healing.

Chitosan, a suspected inducer of vascular endothelium regeneration, was applied topically to the eyes of rabbits after they had sustained central corneal wounds. The rabbits were given chitosan tid for seven days in one experimental set and for 14, 17, and 21 days in subsequent sets. For all time sets, there were no apparent statistical differences in corneal wound tensile strength between the chitosan-treated eyes and control eyes.

Report of an incarcerated Lynell anterior chamber intraocular lens.

This is the first report to document that the polyimide loops of a Lynell glass intraocular lens can cause erosion into the ocular structure and become incarcerated by peripheral anterior synechias. A technique for removal of this anterior chamber lens is described.

Potential hazards of blepharopigmentation.

Blepharopigmentation, or deposition of various colored particles near the lash line in a linear fashion, is becoming an increasingly popular form of cosmetic periocular surgery. This technique was employed on human cadaver globes and New Zealand white rabbits to evaluate several potential hazards to the globe. The lesions were noted and examined by histopathology.