In patients affected by clinically definite MS without history of optic neuritis and no visual symptoms, there is a large prevalence of visual pathway involvement that can be diagnosed only by performing multiple tests. The comparison of the tests is also useful to detect the presence of multiple lesions in the same patient.

Coenzyme Q10 associated with vitamin E administration in OAG shows a beneficial effect on the inner retinal function (PERG improvement) with consequent enhancement of the visual cortical responses (VEP improvement).

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To compare the intermediate-term efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Mitomycin C (MMC) as adjunctive antimetabolites in neovascular glaucoma (NVG) filtration surgery. Methods: Forty consecutive eyes of 40 patients with NVG refractory to medical therapy were randomized to receive antimetabolite-augmented trabeculectomy. Eighteen eyes received postoperative 5-FU (5-FU group) and 22 eyes received intraoperative, low-dose (0.2 mg ⁄ ml) MMC for 2 mins (MMC group). The main outcome measure was intraocular pressure (IOP). Surgical success was defined as IOP < 21 mmHg with topical treatment (qualified success) or without topical treatment (complete success). Surgical failure was defined as IOP ‡ 21 mmHg, despite postoperative topical treatment, and by postoperative blindness. Results: The mean follow-up period was 35.8 ± 22.6 months in the 5-FU group and 18.6 ± 17.2 months in the MMC group. This difference was not significant. Mean IOP decreased from 40.4 ± 10.3 mmHg to 14.7 ± 3.4 mmHg (p < 0.0001) in the 5-FU group and from 42 ± 11.3 mmHg to 22.9 ± 13.3 mmHg (p ¼ 0.0006) in the MMC group; however, the difference between the 5-FU and MMC groups was not significant at any point. The success rate in the 5-FU group was 55.5% (44.4% complete, 11.1% qualified), compared with 54.5% (9.1% complete, 45.4% qualified) in the MMC group. This difference was not significant. Conclusions: The percentage of patients who achieved postoperative IOP < 21 mmHg was similar in both groups, although a larger proportion of patients treated with MMC-augmented trabeculectomy required topical treatment in comparison with the 5-FU group.

This study suggests that topical medications that enhance outflow (e.g., bimatoprost, latanoprost, travoprost, and brimonidine) may provide, under stressful conditions such as the WDT, better IOP stabilization than medications that decrease aqueous humor inflow, such as timolol and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Aim-To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the optical versus ultrasonic measurement of anterior chamber depth (ACD) in a group of patients aVected by high myopia or hyperopia, before phakic IOL implant. Methods-18 consecutive patients (34 eyes) were enrolled in this study, and asked to undergo phakic IOL implant to correct high myopia or hyperopia. The mean age was 29.5 (SD 3.4) years, the male/female ratio was 10/8. 13 patients (24 eyes) were myopic (mean myopia −16.17 (4.39) D, range −9 to −24 D), whereas five patients (10 eyes) were hyperopic (mean hyperopia 7.4 (2.01) D, range 5.5-11 D). For each patient, ACD was evaluated comparing an optical system (Orbscan topograph system) with a standard A-scan ultrasound system. To evaluate the reliability of the two methods, the average of three optical and 10 ultrasonic consecutive measurements were considered. Statistical analysis was performed by means linear regression. Results-The average diVerence between optical and ultrasound values was 0.17 (0.1) mm (4.68% (2.52%)). There was a constant underestimation of the ACD with the optical system compared with the ultrasound measurement, more evident in the hyperopic eyes (5.20% (1.95%)) than in myopic ones (4.46% (2.72%)). The reliability of measurements, as showed by the standard deviation values, was higher in the optical system (0.03 (0.02)) than in the ultrasound (0.1 (0.05)), with a statistical diVerence (p<0.001). The linear regression analysis between optical and ultrasound measurements was 0.8992 (p<0.0001). Conclusions-The optical measurement of ACD is an accurate and reliable technique in high myopic and hyperopic eyes. It gives a small underestimation of the ACD values, but it could be preferable to the ultrasound technique, because it demonstrates more repeatability and has the advantages of a non-contact technique.

Forskolin and rutin given as oral treatment appear to contribute to a better control and a further small reduction of IOP in patients who were poorly responsive to multitherapy treatment.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To evaluate the effects of steroid treatment administered in the first days after excimer laser keratectomy (PRK) on re-epithelialization time, postoperative pain, haze and refractive outcome. Methods: A randomised, double masked trial was carried out on two groups of patients (40 patients each), who underwent PRK. Group A (steroid group) received 0.1% fluorometholone acetate whereas group B (NSAID group) received 0.5% ketorolac tromethamine until re-epithelialization was completed. Subsequently, all 80 patients received the same steroid treatment: 0.1% fluorometholone acetate for myopic corrections up to ª5 D, or dexamethasone for myopic corrections exceeding -5 D. Both drugs were tapered off over approximately 3 months. Follow-up examinations were planned at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery. Results: Re-epithelialization was completed after three days, without any significant difference between groups. A higher hyperopic shift was shown in the steroid group and a more severe regression was reported in the NSAID group (p∞0.001). Haze was significantly reduced in the steroid group (pΩ0.005), especially for myopic corrections over ª5 D (pΩ0.015). Pain was significantly reduced in the NSAID group (pΩ0.002). Conclusion: Steroid eyedrops administered in the first days after PRK did not affect re-epithelialization time. Moreover, a modulation of the inflammatory response in this period appears to reduce haze and myopic regression in high myopic patients.

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