The accuracy of finger tension for estimating intraocular pressure after penetrating keratoplasty.

Background And Objective: Intraocular pressure (IOP) estimation by Goldmann tonometry is inaccurate in the immediate postoperative period after penetrating keratoplasty. For this reason, many corneal surgeons use a finger tension (FT) IOP estimation technique in the early post-keratoplasty period. The authors performed a prospective clinical study to evaluate the accuracy of this traditional technique.

Lid flora in blepharitis.

The microbiologic evaluations of 332 consecutive patients with the primary diagnosis of chronic blepharitis were reviewed and compared to those of 160 control patients. The most commonly isolated organisms from lids with blepharitis were Staphylococcus epidermidis (95.8%), Propronibacterium acnes (92.

Acridine orange and Gram stains in infectious keratitis.

Two hundred thirty consecutive cases of presumed infectious keratitis were reviewed. Cultures were positive in 49.5% (114 of 230).

Factors associated with conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia: a case control study.

Familial and environmental factors may play a role in the development of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Nineteen patients with biopsy-proven CIN completed a questionnaire to evaluate possible predisposing factors. Nineteen age-matched and sex-matched controls completed questionnaires and received slit-lamp examinations.

Personality and keratoconus.

We studied personality traits of patients with keratoconus in a controlled prospective study using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Whereas four of 16 (25%) control patients with herpes simplex keratitis had scores indicative of psychological abnormality, 15 of 28 (54%) keratoconus patients had scores indicative of abnormality (P less than .05).

Penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Management of the intraocular lens.

Management of the intraocular lens (IOL) at the time of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy has been based on lens-related factors and coexisting anterior segment abnormalities. The authors reviewed the results of PK for 102 cases of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (43 anterior chamber, 50 iris-supported, and 9 posterior chamber) with respect to: (1) the type of IOL, (2) coexisting abnormalities, and (3) management of the IOL at surgery. Graft failure after 2 years of follow-up was: (1) retained iris-supported IOLs, 9%; (2) retained anterior chamber IOLs, 60%; (3) retained posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOL), 0%; (4) removed IOLs, 9%; and (5) exchanged IOLs, 20%.

Infected vs sterile corneal infiltrates in contact lens wearers.

We examined 50 patients to determine whether differences exist between the initial clinical signs and symptoms associated with infected vs sterile corneal infiltrates. A detailed history regarding contact lens use and ocular symptoms was taken, after which a careful slit-lamp examination was performed. The ocular findings were correlated with the results of corneal cultures.

Medical and surgical treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

We examined seven patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis. All patients had a history of soft contact lens use. Predisposing factors included use of homemade saline, hydrogen peroxide disinfection, a history of improper lens care, and swimming with contact lenses.

Seasonal variation in contact lens-associated corneal ulcers.

We undertook a retrospective analysis of 112 patients admitted to Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, between 1983 and 1985 with corneal ulcers associated with the use of contact lenses to test the clinical impression that such ulcers are more common in summer. Over half of the admissions (51%) occurred between June and September. The seasonal variation of the ulcers was statistically significant (p less than 0.

Fitting gas-permeable contact lenses after penetrating keratoplasty.

Between Sept. 1, 1981, and Jan. 31, 1984, 74 eyes (70 patients) were fitted with gas-permeable Polycon contact lenses and monitored for at least six months (range, six to 33 months; mean, 14 months).

Erythema multiforme after use of topical sulfacetamide.

An 8-year-old boy developed erythema multiforme major after topical administration of sodium sulfacetamide for conjunctivitis. He had received systemic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole four months previously without evidence of drug allergy. There was no history of recent exposure to other drugs or evidence of herpes simplex or Mycoplasma infection.

Treatment of marginal corneal ulcers with cryotherapy and conjunctival recession or resection.

Thirteen eyes with sterile marginal corneal ulcers were treated with cryotherapy and conjunctival recession or resection. Ulcer progression was ultimately controlled in all cases (mean follow-up of 21 months). One eye with Mooren's ulcer required reoperation to achieve a quiescent state, and two other eyes needed conservative therapy after surgery in order to heal.

Evaluation of the Papanicolaou-stained cytological smear as a screening technique for asymptomatic gonorrhoea.

To assess the Papanicolaou smear as a screening test for asymptomatic gonorrhoea 311 women who had had simultaneous Papanicolaou smears and cervical cultures performed were studied. Of the 151 women who were culture-positive only 27 (18%) had a positive result by Papanicolaou smear. The presence of either endocervical or metaplastic cells did not increase the frequency with which gonococci were recognised.

Isolation information booklet stimulates dialog, allays fears.

Isolation for nosocomial or community-acquired infection can be a bewildering and potentially stressful situation for the hospitalized patient and his family. Proper education is essential in order to minimize these fears and provide optimal medical care. A booklet has been designed to supplement the verbal explanations that should be given by hospital staff about the rationale and details of the isolation procedures.

Shigellosis. Another sexually transmitted disease?

Following the clinical observation that there appeared to be an association between shigellosis and male homosexuality, the medical records of 113 patients at The New York Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 38 males studied who were between the ages 19 and 61, seventeen were homosexual (44-7 per cent.).