Improvement of spatial contrast sensitivity threshold after surgical reduction of intraocular pressure in unilateral high-tension glaucoma.

PUKPOSE. To measure the effect of a surgical reduction of IOP on the spatial contrast sensitivity threshold in eyes showing a considerably increased IOP but no glaucomatous visual field defect, on white-on-white computer-assisted static perimetry. METHODS. Prospective clinical trial, lasting 36 months; 10 consecutive subjects with untreated IOP ≥ 30 mm Hg in one eye and <18 mm Hg in the fellow eye, no evidence of field damage in both eyes, best corrected visual acuity ≥ 20/20 in both eyes, and scheduled for a primary trabeculectomy in the eye showing a high IOP. The spatial contrast sensitivity threshold was measured before surgery and at each follow-up visit. RESULTS. Preoperative spatial contrast sensitivity was worse in those eyes bearing a high IOP relative to the normal fellow eyes (paired samples t-test, P < 0.0005). An improvement of contrast sensitivity threshold, exceeding the 95% confidence limits of the preoperative test-retest variability, was observed at 3, 6, and 12 cyc/deg in each surgical eye at the end of follow-up. No change was observed in the fellow untreated normal eyes. The improvement correlated directly with the amount of decrease in pressure obtained by surgery. CONCLUSIONS. Eyes with no field defects on white-on-white computer-assisted static perimetry, but bearing a IOP ≥ 30 mm Hg, show a decreased spatial contrast sensitivity. A surgically obtained reduction of IOP is paralleled by an improvement of spatial contrast sensitivity

Comparison of Travoprost and Bimatoprost plus timolol fixed combinations in open-angle glaucoma patients previously treated with latanoprost plus timolol fixed combination

To compare the ocular hypotensive effect of bimatoprost plus timolol and travoprost plus timolol fixed combinations in glaucoma patients whose disease was controlled but had not reached their target intraocular pressure (IOP) with the fixed combination of latanoprost plus timolol

[Angiomatous meningioma and epilepsy in a 2.6-years-old girl].

A case of meningo-angiomatosis (MA), in a 2.6 -years-old girl with refractory focal and secondary generalized seizures, starting at the age of 2 years, is presented. MRI evaluation revealed a lesion located at the left temporal lobe; the patient underwent surgical intervention. Histology revealed the lesion to have the features of MA

[Angiomatous meningioma and epilepsy in a 2.6-years-old girl].

A case of meningo-angiomatosis (MA), in a 2.6 -years-old girl with refractory focal and secondary generalized seizures, starting at the age of 2 years, is presented. MRI evaluation revealed a lesion located at the left temporal lobe; the patient underwent surgical intervention. Histology revealed the lesion to have the features of MA

Ultrasound Biomicroscopy and Iris Pigment Dispersion: a Case-Control Study

Background/aims: the study involved eyes affected by pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) or pigmentary glaucoma (PG) investigated by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Different iridocorneal parameters were assessed and compared to those from healthy controls. The aim was to investigate the capacity of the UBM in differentiating the cases and, potentially, in confirming the pathogenic mechanisms. Methods: patients with a first diagnosis of PDS or PG were included. A cohort of healthy volunteers, matched for sex, age and refractive errors was recruited. All underwent UBM examination and the following parameters were assessed in relaxed and stimulated accommodative state in one eye: iris-lens contact (ILC); iridocorneal angle (ICA); iris concavity (IC). A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed the ability of UBM to discriminate between subjects with and without PDS/PG. Results: twenty-four eyes formed the case group, four diagnosed as PG and the remaining 20 as PDS. Twenty-five eyes entered the control group. The two groups were statistically superimposable except for baseline intraocular pressure; higher in the case group (p = .0001). All UBM parameters showed statistic differences between the two groups. ICA in near vision was the best-performing parameter reaching a sensitivity (= specificity) of 0.875 with a cut-off at 53.0°. The second most sensitive parameter was IC, still in near vision. Conclusion: all UBM parameters considered were statistically different between the two groups. ROC analysis showed ICA and IC in near vision to be the most discriminant parameters. This evidence confirms the importance of iris movements in inducing the peculiar features of PDS/PG