Nature as a source of drugs for ophthalmology.

Nature has always provided an unlimited source of biologically-active compounds. Since the beginning of mankind, humans have sought resources in fauna and flora to treat eye diseases. However, it was only after the Industrial Revolution that extracts of plants and substances of animal origin could be used safely, as has been determined by controlled interventional studies.

New drug delivery system for corneal administration of mitomycin-C.

Purpose: To develop a new corneal release system to deliver optimum amounts of mitomycin-C (MMC) during the perioperative period of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Setting: Ophthalmos S/A, São Paulo, Brazil.

Design: Experimental study.

Bupivacaine and botulinum toxin to treat comitant strabismus.

Purpose: To evaluate the change in ocular motility and muscle thickness measured with ultrasonography after intramuscular injection of bupivacaine and botulinum toxin A.

Methods: Eight patients (five female) were enrolled to measure ocular motility prior and 1, 7, 30 and 180 days after one injection of 2 ml of 1.5% bupivacaine and 2.

Freeze-drying as an alternative method of human sclera preservation.

Purpose: To compare the effect of preserving sclera samples in either 95% ethanol or freeze-dried.

Methods: Ninety-six samples of human sclera were studied. Half of them were freeze-dried and half preserved in 95% ethanol.

[Ultrastructural and growth factor analysis of amniotic membrane preserved by different methods for ocular surgery].

Purpose: To compare the anatomical structure and the presence of growth factors and cytokines of amniotic membrane preserved in glycerol/MEM (1:1) or undiluted dimethyl sulfoxide through electron microscopy.

Methods: Amniotic membrane preserved in glycerol/MEM (1:1) or undiluted dimethyl sulfoxide were processed for transmission and scanning electron microscopy. As control, freshly collected amniotic membrane was fixed and processed for electron microscopy.

Effect of electroacupuncture to prevent selenite-induced cataract in Wistar rats.

Purpose: To investigate whether electroacupuncture can prevent selenite-induced cataract in an experimental model.

Methods: Fifty Wistar rat pups were randomized into 5 groups of 10 animals: Group 1 (control), no procedure was performed; Group 2 (selenite), sodium selenite (30 micromoles/kg body weight) was injected subcutaneously between postpartum days 10 to 12; Group 3 (anesthesia) received the same dose of selenite and underwent ether inhalation anesthesia during 10 minutes daily for one week; Group 4 (electroacupuncture) underwent the same procedure of Group 3, but also receiving electroacupuncture (2 Hz, 50 mA) applied to the Neiguan (PC6) and Guangming (GB37) acupoints during the anesthesia period; and Group 5 (Sham) underwent the same procedures of Group 4, but needles were applied to non-acupoints. The development of cataract was assessed one week later, and its density was graded by slit lamp biomicroscopy.