The present study was based on the hypothesis that stress may contribute to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma patients. It is investigated whether IOP reactivity to a mental stressor test (MST) can be influenced by relaxation training. Twenty three patients with open-angle glaucoma were randomly assigned either to a training group (TG) or to a waiting-list control group (CG). Prior to as well as after the completion of the training all patients were exposed to the MST. IOP and heart rate as well as self-ratings of psychological strain were assessed three times: (1) at baseline, (2) after exposition to the stressor, and (3) after a 10-min relaxation phase. Results provide evidence that the MST is a valid procedure to induce psychophysiological activation and that elevated IOP levels in open-angle glaucoma patients might be provoked by stressing situations. However, participation in the relaxation training did not influence IOP stress reactivity.

PurposeTo evaluate whether additive relaxation music (RM) has an adjuvant short-term effect on physiological and psychological parameters in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.MethodsProspective, randomized clinical trial. Patients in the therapy group (TG) received a 30-minute RM via headphones, whereas members of the control group (CG) did not. Best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field testing, short- and long-term mental states, and blood levels of different stress hormones were analyzed and compared.ResultsA total of 25 (61%)/16 (39%) patients were assigned to the TG/CG. Best corrected visual acuity, daily intraocular pressure, and short-term mental state (KAB) development were significantly better in the TG in comparison to controls. Visual field testing, long-term mental well-being (profile of mood states), and adrenalin, cortisol, and endothelin-I blood levels did not differ significantly between both groups.ConclusionAdditive RM applied on a daily basis can positively impact various physiological and psychological parameters in the short term.

The first case concerns a 14-year-old girl with a brown conjunctival mass temporally in her right eye which was excised and diagnosed as active conjunctival melanotic lesion. Five years later, a malignant melanoma of the right lacrimal sac and orbit led to general metastatic spread. The second case demonstrates a conjunctival brown mass temporally in the left eye of a 3-year-old boy which enlarged over 4 years. The excision revealed a melanotic lesion which was of uncertain histological dignity. The third case occurred in a 4-year-old boy with a conjunctival glassy tumor temporally in his right eye which after excision led to controversial discussions concerning benign nevus or malignant melanoma.

In the present study, topical allopurinol was as effective as established drugs, namely steroids and acetylcysteine, in the early treatment of experimental alkali corneal burns.

Neurological complications resulting from pronounced cerebrovascular changes were observed in a 59-year-old female suffering from Grönblad-Strandberg syndrome. In addition to typical skin changes of the pseudoxanthoma elasticum and ocular alterations (exudative macular degeneration and angioid streaks) there were an unusual number of disturbed endocrinological functions. The ophthalmological findings revealed characteristic breaks in Bruch's membrane, proliferation of chorioidal vessels into the subretinal space, hyperplasia of retinal pigment epithelium and disciform macular degeneration. Postmortem examination of the brain showed multiple cerebral infarcts due to recurrent disturbances in cerebral blood supply and particularly pronounced changes in the elastica interna of many cerebral arteries. Although the observed neurological signs in our patient were not characteristic of Grönblad-Strandberg syndrome, the histopathological findings led to the assumption that the same basic mechanisms result in alterations of elastic fibres and collagen, mainly in the ocular-cerebral system.