PURPOSE. Although impairment of rod function in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been well recognized, data on longitudinal changes in rod function at multiple retinal locations remain limited. This study investigated the longitudinal changes in retinotopic rod function in eyes with intermediate AMD (iAMD). METHODS.Complete ophthalmic examination, multimodal imaging, and scotopic perimetry were performed at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Perimetric scotopic retinal sensitivities for the 505-nm stimulus were repeatedly measured for 20 minutes after exposing to a single photobleach (~30%). The rod intercept time (RIT) and retinal sensitivity at seven retinal loci within the central 128 were ascertained. Using the 95% limit of measurement variability derived from the control eyes as a reference, the proportion of test points with a significant change in retinal sensitivity or RIT at follow-up was determined.RESULTS. Twenty iAMD and 6 control eyes were included. Decline in rod function was detected at 12-month follow-up in eyes with iAMD, but not in control eyes. Approximately 25% of test points in iAMD eyes showed a significant increase in RIT compared to 6% of test points with a decrease in RIT over the 12-month period (P < 0.001). Similarly, 40% of test points demonstrated a reduction in retinal sensitivity compared to the 7% of test points with an increase in retinal sensitivity at follow-up (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS. There are detectable retinotopic changes in rod function over 12 months in iAMD eyes, indicating an ongoing disease progression in rod impairment or loss with time.

The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-operative levator function and degree of ptosis affect surgical outcomes in children with congenital ptosis undergoing anterior levator resection under general anaesthesia. Retrospective cohort study. Children with 'simple' congenital ptosis who underwent anterior levator resection under general anaesthesia. Consecutive cases were reviewed with regards to achievement of the desired lid height (surgical success), and the influence of preoperative levator function and degree of ptosis. The amount of pre-operative levator function and degree of ptosis, with corresponding surgical outcomes. Forty-two lids (37 patients) were included in the study: 36 primary and 6 revision cases (which were excluded from analysis due to small sample size). Mean age was 7 years (range 3-17 years), with similar male to female ratio (1.2:1). The overall success rate for primary was 86%. There were small to moderate trends towards greater amount of levator resection for lower levator function (r = -0.25, p < 0.05) and higher degree of ptosis (r = 0.38, p < 0.05). All successful primary cases (n = 31) had pre-operative levator function of at least 8 mm. Levator resection in children under general anaesthesia continues to be an imprecise science. Degree of ptosis and levator function were poorly correlated to each other; however, there was an expected small to moderate correlation between resection amount and levator function (negative correlation) or degree of ptosis (positive correlation). Patients with levator function of 8mm or more are likely to have a successful outcome.

The authors report a case of a 70-year-old man who presented with a long history of left pulsatile proptosis, irritation, and a pressure sensation behind the eye. Initial computed tomography brain demonstrated the presence of a suspected ethmoid sinus mucocele. Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed to drain the mucocele. On cautious opening of the nasal mucosa, cerebrospinal fluid was encountered requiring subsequent repair with local mucosal flap and fat graft. On further magnetic resonance imaging, the lesion was confirmed to be giant pseudomeningocele arising from the sphenoid sinus, with extensive invasion and erosion of the middle cranial fossa including the left lateral orbital wall. Here, the authors report, to the best of their knowledge, the first case of spontaneous giant pseudomeningocele in the middle cranial fossa causing pulsatile proptosis. In examining this case, the authors will also discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of giant pseudomeningoceles, especially in the situation of a misdiagnosis.