In a prospective clinical trial, the effect of systemic steroids on the incidence and severity of retinal fibrosis following retinal detachment surgery was tested against placebo. Several grades of retinal fibrosis of various degrees of severity were defined prior to the study. The maximum postoperative incidence of eyes with any signs of retinal fibrosis was 65% (75.4% in the placebo group, 63.3% in the steroid group). A set of fibrosis criteria was identified that had a tendency to respond to systemic steroids with a statistical significance increasing with time. The majority of these steroid-responsive criteria was of a mild degree and located at the posterior pole. The mean visual acuity was significantly lower in eyes with retinal fibrosis. The effect of systemic steroids on retinal fibrosis tested under clinical conditions was considerably weaker than that known from experimental conditions with intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide.

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Two brothers with Darier's disease and concomitant retinitis pigmentosa are reported. To our knowledge, these are the first cases with this combination of symptoms described in the literature. The dermatological conditions occurring with retinitis pigmentosa are reviewed. A disturbance in retinoids or retinoid binding proteins as a possible cause of both diseases is discussed.

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The selective beta-1 blocker Metoprolol was tested for a period of one month in a double-blind trial involving 36 patients with open-angle glaucoma or intraocular hypertension in whom the substance was applied twice daily to the eye in concentrations of 1, 2, 4 and 8%. At all these concentrations the intraocular pressure showed a reduction of 23%. The concentrations over 1% were less well tolerated, the difference being statistically significant; the patients concerned complained of an unpleasant burning sensation for 30 seconds after the application. The subjective intolerance shown increased in proportion to the concentration. It is not clear whether the solvent used contributed to the intolerance. The Metoprolol drops had no effect on pupillary diameter, blood pressure or resting pulse. An important finding was that during the one month's treatment there was no fall-off in the effectiveness of the preparation, i.e., the reduction in intraocular pressure and duration of action showed no diminution such as is seen, for example, with Timolol.