Sakaue E

Long-term visual recovery after scleral buckling for macula-off retinal detachments.

We retrospectively investigated long-term visual recovery in 32 macular reattached eyes which had been followed up for more than five years after surgery. In 17 eyes (53%), the best-corrected visual acuity at 5 years after surgery was > or = 2 lines better than best-corrected visual acuity at 3 months postoperatively. For these 17 eyes, the mean visual acuity continued to improve for up to 10 years after surgery. In the other 15 eyes, visual acuity changes were within 1 line. Improvement of long-term postoperative visual acuity was found to be statistically correlated with younger age, no or mild myopia (< -5D) and shorter duration of macular detachment (< or = 30 days). Surgeons should be aware that the visual function of reattached retinas may recover in the long-term, especially in eyes with these features.

Heterogeneity of human cataractous and normal lens γ-crystallins

Four low molecular weight proteins were isolated from human cataractous lenses (i.e. cortical, nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataracts) and human normal lens by gel filtration and refiltration of Sephadex G-75 superfine, respectively. According to a previous report, in human normal lens, peak 1 corresponded to β s -crystallin, peak 2 to heavy molecular weight γ -crystallin ( γ H) and peak 3 and 4 to light molecular weight γ -crystallins ( γ L 2 ). Molecular weights of these major proteins were 28000 ( β s ), 24000 ( γ H), 20000 ( γ L 1 ) and 11000 ( γ L 2 ), respectively. Aggregation was observed in the prominent peak of γ H- and the γ L 2 -crystallins of human cataractous and normal lenses. Human cataractous and normal γ -crystallin showed a high degree of charge heterogeneity, while the γ H has faster mobility than γ L 1 - and γ L 2 -crystallins. Isoelectric focusing of human cataractous and normal lens low molecular weight proteins had similar heterogeneous protein zones. However, human cataractous lens low molecular weight proteins revealed increased staining intensity in the neutral to acidic pH range relative to normal lens.

New disposable ERG electrode made of anomalous polyvinyl alcohol gel

We developed a disposable electrode for the electroretinogram made of anomalous polyvinyl alcohol gel. This new hydrogel is a rubber-like elastic with water content 80–90 wt%, but insoluble in water. The elastic electrode plate is approximately 0.3–1.0mm thick, sterile, flexible, and easily cut to the desired shape. Its low cost permits it to be discarded after use.