Genetic and ultrasound study of hereditary pure microphthalmos.

Standardized A scan echography is the best technique for the biometric parameters of the eye. This has been very useful in studying the sizes of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye in hereditary microphthalmos. Echography and a genetic study led to a new classification of hereditary microphthalmos.

Genetic and ultrasound study of abnormalities of the optic nerve head.

The authors, after reviewing the literature, particularly the classification of optic nerve-head abnormalities, describe several clinical cases dealing especially with the notable diagnostic possibilities of ultrasound examination.

Attempt to arrest eye growth by means of ocular hypotony.

Attempt to retard growth of the eye in 4 young rabbits by means of prolonged ocular hypotony maintained by timolol-maleate were not successful. The eyes treated with 0.5 timolol twice a day showed a sustained hypotensive response of 4-5 mm Hg which lasted for the 4 months experimental period.

Fluoroangiographic and echographic study on a juxtapapillary hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium.

A patient with a juxtapapillary hamartoma is described, in consideration not only for the scarcity of such cases described in the literature, but also for the clinical and echographic characteristics that were observed for the involvement of the right eye, and because the patient was female. Echography and especially standardized A-scan echography, showing a lesion at high reflectivity without acoustic shadowing, allowed us to exclude the presence of a malignant melanoma and retinoblastoma, and directing us to the diagnosis of a malformation of angiomatous type.

[Multiple bilateral pigmented epithelium detachments or atypical vitelliform degeneration? (author's transl)].

A case of bilateral multiple pigment epithelium detachments in a 36 year old man is reported. The value of E.R.

Correlation between unilateral exophthalmos and thyroid diseases.

43 clinically euthyroid patients with unilateral exophthalmos were examined using clinical methods, echography, and computerized tomography. The functioning of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-thyroid axis was investigated by measurements of TSH (before and after stimulation with TRH), thyroid hormones and antithyroglobulin antibodies. After a review of the literature, the results are discussed.

[A posterior dislocation of the lens in herpes zoster (author's transl)].

The authors report a case of posterior dislocation of the lens during the natural history of a clinical case of herpes zoster. An echographic B-scan study was carried out to reveal the position and the size and the shape of dislocated lens, together with its structure and that of ocular media. After a discussion on the possible aetiology of the lens dislocation it was considered due to herpes zoster disease, and are reported the possible mechanism of zonula alteration.

Hydrocephalus combined with congenital cataract and microphthalmia.

We describe a case of bilateral microphthalmia with bilateral congenital cataracts associated with hydrocephalus in a 9-month-old girl with consanguineous parents. The differential diagnosis included: (1) congenital rubella syndrome; (2) congenital toxoplasmosis; (3) chromosome alterations; and (4) metabolic disease. However, negative clinical, laboratory, and instrumental investigations excluded all of these hypotheses.

The value of the association of radiological methods with echographic examination in the study of intraocular foreign bodies.

The standard X-ray preserves its value in verifying the presence of a foreign body (FB). The echography is valuable in verifying the site of a FB when it remains uncertain in respect to the sclera after X-ray localization. Computerized tomography scanning offers useful information about the physical nature of the FB.