A review of the role of ultrasound biomicroscopy in glaucoma associated with rare diseases of the anterior segment

Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique, which allows high-resolution evaluation of the anatomical features of the anterior segment of the eye regardless of optical media transparency. This technique provides diagnostically significant information in vivo for the cornea, anterior chamber, chamber angle, iris, posterior chamber, zonules, ciliary body, and lens, and is of great value in assessment of the mechanisms of glaucoma onset. The purpose of this paper is to review the use of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the diagnosis and management of rare diseases of the anterior segment such as mesodermal dysgenesis of the neural crest, iridocorneal endothelial syndrome, phakomatoses, and metabolic disorders

Unusual choroidal vessels in neurofibromatosis type 1 observed with near infrared reflectance and spectral domain optical coherence tomography

No abstract availabl

Correlation between steroid hormone balance and etiopathology of high myopia: clinical trial

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between steroid hormone balance in fertile women and the progression of high myopia. Variations of cortisol, progesterone, and estradiol were evaluated. A case-control clinical trial was conducted on two groups of subjects. The first group included patients affected by high myopia (with insufficient optical correction). The control group was composed of emmetropic or hypermetropic women of the same age group. We observed increased serum cortisol levels in the women with high myopia, whereas progesterone and 17- b-estradiol did not differ between the two groups. The significantly higher cortisol values in the group with high myopia supported Balacco Gabrieli's theory on the role of hormonal balance in the progression of high myopia

Efficacy of preoperatory systemic Clonidine administration for IOP reduction in ophthalmic surgery

Abstract: A case-control study was performed in 214 eyes to evaluate the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) produced by oral administration of clonidine before cataract surgery and combined cataract-glaucoma surgery. Group I was composed of 109 eyes that were operated on after systemic clonidine administration. Group 2 included 105 control eyes operated on without clonidine premedication. A reduction of IOP was observed after clonidine administration and during anesthesia induction

Neurofibromatosis: an update of ophthalmic characteristics and applications of optical coherence tomography

Barmak Abdolrahimzadeh,1 Domenica Carmen Piraino,2 Giorgio Albanese,2 Filippo Cruciani,2 Siavash Rahimi3 1Polimed Beltramelli Medical Center, Rome, Italy; 2Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Sense Organs, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy; 3Pathology Centre, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK Abstract: Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a multisystem disorder and tumor predisposition syndrome caused by genetic mutation on chromosome 17-17q11.2 in NF type 1 (NF1), and on chromosome 22-22q12.2 in NF type 2. The disorder is characterized by considerable heterogeneity of clinical expression. NF1 is the form with the most characteristic ocular manifestations. Lisch nodules of the iris are among the well-known diagnostic criteria for the disease. Glaucoma and associated globe enlargement have been described in a significant proportion of patients with NF1 and orbital–facial involvement. Optic nerve glioma may cause strabismus and proptosis, and palpebral neurofibroma may reach considerable size and occasionally show malignant transformation. Near infrared reflectance has greatly contributed to enhancing our knowledge on choroidal alterations in NF1. Indeed, some authors have proposed to include these among the diagnostic criteria. Optical coherence tomography has given new insight on retinal alterations and is a noninvasive tool in the management of optic nerve gliomas in children. Ocular manifestations in NF type 2 can range from early-onset cataracts in up to 80% of cases to optic nerve hamartomas and combined pigment epithelial and retinal hamartomas. Keywords: neurofibromatosis, ophthalmic, optical coherence tomography, infrared reflectance, choroideal nodules, Lisch nodule