The different effects of fe(II)- and fe(III)-ions on the hyaluronic acid of the vitreous body (author's transl)]

Fe(II)-ions reduce the viscosity of a hyaluronic acid solution but do not form a precipitate. Fe(III)-ions only slightly lower the viscosity of hyaluronic acid solutions but cause a brown, water-insoluble iron-hyaluronic acid precipitate. After adding ascorbic acid--concentrate the pH-value as in vitreous body--to the reaction solution, Fe(III)-ions reduce the viscosity too. The iron-hyalurnic acid complex is also destroyed by ascorbate. Therefore, the ascorbate of the vitreous humor plays an important role in the generation of siderosis bulbi.     

Ophthalmologic findings in mucolipidosis III (pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy)

Of eight patients with mucolipidosis III, hyperopic astigmatism, and corneal clouding, five had retinal and optic nerve abnormalities. Two patients had surface wrinkling maculopathy, four patients had various degrees of optic nerve head swelling, and two patients had retinal vascular tortuosity. Electrophysiologic studies of the retina gave normal results in the four patients tested. Visual field defects were present in three of the four patients examined. Color vision was normal in three of the patients. Visual acuity remained unchanged in the seven patients clinically followed from one to 11 years (average, six years).     

Atypical clinical presentation of oculomotor (III) nerve palsy

The atypical clinical presentations of three patients with an oculomotor (III) nerve palsy are outlined. The first patient is a 49-year-old with a painful, pupil-sparing ophthalmoplegia of sudden onset due to a pituitary adenoma which had eroded into the cavernous sinus. The second patient is a 7-year-old with a traumatic III nerve palsy who despite full recovery of her oculomotility, has been symptomatic due to a permanent internal ophthalmoplegia. The third patient is an 8-year-old who has undergone prolonged optometric therapy for an "atypical esotropia," but in fact has a congenital III nerve palsy with oculomotor synkinesis and deep amblyopia.