Effects of Oral Antihistamines on Tear Volume, Tear Stability, and Intraocular Pressure.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of two commonly used oral antihistamines-diphenhydramine and loratadine-on tear volume, tear breakup time, and intraocular pressure. Placebo, diphenhydramine, and loratadine were administered for one week to 33 subjects experimentally blind to the treatment given. All the subjects received all three treatments over a period of six weeks.

Clinical Evaluation of Large Diameter Rigid-Gas Permeable Versus Soft Toric Contact Lenses for the Correction of Refractive Astigmatism. A MultiCenter Study.

Purpose: This study aims to address the clinical performance of a large diameter rigid gas permeable lens (LRGP) in a group of subjects with low-to-moderate (0.75-2.75 D) refractive astigmatism.

A comparison of the short-term settling of three scleral lens designs.

Purpose: Scleral gas-permeable lenses are rapidly gaining international popularity. Unlike corneal gas-permeable lenses, scleral lenses are fitted to the bulbar conjunctiva and settle into the tissue after insertion. To date, we are unaware of any studies examining the settling behavior of three varying scleral lens designs.

Contact lens correction of presbyopia.

The contact lens wearing presbyopic population is underserved worldwide. There are several available options, including single vision contact lenses and spectacle over-correction for near, monovision, rigid gas permeable (GP) multifocal and bifocal lens designs and soft bifocal lens designs. This paper presents an overview of the latest research and clinical experience as it pertains to these forms of correction.

Gas permeable (GP) versus non-GP lens wearers: accuracy of orthokeratology in myopia reduction.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to determine whether there are significant differences in visual and refractive outcomes between gas permeable (GP) and non-GP wearers following a 1-month period of overnight orthokeratology (OK).

Methods: The study included 14 subjects between the ages of 18 and 42 years. Group 1 consisted of six subjects wearing GP lenses for the correction of myopia for, at minimum, 1 year.

Visual performance of subjects wearing presbyopic contact lenses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the visual performance of subjects wearing gas-permeable (GP) multifocal contact lenses, soft bifocal contact lenses, GP monovision lenses and spectacles.

Methods: The study included 32 subjects between the ages of 42 and 65 years wearing GP monovision, the Acuvue Bifocal (Vistakon), the Essentials GP Multifocal (Blanchard), and progressive addition lenses (PAL; spectacles group). There were eight subjects in each of these groups who were already wearing these modalities.

Gas permeable toric use and applications: survey of Section on Cornea and Contact Lens Diplomates of the American Academy of Optometry.

Background: The purpose of this study was to survey Diplomates in the Section on Cornea and Contact Lenses of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) to determine their fitting preferences for astigmatic patients, lens materials used, and their perception of simplicity or complexity of bitoric fitting.

Methods: A total of 180 practitioners, representing all active Diplomates in the Cornea and Contact Lens Section, were sent a survey of 11 questions pertaining to their astigmatic contact lens prescribing habits. Sixty-eight (38%) of those surveyed responded to the questionnaire.

Intracardiac leiomyomatosis: iliac vein to right-ventricular outflow tract.

Background: A 58-year-old female with a history of hypertension and asthma presented to an internist for a routine physical examination. A grade II/VI systolic ejection murmur and electrocardiogram abnormalities were noted. She was referred to a cardiologist for further assessment.

Fluoroscopic balloon-guided transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with Zenker's diverticulum.

During the past 20 years, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) became an important diagnostic technique. Indications for TEE include: defining the cause and severity of native valve disease, particularly mitral regurgitation; detecting vegetations and other sequelae of endocarditis; assessing prosthetic valve function; and identifying a potential cardiac source for emboli.(1) TEE is usually well tolerated and is associated with few adverse events.

Hypersensitivity to common tree pollens in New York City patients.

Testing for tree pollen hypersensitivity typically requires the use of several tree pollens. Identifying patterns of cross-sensitivity to tree pollens could reduce the number of trees used for testing. The goal of this study was to relate reported tree pollen levels to hypersensitivity patterns.