British Journal of Ophthalmology articles from August 2003

British Journal of Ophthalmology archives from August 2003

Preschool vision screening: benefit to individuals versus the population.(Editorials)
August 1, 2003... There is a longstanding debate as to when is the best age or ages to screen children for strabismus and amblyopia. (1) Our understanding of the sensitive period for visual development would suggest that ideally this is as early as possible...

Evolution and evidence based medicine: a costly but necessary practice.(Editorials)
August 1, 2003... Evolution as a process has led inventors and glaucoma surgeons to sites distal to the pretrabecular, trabecular, and post-trabecular origins of difficult to treat glaucomas. Evolution as a process has also led investigators to the multicentre...

The relative contribution of medical and surgical referrals to the workload in general ophthalmic practice: there needs to be a better estimate of the work currently done by surgical ophthalmologists.(Commentary)
August 1, 2003... Surgical advances have been spectacular during the past few decades and have radically changed the practice of ophthalmology. (1-3) Accordingly, most of the subspecialisation in ophthalmology is surgically oriented and the trainee in the 21st...

FasL antibodies may compromise ocular immunity rather than cause eye disease.(Echo)
August 1, 2003... FasL antibodies may compromise ocular immunity and so allow antibodies to corneal antigens to form, rather than directly causing eye disease, suggests a study of 34 patients with vasculitis. The study was prompted by the knowledge that...

An eye for the ladies.(Cover illustration)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2003... Copepods ("oar-footed") are the most numerous of the metazoa and play an enormously important part in the food chain. In the colder waters closer the poles their biomass is so extraordinary that they sustain all manner of invertebrates and...

Visual outcome after high volume cataract surgery in Pakistan.(World View)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To determine the visual outcome and factors influencing visual outcome after cataract surgery in an urban charity hospital in Pakistan. Methods: A series of selected outpatients were examined who had undergone cataract surgery in the...

Causes and temporal trends of blindness and severe visual impairment in children in schools for the blind in North India.(World View)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To describe the causes of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) in children in schools for the blind in north India, and explore temporal trends in the major causes. Methods: A total of 703 children were examined in 13...

Effect of a tight necktie on intraocular pressure.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To evaluate the effect of a tight necktie on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement using Goldmann applanation tonometry. Methods: 40 eyes of 20 normal subjects and 20 open angle glaucoma patients (all male) were enrolled, IOP was...

Central retinal artery and vein collapse pressure in eyes with chronic open angle glaucoma.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To determine central retinal vessel collapse pressure in chronic open angle glaucoma. Methods: For 19 eyes with chronic open angle glaucoma and 27 eyes of a control group, central retinal vessel collapse pressure was measured by a...

Optical coherence tomography in malignant glaucoma following filtration surgery.(Scientific Correspondence)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To assess the value of slit lamp adapted optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the management of malignant glaucoma following filtration surgery. Methods: Two patients (three eyes) developed malignant glaucoma following filtration...

Comparison of iridial pigmentation between latanoprost and isopropyl unoprostone: a long term prospective comparative study.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To compare incidence of iridial pigmentation prospectively induced by long term treatment with latanoprost and isopropyl unoprostone (hereafter, unoprostone) in Japanese patients with glaucoma. Methods: Patients with glaucoma treated...

IOLMaster biometry: refractive results of 100 consecutive cases.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To study the refractive outcome of cataract surgery employing IOLMaster biometry data and to compare it with that of applanation ultrasonography in a prospective study of 100 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens...

Refractive error changes in cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular cataracts.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To determine the effect of the three main morphological types of cataract on refractive error. Methods: Data were prospectively collected from 77 subjects (age 67 (SD 8) years) with one morphological type of cataract. 34 had...

Trans-Tenon's retrobulbar triamcinolone infusion for the treatment of uveitis.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To assess efficacy and complications of trans-Tenon's retrobulbar infusion of triamcinolone acetonide for posterior uveitic inflammation. Methods: Non-randomised, uncontrolled, retrospective study of 51 eyes of 37 patients who...

Pseudo-endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To describe an unusual endophthalmitis-like reaction after an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide in four patients. Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: Four patients are reported with an...

Macular relocation after photodynamic therapy for recurrent choroidal neovascular membrane: visual results and histopathological findings.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Background/aims: The findings in a patient treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) followed by macular relocation surgery (MRS) are presented. Methods: Histopathological evaluation of the choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) specimen...

Visual hallucinations and Charles Bonnet syndrome after photodynamic therapy for age related macular degeneration.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To report on visual hallucinations and Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) that may occur in patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) treated by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularisation (CNV)....

An unusual retinal vascular morphology in connection with a novel AIPL1 mutation in Leber's congenital amaurosis.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To report a case of an unusual retinal vascular morphology in connection with a novel AIPL1 mutation in a patient with Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA). Methods: A patient with LCA and no light perception from birth had both eyes...

Histological and morphometric analysis of the effects of argon laser epilation.(Scientific Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To analyse the location and extent of tissue damage induced after argon laser epilation. Methods: Laser burns were applied to the lid margins of four patients before excision for entropion ("live tissue") and the lid margin of one...

Amblyopia treatment outcomes after preschool screening v school entry screening: observational data from a prospective cohort study.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Background/aims: Preschool screening for amblyopia has controversially been abandoned in some localities within the United Kingdom, on the basis that there is no clear evidence of benefit to support its continuation. Data collected within a...

Partial Tenon's capsule resection with adjunctive mitomycin C in Ahmed glaucoma valve implant surgery.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To verify if partial intraoperative Tenon's capsule resection (PTCR) with adjunctive mitomycin C is effective in developing thin, avascular blebs in eyes undergoing Ahmed glaucoma valve insertion, and to assess the efficacy and safety of...

Visual outcomes and amblyogenic risk factors in craniosynostotic syndromes: a review of 141 cases.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To determine the visual outcome and prevalence of amblyogenic risk factors in children with craniosynostotic syndromes. Methods: The case notes of 141 children seen within the craniofacial unit were reviewed and information...

A phase III, placebo controlled clinical trial of 0.5% levofloxacin ophthalmic solution for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of levofloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution (Quixin) with placebo for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. Methods: In this prospective, randomised, placebo controlled, double masked, multicentre...

Pars plana vitrectomy assisted by triamcinolone acetonide for refractory uveitis: a case series study.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To examine the outcome of a triamcinolone acetonide (TA) assisted pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for refractory uveitis. Methods: Six patients suffering from proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) with refractory uveitis underwent a TA...

Types of macular hole closure and their clinical implications.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aims: To evaluate the clinical significance of macular hole closure types assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: This study involved 34 eyes of 32 patients who had undergone anatomically successful idiopathic macular...

Oral premedication with low dose midazolam modifies the immunological stress reaction after the setting of retrobulbar anaesthesia.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Background/aims: An acute immunological stress reaction was previously reported to occur after the painful setting of retrobulbar anaesthesia before intraocular surgery. This study was conducted to find out whether an oral low dose...

Unilateral high myopia: optical components, associated factors, and visual outcomes.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To elucidate the optical basis for unilateral high myopia and to identify the factors associated with its development. Methods: Medical records of 48 children (aged 4 months to 17 years; mean age 6.8 years) with unilateral high...

Choroidal neovascular membrane inhibition in a laser treated rat model with intraocular sustained release triamcinolone acetonide microimplants.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Aim: To determine if intravitreal microimplants containing triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC) inhibit experimental fibrovascular proliferation (FVP) induced by laser trauma in a rat as a model of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs). ...

Vitreous polyamines spermidine, putrescine, and spermine in human proliferative disorders of the retina.(Extended Report)
August 1, 2003... Background/aims: Many cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of retinal proliferative diseases, but none has been shown to be related to a specific disorder. The aim of this study was to provide a selective marker of diabetes induced...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2003... The authors wish to correct an error in the article: A Comparison of Perimetric Results with Medmont and Humphrey Perimeters. (Br J Ophthalmol 2003:87:690-4). Table 4, row 1, column 4 should read 1 not 2, and row 2, column 4 should read 35...

Helping the blind and visually impaired.(Notices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The latest issue of Community Eye Health (No 45) discusses help for the blind, with an editorial by Sir John Wall of the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the rights of blind people. For further information please contact: Journal of...

Second Sight.(Notices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Second Sight, a UK based charity whose aims are to eliminate the backlog of cataract blind in India by the year 2020 and to establish strong links between Indian and British ophthalmologists, is regularly sending volunteer surgeons to India....

SPecific Eye ConditionS (SPECS).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... SPecific Eye Conditions (SPECS) is a not for profit organisation which acts as an umbrella organisation for support groups of any conditions or syndrome with an integral eye disorder. SPECS represents over 50 different organisations related...

The British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society.(Notices)
August 1, 2003... The British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society (BRPS) was formed in 1975 to bring together people with retinitis pigmentosa and their families. The principle aims of BRPS are to raise funds to support the programme of medical research into an...

Surgical Eye Expeditions International.(Notices)
August 1, 2003... Volunteer ophthalmologists in active surgical practice are needed to participate in short term, sight restoring eye surgery clinics around the world. Contact: Harry S Brown, Surgical Eye Expeditions International, 27 East De La Guerra, C-2,...

Rise in organ transplant numbers.(Notices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... According to UK Transplant, the UK has seen the highest number of organ transplants in six years. Last year (1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003) 2777 patients had their lives saved or dramatically improved through the generosity of 1064 donors....

Elimination of avoidable blindness.(Notices)
August 1, 2003... The 56th World Health Assembly (WHA) considered the report on the elimination of avoidable blindness (doc A56/26) and urged Member States to: (1) Commit themselves to supporting the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness...

MSc course in Community Eye Health.(Notices)
August 1, 2003... The International Centre for Eye Health is offering a full time MSc course in Community Eye Health from 29 September 2003 to 19 September 2004. The course is not clinical and is specifically for eye health professionals wanting to work in the...

Ophthalmic Anesthesia Society (OAS)--17th Scientific Meeting.(Notices)
August 1, 2003... The 17th Scientific Meeting of the Ophthalmic Anesthesia Society (OAS) will be held 3-5 October 2003 at the Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, Chicago, USA. Programme co-chairs: Marc Allen Feldman MD MHS and Steven T Charles MD. The CME joint...

Glaucoma Society 24th Annual Meeting and Dinner.(Notices)
August 1, 2003... The Glaucoma Society 24th Annual Meeting and Dinner will take place on 20 November 2003, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at The Royal College of Physicians, London, UK. Further details: Ms Janet Flowers (email: glauso@ukeire.freeserve.co.uk).

Detachment Course with international faculty on: Retinal and Vitreous Surgery with Case Presentations preceding the Annual Meeting of Iranian Society of Ophthalmology.(Notices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The detachment course with international faculty on: Retinal and Vitreous Surgery with Case Presentations preceding Annual Meeting of Iranian Society of Ophthalmology will be held on 29-30 November 2003 and 1-4 December 2003 respectively, at...

5th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ISOPT).(Notices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The 5th International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ISOPT) will take place 11-14 March 2004, in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Please visit our website for details of the scientific programme, registration, and accommodation. To...

XVth Meeting of the International Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.(Notices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The XVth Meeting of the International Neuro-Ophthalmology Society will take place 18-22 July 2004, in Geneva, Switzerland. Further details: Prof. A Safran, University Hospital Geneva, c/o SYMPORG SA, Geneva (fax: +4122 839 8484; email: info@...

From the library.
August 1, 2003... "Despite our success, plenty of detractors voiced their opinions on Internet chat rooms and in letters to the editor. I've heard all the ridiculous assumptions. "Now that a blind guy's climbed it everyone's going to want to climb it. They're...