Khosla Pk

Evaluation of visual function following argon laser photocoagulation in central serous retinopathy.

The authors of previous studies on the role of photocoagulation for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR) have based their deductions on the premise that a Snellen visual acuity of 6/6 is the end point of recovery. It is now known that patients with a visual acuity of 6/6 may have defective contrast sensitivity indicative of a visual function deficit. The present study was a prospective, controlled, and randomized evaluation of patients suffering from their first attack of CSR, in which contrast sensitivity was used to determine the effectiveness of argon laser photocoagulation as compared with more conservative treatment. Although long-term studies are necessary, the results of this study showed that while photocoagulation increases the rate of recovery for visual acuity, it is also linked with significant loss and slower recovery of contrast sensitivity.

Contrast Sensitivity in Diabetic Retinopathy After Panretinal Photocoagulation

Reports of changes in contrast sensitivity in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients after panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) have considered only relatively short-term results, and these have been conflicting. We evaluated contrast sensitivity changes in 30 eyes of 29 PDR patients after PRP. The patients were divided into two groups. One, group A, received PRP at one sitting, and the other, group B, at two sittings. Before and at regular intervals after PRP, all of the patients underwent a battery of macular function tests for best-corrected visual acuity, color vision, contrast sensitivity, and photostress. Contrast sensitivity was significantly affected (P < .001) in both groups immediately after PRP, but stabilized to prelaser levels by the end of 3 months. Color-vision-error scores also were significantly higher (P < .001) immediately after PRP. Best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, however, remained stable at prelaser levels. Contrast sensitivity appears to provide a more sensitive measurement of visual acuity than the Snellen chart for monitoring foveal integrity in patients undergoing PRP.

Ultrasonography in optic nerve head avulsion.

Abstract The diagnosis of post traumatic optic nerve avulsion is often obscured by the presence of concomitant vitreous haemorrhage. Electrodiagnostic tests, CT scan and fluorescein angiography have not proved helpful in substantiating the diagnosis of this entity in the early stages. We herein present the echographic features in a case of post traumatic optic nerve avulsion that, to the best of our knowledge, have not been previously described. The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of suspected optic nerve head avulsion has been highlighted.

Peribulbar Anesthesia in Retinal Reattachment Surgery

We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of peribulbar anesthesia in retinal reattachment surgery. Of the 24 patients studied, 2 required retrobulbar supplementation during the latter part of the surgery. Our results show that peribulbar anesthesia can be effectively used for retinal reattachment surgery and probably should be the preferred form of local anesthesia for this surgery, since the eyes involved have a relatively high incidence of axial myopia and posterior staphyloma.

Eye casualty department

A retrospective analysis of all new patients attending our eye casualty department was carried out during the 1 year period, from January to December 1987. During this time the casualty unit saw and treated 4905 new patients. Of these 40.61% were traumatic in origin, 30.52% comprised various ocular infections and the remaining 28.87% had miscellaneous ocular problems. On average, 13 new patients and seven consultations from other departments were seen and treated daily. Apart from the management of ocular emergencies, other functions provided by our department included glaucoma screening, donor eye collection, attending to referrals from other departments and eye health education.

Bilateral branch vein occlusion.

Abstract. Bilateral branch retinal vein occlusion is a relatively rare occurrence. We report 4 patients who presented with bilateral branch retinal vein occlusion and in each of these cases the fellow eyes were involved within 6 months of the initial episode. The patients were relatively young and all of them had associated essential hypertension. The patients maintained a relatively good visual acuity through a 6‐months to 1‐year follow‐up. This report highlights this rare entity, the associated risk factors and visual prognosis.

Functional outcome of branch retinal vein occlusion after photocoagulation with various laser wavelengths - an automated perimetric analysis

Abstract. This study highlights the comparative efficacy of three different laser wavelengths ‐ argon green, argon blue‐green, and krypton red ‐ for sector photocoagulation in fresh cases of branch retinal vein occlusion. The mean Logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (LogMAR) improved in the argon green and argon blue‐green groups but decreased in the krypton red group. Statistical analysis of the automated visual fields in these eyes showed a mean change in corrected pattern standard deviation value, with increase in all three groups ‐ minimal increase in the argon blue‐green group and maximal in the krypton red group, suggesting maximum visual field defect in the krypton laser group. To conclude, the green and the blue‐green wavelengths gave results that were decidedly superior to those given by krypton red: further, argon blue‐green had an edge over the green wavelength.