In a prospective, randomized, masked study the effect of sodium hyaluronate (Healon) and timolol on the acute intraocular pressure rise after extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber lens were evaluated. Intraocular pressure was measured preoperatively and 3-6 h and 24 h postoperatively. When no timolol was used, a significant rise in intraocular pressure was observed at 3-6 h, whether or not Healon was aspirated. Timolol reduced the intraocular pressure rise, especially during the first 3-6 h after surgery. When timolol was not applied at the end of surgery, IOP exceeded 30 mmHg in 28% 3-6 h postoperatively, compared to only 4% when timolol was applied.

43 patients with blurred disc margins were studied by means of fluorescein fundus angiography. The differentiation between very early disc oedema and a normal disc was possible, due to an increased capillary network, some microaneurysms and the late fluorescence located in a special circular manner at disc margin. It was not possible to differentiate between optic neuritis and papilloedema, although minor differences may exist. Ischaemic optic neuropathy is a type of optic disc oedema which clearly differs from other causes of oedema when studied by fluorescein fundus angiography. The method is especially suitable in differentiating pseudopapilloedema from genuine oedema of the optic disc.

One-piece, open-loop flexible anterior chamber lens, Symflex 350B, was implanted in 90 eyes, 26 after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), and 57 after intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), and in 7 cases the operation was done as a secondary implantation. The cohort was followed 3.4-4.4 years, 68 eyes were included in the last examination. At the final examination 7 eyes (10.29%) had developed corneal oedema. 6 eyes had undergone ICCE and one eye had been secondarily implanted. In no case was vaulting or malposition of the intraocular lens (IOL) found. The decompensation appeared shortly after the operation in 2 cases, one case being a secondary implantation between 1 year and 3-4 years after implantation. All extracapsularly operated eyes showed normal corneas, but the difference was not statistically significant. Neither ovalling of the pupils, nor tissue growth over the haptic feet in the anterior chamber angle, nor the visual acuity (VA) changed significantly from the 1-year to the 3-4-years examination. The intraocular pressure (IOP), however, was statistically significantly lowered 3-4 years postoperatively.

Three siblings who had fundus flavimaculatus and two patients who had Stargardts disease were studied by means of fundus fluorescein angiography. The angiograms revealed in all cases an abolished visibility of the chorioidal circulation. New flecks are usually non-fluorescent. Later on, hyperfluorescent areas are seen at identical places both in the preretinal and retinal phases, strongly indicating a window effect of the retinal layer. The missing chorioidal flush is probably due to a blocking effect of the emitting and exciting light. Some of the retinal flecks may fade away, leaving corresponding areas of hyperfluorescence that usually persist. In some cases, however, a previous fluorescent area may become non-fluorescent. The similar angiographic picture may indicate that fundus flavimaculatus and Stargardts disease are different expressions of the same disease.

90 anterior chamber lenses, ccSymfkex 350 Bn, were implanted in a prospective study. This preliminary report shows favourable visual results and relatively non-serious complications in rather low frequency. Gonioscopy shows that the haptic of the lens is uniformly and exactly positioned in the chamber angle.