Bilateral Iritis after Vaccine for Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine that can be instilled into the urinary bladder as immunotherapy against superficial bladder cancer. Several case reports have implicated intravesical BCG in the development of uveitis. Patients treated with BCG therapy may present with systemic symptoms resembling reactive arthritis and, less frequently, have ocular adverse effects including bilateral panuveitis or chorioretinitis.

Long-term changes in corneal structure and tear inflammatory mediators after orthokeratology and LASIK.

Purpose: To monitor changes in corneal structure and level of inflammatory mediators in tears of myopic patients following orthokeratology (OK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: Sixty-two myopic subjects were analyzed in this prospective study. Thirty-two had worn Paragon CRT contact lenses and 30 underwent standard LASIK.

Topographic paracentral corneal thickness with pentacam and orbscan: effect of acoustic factor.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of an acoustic factor (AF) on the comparison of central corneal thickness (CCT) and peripheral corneal thickness (PCT) measurements with Orbscan II and Pentacam.

Methods: The CCT and PCT at 1, 2, and 3 radial distances from the corneal apex were measured using Orbscan II and Pentacam in 22 right eyes of 22 healthy adults (7 men, 15 women). Three measures were obtained from each 1 of the 25 points measured and then compared to gauge the agreement between both devices at the corneal center and anular areas located at 1-, 2-, and 3-mm distances from the central measurement.

Central corneal thickness measured with three optical devices and ultrasound pachometry.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of three noninvasive pachometry methods against the ultrasound pachometer considered the gold standard.

Methods: Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured using a Paxis ultrasound (US) pachometer, Orbscan II, Pentacam, and Topcon SP-3000 specular microscope in 22 right eyes of 22 healthy adults (7 men, 15 women). Three repeated measures were obtained and then compared to obtain the repeatability of each instrument and the agreement between pachometers.

Two single descriptors of endothelial polymegethism and pleomorphism.

Purpose: To compute two new quantitative parameters that directly reflect the level of polymegethism and pleomorphism using data provided by a non-contact specular microscope.

Methods: We examined right eyes of 306 voluntaries (102 males, 204 females) whose ages ranged from 6 to 82 years (mean +/- SD, 44 +/- 22 years). Endothelial cell density (ECD), average cell size (ACS), standard error of cells surface (SEM), coefficient of variation in cell size (CV) and hexagonality index (HI) were obtained.

Binocular vision changes in university students: a 3-year longitudinal study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in accommodation and binocular vision parameters during a period of 3 years and to evaluate their potential influence on the refractive changes observed over the same period of time in a population of university students in Portugal.

Methods: A 3-year longitudinal study was conducted comprising 118 young adults (34 males and 84 females; mean age: 20.6 +/- 2.

Correlations between corneal biomechanical properties measured with the ocular response analyzer and ICare rebound tonometry.

Purpose: To investigate the biomechanical properties of the normal cornea, and correlate them with central and peripheral corneal thickness and age.

Methods: Seventy-six right eyes of volunteers were measured with Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA), ICare rebound tonometry and an ultrasound pachymeter at corneal center and at 4 mm from corneal center in the nasal and temporal directions.

Results: ICare readings were significantly correlated with central and peripheral corneal thickness and corneal biomechanical properties.

Intraoffice variability of corneal biomechanical parameters and intraocular pressure (IOP).

Purpose: To evaluate the intraoffice hour variability of intraocular pressure (IOP) and in vivo biomechanical properties of the cornea, as measured with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA).

Methods: The right eye of each of 58 young healthy subjects (14 men, 44 women) was measured at 1-hour intervals from 9.00 a.

Pilot study on the influence of corneal biomechanical properties over the short term in response to corneal refractive therapy for myopia.

Purpose: To study the short-term corneal response to corneal refractive therapy for myopia and correlate it with corneal biomechanical properties as measured with the ocular response analyzer.

Methods: Eight eyes from 8 young subjects were fitted with a reverse geometry contact lens, attempting a myopic correction of -4.00 D.

Contact lens fitting profile in Portugal in 2005: strategies for first fits and refits.

Purpose: To evaluate the standards of contact lens practice in Portugal, with particular attention paid to the characteristics of first fits and refits regarding aspects such as symptoms of dryness, overnight wear, silicone hydrogel and multifocal prescriptions, and care systems.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 300 contact lens practitioners in Portugal, and they were asked to complete them with the following first 10 fittings (only right eye of each patient). Fifty-six questionnaires were returned to total 529 fittings.

Qualitative and quantitative characterization of the in vitro dehydration process of hydrogel contact lenses.

Purpose: To investigate the in vitro dehydration process of conventional hydrogel and silicone-hydrogel contact lens materials.

Methods: Eight conventional hydrogel and five silicone-hydrogel contact lenses were dehydrated under controlled environmental conditions on an analytical balance. Data were taken at 1-min intervals and dehydration curves of cumulative dehydration (CD), valid dehydration (VD), and dehydration rate (DR) were obtained.

Symptoms in a population of contact lens and noncontact lens wearers under different environmental conditions.

Purpose: To investigate ocular symptoms related to dryness in an adult population of contact lens (CL) and non contact lens wearers (n-CL) using video display terminals (VDT) for different periods of time under different indoor conditions related to air conditioning (AC) and heating units (HU) exposure.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 334 people within a university population of which 258 were part of the n-CL group and 76 of the CL wearers to assess symptoms of ocular discomfort potentially related to dryness. Only soft contact lens (SCL) wearers (n = 71) were included for further statistical analysis because of the reduced number of people wearing other lens types.

Correlations between central and peripheral changes in anterior corneal topography after myopic LASIK and their implications in postsurgical contact lens fitting.

Purpose: To investigate the changes in central and peripheral anterior corneal curvatures after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and to correlate them with the manifest refractive change to discuss how such results could affect post-LASIK corneal topography profiles and midterm stability and their implications in postsurgical contact lens fitting.

Methods: Topographic and refractive data from 18 eyes of 11 patients that had undergone myopic LASIK were collected for 6 months after surgery. Short-term and midterm topographic responses were investigated and correlated with spherical equivalent manifest refractive changes.

Soft contact lenses for keratoconus: case report.

Purpose: Contact lenses have assisted the refractive correction of keratoconus since the 19th century. In these case reports, the authors describe their experience with a new soft contact lens design.

Methods: The Soft K is a new soft lens comprising a thick fenestrated design to fit in patients with mild to moderate corneal distortion and fitting problems or physical intolerance to rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses.

Equivalences between refractive index and equilibrium water content of conventional and silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses from automated and manual refractometry.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to develop mathematical relationships that allow obtaining equilibrium water content and refractive index of conventional and silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses from refractive index measures obtained with automated refractometry or equilibrium water content measures derived from manual refractometry, respectively.

Methods: Twelve HEMA-based hydrogels of different hydration and four siloxane-based polymers were assayed. A manual refractometer and a digital refractometer were used.

Refractive index and equilibrium water content of conventional and silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to measure equilibrium water content (EWC) and refractive index of conventional and silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses (SCL) using a hand refractometer and an automated refractometer.

Methods: Sixteen SCL were used in this study including 12 conventional SCL not containing siloxane moieties (equilibrium water content (EWC) range: 38.6-74%) and the four silicone hydrogel based contact lenses currently available (WC range: 24-47%).

Oxygen transmissibility of piggyback systems with conventional soft and silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Purpose: To investigate the apparent oxygen transmissibility of various piggyback systems using conventional and silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses of different water content and permeability, rigid poly(methyl methacrylate), and rigid gas-permeable lenses of medium, high, and ultrahigh oxygen permeability. The aim of the study was to establish which material (rigid or hydrogel) is more representative of the resulting oxygen performance of piggyback systems.

Methods: The apparent oxygen transmissibility of 66 piggyback systems was measured with an electrochemical method.

Microscopic observation of unworn siloxane-hydrogel soft contact lenses by atomic force microscopy.

In the present study, samples of lotrafilcon A, balafilcon A, and galyfilcon A contact lenses were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in tapping mode at areas ranging from 0.25 to 400 microm2. Mean roughness (Ra), root-mean-square roughness (Rms) and maximum roughness (Rmax) in nanometers were obtained for the three lens materials at different magnifications.

Microscopic observations of superficial ultrastructure of unworn siloxane-hydrogel contact lenses by cryo-scanning electron microscopy.

The purpose of this study was to analyze three commercial siloxane-hydrogel contact lens materials, lotrafilcon A, balafilcon A, and galyfilcon A, by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryoSEM). The fully hydrated lenses were frozen in slush liquid nitrogen and qualitatively observed in a cryogenic scanning electron microscope. The superficial ultrastructure of the siloxane-hydrogels was observed at the areas where the lens fractured during sample cryogenic preparation.

Retinoscopy/autorefraction: which is the best starting point for a noncycloplegic refraction?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the agreement between an autorefractor (Nidek ARK 700A, Gamagori, Japan) and retinoscopy with subjective refraction.

Methods: Measurements of autorefraction obtained with the ARK700A and retinoscopy were performed on 192 right eyes from 192 healthy young adults and compared with subjective refraction. These measurements were performed without cycloplegia.

Central and peripheral corneal thickness measurement with Orbscan II and topographical ultrasound pachymetry.

Purpose: To compare thickness measurements of the central 6.0 mm of the cornea obtained with the Orbscan(R) II topography system and topographical ultrasound pachymetry.

Setting: School of Optometry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.