Corneal endothelial morphology after anterior chamber lens implantation.

The morphologic features of the corneal endothelium were investigated by means of regional wide-field specular microscopy and computer-assisted morphometry in 13 eyes of nine patients who had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction with anterior chamber lens implantation more than one year previously. The endothelial cells in these patients demonstrated a significant increase in cellular elongation and the coefficient of variation in mean cell area and a significant decrease in the percentage of hexagonal endothelial cells when compared with age-matched controls (ten eyes of ten patients). The clinical implications of these long-term morphologic changes are unknown, but the changes may be indicative of an unstable endothelium or may be an early sign of continuing cell loss.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the optic nerves and chiasm.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MR) of the optic nerves and chiasm was compared with computed tomography (CT) in 4 healthy volunteers, 4 patients without orbital or chiasmal abnormalities, and 4 patients with tumor (anterior clinoid meningioma in 2, optic nerve glioma in 1, and optic nerve sheath meningioma in 1). MR was found to be effective in demonstrating the optic nerves and related structures, particularly the intracanalicular portion of the nerve which is difficult to see with CT. Best results were achieved with partial saturation recovery (SR) images; inversion recovery (IR) and spin echo (SE) techniques were less successful because of decreased spatial resolution (in the case of SE) as well as difficulty in seeing the anterior clinoid processes.

Ischemic optic neuropathy associated with Crohn's disease.

A 24-year-old man with Crohn's disease suffered bilateral ischemic optic neuropathy following the resolution of an episode of "uveitis." Additional findings of corneal infiltrates, vitritis, retinovascular sheathing, and arthritis suggest an inflammatory basis for his ischemic optic neuropathy. Vasculitis as an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease is a possible etiology.

Empty-sella syndrome. Occurrence in childhood.

Primary empty-sella syndrome has been rarely reported in childhood. Substantial visual disturbance was accompanied by minimal endocrine dysfunction in an 8-year-old girl whose only other complaint was headache. This syndrome in children is associated with more dramatic signs and symptoms than have been reported for adults and may be associated with progressive destruction of pituitary reserve.