Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy Non Arteritic/NA-AION

Ischaemic optic neuropathy (ION) is the commonest adult optic nerve disorder encountered worldwide and can be expected to increase in incidence in our ageing population. In a recent review of 121 cases the mean age was 61 years. The condition has been classified as a) anterior (AION) affecting the optic nerve head and b) posterior (PION) involving that portion of the optic nerve behind its immediate retrolaminar portion.

Impact of Amblyopia Treatment on Vision-Related Quality Of Life

Treatment of amblyopia during childhood can have both positive and negative impacts in later life. The treatment of amblyopia could influence Vision-related Quality of Life in adults and children, particularly social relationships and emotions. For example, children with a history of occlusion were 35% to 37% more likely than children without visual defects to have suffered from verbal or physical bullying at school. Many parents associate occlusion treatment with a decrease in children’s self-confidence because of poor vision during occlusion and report greater distress and more conflict at home.

Koklanis et al. conducted a study in Australia on the psychosocial impact of amblyopia and its treatment from both the children (aged 3 to 15 years) and parents’ perspectives. The investigators performed a semi-structured interview with both children with amblyopia and their parents. In addition, parents were asked to complete a psychological inventory, the Behaviour Assessment System for Children. The study showed that dealing with stigma and the perceptions and responses of peers were found to be of central significance in amblyopia therapy and that stigma and the perceptions of peers had adverse consequences for some children’s identity and psychosocial well being.

Refractive Errors among Administrative Staff of Senior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis

Refractive error is a condition in which the eye in its relaxed state is unable to sharply see images due to failure of the optical system to bring parallel rays of light reflected off objects) of regard to a sharp focus on the retina. As a result, there is relatively poor vision as images of objects are seen to be blurred. There are different types of refractive errors and they include hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism, with overlapping forms. Myopia and hyperopia are said to occur when the optical system of the eye brings parallel rays of light into focus in front and at the back of the fovea, respectively. Astigmatism on the other hand occurs when rays of light from different planes do not come to the same point on the fovea.

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Moving Toward Consensus Terminology in Ophthalmic Practice

The dual purposes of this review are to point out inherent problems in communication due to lack of consensus terminology, and to review preferred ophthalmic terms or to suggest others in order to improve eye care. With advances in informatics and the ongoing evolution of modern health care delivery, a common lexicon will also improve basic research and clinical outcomes. It is hoped that this paper will raise awareness of these issues and open profession-wide discussion with the ultimate goal of improving medical communication for ophthalmic patient care.

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Stereoscopic Memory When Stimuli No Longer Persist: Void and Binocular Intervals in Alternating Monocular Presentations

It was early realized by Exner in 1875 that stereopsis could occur when both eyes together receive the two images of a stereo pair one after the other. Stereopsis occurs even when a void interval is inserted between the presentations of each image.

For instance, Ogle found that stereopsis occurred when two 18 ms presentations were separated by a void interval of 100 ms. Stereopsis has also been studied with protocols in which the two images of a stereo pair were presented cyclically, in alternation to the two eyes. Guilloz - who was motivated by a practical interest in 3d X-ray radioscopy - produced cyclical presentations to the two eyes using a disk rotating in front of a stereoscope lenses. He also described how natural scenes are perceived through his apparatus.

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Sports-Related Concussion: The Eyes Have It

Concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) owing to structural, metabolic and functional changes involving white mater tracts of the central nervous system in the absence of macroscopic findings. Sports-related concussion is a rapidly evolving condition stimulating interest among lay and scientific communities. 

Recent studies have shown a high rate of under reporting of concussion signs and symptoms by athletes and side line personnel. Accordingly, reliable and validated testing strategies are necessary to insure timely detection and removal from play for individuals suspected of concussion. Vision and visual motor problems are commonly reported among athletes following concussion. This is to be expected as it is estimated that approximately 50% of the brain is devoted to vision and visual motor processing. As such, testing of vision and ocular motility function are critical to the evaluation of a concussed individual.

Paediatric Aphakic Glaucoma: A Diagnostic and Management Challenge

Pediatric aphakic glaucoma is a potentially blinding condition, which poses significant management challenges - the patient is young and treatment must aim to preserve vision for perhaps 80 years or more of life expectancy. The purpose of this study is to highlight that early detection is important to improve the prognosis for these patients and their families. Misdiagnosis of this condition may adversely affect vision preservation. 

However, diagnosis can be difficult, especially when children may demonstrate vague symptoms such as irritability, photophobia and epiphora which themselves may further impair clinical co-operation. Despite considerable advances in techniques employed in paediatric cataract surgery, aphakic glaucoma continues to occur and remains notoriously challenging to manage. We present a case of glaucoma after cataract surgery that masqueraded as corneal infection which was challenging to diagnose and treat. Prompt recognition of pediatric aphakic glaucoma and intraocular pressure (IOP) control has resulted in a favorable clinical outcome, thus far.