Traumatic glaucoma.

The authors present the frequency, clinical forms and therapeutic results of traumatic glaucoma in 511 injured eyes. Traumatic glaucoma was found in 6.6% of the injured eyes, more frequently in contusions than in perforating lesions of the eye. One third of the patients with traumatic glaucoma were blind and one half had visual acuity below 0.1. The time elapsed between the injury and the diagnosis of traumatic glaucoma ranged from 1 hour to 30 years.

Intraocular pressure and visual field defects.

During a five-year study period, therapeutic levels of intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual field defects were assessed in 108 patients with open-angle glaucoma. In a group of 53 glaucoma patients with non-progressive visual field changes (mean age 65.2 +/- 6.3 years), the IOP level was 15.8 +/- 2.6 mm Hg, whereas in a group of 58 patients with progressive visual field changes (mean age 68.7 +/- 8.3 years) the IOP level was 19.9 +/- 2.9 mm Hg. Study results suggested that preservation of the visual field in glaucoma patients requires therapeutic IOP levels of < 16 mm Hg.

Venous reflex testing in glaucoma.

The aim of this study was the assessment of physiological venous reflexes in open angle glaucoma. The study was carried out by a controlled clinical experiment. The experimental group consisted of 17 glaucoma patients with controlled intraocular pressure. The control group consisted of 15 healthy volunteers. The assessment of venous tone changes was performed by means of the test of "venous reflexes". Venoconstriction responses to physiological stimuli were significantly decreased in glaucoma patients (p < 0.05). The results suggested venous dysregulation as part of sympathetic dysfunction in glaucoma.

Venous tone in glaucoma and hypertension.

The aim of this study was the assessment of physiological venous reflexes in systemically hypertensive and normotensive subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma. The experimental group consisted of 20 normotensive and 20 untreated systemically hypertensive patients with open-angle glaucoma. The control group consisted of 31 volunteers divided into two subgroups: 16 control normotensives and 15 untreated hypertensives. The assessment of venous tone changes was performed by testing venous reflexes. Venoconstriction responses to physiological stimuli were significantly decreased in normotensive glaucoma patients, compared to normotensive controls [for the Valsalva manoeuvre 93.4 +/- 80.2 vs. 413.3 +/- 335.4 venoconstrictive units (VCUs), p = 0.02, and for a deep breath 89.1 +/- 100.1 vs. 316.8 +/- 343.2 VCUs, p = 0.03]. The intensity of venous reflexes in hypertensive glaucoma patients did not differ significantly from that seen in hypertensive controls, due to a significantly weaker flex venoconstriction in hypertensive controls when compared to normotensive controls subjects. This study confirmed the presence of venous dysregulation in subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma and visual field loss as a part of an autonomic dysfunction. Systemic hypertension does not make this condition worse.

[Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of ischemic heart disease in a group of physically handicapped individuals (blind and mute)]. / Neke klinicke i epidemioloske karakteristike ishemijske bolesti srca u grupi fizicki hendikepiranih osoba (slepih i gluvonemih).

Our long clinical experience, with observations of some authors as well, indicate that the epidemic data of the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease (I.H.D.) is significantly reduced in some physically handicapped people (the blind and the deaf-mute) if we compare them with the similar ones who have not such anomalies. With no regard to patho-physiologic mechanism of such condition, 233 examinees of both sex, chosen by the method of accidental choice, were examined by clinical, ECG, and laboratory (non- invasive) methods and divided into three groups: the blind 81 (34.76%), the deaf-mute 76 (32.61%), and industrial workers 76 (32.61%) who were taken a as control group. The obtained results show that the incidence of I.H.D. (4,56%), and the control group 11 (8,36%), which, from the point of statistics, offer a significant piece of information.

Argon laser photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema. Comparative study of efficacy between focal extramacular treatment and focal macular perifoveolar treatment.

In this paper a comparative study of efficacy between focal extramacular and focal macular perifoveolar argon laser photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema is presented. The follow-up period was 12 months and was based on fluorescein angiograms. After focal extramacular treatment, diabetic macular oedema was resorbed in 54.6% of the cases, remained unchanged in 28.4% and deteriorated in 17.0%. After focal macular perifoveolar treatment resorption of diabetic macular oedema was achieved in 73.7% of the cases, remained unchanged in 17.1% and deteriorated in 9.2%. Focal macular perifoveolar treatment gives statistically significantly better clinical results than focal extramacular treatment (p < 0.05).

Importance of fluorescein angiography in the early detection and therapy of diabetic retinopathy.

This work presents the results of the clinical analysis of the frequency of diabetic preretinopathy (preclinical, pre-ophthalmoscopic diabetic retinopathy) verified by fluorescein angiography, carried out in adult diabetic patients with short diabetes duration and without any ophthalmoscopically visible retinal changes, 71 ophthalmoscopically negative diabetics have been examined (24 insulin-dependent and 47 non-insulin-dependent), aged from 38 to 55 years, with the duration of diabetes up to 10 years. Diabetic preretinopathy has been discovered in 42.3% cases: 62.5% in insulin-dependent diabetics and 31.9% in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. This examination is important, because it makes possible a better disease evaluation and early medical treatment.

[Solar maculopathy]. / Fotosolarna makulopatija.

The paper presents three cases of photosolar maculopathy which point to possibility of visual impairment as a result of sun gazing due to the religious reasons. In all cases irreversibile visual impairment with permanent central scotoma had developed. Sun gazing is dangerous regardless of motives, and the only way to prevent photosolar maculopathy is to avoid sun gazing.

[Early detection of diabetic retinopathy in adult-onset diabetes patients]. / Rana detekcija dijabeticne retinopatije kod dijabeticnih bolesnika odrasle dobi.

The frequency of early diabetic retinopathy by using ophthalmoscopy and intravenous fluorescein angiography in adult-onset diabetics with short duration of diabetes was examined, and the findings are presented. The authors studied 103 insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetics ranging in age from 38 to 55 years, mean 47.7 years. The duration of diabetes was up to 10 years, mean 5.3 years. All diabetic patients included in this study underwent a detailed ophthalmoscopic examination and in 71 patients with normal ophthalmoscopic finding intravenous fluorescein angiography was performed. Both methods revealed signs of early diabetic retinopathy in 2/3 (60.2%) of cases; among insulin dependent diabetics in 3/4 (75.5%) of cases and among non-insulin dependent diabetics in 1/2 (51.5%) of cases. Compared with regular ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography doubled the frequency of diagnosis of early diabetic retinopathy. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy enables better evaluation of the disease, early treatment and better diabetic control.