Perplexing Lesion of the Conjunctiva

An unusual-appearing tumor of the conjunctiva presented in a healthy 11-year-old boy. It was cystic, orange in color, and well encapsulated. After 3 weeks of no response to topical cortisone drops, an excisional biopsy was performed. The histopathology showed the lesion to be a benign lymphoid hyperplasia. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2022;59(1):e15-e16.].

Superior oblique tendon expanders with inferior rectus recessions for chin-up null point nystagmus

Three patients with chin-up head postures caused by a nystagmus null point in downgaze were treated using bilateral superior oblique tendon expanders and inferior rectus muscle recessions. Preoperative chin-up head postures measured from 25 to 45 degrees. Postoperatively, 2 patients had complete resolution of their abnormal vertical head postures, and the third showed improvement.

Treatment of inferior oblique paresis with superior oblique silicone tendon expander

INTRODUCTION

Patients with inferior oblique eye muscle paresis may show hypotropia and apparent superior oblique muscle overaction on the side of the presumed weak inferior oblique (IO) muscle. We report 8 such patients successfully treated using unilateral silicone superior oblique (SO) tendon expanders.

METHODS

Eight consecutive cases over the course of 6 years from the authors' private practice are described. None had a history of head trauma or a significant neurologic event. All patients showed IO paresis by 3-step test, with incyclotorsion and SO overacton of the hypotropic (paretic) eye. Forced ductions of the hypotropic eye were normal in all cases, and the vertical strabismus was treated with placement of a 7- mm silicone SO tendon expander in the hypotropic (paretic) eye.

RESULTS

Mean preoperative primary position hypotropia was 6.5 prism diopters (PD); mean postoperative was 0.5 PD. Seven of 8 patients had resolution of primary position hypotropia, whereas the eighth was reduced. Mean preoperative SO overaction was 3+; all patients had postoperative resolution of SO overaction. Of 4 patients with preoperative ocular torticollis, mean preoperative head tilt was 9.3 degrees; mean postoperative tilt was 2.9 degrees. Two patients' head tilts had resolved, the other 2 showed improvement. All patients showed preoperative incylclotorsion of the hypotropic (paretic) eye; inclyclotorsion resolved in all patients after the placement of a SO tendon expander.

CONCLUSION

The silicone SO tendon expander effectively restores ocular alignment in IO paresis with apparent SO overaction. Associated ocular torticollis can also be improved.

Adult strabismus surgery under propofol sedation with local versus general anesthesia

PURPOSE

To compare operating room and hospital discharge times between adult strabismus surgeries using intravenous propofol sedation with local anesthesia versus those using general anesthesia.

METHODS

Thirty adult patients underwent uncomplicated strabismus procedures performed by one surgeon using propofol sedation and local subtenon's anesthesia. These were retrospectively matched with adult patients undergoing similar procedures by another surgeon using general inhalational anesthesia. Only one muscle had undergone previous surgery, and no adjustable sutures were used. Times from incision closure to leaving the operating room (Out OR time), and to hospital discharge (DC time) are compared.

RESULTS

Propofol/local Out OR times ranged 2 to 8 minutes (mean, 4.8). General anesthesia Out OR times ranged from 3 to 28 minutes (mean, 8.8) (means differ at P<.001). At 10 minutes, 100% of propofol patients left the OR, but only 63% of general patients had done so (P<.001). Propofol/local DC times ranged from 30 to 140 minutes (mean, 64.8). General DC times ranged from 68 to 325 minutes (mean 116.5) (means differ at P<.001). At 60 minutes after completion of surgery, 53% of propofol/local patients had left the hospital, whereas none of general patients had left (P<.001). At 2.5 hours after surgery, 100% of propofol/local patients had left the hospital, but 10% of general patients remained, with two staying more than 5 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Many adult strabismus surgeries may be performed more efficiently with intravenous propofol sedation and local subtenon's anesthesia than with general anesthesia. Times from the end of surgery to leaving both the OR and the hospital are decreased compared with those of general anesthesia. Extreme delays are rare with propofol/local, but they occurred with general anesthesia.

Poor results after recession of both medial rectus muscles in unilateral small-angle Duane's syndrome, type I

PURPOSE

To eliminate an abnormal face turn in unilateral Duane's syndrome, type I, the medial rectus muscle of the Duane's eye is commonly recessed. Additional recession of the normal contralateral medial rectus muscle has been advocated in selected cases, although little has been published regarding this technique. We present poor results in a small consecutive series.

METHODS

Four consecutive cases of unilateral Duane's syndrome, type I, with small-angle primary position esotropia are retrospectively reviewed with attention to postoperative face turn. In all cases, the medial rectus muscle of the "normal" eye was recessed as was the medial rectus muscle of the Duane's eye.

RESULTS

Two subjects showed little to no improvement in face turn; one subject developed an increased turn; and the last subject developed a consecutive exotropia.

CONCLUSIONS

In small-angle Duane's syndrome, type I, recession of the normal medial rectus may decrease the positive effects of recessing the Duane's medial rectus muscle with respect to face turn as well as increase the risk of consecutive exotropia. An alternate theory of normal-eye Duane's surgery is proposed.

The red eye in childhood

Overall, the primary care physician can diagnose most cases of red eyes in children, if specific attention is paid to which ocular structures are involved. Accurate diagnosis allows appropriate primary care treatment for most disorders and can aid in determining which cases need referral.

20 unusual presentations of accommodative esotropia

PURPOSE

This paper will discuss several unusual presentations of accommodative esotropia.

METHODS

A total of 20 patients with unusual case histories who presented with accommodative esotropia were studied retrospectively. These patients were separated into 3 categories. The first contained children who had their onset of accommodative esotropia after a traumatic event such as head trauma or ocular trauma. The second involved infants between 3 and 5 months of age who presented with accommodative esotropia. The third showed the onset of accommodative esotropia associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. (There were no other metabolic disorders associated with accommodative esotropia.)

RESULTS

All patients resolved their esotropia with glasses initially but 2 did require surgery several years after the onset of the esotropia.

CONCLUSIONS

Children under 5 months of age with intermittent esotropia and/or significant amounts of hyperopia should have the diagnosis of accommodative esotropia considered as the etiology of their esotropia. Children with the onset of esotropia associated with trauma who have significant amounts of hyperopia should also have accommodative esotropia considered as an etiology of their crossing.

Results and complications in 66 cases using a silicone tendon expander on overacting superior obliques with A- pattern anisotropias

PURPOSE

To supplement limited reports in the literature of the results (outcome)and complications of this procedure with our own recent experience.

METHODS

A total of 66 patients with bilateral overaction of the superior oblique and A-pattern strabismus plus 5 patients with a unilateral overacting superior oblique secondary to inferior oblique palsy were treated with a 7 mm silicone expander.

RESULTS

The fist group of 66 patients had an average preoperative A-pattern of 39.6 prism diopters with an average correction of the A-pattern from the surgery of 36.3 prism diopters.

COMPLICATIONS

Of all 137 operations in these 71 patients, three patients had a sterile orbital cellulitis postoperatively successfully treated with steroids. Also, one patient acquired a Brown's Syndrome-like condition postop'. In these four patients, the sub-Tenon's capsule space had been inadvertently entered during surgery. In addition one unilateral superior oblique palsy occurred postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

While this procedure has a very high success rate, special care should be taken with this surgery to avoid entering the sub-Tenon's capsule space.

Unusual presentations of accommodative esotropia

PURPOSE

Most patients with accommodative esotropia are first examined between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. This paper discusses unusual presentations of accommodative esotropia that occur outside of this age-group and/or have a precipitating event that triggered the esotropia. In a series of patients who were from 5 to 11 years of age, trauma was the precipitating event. In some of the patients under 6 months of age, high myopia, as well as a moderate to large amount of hyperopia, was the cause. In 1 teenager, diabetic ketoacidosis precipitated accommodative esotropia.

METHODS

We reviewed all of our records for the past 25 years involving patients with a diagnosis of esotropia, and we found 17 patients who had unusual presentations of accommodative esotropia. Of 8 who were under the age of 6 months, 2 had high myopia and 6 had moderate to large amounts of hyperopia. Nine patients were older than age 5. Eight of the 9 had suffered trauma associated with the presentation of accommodative esotropia, and 1 patient's accommodative esotropia was associated with diabetes. The patients with myopia received their full myopic correction. The children under 6 months of age with hyperopia received their full cycloplegic refraction, and the children over age 5 received the most plus that they were able to accept in a noncycloplegic state consistent with good visual acuity (at least 20/30 in each eye).

RESULTS

In 17 patients, accommodative esotropia was initially controlled with glasses. In a few of the trauma cases, bifocals were required for control of near deviation. Only 2 of the patients, in whom onset was under 6 months of age, came to surgery. One had hyperopia controlled for 2 years with glasses, and the other had myopia controlled for 3 years with glasses.

CONCLUSIONS

Accommodative esotropia can occur prior to 6 months of age. It can also occur in older children (5 to 14 years of age) and can be precipitated by trauma or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Ocular plagiocephaly: ocular torticollis with skull and facial asymmetry

PURPOSE

To observe facial asymmetry in patients with ocular torticollis to better understand its cause.

DESIGN

Observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-four consecutive patients with ocular torticollis in one author's (MFG) private practice were examined for facial asymmetry from January 1998 to August 1998. Some of these, as well as selective others before January 1998 were photographed for a total of 53 photos.

METHODS

One author (MFG) examined the frontal, maxillary, and mandibular facial areas of 44 consecutive torticollis patients for appearance of unilateral compression or reduced mass. The laterality of such findings was compared with the side of the head turn or tilt. Photographs of 53 selected ocular torticollis patients were inspected and the direction of nasal tip and columella deviation compared with the direction of head tilt or turn.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Subjective clinical determination of appearance of unilateral facial compression or reduced facial mass. Subjective photographic determination of nasal tip and columella deviation.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients with 10 types of ocular torticollis examined were included. Forty-one of 43 showed compression or reduced mass on the same side as the head turn or tilt, including 3 with adult-onset strabismus. Eight nonsuperior oblique palsy patients had nasal deviation to the same side as the torticollis. Six of the eight had head tilts. Seventeen nonsuperior oblique palsy patients had nasal tip deviation to the opposite side of the torticollis. All were pure head turns. Eight superior oblique palsy patients had nasal tip deviation to the same side as the torticollis; nine had deviation opposite.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with multiple types of ocular torticollis, including face turns, show similar appearance of facial compression on the side of the torticollis, suggesting that the tilt or turn itself may cause the asymmetry. This includes face turn strabismus, in which facial asymmetry has not previously been described. Head tilts are frequently associated with nasal tip deviation to the side of the torticollis, head turns with deviation opposite. We refer to such asymmetric facial changes associated with ocular torticollis as "ocular plagiocephaly."

Achieving success with the silicone expander for overacting superior obliques

PURPOSE

To report the results of and complications with silicone expander surgery for the overacting superior oblique.

METHODS

A total of 26 patients with bilateral overaction of the superior oblique and A-pattern strabismus and 5 patients with unilateral overacting superior oblique secondary to inferior oblique palsy were treated with a 7 mm silicone expander. Care was taken not to enter the sub-Tenon's space.

RESULTS

The group that underwent bilateral superior oblique surgery had an average preoperative pattern of 37.42 diopters (D) and an average correction of 35.37 D. Three patients had a severe unilateral postoperative inflammatory incident that was successfully treated with oral and topical corticosteroids. One of these patient developed Brown's syndrome. Another patient, who had no postoperative inflammatory incident, also developed Brown's syndrome. In these 4 patients, the sub-Tenon's space was inadvertently entered during surgery.

CONCLUSION

The silicone expander surgery has a very high success rate in treating the A-pattern associated with the bilateral overacting superior oblique. This procedure also works well for the unilateral superior oblique that overacts owing to an inferior oblique palsy. No cyclotorsion symptoms occurred after this surgery. However, 4 patients had complications because the sub-Tenon's space was exposed during surgery. With this procedure, there is a learning curve to obtain the skill not to enter the sub-Tenon's space.

Medical treatment of pediatric subperiosteal orbital abscess secondary to sinusitis

BACKGROUND

Subperiosteal abscess may accompany orbital cellulitis secondary to sinusitis. Common surgical principles include incision and drainage of all abscesses. Previous evidence suggests that some orbital abscesses may be treatable with intravenous antibiotics, especially in young children. Children's hospital records were reviewed to determine which abscesses may be treated medically.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Records of patients admitted for orbital cellulitis from 1993 to 1996 were reviewed. Patients with subperiosteal abscess on CT scan were included. Clinical outcomes for initial surgical versus medical management of medial abscesses were compared. Differences in age, hospital stay, and intracranial involvement were analyzed for medial versus nonmedial abscesses.

RESULTS

All patients had abscesses adjacent to infected sinuses. Eighteen young children had medial abscesses. Twelve of 13 were cured by initial medical treatment; 4 of 5 underwent successful initial drainage. Outcomes were not statistically different (P > .490). Seven children with nonmedial abscesses were older (P < .001) and had more complicated courses than those with medial abscess. Three of 6 children with superior orbital abscess also had intracranial abscess. Intracranial complication was more likely with superior versus medial orbital abscess (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Medial subperiosteal orbital abscesses secondary to sinusitis in children 6 years of age and younger are highly amenable to treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Older children and children with nonmedial abscesses may have more complicated infections. Children with superior orbital abscesses are at higher risk for intracranial abscess.

Absence of multiple extraocular muscles in craniosynostosis

The absence of extraocular muscles, particularly the superior rectus1, 2 or superior oblique3, 4 has been recognized to cause strabismus among patients with craniosynostosis. Absence of multiple muscles is less common. In case 1 we note a patient with Pfieffer's syndrome and absent left superior rectus and inferior oblique, with the presence of only a vestigial left superior oblique and an underdeveloped and misinserted left inferior rectus. In case 2 we describe a patient with Apert's syndrome with bilateral absence of the superior rectus and superior oblique muscles. Unsuspected superior rectus absence led to a bilateral elevation deficit after inferior oblique weakening. Also, during the course of treatment, all 3 remaining recti muscles in 1 eye were disinserted. To our knowledge, this is the first report of absent extraocular muscles in Pfieffer's syndrome. Some evidence suggests that collateral anterior segment blood flow exists in cases of absent recti muscles. Further study is needed to determine whether all remaining muscles could be used for strabismus repair. Last, when patients with craniosynostosis require strabismus surgery, we feel that a limited exploration of all extraocular muscles should be carried out.

Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous: diagnosis, treatment and results

While the great majority of patients with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous never obtain useful vision, it is encouraging that 18.07% of all the patients in this series did achieve 20/200 vision or better (Table V). In the whole group, 12 of 83, or 14.45%, obtained 20/70 vision or better with treatment. All of these successful results were in eyes with the purely anterior PHPV only. In fact, when looking at the results of the anterior PHPV cases alone, 15 of 21 achieved 20/200 or better, which was 71.4% of the patients with anterior presentation only. In this anterior group, 12 of 21 (57.1%) attained 20/70 vision or better with treatment. The goals of treatment with PHPV should always be kept in mind when confronted with an infant who has this entity. First, an effort should be made to save the eye from glaucoma or phthisis, which are the most devastating results of untreated PHPV. A lensectomy will usually prevent the secondary glaucoma, which results from the lens-iris diaphragm being pushed forward to cause a secondary angle-closure glaucoma. A secondary glaucoma can also be produced from recurrent hyphema, which scars the outflow passageways in the angle. By removing the PHPV membrane and reducing the tractional forces applied to the ciliary body by the membrane, one can lessen the possibility of phthisis. Surgery reduces the centripetal, as well as axial, forces generated by the membrane. The second goal is to produce a black pupil for cosmetic reasons, and the third goal of obtaining useful vision is reasonable to expect if the entity presents with only anterior involvement. Bilaterality, while rare in this series (2:83 cases, or 2.4%), was a very poor prognosis for vision, since both patients had only light perception to hand motion vision in both eyes. With the exception of the eye problems, these two children were otherwise normal in their physical and mental development. No measurable stereopsis or binocularity has been achieved in any of these patients. This was primarily because 100% of the patients had strabismus and secondarily to the fact that in the patients with good surgical results, aggressive and prolonged patching may have precluded the development of binocular vision. Two patients have uncontrolled glaucoma with only light perception vision. Both of these patients are comfortable and pain-free. Two patients have, in time, developed phthisis and wear a cosmetic shell. No cases have required enucleation in this series. (The pathological specimen from Figs 1 and 2 represents an enucleated eye during my residency.) Two patients developed an extensive cyclitic membrane after surgery, which completely occluded the pupillary space. Both patients had originally undergone extensive membrane removal of their PHPV with the production of a nice clear pupillary space. The first patient developed the cyclitic membrane only 3 weeks after the original surgery. A second surgery has been successful in clearing the pupillary opening, but the patient has only hand motion vision at 1 foot due to amblyopia. The second patient had been fitted with a gas-permeable hard contact lens after original surgery for an anterior PHPV. An extensive cyclitic membrane developed 4 months later and required a secondary procedure to clear the pupillary space. The patient's pupillary space has remained open after this second procedure, and the patient is currently wearing a contact lens and undergoing amblyopia therapy. The most important factor in the prognosis of patients with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous is the extent of the membrane. Families should be told that if their child has only an anterior presentation, then surgical and amblyopia therapies offer a good chance for useful vision. Patients with a combination of anterior and posterior PHPV, or patients with only a posterior PHPV, should be advised that there is a reasonable opportunity to save the eye from glaucoma and phthisis, but that useful vision is usually not

Acute rectus muscle palsy in children as a result of orbital myositis

OBJECTIVE

Acute rectus muscle palsy caused by orbital myositis is often confused with infectious orbital cellulitis. The purpose of this article is to clarify the former condition by explaining how it is manifested and treated.

METHODS

The seven children less than age 11 years in this study were examined after having an acute onset of ocular pain. Physical examination indicated a loss of motility in the field of action of the involved extraocular rectus muscle. Computed tomographic examination confirmed the existence of orbital myositis. Treatment consisted of intravenous or oral administration of corticosteroids.

RESULTS

In all the initial evaluations, computed tomography showed the isolated rectus muscle to be enlarged. In four of the patients in whom the lateral rectus was involved, esotropia was present in the primary position. In the fifth patient with lateral rectus involvement, esotropia was seen only in the field of gaze of the involved lateral rectus muscle. The patient with medial rectus involvement had exotropia, and the patient with superior rectus involvement had hypotropia on the involved side. Each had injection and chemosis of the conjunctiva and Tenon fascia only in the quadrant overlying the involved rectus muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with orbital myositis can have an acute rectus muscle palsy. The inflammation and strabismus are exquisitely sensitive to systemic corticosteroid therapy, which produces a rapid resolution of symptoms. If the steroid therapy is discontinued abruptly, the myositis can recur.

Diagnosis and treatment of inferior oblique palsy

We present the work-up and treatment for 25 patients with inferior oblique palsy, including 2 with bilateral inferior oblique palsy and 23 with unilateral inferior oblique palsy. Nineteen patients were adults over the age of 21 years, and six were children under the age of 10 years. Sixteen adults and two children underwent CT scanning of the head. All scans were normal. Eight adults also underwent MRI evaluation of the head. These also were all normal. All adults had a negative Tensilon test for myasthenia gravis. The majority presented with a head tilt to the side of the paretic muscle. None of these patients complained of tilting images, but incyclotorsion was measurable in all cases that were tested. The most important conclusion from this study is that inferior oblique palsy is a benign entity, with none of these patients having a brain tumor or myasthenia gravis.

Treatment of acute dacryocystitis in neonates

Twenty-five newborns with acute dacryocystitis underwent probing of the nasolacrimal duct. All had a resolution of the acute dacryocystitis. Only one continued to have epiphora and had to undergo a subsequent probing with silicone intubation at 9 months of age. All were probed without anesthesia, being mummified and held by nurses while the author performed the probing. Only five were treated with parenteral and topical antibiotics for a week prior to probing while 20 were probed without any prior antibiotic therapy. Additionally, five of six mucoceles of the lacrimal sac which did not resolve in the 1st 2 weeks of life with massage were successfully probed without anesthesia. Four of the five mucoceles had developed an acute dacryocystitis on conservative management. Probing of the nasolacrimal duct in the newborn period is a safe and successful approach for acute dacryocystitis. It is a highly successful procedure for the treatment of acute dacryocystitis with a very low morbidity rate.

Treatment of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous

Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) will usually lead to a cataract and secondary glaucoma if not treated. At least a lensectomy should be performed to reduce the frequent incidence of glaucoma. In the purely anterior form, the cataract should be removed as well as the PHPV, as this gives a clear media that can be rehabilitated visually. Eyes with a posterior PHPV have poor visual results due to posterior pole abnormalities.

Results of treatment of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous

The records of 48 patients with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) were reviewed. Approximately 17% had vision of 20/100 or better after surgery, contact lens fitting, and amblyopia therapy. Only eyes with a purely anterior presentation had successful visual outcomes. Lensectomy alone prevented glaucoma, but a membranectomy as well was required to ensure a successful visual result. Eyes with a posterior PHPV had poor visual results because of posterior pole abnormalities. I recommend that an attempt be made to visually salvage eyes with an anterior presentation. Eyes with a posterior or a combination anterior-posterior PHPV can be successfully treated for glaucoma, but the visual results will be poor.

Accommodative esotropia after ocular and head injury

Five children lost their ability for motor fusion after traumatic injury to either the eye or head. All patients had the onset of accommodative esotropia within two months of the traumatic episode. The ocular alignment of each child was controlled by the use of spectacles that corrected the accommodative requirements. These patients are unique because they did not show any evidence of accommodative esotropia before their injuries. One child developed accommodative esotropia with a high ratio of accommodative convergence to accommodation. The use of bifocal spectacles controlled the deviation for this child.

Bilateral superior oblique muscle palsy associated with Apert's syndrome

Eleven children had Apert's syndrome and bilateral superior oblique muscle palsy. Of seven patients who underwent surgical exploration of the superior oblique muscle area, five had no superior oblique tendon in either eye and two had only a small fibrous band as a remnant in each eye. All 11 patients had a significant horizontal deviation in primary gaze and downgaze, in addition to a vertical imbalance. The findings led to the conclusion that all patients with craniofacial anomalies, especially those with Apert's syndrome, should be examined for the presence of vertical muscle palsies and particularly bilateral superior oblique muscle palsy.

Long-term follow-up in patients with ocular toxocariasis as measured by ELISA titers

Twenty patients with ocular toxocariasis were followed-up with serial elisa titers. Eighty-five percent showed a decrease in serum titers, 10% showed an increase, and 5% were stable. One should not be dissuaded from making the diagnosis clinically of ocular toxocariasis because of low titers, as the patient may have had higher titers previously. In the past, results were reported as positive if a titer of at least 1:32 was present and negative if below this level. Exact titers should be requested, as any positive titer (even as low as 1:2) with clinical correlation is believed to be significant.

Inferior oblique paresis: a benign entity

Eleven cases of inferior oblique palsy are presented. The benign nature of this entity is stressed. The etiologies of this group were congenital, trauma, and presumed vascular. No cases of CNS tumor, infection, or myasthenia gravis were seen. All of these patients have been followed for at least six months, and some for four years, without any other major illness presenting other than the inferior oblique palsy.

Treatment of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous

Thirty-two patients with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous were examined by the author over a 10-year period. Two patients have been followed with conservative management. Thirty patients were treated with surgery involving lensectomy with anterior vitrectomy being performed as the minimal treatment, with a few patients being treated with a full vitrectomy and dissection of the PHPV stalk from the posterior lens surface to the retina. The only eyes which obtained a good visual result were those eyes which contained only the anterior PHPV without the posterior segment being involved. While surgery on the posterior segment was anatomically successful, poor visual results were obtained due to retinal abnormalities. No eye has been removed. Five eyes have useful vision. Early treatment is advised in order to prevent underdevelopment of the orbit secondary to early enucleation as well as to treat amblyopia in those visually salvageable eyes.

Classification and treatment of bilateral superior oblique palsy

Twenty-one patients with bilateral superior oblique palsy were studied in order to classify them into five major categories. By classifying the presentations, an orderly approach to the diagnosis as well as the treatment of bilateral superior oblique palsy is made.

Lensectomy for Secondary Angle-closure Glaucoma in Advanced Cicatricial Retrolental Fibroplasia

A study of 15 patients with secondary angle-closure glaucoma associated with advanced cicatricial retrolental fibroplasia is presented. Eight patients developed glaucoma acutely, while 7 showed a chronic course. In four patients the fellow eye became involved acutely within 1 month of the first eye. Seven others were also bilateral, but on a chronic basis. Twelve of the 15 presented after age 2. All were treated with lensectomy which cured the glaucoma. All have extremely poor vision in the range of light perception to hand motion, but have retained their eyes on a pain-free basis.

The pupil in congenital third nerve misdirection syndrome

The involved pupil in the syndrome of aberrant regeneration of the oculomotor nerve usually remains larger than the uninvolved side, or approaches equality in size. A 4-year-old child was seen with congenital aberrant regeneration of the right third nerve. The right pupil was consistently smaller than the left, but particularly so in dim illumination. The question can be raised as to whether relative pupillary miosis more commonly follows third nerve misdirection in children than adults.

Asymmetry in retrolental fibroplasia

Ten cases of asymmetry in retrolental fibroplasia vary from patients with unilateral to those with bilateral involvement. In the bilateral cases, one eye was always more severely affected. This article encourages the treatment of amblyopia when present in patients with retinopathy of prematurity.

Familial bilateral posterior lenticonus

Posterior lenticonus usually occurs sporadically and only in one eye. However, in three families bilateral posterior lenticonus occurred in more than one member. When the defect appears bilaterally, genetic counseling should be considered to educate the family about the possibility that future offspring might have this disorder.

Ocular and testicular abnormalities in alopecia areata

Ocular abnormalities similar to those usually found in patients with vitiligo occurred in nine patients with alopecia areata and one patient with poliosis. Exophthalmos, iris color change, discrete depigmentation, and, frequently, associated pigment hyperplasia of the choroid and retinal epithelium were found in the ten patients. Four patients had had a bilateral iris color change from dark brown to blue-green. Hypogonadism, thyroid disease, and poliosis may frequently be associated with pigmentary disturbances of the eye, as well as hair loss. Testicular dysfunction with oligospermatism to aspermatism, hypoandrogyny, hyperretractable testes, and epididymal cyst is reported. Two patients had unilateral and one patient had bilateral testicular atrophy.

Results of surgery for ocular Toxocara canis

It has been shown that the diagnosis of ocular Toxocara canis is highly accurate when the typical clinical findings are associated with a positive ELISA titer in the serum of 1:8 or greater. The inflammatory reaction in this disorder can be devastating and not infrequently leads to a tractional detachment of the posterior pole or a rhegmatogenous detachment and/or a progressive cyclitic membrane leading to phthisis bulbi. We have recently performed vitreoretinal surgery on 17 patients with complications secondary to ocular T canis. Fifteen patients had stability or improvement in visual acuity, and one patient had a decrease in visual acuity. There were no surgical complications present. The clinical features, operative techniques used, and postoperative course are summarized, and the indications for the used of various surgical procedures are presented.