Selenium (Sc) is a trace element which incorporates into the selenoenzyme glutathion peroxidase. Cataractogenesis may be caused either by the excess or deficiency of this trace element. More recently, its potential of becoming a possible environmental pollutant has been emphasized. In an attempt to reveal the relationship of this element with cataractogenesis, we detected its level in 48 serum, 36 lens and 9 aqueous humour samples of 48 patients with senile cataract, comparing the results with appropriate controls. Selenium levels (mean +/- SD) of cataractous patients were found to be 0.28 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml (CI: 0.27 to 0.29 microgram/ml) in sera (controls: 0.32 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml; CI: 0.30 to 0.34 microgram/ml, p < 0.0001), 5.43 +/- 3.07 microgram/g dry weight (CI: 4.43 to 6.43 microgram/g dry weight) in lens (controls: 4.43 +/-2.53 microgram/g dry weight; CI: 2.78 to 6.08 microgram/g dry weight; p=0.374) and 0.19 +/- 0.06 microgram/ml (CI:0.15 to 0.23 microgram/ml) in aqueous humour samples (controls: 0.31 +/-0.12 microgram/ml; CI: 0.24 to 0.38 microgram/ml, p = 0.02). When patient subgroups were analyzed, serum Se levels were found to be 0.28 +/- 0.05 microgram/ml (CI: 0.26 to 0.30 microgram/ml in the nuclear cataract and 0.28 +/- 0.02 microgram/ml (CI: 0.27 to 0.30 microgram/ml) in the cortical cataract. Lens Se levels, on the other hand, were detected as 5.91 +/- 3.56 microgram/g dry weight (CI:4.49 to 7.33 microgram/g dry weight) in the nuclear cataract and 4.47 +/- 1.40 microgram/g dry weight (CI: 3.68 to 5.26 microgram/g dry weight) in the cortical cataract. It is anticipated that decreased Se in aqueous humour and sera of patients with senile cataract may reflect defective antioxidative defense systems which may lead to the formation of cataract.

A 9-year-old girl was wounded by a pencil which entered the right orbit and passed towards the left. The broken part remained inside. The diagnosis was delayed for 9 months since the history and the symptoms were misleading. The pencil, which could not be detected with plain X-rays, was demonstrated with computerized tomography (CT) and removed from the orbit successfully. The case is presented to emphasize the contribution of CT to the perforating injuries of the orbit with wooden particles. Importance of orbital foreign bodies in the differential diagnosis of proptosis in the pediatric age group is also discussed.

The current investigation was designed to determine the total serum sialic acid (TSA), lipid associated sialic acid (LASA), total protein (TP), and TSA/TP values for 16 patients with active form of Behçet's disease, 12 patients with other uveitis types (pathologic controls) and 22 normal individuals. Data analysis indicated significant differences in mean TSA, LASA and TSA/TP values in patients with Behçet's disease (95.6 +/- 15.3 mg/dl, 29.8 +/- 7.4 mg/dl and 12.9 +/- 2.1 mg/g, respectively) and in pathologic controls (75.8 +/- 8.1 mg/dl, 26.6 +/- 0.3 mg/dl and 10.0 +/- 0.9 mg/g, respectively) when compared to normal controls (59.5 +/- 7.5 mg/dl, 19.2 +/- 3.2 mg/dl and 8.2 +/- 0.9 mg/g, respectively) (p < 0.01). No significant difference was observed in mean LASA values in patients with Behçet's disease when compared to pathologic controls (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in mean TP values in patients with Behçet's disease (7.4 +/- 0.7 g/dl), normal controls (7.3 +/- 0.4 g/dl) and pathologic controls (7.5 +/- 0.6 g/dl) (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed between the patients with Behçet's disease and pathologic controls with respect to TSA, TSA/TP values (p < 0.01). The results indicated that TSA and TSA/TP is most useful for differentiating Behçet's disease from other forms of uveitis.

Orbital meningocele is the protrusion of a sac containing cerebrospinal fluid into the orbit, through a defect called cranium bifidum. Although the occipital and frontal basis of the cranial cavity constitute the two most frequent localizations, this pathology may rarely be located in the naso-orbital region. Other developmental anomalies of the eyes may accompany the anomalies of the bony orbit. The case described in the present paper had a right naso-orbital meningocele associated with bilateral fistulae of the lacrimal passages which represents a very rare condition.