Rudolph S Wagner

Duane's retraction syndrome☆

Duanes retraction syndrome (DRS) has been a recognized clinical entity for nearly a century. It is a clinically well described ocular disorder consisting of retraction of the globe with narrowing of the lid fissure in attempted adduction, frequent abduction deficiency with variable limitation to adduction, and upshoot and/or downshoot of the affected eye on adduction. Among strabismus patients the incidence of DRS is probably not more than 5%. Most cases are sporadic, but familial cases have been estimated at 10% by most authors. Numerous theories concerning the etiology and pathogenesis of DRS have been proposed, including agenesis of the abducens nucleus, but the majority of investigators concur that the characteristic findings are best explained by a paradoxical innervation of the lateral rectus muscle, which subsequently causes a cocontraction of the horizontal rectus muscles. The frequent association of DRS with other congenital anomalies suggests a teratogenic event occurring between the fourth to eighth week of gestation as an etiological factor. In this review historical aspects and theories of the syndrome are studied and statistical data are compiled and analyzed. Clinical features, differential diagnoses and variants of the syndrome are examined. Testing and treatment objectives are discussed.

Down Syndrome Clinical Review of Ocular Features

A total of 187 medical records of Down syndrome individuals over a 10-year period were reviewed retrospectively for strabismus, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, nystagmus, cataract, glaucoma, and other significant eye findings. This study showed that a higher proportion of these individuals than reported in previous studies had strabismus (57%). Refractive errors of myopia (22.5%), hyperopia (20.9%) and astigmatism (22%) were common. The primary care physician needs to be aware of the specific eye problems of Down syndrome individuals so that he or she may initiate or refer the patient for appropriate ophthalmologic care, because most of the eye findings in Down syndrome are treatable. Significant visual loss, a usually avoidable event in Down syndrome, should occur rarely.

Topical Timolol for Periocular Hemangioma: Report of Further Study

Author Affiliations: Departments of Oncology and Vitreoretina (Dr Khetan) and Ocular Pathology (Drs Biswas and Kumar), Sankara Nethralaya, and Department of Medical Oncology, Apollo Hospitals (Dr Raja), Chennai, India; and Departments of Ophthalmology (Drs AlKharusi and Ganesh) and Child Health (Dr Al-Futaisi), Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultanate of Oman. Correspondence: Dr Khetan, Department of Ocular Oncology, Retina, and Vitreous, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, 18 College Rd, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006, India (drvk@snmail.org). Financial Disclosure: None reported.

Nystagmus in Down Syndrome

The incidence and characteristics of nystagmus in Downs syndrome are unclear. In 188 consecutive patients, 56 had nystagmus. Most had no clinically recognizable ocular pathology to account for the nystagmus. Twenty-nine had fine rapid horizontal nystagmus, 14 had a dissociated nystagmus which appeared pendular, whereas 9 had a form of latent or manifest latent nystagmus. Of the total patients with nystagmus, 41 had esotropia. Our findings suggest that fine rapid horizontal nystagmus, sometimes dissociated, occurs frequently in patients with Downs syndrome.

Treatment of Congenital Ptosis by Maximal Levator Resection

The treatment of severe congenital ptosis may include frontalis suspension or maximal levator resection. A previous study of 145 consecutive frontalis suspensions for congenital ptosis showed a fairly high recurrence rate, frequent granuloma formation, and significant brow scars. In 28 patients undergoing 32 maximal levator resections utilizing our technique, 28 patients had excellent results. Two required reoperations and two additional patients had undercorrections that did not warrant reoperation. There were no significant complications. We believe that maximal levator resection is a better surgical alternative than frontalis suspension in the treatment of severe congenital ptosis whether unilateral or bilateral. In our experience, maximal levator resection provides a better cosmetic result and the recurrence rate is probably less than with frontalis suspension.

Management of the Anterior and Posterior Lens Capsules and Vitreous in Pediatric Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE To review and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of managing anterior and posterior lens capsules and anterior vitreous in pediatric cataract surgery. METHODS We reviewed the literature related to pediatric cataract surgery on PubMed and subclassified the subject into subtopics for managing the anterior lens capsule, posterior lens capsule, and anterior vitreous. RESULTS After a review of the literature, we summarized the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches related to surgical managements of the anterior lens capsule, posterior lens capsule, and anterior vitreous in pediatric cataract surgery. We discussed recommendations from the literature and commented on our experiences related to the above subtopics. CONCLUSION In the surgical management of pediatric cataract, anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis provides the most reliable and tear-resistant capsular opening. Vitrectorhexis and radiofrequency diathermy, on the other hand, are alternative approaches (depending on the surgeons personal preference). Primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis may delay the onset of posterior capsule opacification. Anterior vitrectomy may be necessary to prevent or eliminate the onset of posterior capsule opacification in young children.

Glaucoma in Children

Glaucoma in children is a relatively rare but frequently debilitating disorder. Pediatricians must be aware of the association of glaucoma with certain systemic diseases and congenital ocular abnormalities. Recognition of the signs of infantile glaucoma allows the physician to refer patients for definitive care. Timely therapy is critical to the successful management of children affected with glaucoma.

Long-Term Results: Botulinum for Sixth Nerve Palsy

Eight patients with intracranial malignancies or vascular lesions and sixth nerve palsies were treated with botulinum toxin chemodenervation of the antagonist medial rectus muscle. Primary deviation ranged from 20 to 75 prism diopters (pd) of esotropia. Six were treated acutely (within 3 months of onset) and two, which demonstrated partial recovery of lateral rectus function but with residual esotropia and diplopia, were treated after 6 months. After a mean follow-up of 20.6 months, seven were diplopia-free with excellent rotations. Five had complete resolution of the esotropia and diplopia, with near complete recovery of abduction. One had 6 pd residual esotropia, while another, whose sixth nerve had been resected, required a modified Jensen procedure, resulting in full rotations. The single case of bilateral sixth nerve palsy had a functional improvement but was lost to follow-up. One patient had a vertical strabismus induced with the injection and had a gradual return of the esotropia.

Twelve-Year Review of Pediatric Traumatic Open Globe Injuries in an Urban U.S. Population

PURPOSE To evaluate the epidemiology, anatomical characteristics, and clinical outcomes of pediatric traumatic open globe injuries and to compare the observed final visual acuity to the expected visual acuity as predicted by the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS). METHODS Retrospective chart review of 89 pediatric patients (89 eyes) with open globe injury presenting between 1997 and 2008. RESULTS Sixty-five patients (73%) were male, average age was 9.7 years, and mean follow-up was 22.6 months. The most common causes of trauma were: accidents (79%), violence (10%), and motor vehicle accidents (9%). Penetrating ocular injury was the most common trauma (54%), followed by blunt rupture (34%). Zone 1 injuries represented 49% of cases, and zones 2 and 3 represented 29% and 21%, respectively. No patient developed endophthalmitis. The average presenting and final visual acuities were logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 1.927 and 1.401, respectively. Lens trauma was noted in 44 (49%) eyes. Twenty-eight patients (31%) had retinal detachment within 6 months of presentation. Total retinal attachment was achieved in 12 (63%) of 19 eyes undergoing repair. Enucleation was performed in 9 (10%) patients. Final visual acuities were not statistically different from visual acuities predicted by OTS (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS The visual prognosis in pediatric open globe injury is poor. The zone of injury may correlate with poor final visual acuity, risk of retinal detachment, and subsequent need for an enucleation. The final predicted visual acuity correlated well with the observed final visual acuity in these patients.

Speed of Bacterial Kill With a Fluoroquinolone Compared With Nonfluoroquinolones : Clinical Implications and a Review of Kinetics of Kill Studies

It is important to rapidly eradicate bacteria in patients with bacterial conjunctivitis in order to decrease disease transmission, shorten symptom duration, and minimize the emergence of resistant bacteria. This paper presents the results of kinetics of kill studies on 3 commonly isolated pathogens in bacterial conjunctivitis. A more rapid speed of kill with moxifloxacin compared with other nonfluoroquinolone antibiotics (tobramycin, gentamicin, polymyxin B/trimethoprim, or azithromycin) was observed inStaphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, andHaemophilus influenzae infections. Moxifloxacin achieved a 99.9% kill at approximately 1 h for Saureus, 2 h for Spneumoniae, and 30 min forH influenzae. In comparison, other nonfluoroquinolone therapies took longer to achieve a bactericidal (3-log) kill and some demonstrated no change or an increase in bacterial growth. Based on these findings, it is concluded that moxifloxacin kills bacteria more rapidly than nonfluoroquinolone topical ocular antibiotics.