Occurrence of Occult Neoplasia in Pterygium Specimens Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Patients.

Purpose: To determine the role of race and ethnicity in the prevalence of occult ocular surface squamous neoplasia in pterygium specimens.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed pathology reports and medical records of 504 patients who underwent pterygium surgery in South Texas. Those with clinical signs of ocular surface squamous neoplasia were excluded.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the orbit initially diagnosed as idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation.

Purpose: Differentiating idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation from orbital inflammation secondary to neoplasia may be challenging, as both processes can present similarly. Neoplasms in the orbit may induce inflammation with accompanying fibrosis. Limited sections of histopathological specimens may demonstrate nonspecific inflammation and lead to an inaccurate diagnosis.

Numerical modeling of paintball impact ocular trauma: identification of progressive injury mechanisms.

Purpose: To create a computer-based numerical simulation model for comparison with empiric paintball-ocular ballistic study findings, allowing identification of the dynamic physical mechanisms (stress, strain, pressure) responsible for intraocular traumatic injury accompanying blunt ocular impact. Virtual experiments with numerical models could exploit mathematical "instrumentation" to facilitate internal observation impossible with physical experiments alone.

Methods: Models of human eye structures and orbit were implemented into the finite-volume Eulerian numerical hydrocode CTH.

Effect of topical immunomodulatory interleukin 1 receptor antagonist therapy on corneal healing in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) after photorefractive keratectomy.

Objectives: To compare topical interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) to steroid treatment following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbit eyes.

Methods: Our study is a randomized, investigator-masked study that was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Following standard PRK, 48 eyes of 24 rabbits were divided into 5 arms: 4 treatment arms and 1 control arm.

Blunt eye trauma: empirical histopathologic paintball impact thresholds in fresh mounted porcine eyes.

Purpose: Ballistic studies were conducted using gelatin-embedded abattoir-fresh porcine eyes suspended within clear acrylic orbits to discern the energy required to produce specific ocular injuries. Paintball impact provides a robust ballistic model for isolating and quantifying the role of direct blunt force in ocular trauma.

Methods: Fifty-nine porcine orbital preparations received direct blows from 0.

Plasminogen deficiency as a rare cause of conjunctivitis and lymphadenopathy.

Plasminogen deficiency is a rare disorder complicated by the subsequent formation of firm "woody" plaques in the eye (ligneous conjunctivitis) or other mucosal sites as the result of inflammation or trauma. The plaques are composed of fibrinogen, granulation tissue, and inflammatory cells. The findings may be considered nonspecific by the unsuspecting surgical pathologist and delay the appropriate diagnosis.

Topical voriconazole as a novel treatment for fungal keratitis.

Paecilomyces lilacinus is a fungal pathogen which is generally resistant to amphotericin B and certain other antifungals and is an uncommon cause of devastating fungal keratitis. In the present studies, we evaluated topical voriconazole as therapy for P. lilacinus keratitis in rabbits.

Corneal keloid mimicking a recurrent limbal dermoid.

We report a 12-year-old boy who presented with the clinical appearance of a limbal dermoid recurrence. Histologic study of the lesion revealed it to be a corneal keloid. In the event of a recurrent mass following dermoid excision, keloid should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Use of bioglass for orbital volume augmentation in enophthalmos: a rabbit model (oryctolagus cuniculus).

Purpose: To investigate the clinical and histologic response of Novabone-C/M as an osteoproductive alloplastic implant for volume augmentation in the orbit in the treatment of enophthalmos and to compare its outcome alone versus its use in combination with autogenous bone or Medpor granules.

Methods: Novabone-C/M, a bioactive silicone glass material, was implanted in the subperiosteal space of the left orbit of 12 New Zealand White rabbits. The animals were divided into 3 groups, each with 4 animals, based on the material implanted in the orbit: group 1, Novabone alone; group 2, Novabone plus Medpor granules; and group 3, Novabone plus autogenous bone fragments.