Ocular toxicity assessment of chronic sildenafil therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate possible functional and structural ocular changes caused by chronic sildenafil therapy to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Case-control study included patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: chronically using sildenafil and without sildenafil treatment. A comprehensive ophthalmologic exam including ectoscopy, extrinsic ocular motility, logMAR visual acuity measurement, contrast sensitivity test, color test, anterior segment biomicroscopy, Schirmer test 1, intraocular pressure, fundus exam under pupil dilation, fundus pictures, time domain and spectral domain optical coherence tomography, ocular Doppler ultrasound were performed.

Biopharmaceutical industry-sponsored global clinical trials in emerging countries.

Objective: To evaluate biopharmaceutical industry-sponsored clinical trials placed in countries previously described as emerging regions for clinical research, and potential differences for those placed in Brazil.

Methods: Data regarding recruitment of subjects for clinical trials were retrieved from www.clinicaltrials.

[Sight-threatening orbital emphysema after nose blowing: case report].

Orbital emphysema is the abnormal presence of air in the orbit. Occurrence in the absence of orbital fracture is rare. We report a case of a 40-year-old female presenting unilateral orbital emphysema after vigorous nose blowing.

Evaluation of Internet websites about floaters and light flashes in patient education.

Purpose: Flashes of light and floaters are most commonly caused by posterior vitreous separation but may be associated with sight-threatening disorders. Prevention of severe sequelae requires prompt dilated eye examination. Thus, information dissemination is crucial.

Outpatient management of traumatic hyphema in children: prospective evaluation.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome of children with traumatic hyphema treated on an outpatient basis.

Methods: A prospective cases series. Thirty-five children with traumatic hyphema were treated as outpatients for the ocular injury from February 2002 to February 2003.

Usefulness of corneal esthesiometry for screening diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of corneal esthesiometry for screening diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 575 patients attending a diabetic retinopathy-screening program in the city of São Paulo. Corneal esthesiometry was assessed with the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer.

Infectious keratitis: correlation between corneal and contact lens cultures.

Purpose: This article reports a study of the effectiveness of performing contact lens cultures to identify causative organisms of infectious keratitis in patients using extended-wear soft contact lenses (cosmetic or therapeutic).

Methods: Patients' records from the Ocular Microbiology Laboratory of the Department of Ophthalmology, Paulista School of Medicine, from 1976 to 2000, and data of patients with contact lens-related keratitis in which the contact lens had been cultured were collected and reviewed.

Results: One hundred thirteen patients were included.