The beveled scleral incision showed benefit in performing IVTs. The 29- and 30-gauge needles caused less pain.

No abstract

Carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) can be classified as direct and indirect, depending on their flow rates and their etiology. Both forms can cause the same characteristic ophthalmological symptoms and signs. We analyzed these ocular characteristics and determined the prognostics factors associated with treatment outcome. Forty-seven patients with an angiographically confirmed diagnosis of CCF, a preoperative ophthalmic evaluation and at least one ophthalmic sign or symptom at the initial presentation were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were followed-up ophthalmically until the end of treatment, and the complications and the remaining ophthalmological signs and symptoms were then recorded. The patients' ages ranged from 13 to 89 years, with an average of 55.78 (±20.73) years, and a predominance of 28 female (57.8 %) patients. The patients with a direct CCF had a lower average age (p = 0.02). The most common symptoms were blurred vision in 17 (36.2 %) and proptosis in 37 (78.7 %) patients. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) was more prevalent in patients with an indirect CCF (p = 0.02). Thrill was more prevalent in patients with direct CCF (p = 0.01). The presence of an initial decrease of visual acuity at the first ophthalmic evaluation was significantly associated with the persistence of ocular symptoms after fistula treatment (odds ratio 3.33). In conclusion our study shows a slight difference in ophthalmic symptoms among patients with different types of fistula. Elevated IOP was significantly associated with indirect fistulas, whereas thrill was significantly associated with direct fistulas. The presence of an initial decrease of visual acuity was significantly associated with a worse ophthalmic prognosis.

Lidocaine gel at concentrations from 2 to 12% induced similar anesthetic effect for IVTs, without adverse effects on cornea and conjunctiva.

In this study, the authors performed the eyelid distraction test in 200 healthy individuals, bringing to the literature the new information that there is a variability of the normal test’s value regarding age and gender. Purpose: The evaluation of palpebral laxity can be performed by the distraction test (DT). Although widely used in ophthalmologic practice, there is no consensus about the results considered normal by the test. The objectives of this study are to obtain the value of DT in a group of individuals with healthy eyelids and to compare with the measurements in subjects with senile ectropion. Methods: Lower eyelid DT was performed in 200 individuals without any eyelid pathology and in 30 individuals with lower lid ectropion. The results were analyzed by age and sex in the control group and compared with the results of the ectropion group. Results: The mean value of DT in the control group was 6.96 mm, lower than in the ectropion group (9.48 mm) (p < 0.001). In the control group, the mean female DT was 6.70 mm, while the male was 7.22 mm. There were differences in the DT values in the subgroups of 20–39 and 40–59-year old according to gender, with men presenting higher measurements than women. In the other age subgroups, both genders presented similar DT values. Even when considering only individuals in the control group with the same range of age as in the ectropion group, the DT value was higher in individuals with ectropion (7.23 and 9.48 mm, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The mean DT value is 6.96 mm; however, the measurement varies according to age and sex in people without palpebral pathology. Individuals with senile eyelid ectropion present higher measurements than healthy ones.