As trypan blue is a potentially carcinogenic vital dye and its possible long-term side effects are unknown, the lowest effective concentration should be used. A concentration lower than 0.1% was effective in staining the anterior capsule even under dispersive viscoelastic material.

Background: Genetic factors and oxidative damage have been shown to have a role in the development of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Aim: To determine the effects of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S transferase (GST)M1 and GSTT1 on the risk of POAG in a Turkish population. Methods: Using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were analysed in 144 patients with POAG and in 121 otherwise healthy controls of similar age. Results: The GSTM1 positive genotype and the GSTT1 null genotype had an increased risk of developing POAG (p,0.001, OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.66 to 5.20 and OR 4.25, 95% CI 2.30 to 7.80, respectively). The risk of glaucoma also increased significantly in subjects with a combination of GSTM1 positive and GSTT1 null genotypes (p,0.001, OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.64 to 7.38). Conclusion: The GSTM1 positive genotype and GSTT1 null genotype or the combination of both may be associated with the increased risk of development of POAG in the Turkish population.

When supervised and in selected patients, residents who have no retrobulbar or peribulbar anesthesia experience can safely perform phacoemulsification using topical anesthesia.

No abstract

In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) on risk of developing different subtypes of age-related cataract in the Turkish population. Using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were analyzed in 195 patients with age-related cataract (75 patients with cortical, 53 with nuclear, 37 with posterior subcapsular, and 30 with mixed type) and in 136 patients of an otherwise healthy control group of similar age. GSTM1 null genotype had a significant association with the development of cataract in female subjects (p < 0.0029; OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.41-6.34). This relationship in female subjects was only in nuclear and mixed types cataract cases (p < 0.002; OR, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.67-12.78 and p < 0.03, respectively). There was also a statistically significant association between the combination of GSTM1-null and GSTT1-positive genotypes and the risk of cataract development in female subjects (p = 0.01; OR = 2.87; 95% CI = 1.25-6.69). Stratification by the subtypes revealed that this association was only in nuclear type cataract (p = 0.001; OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.34-11.71). GSTM1-null genotype or combination of the GSTM1-null and GSTT1-positive genotypes in females may be associated with increased risk of cataract development in the Turkish population.

The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) and sodium valproate (SV) monotherapy on visual evoked potentials (VEP) were studied in 18 epileptic children receiving CBZ and nine epileptic children receiving SV. Pattern reversal VEP were determined before the administration of antiepileptic drugs (AED) and 1 year later during which time the patients had received AED. The VEP amplitude showed no consistent changes after 1 year of CBZ and SV therapy, but VEP P‐100 latencies were significantly prolonged after 1 year of CBZ therapy. We conclude that CBZ causes a slowing down of central impulse conduction and that VEP is useful to evaluate the effects of AED within the central nervous system.

Fungal keratitis may occur after viscocanalostomy, but prompt diagnosis and treatment can preserve the eye.

We desribe a technique for managing cataracts in eyes with zonular weakness. The technique is a combination of microhook iris retractors to fixate the capsulorhexis, a capsular tension ring, and intraocular lens optic capture. Results of this technique in 70 eyes after a 13-month mean follow-up are reported.