Novel stem cell and gene therapy in diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa.

Degenerative retinal disease leads to significant visual morbidity worldwide. Diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration are leading causes of blindness in the developed world. While current therapies for these diseases slow disease progression, stem cell and gene therapy may also reverse the effects of these, and other, degenerative retinal conditions.

Development of Monofixation Syndrome After Extraction of Dense Cataracts.

Purpose: If the interruption of macular fusion for an extended period of time is the key event that results in the development of monofixation syndrome, then the decreased macular input caused by dense cataracts may cause monofixation syndrome in adults. This study was designed to test this hypothesis.

Methods: The study design was a retrospective chart review that identified patients with unilateral cataracts at two southern Louisiana medical centers.

Rates of Reoperation and Abnormal Binocularity Following Strabismus Surgery in Children.

Purpose: To determine predictors of reoperation and abnormal binocularity outcomes (including amblyopia and diplopia) following pediatric strabismus surgery.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: setting: Review of a national insurance database.

Cigarette smoking and male sex are independent and age concomitant risk factors for the development of ocular sarcoidosis in a New Orleans sarcoidosis population.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multi-organ system granulomatous disease of unknown origin with an incidence of 1-40/100,000. Though pulmonary manifestations are predominant, ocular sarcoidosis (OS) affects 25-50% of patients with sarcoidosis and can lead to blindness.

Methods: A retrospective, single-center chart review of sarcoidosis cases investigated variables associated with the development of OS.