Robert A. Mazzoli

Ocular anesthesia for cataract surgery : a direct sub-tenon's approach

We describe a new technique in which ocular anesthesia is obtained by dissection of the superior quadrants, as in strabismus or retinal surgery, followed by direct infusion of the retrobulbar space with local anesthetic agent, using a blunt 19-gauge cannula. In 112 cases of cataract surgery in which we used this direct sub-Tenons approach, we found it to be a safe, simple, and effective method of achieving rapid ocular anesthesia.

Virtual reality simulation in acquiring and differentiating basic ophthalmic microsurgical skills.

Objective: A virtual reality (VR) surgical simulator (EyeSi ophthalmosurgical simulator: VRMagic, Mannheim, Germany) was evaluated as a part-task training platform for differentiating and developing basic ophthalmic microsurgical skills. Methods: Surgical novice performance (residents, interns, and nonmicrosurgical ophthalmic staff) was compared with surgical expert performance (practicing ophthalmic microsurgeons) on a basic navigational microdexterity module provided with the EyeSi simulator. Results: Expert surgeons showed a greater initial facility with all microsurgical tasks. With repeated practice, novice surgeons showed sequential improvement in all performance scores, approaching but not equaling expert performance. Conclusion: VR simulator performance can be used as a gated, quantifiable performance goal to expert-level benchmarks. The EyeSi is a valid part-task training platform that may help develop novice surgeon dexterity to expert surgeon levels.

Gaze-evoked amaurosis: a report of five cases.

OBJECTIVE To highlight the various causes of gaze-evoked amaurosis. DESIGN Retrospective noncomparative interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS Five patients treated at our facility over the past 6 years. METHODS Clinical presentation, radiologic studies, surgical management, and postsurgical results are presented. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual acuity, clinical findings of gaze-evoked amaurosis. RESULTS Only two patients had classic intraorbital etiologies, one with an intraconal cavernous hemangioma and one with an intraconal foreign body. Three patients had extraorbital processes, two with orbital fractures and one with a sinus tumor. Only two of our patients initially were aware of the gaze-evoked amaurosis at presentation. Appropriate surgery was curative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS Gaze-evoked amaurosis is a rare condition, classically implicating intraconal orbital pathology. In one of the largest case series published to date, we found extraorbital etiologies are also capable of producing gaze-evoked vision loss. Gaze-evoked amaurosis should be suspected and tested for in any orbital condition.

Anophthalmic socket and orbital implants : Role of CT and MR imaging

The role of CT and MR imaging examination of orbital implants and the anophthalmic socket is expanding constantly. As the imaging techniques gain refinement and resolution, the list of potential clinical application grows. Frequent clinical-radiologic queries regarding the anophthalmic socket include neuro-radiologic findings with congenital anophthalmia or bilateral microphthalmia, the vascularization or position of an orbital implant following enucleation, or orbital recurrence of tumor following enucleation. Common clinical-radiologic questions regarding orbital implants relate to the associated findings of trauma, infection, bleeding, or recurrence of tumor in relationship to the existing orbital implant.

Benign mixed tumor arising from an accessory lacrimal gland of Wolfring.

Summary We report a 59-year-old man who had a slowly enlarging mass of the central upper eyelid that proved histopathologically to be a benign mixed tumor (pleomorphic adenoma) arising from an accessory lacrimal gland of Wolfring. The tumor was totally separate from the main lacrimal gland, and its deep location in the lid excluded origin from dermal sweat glands. Benign mixed tumors of the accessory lacrimal glands are exceedingly rare tumors of the ocular adnexa.

The United States Army Ocular Teleconsultation program 2004 through 2009

PURPOSE To describe the United States Army Ocular Teleconsultation program and all consultations received from its inception in July 2004 through December 2009. DESIGN Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series. METHODS All 301 consecutive ocular teleconsultations received were reviewed. The main outcome measures were differential diagnosis, evacuation recommendations, and origination of consultation. Secondary measures included patient demographics, reason for consultation, and inclusion of clinical images. RESULTS The average response time was 5 hours and 41 minutes. Most consultations originated from Iraq (58.8%) and Afghanistan (18.6%). Patient care-related requests accounted for 94.7% of consultations; nonphysicians submitted 26.3% of consultations. Most patients (220/285; 77.2%) were United States military personnel; the remainder included local nationals and coalition forces. Children accounted for 23 consultations (8.1%). Anterior segment disease represented the largest grouping of cases (129/285; 45.3%); oculoplastic problems represented nearly one quarter (68/285; 23.9%). Evacuation was recommended in 123 (43.2%) of 285 cases and in 21 (58.3%) of 36 cases associated with trauma. Photographs were included in 38.2%, and use was highest for pediatric and strabismus (83.3%) and oculoplastic (67.6%) consultations. Consultants facilitated evacuation in 87 (70.7%) of 123 consultations where evacuation was recommended and avoided unnecessary evacuations in 28 (17.3%) of 162 consultations. CONCLUSIONS This teleconsultation program has brought valuable tertiary level support to deployed providers, thereby helping to facilitate appropriate and timely referrals, and in some cases avoiding unnecessary evacuation. Advances in remote diagnostic and imaging technology could further enhance consultant support to distant providers and their patients.

Chorioretinitis Sclopetaria from BB Ex Memoria

Chorioretinitis sclopetaria presents a characteristic pattern of choroidal and retinal changes caused by a high velocity projectile passing into the orbit, in close proximity to the globe. While it is unlikely that a patient should completely forget the trauma causing such damage, preserved or compensated visual function may blur the patients memory of these events over time. Characteristic physical findings help to clarify the antecedent history. Despite the lack of an acknowledged history of ocular trauma or surgery, in our case, the characteristic ocular findings discovered at presentation allowed for recognition of the underlying etiology. Because of good visual function, the patient had completely forgotten about the trauma that occurred 12 years earlier. Strabismus surgery was performed for treatment of the presenting symptomatic diplopia. The pathognomonic findings in chorioretinitis sclopetaria are invaluable in correctly diagnosing this condition, especially when a history of ocular trauma is unavailable.

Characteristics of Okihiro syndrome.

PURPOSE To describe Okihiro syndrome, a syndrome consisting of Duanes syndrome, radial ray anomaly, and sensorineural deafness. METHODS The incidence of anomalies in 41 individuals from 9 affected families was assessed by literature review and patient examination, and the frequency of the characteristics occurring together was determined. RESULTS Of all the individuals with at least one of the above characteristics, only 12% had all three characteristics. However, 44% had both Duanes syndrome and radial ray anomaly, whereas sensorineural deafness alone occurred in only 17% of patients. CONCLUSION Okihiro syndrome is consistent with autosomal dominance with variable penetrance, manifesting primarily with Duanes syndrome and radial ray anomaly, and less frequently, sensorineural deafness.

Analysis of anterior and posterior corneal curvature changes using Orbscan technology in radial keratotomy eyes exposed to hypoxia

Purpose: To study the changes in anterior and posterior corneal curvatures in radial keratotomy (RK) and normal eyes exposed to hypoxia using Orbscan (Bausch & Lomb) technology. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington, USA. Methods: At sea level, 11 RK subjects and 10 control subjects were exposed to ocular surface hypoxia in 1 eye by filtering humidified, compressed 100% nitrogen (0% oxygen) through an airtight goggle system for 2 hours. The contralateral eye was exposed to humidified, compressed air (21% oxygen) simultaneously through the airtight goggle system. Orbscan analysis was performed in each subject before and immediately after gas exposure. This analysis included measurement of the anterior axial and posterior axial corneal curvatures as well as corneal pachymetry. Results: In the RK eyes exposed to 100% nitrogen gas, there was a statistically significant flattening in the anterior axial corneal curvature (P = .0012) and in the posterior axial corneal curvature (P = .0067). Radial keratotomy and control eyes exposed to air and control eyes exposed to 100% nitrogen gas demonstrated no statistically significant change in the anterior axial or posterior axial corneal curvature. Conclusions: Corneal hypoxia induced a statistically significant flattening in the anterior axial and posterior axial corneal curvatures in eyes that had had RK. There was no significant change in these curvatures in RK eyes exposed to air and in control eyes exposed to air or 100% nitrogen gas.

Simplified Method for Rapid Field Assessment of Visual Acuity by First Responders After Ocular Injury

Objective Initial visual acuity after ocular injury is an important measure, as it is an accurate predictor of final visual outcome and gives a rapid estimation of the overall severity of the injury, thereby aiding evacuation prioritization. We devised a simple method for rapidly assessing visual acuity in the field without having to rely on formal screening cards. Methods Using common objects, icons, and text found in the injury zone - for example, common military name tapes, rank insignias, patches, emblems, and helmet camouflage bands, which will be known collectively as the Army Combat Optotypes (ACOs) - a Snellen-equivalent method of assessing visual acuity was devised and correlated to the ocular trauma score (OTS). Results Ability to read the ACOs at 2, 3, and 5 ft correlates with acuities in the range from 20/20 to 20/400. Identification of ACOs with visual acuity of 20/50 and 20/200 approximates important inflection points of severity for the OTS. Conclusion Accurately assessing visual acuity in the field after ocular injury provides essential information but does not require sophisticated screening equipment. Pertinent and accurate acuities can be rapidly estimated using commonly available text or graphical icons such as standard name tapes, patches, and rank insignias.