A postal survey was conducted to determine the use of eye protection and incidence of ocular trauma in orthodontic practice. One-hundred-and-fifty-nine NHS orthodontic consultants and 203 specialist orthodontic practitioners were surveyed. Two-hundred-and-forty-one(66·5 per cent) replies were received. Some form of eye protection was routinely worn by 66·8 per cent of orthodontists, 64·3 per cent of patients, but only 33·6 per cent of DSAs. Eye protection was not offered to DSAs in 31·9 per cent of practices or to patients in 22·1 per cent. Forty-three per cent of orthodontists reported instances of ocular injury in their practices. The majority of these injuries (n = 104) occurred during debonding or trimming acrylic. Other incidents involved ligating materials, intra-oral polishing, and acid etching. Most injuries (83·5 per cent) were treated in the surgery without any long-term effects. The routine use of goggles or spectacles with side-pieces and plastic lenses, which conform to British Standard BS 2092, is recommended for staff and patients during all operative procedures in orthodontic practice.

Six cases are presented in which hard contact lenses have migrated into the periocular soft tissues, four into the eyelid, one into the orbit and one which spontaneously reappeared on the cornea 12 years after the patient had last worn contact lenses. Some possible mechanisms of this phenomenon and a review of the literature are presented.

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We have analysed the cost ofdisposable equipment used during cataract surgery by eight different surgeons over a six-month period in the same hospital. By comparing the costs of single-use items used by each surgeon we highlight how significant savings can be made by change of technique (without an adverse effect on surgical outcome).

Punch trabeculectomy is a rapid and effective method of controlling IOP. The complication rate is moderate and mainly transient.