Purpose To assess the prognostic value of a new ocular trauma score (OTS) in pediatric penetrating injuries. Methods Children r15 years of age that presented to the emergency room with penetrating eye injuries between April 2007 and August 2008 were evaluated prospectively. All patients were reviewed on the basis of age, gender, time of injury and how it happened, time of admission, time of surgery, type of penetrating injury, initial and final visual acuity (VA), and concomitant eye pathology. Injuries were classified based on a new OTS, and we assessed the relationship with final VA and the new OTS.

Aims: To investigate whether allogeneic limbal mesenchymal stem cell (LMSC) therapy affects corneal healing after a severe chemical burn and whether the route of administration of LMSCs differs in its therapeutic effect in this respect. Methods: A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats with clinically proven alkali injury were divided into four equal groups (n = 15) as follows: group 1: 2 × 10⁵ cells/drop LMSCs, topically applied 6 times a day for 2 days; group 2: 2.4 × 10⁶ cells in 0.5 ml LMSCs, subconjunctivally applied; group 3: 2.4 × 10⁶ cells in 1 ml LMSCs, intraperitoneally applied, and group 4: no LMSC treatment. The groups were compared according to grades of corneal opacity (CO), corneal neovascularization (CNV) and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS). The migration of LMSCs into the cornea and the inflammatory characteristics of the groups were evaluated with BrdU (5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine bromodeoxyuridine) immunostaining and histopathologically in a 4-week follow-up. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the LMSC-treated and control groups in each week regarding mean CO scores and in the 3rd week regarding the mean CNV and CFS scores (p < 0.05). The statistical significance was due to the differences between the topical and the control group and between the subconjunctival and the control group. BrdU+ LMSCs were seen in the corneal epithelium of the all LMSC-administered rats, and fewer inflammatory changes were observed in these rats. Conclusion: Allogeneic LMSC treatment, especially topical and subconjunctival administration, seems to be helpful in affecting corneal healing after a severe corneal burn.

Background. Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is an increasingly common type of visual disturbance in infants and children. The increased incidence is associated with improved neonatal intensive care services and survival of premature infants, especially in developed countries and our country. For accurate ophthalmological evaluation, it is important to know the behavioral responses to visual stimuli that are unique to CVI such as color preference, need for movement, visual latency, visual field preference, and difficulty in visual complexity. Methods. This review is prepared to draw attention to the subject within the scope of Ankara University Vision, Artificial Vision and Low Vision Rehabilitation training programs. Results. The most common causes are hypoxia and perinatal ischemia. Ocular structures are generally normal or are not sufficient to explain the visual impairment. Diagnosis and habilitation methods differ from visual impairment of ocular origin. As a result, early diagnosis of CVI in infants and toddlers and an effective visual habilitation with a multidisciplinary approach where ophthalmologists and pediatricians lead the team is very valuable. Conclusions. Early diagnosis and early visual habilitation will increase the quality of life of babies and will provide important gains for families and therefore the whole society. Pediatricians should be familiar with this group of disturbances and the available resources, as they are best placed to refer the child for evaluation and rehabilitation and encourage the family for follow-up.

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