Robert A. Catalano

Glaucoma after Pediatric Lensectomy/Vitrectomy

Glaucoma after pediatric cataract surgery, once well recognized, now occurs only rarely after modern lensectomy/vitrectomy. The authors performed directed glaucoma evaluations of 34 eyes of 26 children. Based on intraocular pressures of 26 mmHg or greater, glaucoma was diagnosed in 8 (24%) eyes of 7 (27%) children. Glaucoma was found more commonly among children followed more than 60 months and was diagnosed up to 105 months after surgery. Typically, the glaucoma was open angle and asymptomatic. Four children had had previously normal pressures recorded. With longer follow-up, it is likely that more children will be diagnosed with glaucoma after lensectomy/vitrectomy procedures. The authors believe such patients should be followed as glaucoma suspects for the rest of their lives.

Signs Distinguishing Spasmus Nutans (with and without central nervous system lesions) from Infantile Nystagmus

Clinical findings as well as eye and head movement recordings were analyzed from 23 patients with spasmus nutans without central nervous system (CNS) changes, 10 patients with spasmus nutans-like disease (head nodding, intermittent nystagmus associated with intracranial anomalies or visual pathway disorders), and 25 patients with infantile nystagmus. Ten diagnostic signs were established to differentiate between the patient groups. Although they were helpful in separating patients with infantile nystagmus from those with spasmus nutans, no difference was found between the patients with spasmus nutans with and without CNS lesions. This study indicates that eye and head movement recordings do not allow differentiation between benign spasmus nutans and spasmus nutans-like disease. The differentiation must be made on the basis of neuroimaging.

Functional Visual Loss in Children

Twenty-three children (16 girls, 7 boys, aged 6-17 years) who presented with the specific complaint of blurred vision were diagnosed as having functional visual loss. Symptoms were intermittent in seven children. Associated signs and symptoms were common and included headaches, visual field loss, diplopia, micropsia, voluntary nystagmus, and spasm of the near reflex. Our treatment consisted of reassurance and follow-up. Resolution of symptoms occurred within 24 hours in one third and within two months in three-quarters of our patients. Parental support and encouragement were associated with more rapid resolution. Recurrence of symptoms and late onset of somatic complaints were rare. Conflicts related to family or school environment were common. Four children had been sexually or physically abused. Our experience suggests that, regardless of the duration or severity of symptoms, functional visual loss in children can usually be treated with reassurance. We believe that psychiatric referral is not necessary for most patients. Sexual or physical abuse should be considered as a possible predisposing factor.

Surgical Management of Oculomotor Nerve Palsy

We treated seven patients with unilateral oculomotor nerve palsy by transposition of the insertion of the superior oblique tendon to a point anterior and medial to the insertion of the superior rectus muscle without trochleotomy (Scott procedure). Additionally, large recessions of the lateral rectus muscle of involved eyes and, occasionally, recess/resect procedures of horizontal recti muscles of non-involved eyes were performed. All patients were followed up between one and eight years. Orthophoria in the primary position was achieved and maintained with one operation in four patients. A fifth patient had only a small residual exotropia. In two patients who had aberrant regeneration of the oculomotor nerve, surgery on horizontal recti muscles of the noninvolved eye improved the eyelid position of the involved eye after three operations.

Preferential Looking as a Guide for Amblyopia Therapy in Monocular Infantile Cataracts

Despite recent advances in surgical technique and refractive correction, amblyopia remains a significant problem in the treatment of monocular infantile cataracts. Amblyopia therapy recommended by different authors during the preverbal period has varied from no patching to nearly full-time occlusion of the phakic eye. We measured preferential looking (PL) acuities sequentially in four infants following monocular cataract surgery and contact lens correction. This information was used to adjust occlusion of the phakic eye, which was prescribed 25%-100% of waking hours. Patching schedules were altered, on average, every three to four months in response to changes in PL acuities. Four increases in patching intensity retarded acuity development in the phakic and benefited development in the aphakic eyes. Nine decreases enhanced progress or yielded no change in the phakic and, with two exceptions, impeded progress in the aphakic eyes. Recognition acuities now available for two of the children show continuity with previous PL acuities and confirm useful vision in the aphakic eyes. We describe guidelines for adjusting occlusion based on our experience. We believe that PL modulation of patching therapy may result in more favorable visual outcomes for both eyes of infants with monocular cataracts.

Development of Object Vision in Infants With Permanent Cortical Visual Impairment

We examined 30 infants in whom cortical visual impairment was diagnosed during their first year of life to ascertain prognostic factors for the development of object vision, defined as the ability to recognize faces or hand-held toys. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. The most common causes of cortical visual impairment in the 30 infants were hydrocephalus in nine infants (30.0%), birth asphyxia or neonatal hypoxia in eight infants (26.7%), intracranial hemorrhage with or without hydrocephalus in seven infants (23.3%), and meningitis in five infants (16.7%). Lack of development of object vision was associated only with hypoxia (P = .013). Findings on ophthalmic examination, an abnormality in the visual pathway on computed tomographic or magnetic resonance scan, and seizures, hydrocephalus, intracranial hemorrhage, meningitis, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, prematurity, microcephaly, and hearing deficit, did not appear to be risk factors for the lack of development of object vision.

Correlating Factors to Resident Performance in an Ophthalmology Program

To study the relationship between perceived clinical performance and objective measures of resident knowledge, the performance and records of 19 recent graduates of an ophthalmology training program were retrospectively reviewed. Six faculty members and six ancillary staff personnel independently ranked residents on the basis of dutiful performance of duties and quality of care provided by the end of residency. Clinical performance ranks were then compared with ranks of results on standardized tests of knowledge, and number of publications before and during residency. Additionally, a residents ranking on clinical performance and knowledge-related criteria was compared with his or her ranking at the time of the ophthalmology match. The perceived clinical performance of residents was not related to their results on standardized examinations or their number of publications. Residents highly regarded at the time of the ophthalmology match were not the same as those so regarded at the end of residency. Using data available before the commencement of the residency, the only correlation to quality of care provided was the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Part I scores. The scores on the NBME Part I did not, however, correlate with those of the Ophthalmology Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP).

Steroid Injection Versus Conservative Treatment of Anisometropia Amblyopia in Juvenile Adnexal Hemangioma

Because of serious side effects, the indications for intralesional steroid injection of adnexal hemangiomas are unclear. Of 23 children with such lesions who were examined over a period of 9 years, 9 had no evidence of amblyopia and needed no intervention. Five required steroids intralesionally and/or systemically because of threatened occlusion of the pupillary axis. The remaining 9 were considered at risk of anisometropic amblyopia because of induced astigmatism: 5 received injections and 4 were treated with glasses and/or patching alone. The visual, refractive, and cosmetic results of the injected and conservatively managed anisometropes were similar. We recommend that steroid injection be reserved for patients with threatened occlusion of the visual axis and for those with severe astigmatism or amblyopia refractory to conservative management.

Subperiosteal Orbital Masses in Children With Orbital Cellulitis: Time for a Reevaluation?

Conflicting reports have arisen in the literature regarding the diagnostic criteria and management of children with a suspected subperiosteal orbital abscess (SOA). To highlight the dilemmas that have arisen a child with a posterior subperiosteal mass, as demonstrated by computerized tomography, is presented. This case and others in the literature suggests a need for better radiographic criteria for distinguishing an SOA from reactive inflammatory edema. Until such criteria are developed, the management of suspected SOA in children should be based principally on clinical signs. Radiographic examinations should be used primarily to rule out the need for surgical intervention.

Vitreous hemorrhage and the Valsalva maneuver in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

A 59-year-old man with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy underwent fluorescein angiography as a baseline study. Soon after intravenous injection of fluorescein, the patient had an extended episode of vomiting resulting in bilateral vitreous hemorrhages. Photographic evidence is presented that confirms the clinical impression that vitreous hemorrhage may be precipitated by a Valsalva maneuver.