Anorectal and perineal pain: new pathophysiological hypothesis.

Anorectal and perineal pain has been described in association with a variety of organic conditions but can also occur under circumstances in which organic disorders are absent and pathophysiology is uncertain. The three most common functional disorders causing anorectal and perineal pain are levator ani syndrome, coccygodynia and proctalgia fugax; Alcock's canal syndrome is also responsible for pain in these areas. We review current concepts about these disorders and the approach to diagnosis and management, and offer a provocative interpretation of the role of psychological factors.

Optical treatment of residual vision in diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: The purposes of this study of diabetic retinopathy are to classify degree of vision impairment, determine the percentage of patients for whom vision can be improved by an accurate refraction, identify the most useful magnifying devices, and arrive at the success rate for the magnifiers.

Methods: Study of 101 consecutive subjects.

Results: Visual acuity was 20/200 (6/60) or better in 71% of subjects.

New high-index visolett magnifier.

The high-index Visolett magnifier (index, 1.806) is an optically designed glass paperweight magnifier. It magnifies 2.

Low vision correction for high myopia.

High myopia is favorable for low vision corrections because the vision has usually been poor since childhood and the person has been able to read at close range, producing magnification. For near vision, in addition to bringing objects close, magnification is produced by high-add bifocals, trifocals, strong near vision spectacles and nonspectacle magnifiers. Hand magnifiers held at a distance from the eye are used with the spectacle correction.

Designing half-eye binocular spectacle magnifiers.

The process of designing half-eye frames with a smaller than usual eye size and narrower distance between lenses (DBL) in order to produce additional base-in prism effect is described. This method enhances binocular function while the spectacle magnifier is used. The design also provides a lighter, thinner, and cosmetically more acceptable optical aid.