Five children with a history of preterm birth (mean gestational age of 27 weeks; birth weight 870-1,380 g) and perinatal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus were examined ophthalmologically at ages ranging from 4-11 years. An extended visual evoked potentials (VEPs) examination was simultaneously performed, using pattern-reversal, motion-onset, and cognitive visual stimuli. Although 3 of the 10 eyes displayed about normal visual acuity (> or =0.9), all of the examined eyes were abnormal for at least one variant of the tested VEPs. Pathological changes in VEPs (missing responses, shape abnormalities due to delayed VEPs maturation, prolonged peak latencies, and reduced amplitudes) were roughly proportional to both gestational age and reduction in visual acuity. A more severe pathology was found in the motion-onset VEPs (in all five subjects - nine eyes) when compared to the pattern-reversal VEPs (in four subjects - eight eyes). These observations suggest that the magnocellular system/dorsal stream of the visual pathway (which is particularly activated in response to motion stimuli) may be more frequently affected in preterm children than the parvocellular system/ventral stream (tested mostly by the standard pattern-reversal VEPs). This pilot study may encourage further testing of the combined pattern and motion-related VEPs examinations in preterm children as a way of detecting hidden cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI).

Purpose: To compare effect of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on contrast sensitivity (CS) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in high myopia. Methods: 38 myopes (PRK) and 31 patients (LASIK) were examined before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -8.0 ± 1.7D (PRK) and -9.2 ± 2.1D (LASIK). CS was tested on a computerized system of the Contrast Sensitivity 8010 Type at 6 spatial frequencies (0.74 and 29.55 c/deg), BCVA was measured on logMAR charts. Results: At 12 months postoperatively, mean spherical equivalent was -0.6 ± 1.0D (PRK) and -1.0 ± 0.8D (LASIK). Postoperative values of CS were significantly higher in the PRK group, except for spatial frequencies of 3.69 and 7.39 c/deg up to 3 months postoperatively. The initial significant decrease of BCVA lasted up to 6 months after PRK. In the LASIK group BCVA was not significantly different from its preoperative level at the 3-months follow-up. Conclusions: The significant improvement of CS after PRK suggest that PRK can improve quality of vision in eyes with high myopia. Although recovery of BCVA after LASIK was faster than after PRK, there may be a persistent decrease in CS.

The most frequent ocular findings in acute leukemia cases of children and two of our own observations are presented in this study. Emphasized are all difficulties in fixing the diagnosis and the necessity of close cooperation between ophthalmologist, pediatrist and radiologist to prevent the irreversible ocular changes.

Summary:The authors evalute the visual functions of patients with unilateral central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and compare them with their non-affected eye and with a control group. Fourteen patients with CSC treated with direct laserphotocoagulation were examined preoperatively and followed-up, up to 2 years postoperatively. Baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) of both eyes of patients was significantly lower in comparison with the controls. BCVA and CS in affected eyes were significantly lower compared to the fellow eye of patients. The final BCVA and CS of patients did not differ significantly from the controls, except CS of affected eyes in the spatial frequency of 3.69 c/deg. Two years after laser treatment, there were only nonsignificant differences of both photopic full-field electroretinography (phERG) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) responses between the treated, the nonaffected eye of the patients and the control group with exception of a significantly longer P1 implicit time in the parafoveolar region in affected eyes. Colour discrimination was normal in 85.8% of affected eyes of the patients. Despite a significant improvement of macular function in CSC eyes, functional examination methods do not prove complete resolution of function 2 years after laser-treatment.