Cutaneous eruption with or without ocular complications in patients with herpes zoster involving the trigeminal nerve

We examined 62 patients with acute herpes zoster involving the trigeminal nerve; 13 had eruptions only and 49 (51 eyes) had eruptions with ocular complications. Bilateral involvement was found in two patients. The frequency of the disease appeared to increase with age, and the disease was least active in November. Patients with eruptions only demonstrated affected areas along the first, second, and/or third divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Ocular complications occurred in patients who had eruptions along the first and/or second divisions of the nerve, and they were usually noted in patients with eruptions on the tip and one side of the node. The ocular complications and associated systemic conditions varied.     

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus complicated by hyphema and hemorrhagic glaucoma

We treated two patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus in whom hyphema and hemorrhagic glaucoma occurred. Case 1 complained of facial skin eruption, and was given intravenous acyclovir for 7 days. Hyphema and high intraocular pressure occurred in the left eye 10 days after the onset of the skin eruption. Case 2 had severe pain and blisters on her face, and was given intravenous acyclovir for 7 days. An intracameral hemorrhage and glaucoma developed in the right eye 15 days after the onset of the skin lesion. Intravenous acyclovir may be necessary for longer than 7-day periods if the iridocyclitis remains.     

Ophthalmic complications in patients with malignant tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

We examined 34 Japanese patients (16 men and 18 women) with malignant tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus was the most common tumor. During the patients' initial visits, several ophthalmic symptoms were noticed, including proptosis, epiphora, lid swelling, displacement of the globe, orbital mass, and sudden visual loss. In addition, several ocular and orbital symptoms and signs resulted from treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery and from local recurrence of the tumor. Four patients underwent orbital exenteration, and one underwent evisceration. Five eyes had no light perception.     

Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism.

A 56-year-old woman with tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism complained of gradually decreasing vision in the left eye. Her visual acuity was 20/300 in the right eye and hand motion in the left eye. She had pink skin and white hair and cilia. On examination, bilateral hypopigmented irides, an opaque lens in the left eye, a hypopigmented fundus in the right eye, and nystagmus were found. An extra-capsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed. After retrobulbar anesthesia was administered, the nystagmus ceased temporarily. Postoperatively, visual acuity in the left eye improved to 20/200. We believe IOL implantation is useful in the treatment of cataracts in albino patients.     

Serous choroidal detachment after spontaneous expulsion of episcleral exoplant

A 70-year-old man was treated with scleral buckling surgery and photocoagulation for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. One year later, serous choroidal detachment occurred after spontaneous expulsion of the episcleral exoplant. To our knowledge, this is an uncommon cause of choroidal detachment.     

Sphingomyelinase activity in the bovine and human eyes

We examined biochemically sphingomyelinase activity in the bovine and human ocular tissues, using trinitrophenylaminododecanoylsphingosylphosphorylcholine as substrate. The enzyme activity in the crude extracts of neuroretina, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and optic nerve of the bovine eyes was proportional to protein concentration. The activities in these tissues were little activated with Mg2+ at pH 5.1 but was activated with Mg2+ at pH 7.5. The enzyme activity at pH 5.1 was also detected in the iris and ciliary body, neuroretina, retinal pigment epithelium and choroid, and optic nerve of the human eyes. It was highest in the macula, compared with other areas of the human ocular fundus.     

Pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy in a 68-year-old man.

A 68-year-old man with patchy paravenous zones of retinal degeneration with bone spicule pigmentation OU was diagnosed as having pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy. We reviewed the literature and found 71 previously reported cases of this condition. Most of the affected individuals were young adults. By comparison, our patient was afflicted at a considerably older age.     

Retinal vasculitis in a mother and her son with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 associated myelopathy.

A 53-year-old woman had difficulty in walking, raised titres to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and yellowish white retinal lesions and vasculitis in the right eye. Her 20-year-old son also had difficulty in walking, raised titres to HTLV-1 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and retinal vasculitis and multiple whitish vitreoretinal spots in both eyes.     

Plasma glucose levels,postoperative complications,and progression of retinopathy in diabetic patients undergoing intraocular lens implantation

Of 220 patients (250 eyes) who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens, 36 (45 eyes) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus had no retinopathy, simple, or preproliferative retinopathy. They were divided into group A patients who underwent diet therapy or were treated with oral agents and group B patients who were given insulin therapy. The 184 patients (205 eyes) without diabetes mellitus served as control (group C). Transient elevation of intraocular pressure and cystoid macular edema were observed more frequently in diabetic patients (groups A and B). Progressive retinopathy occurred more frequently in group B than in group A patients, and it correlated with increased levels of plasma glucose. Unilateral cataract surgery was performed on 27 diabetic patients. Nine (33%) operated eyes showed progressive retinopathy, while one (4%) fellow eye worsened. It is possible that both increased levels of plasma glucose and surgical procedures may participate in the progression of retinopathy.