Histopathology of Goldmann-Favre syndrome obtained by full-thickness eye-wall biopsy

The first histopathologic specimen form the eye of a patient with Goldmann-Favre syndrome was obtained by full-thickness eye-wall biopsy. Diagnosis was established by an early history of night blindness, characteristic clinical features including atypical pigmentary retinopathy, peripheral retinoschisis, opaque "sclerotic-appearing" peripheral retinal vessels, vitreous changes including liquefaction and condensed vitreous bands and a non-detectable electroretinogram (ERG). Histopathologic changes from a 4 mm peripheral area included diffuse degenerative changes involving predominantly the sensory retinal layers with a relatively normal pigment epithelium and choroid. Vascular changes included thickened retinal vessel basement membranes and areas of vascular occlusion. These findings are compatible with a primary photoreceptor involvement in addition to a vascular component. A thick preretinal membrane of glial tissue was an additional finding.

Effects of luminance and contrast on visual acuity, ages 16 to 90 years

Visual acuity of persons aged 16 to 90 years was measured with Snellen letters of varied contrast at 10, 1, 0.1, and 0.01 fl chart luminances. Percentage losses of seeing with age were computed. At 10 fl luminance, perception of high- and medium-contrast letters has changed little at age 40, but about twice as much light is needed to see low-contrast letters as at age 20. By age 70, no 2-min-subtense (20/40) letters were seen at 0.01 fl luminance. The need of older people for increased lighting during indoor tasks and night driving is discussed.

Fluorescein angiography and vitamin A and oxalate levels in fundus albipunctatus

Two patients had fundus albipunctatus, one of the variants of congenital stationary night blindness. Neither the white dots in the retinas of these patients nor the retarded course of dark adaptation characteristically associated with the disease could be attributed to vitamin A deficiency or raised oxalate levels since both substances were present in normal amounts. Fluorescin angiography showed multiple discrete lesions in the pigment epithelium not coincident with the ophthalmoscopically visible changes. Since the pigment epithelium is the storage site for bleached visual pigment, these findings suggest abnormalities that underlie the major functional deficit in this disease, that is, the slow recovery of retinal sensitivity.

Diagnostic features of the Favre-Goldmann syndrome

Extensive retinal vascular disease was noted in three patients from two families with Favre-Goldmann syndrome. In addition to classical features they had pronounced leakage from some retinal vessels. Vessels were either opaque ('sclerotic') or non-perfused. Cystoid macular oedema was a contributing cause of decreased vision. Two of the three patients showed a discrepancy on electroretinography between single-flash photopic amplitudes and flicker fusion frequency. This may be characteristic of Favre-Goldmann syndrome.

[Comparative research at the "mesoptometer" and "nyktomat" (author's transl)]

This paper deals with the results of comparative reserach into twilight vision as found by tests at the "Mesoptometer" and "Nyktomat". The research population consisted of 168 persons. Their reactions at the test instruments during various functional tests are demonstrated by means of diagrams. While there is good correspondence between the two test instruments in the range of contrast essential for attesting night driving ability, differences can be shown to exist in the critical range of marginal values.