Environmental factors and myopia.

Purpose: The aim of the work was to assess the impact of environmental factors on the prevalence of myopia.

Material And Methods: The work presents and discusses contemporary literature on the environmental determinants of myopia.

Results: In the existing works it was demonstrated that environmental factors lead to higher prevalence of myopia.

Associations between HLA molecules and ophthalmologic diseases.

The aim of this review was to analyze associations between HLA (human leukocyte antigens) alleles described thus far and an array of ophthalmologic disorders. Highly polymorphic HLA molecules play a crucial role in immunological response to various pathogens. Due to environmental pressures exerted mostly by infectious factors in the past, population frequencies of particular alleles differ greatly and modulate immunological response in various diseases.

Etiopathogenesis and management of high myopia. Part II.

High myopia (HM) is defined as refractive error above -6.0 D (-8.0 diopters) with axial eyeball length above 26 mm, and is connected with the process of excessive myopisation.

Etiopathogenesis and management of high-degree myopia. Part I.

High-degree myopia (HM) is defined as a refractive error above -6 D (-8 diopters). An axial eyeball length above 26 mm and is also connected with excessive myopisation. Mechanical stretching and thinning of the choroids may lead to the development of irreversible degenerative changes in the eyeball and visual impairment.

Prevalence of myopia and hyperopia among urban and rural schoolchildren in Poland.

Introduction: Myopia and hyperopia have a significant clinical meaning as they can be the cause of low visual acuity or even blindness. Therefore, there is a high demand for all clinical investigations regarding the development of the eye and the creation of refractive errors. Nevertheless, not many papers have been published around the world which compared the prevalence of myopia as well as hyperopia among metropolitan and provincial schoolchildren.

[Sunscreens--chemical structure and application].

In the paper chemical structures and classification of active ingredients of sunscreens as physical or chemical filters are presented. Adequately selected to skin phototype sunscreen protects body against sunburn and prolonged sunlight exposure skin changes, induced by harmful ultraviolet radiation.

[The role of biological agents in dermatology].

Biological agents belong to a novel therapy method. Their immunomodulatory activity is used in treating some of the severe and chronic skin diseases. This paper presents the structure and activity of biological agents, enumerates preparations most commonly used in dermatology, their side effects and contraindications.

[Association between HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 alleles and risk of early pregnancy loss].

Aim: The aim of the study is to identify HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 allele and to assess the risk of early pregnancy loss of women, couples with reproductive failure in the first trimester of pregnancy in comparison with fertile women, couples. The study group (B) enrolled 61 couples with reproductive failure and the control group (C) enrolled 20 fertile couples with at least 2 children.

Method: HLA-DQA1 gene typing was performed using PCR-sequence-specific primer (SSP) on the high resolution level according to established procedure of labeling and using the detection kit (FASTYPE DQASSP Typing, FASTYPE DQA "High Resolution" Typing Sheet) purchased from Bio-Synthesis (USA).

Prevalence of myopia and hyperopia in a population of Polish schoolchildren.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of myopia and hyperopia in a population of Polish schoolchildren.

Methods: A total of 4422 students were examined (2107 boys and 2315 girls, aged 6-18 years, mean age 11.1, S.

The influence of low birth weight on the prevalence of refractive errors among schoolchildren.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine in a large population whether low birth weight has an influence on the prevalence of refractive errors among schoolchildren.

Material And Methods: 3663 schoolchildren were examined (1738 boys and 1925 girls, aged 6-17 years, mean age 11.1, SD = 3.

[Protection of the skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation].

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources can exert beneficial and/or damaging effect on human skin. Excessive UV radiation has been implicated in the increased incidence of skin malignancies and accelerated skin photoaging. Thus, the skin requires adequate protection and sunscreens are useful for this purpose.

Development of the human eyeball and orbit during the fetal life.

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to describe the development of the human eyeball and orbit during fetal life.

Material And Methods: Eighteen human fetuses (36 eyes and 36 orbits) with gestational age ranging from 17 to 28 weeks were examined. Fetuses died in the first hours of life due to immaturity and did not reveal any developmental anomalies.

[Analysis of the causes of visual disability based on medical court opinions].

Purpose: To determine visual invalidity causes based on medical-court opinions.

Material And Methods: An analysis of 337 medical-court opinions requested by the Public Insurance Department of the State Court in Szczecin has been carried out. The opinions concerned 189 men and 148 women at the age ranging from 23 to 96 years old.

An evaluation of selected human eye dimensions at different periods of the foetal life.

In the course of myopia many anatomical changes in the structure of the eyeball take place. These changes surface during early childhood. It is unclear if these changes form during the stage of foetal life.