[Glaucoma screening--justified or not justified?].

In explaining the damages of primary open-angle glaucoma, the elevated eye pressure was assumed to be the central causative factor. But epidemiological research found high proportions of the following clinical entities: only elevated pressure without further damages (called ocular hypertension), and only glaucomatous damages without high pressure (called normal- or low-pressure glaucoma). These facts made the pressure-theory doubtful, and therefore it had to be modified.

Changes in the zinc and copper metabolism after panretinal photocoagulation in the rabbit.

In a previous work on a group of patients with diabetic retinopathy, the effect of laser photocoagulation on the serum zinc and copper levels was evaluated. In many of those patients, an increase in the serum zinc and copper levels was found one day after the laser treatment. In the present work, changes in the serum concentration of these metals after xenon arc photocoagulation were assessed in the rabbit.

Zinc and copper metabolism in patients with senile macular degeneration.

Abnormal zinc and copper metabolism has been described in some retinal disorders affecting the retinal pigment epithelium. Anatomic and functional studies in patients with senile macular degeneration show changes in this retinal layer. We examined the blood and urine of two groups of patients, one consisting of patients with senile macular degeneration and the other a control group, for zinc and copper in serum and urine.