[Pathogenesis and treatment of primary closed-angle glaucoma].

With an incidence of about 1/1000, primary angle-closure glaucoma is 4 to 5 times less frequent than primary open-angle glaucoma. It occurs most frequently due to pupillary block, itself both due to anatomical configuration and to either physiological or pathological changes in the anterior chamber. Pupillary block causes an increase of pressure in the posterior chamber, which leads to anterior displacement of the iris and, finally, to angle closure.

[At-risk keratoplasty, HLA antigens and cyclosporin A].

Keratoplasty in a calm and avascular cornea usually involves no histocompatibility problem. This is not the case if the recipient cornea is inflamed or vascularized. In such cases, and in those where the donor button has been rejected, HLA matching and particularly the search of HLA DR is important.

[Mechanism of action of beta-blockers].

If beta-blockage does not cause lowering of aqueous humor secretion, in itself responsible for the maintenance of intraocular pressure, what is the mechanism of action? The antagonism for indolamines, recently measured in aqueous humor, the absence of nocturnal effect, and the amplitude diminution of diurnal variations thus produced suggest that beta-blockers could interact with indolamines, since the latter are probably responsible for intraocular pressure regulation. Aqueous humor secretion depends to a major extent on the sodium-potassium pump and its enzyme, Na+K(+)-ATPase. Serotonin, known for its activating action on Na+K(+)-ATPase, is present in the greatest amounts in the morning, precisely when the aqueous humor secretion is the highest.

[Sense and nonsense of examinations in hematogenous and exogenous intra-ocular infections].

Diagnosis of intraocular inflammations can be difficult, particularly if the patient is suffering from immunodeficiency. Among the endogenous inflammations this applies mainly to cases of hyaloretinitis caused by Candida or other fungi, often presenting as an acute hyalitis with sudden onset; the various ocular complications of AIDS, especially those due to toxoplasmosis (rare) and cytomegalovirus, and lyme disease, which can occasionally cause chronic panuveitis. Among the exogenous cases it applies to postoperative and posttraumatic endophthalmitis.