Abstracts of the ophthalmic literature.

s of the Ophthalmic Literature Compiled by: Jacqueline Shimko, C.O. Cindy Pritchard, C.O. Candace Springer, C.O. Colleen Gallagher, C.O. Katherine Fray, C.O. Kyle Arnoldi, C.O. Wanda McFarlane, C.O. Ingrid Rocha-Gamba, C.O. Racquel Beneish, C.O. ABROMS AD, MOHNEY BG, RUSH DP, PARTKS MM, TONG PY: Timely surgery in intermittent and constant exotropia for superior sensory outcome: Am J Ophthalmol 2001; 131:111–116. The authors presented the results of a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 76 patients with intermittent or constant exotropia to determine if the timing of surgical management affects postoperative sensory results. Bi-fixation on the Titmus stereoacuity test was considered a successful sensory outcome, while monofixation was considered a sensory failure. The average age at surgery was 9.3 11.9 years. The mean follow-up was 5.9 5.5 years following surgery. Results showed those patients with a history of strabismus of less than 5 years had a significantly lower frequency of monofixation. Surgical correction at less than 7 years of age was also significantly associated with bi-fixation. Postoperative bi-fixation was overwhelmingly more common in patients with a history of intermittent exotropia, than in constant exotropia. The authors concluded that superior sensory outcome is more likely following “early” surgery. Delaying surgical intervention in order to prevent monofixation may actually increase its probability of occurring postoperatively. 2002 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, American Orthoptic Journal, Volume 52, 2002, ISSN 0065-955X 126 Patrick Tong, MD, PhD, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Room 3-109A, Jefferson Street Building, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287. fax: (410)502-7464; e-mail: [email protected]. ACHESON JF, CASSIDY L, GRUNFELD EA, SHALLO-HOFFMAN JA, BRONSTEIN AM: Elevated visual motion detection thresholds in adults with acquired ophthalmoplegia. Brit J Ophthalmol 2001; 85:1447–1449. The authors wanted to test the hypothesis that patients with acquired, chronic, bilateral ophthalmoplegia have abnormal retinal image slippage during head movements that would result in abnormal thresholds for visual perception of motion. Five patients with ophthalmoplegia were included in the study. The etiology of ophthalmoplegia was myasthenia gravis (n 2), chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (n 2), and chronic idiopathic orbital inflammation (n 1). Visual motion detection thresholds were assessed using horizontal and vertical gratings (spatial frequency) set at thresholds for visibility. The grating was then accelerated at 0.09 deg/s2. The subject’s task was to detect the drift direction of the stimulus. They