Purpose Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease that often affects ocular structures. The definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis requires tissue biopsy for confirmation. Conjunctival biopsy is a simple and relatively inexpensive diagnostic tool. This study was undertaken to determine the utility and cost of conjunctival biopsy for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis compared with other diagnostic biopsy sites. Pulmonary involvement is the most common clinical manifestation of the disease. Transbronchial and mediastinal biopsy can be used to establish the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by directing the biopsy to clinically involved tissue. Bronchoalveolar lavage can contribute data supportive of sarcoidosis without a specific tissue diagnosis.2Involvement of the eye in sarcoidosis is common?--<> The most common ophthalmological manifestation is anterior segment granulomatous infiltration. Conjunctival biopsy has been described in the literature since the 1950s, with controversy surrounding the utility of performing a 'blind' biopsy?-12 This study was performed to compare the costs of conjunctival biopsy with biopsy of other tissue sites in patients eventually confirmed as having systemic sarcoidosis. Patients and methodsA retrospective chart review was performed for all patients who had conjunctival biopsy performed at the Mayo Clinic between 1982 and 1995 with the suspected clinical diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Forty-one patients undergOing conjunctival biopsy were diagnosed with sarcoidosis on the basis of a positive tissue biopsy at any site.Each conjunctival biopsy was performed following a complete ophthalmological evaluation. The biopsy sample size averaged 5 X 3 X 2 mm and was directed towards a suspicious lesion, if any (Table 1). Topical anaesthetic and subconjunctival infiltration of local anaesthetic into the inferior palpebral conjunctiva was employed. The lower lid was retracted and a strip of the ballooned conjunctiva was excised using Westcott scissors. Local pressure and irrigation with Dacriose solution provided adequate haemostasis. Topical antibiotic was then placed in the inferior fornix. There were no complications or morbidity associated with the procedure.Eye (1998) 12, 959-962

Ion-assisted deposition has been used to deposit lanthanum fluoride thin films with near-unity film packing densities and no significant increase in absorption. Rutherford backscattering analysis has determined the effect of ion bombardment on the film stoichiometries including the degree of fluorine deficiency. Oxygen atoms or compounds appear to occupy most of the available anion vacancies if sufficient oxygen is available in the ion beam or the residual atmosphere.

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