Purpose Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a multifactorial optic neuropathy with a strong hereditary component. Recent studies suggested a role for tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) in the pathogenesis of POAG. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a hypothesized association between the TNF-a À308G4A and À238G4A gene polymorphisms and the presence of POAG in a Caucasian population. Methods The present case-control study comprised 114 unrelated patients with POAG and 228 healthy control subjects, matched for age and gender. Genotyping of the TNF-a À308G4A and À238G4A polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction. Results Allelic frequencies and genotype distributions of both the TNF-a À308G4A and À238G4A gene polymorphisms did not significantly differ between patients with POAG and control subjects. Presence of the TNF-a À308A-allele was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.96 for POAG, whereas an OR of 0.52 was found among carriers of the TNF-a À238A-allele. Conclusion Our data suggest that none of the investigated TNF-a gene polymorphisms is a major risk factor among Caucasian patients with POAG.

Since the eye lacks lymphatic vessels, uveal melanomas primarily metastasize hematogenously. Here we report the case of a patient with ciliary body ring melanoma who developed lymph node metastases after a fistulating glaucoma operation. A 40-year-old female Caucasian patient presented with unilateral pigment dispersion. Pigment dispersion glaucoma was diagnosed and since the intraocular pressure could not be managed with topical medication, transscleral cyclophotocoagulation and two trabeculectomies had to be performed. Due to enlargement of the pigmented iris mass and cell deposits in the chamber angle, a ciliary body ring melanoma was presumed and the eye enucleated. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of "ciliary body ring melanoma". Six months after enucleation the patient presented multiple metastases including ipsilateral preauricular and submandibular lymph node metastases. The patient died two months later. Lymph node metastases arising from ciliary body melanomas are very rare. Tumor seeding through the trabeculectomy site into the bleb and then via conjunctival lymphatic vessels might be the crucial factor for this pathway of metastases. Therefore, in cases of unilateral pigment dispersion, malignancy should be excluded before fistulating operations are performed.

Lamellar corneal dissection in opaque corneas before cataract extraction is a useful technique for enhancing anterior chamber view in cases of triple procedure.

Although intracranial NMCs need histological confirmation for diagnosis, neuroimaging might contribute to the preoperative diagnosis and management strategy of treatment. We report the first intraconal NMC, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraorbital tumors.

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