PURPOSE To compare the efficacy, safety, and local tolerance between carbomer-based artificial tears, cellulose-, and mineral oil-based artificial tears. METHODS A randomized, open-label, parallel-group comparative 28-day study was designed for 67 patients who were randomized into three treatment groups. Measurements included the scoring of total subjective symptoms and objective signs, Schir...

this study compared tear function tests and cytologic changes on the conjunctival surface in asymptomatic patients wearing contact lens of different materials. included in this study were 40 eyes wearing daily wear 4 week replacement hydrogel (h) lenses, 32 eyes wearing silicone hydrogel (sih) lenses, 18 eyes wearing rigid gas-permeable (rgp) lenses, and 21 healthy eyes (no lenses) as the contr...

PURPOSE To investigate the changes in tear secretion and tear film stability after excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for high myopia. METHODS One eye of 28 patients underwent unilateral LASIK for the correction of myopia with spherical equivalent refractions ranging from -6.37 to -18.25 D (mean, -11.98 +/- 3.45 D). Schirmer tear test values without anesthesia at 5 minutes and tear ...

In this rapid and specific micro-scale electrochemical enzymic assay for cholesterol and cholesterol esters, 10 microL of standard or sample is injected directly into a heated (50 degrees C) thermostated, oxystated cuvet containing pH 7.25 buffer, cholesterol oxidase (EC 1.1.3.6), and cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13). The cholesterol esters are hydrolyzed by the esterase, and the cholesterol ...

PURPOSE To evaluate the tear film characteristics of spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage patients by Schirmer test I and tear interferometry. METHODS Forty-six spontaneous subconjunctival hemorrhage patients and 46 controls were enrolled in the study. Schirmer test I and tear interferometry were performed in all 92 subjects. The results obtained were compared between the two groups. RESU...

The Langmuir technique has been applied to the study of natural tears and the results obtained from surface pressure-area isotherms have been correlated with those of clinical tests (the Schirmer and the TFBUT tests). The population studied only included people aged over 45. Natural tears were collected from Schirmer strips, which were placed in contact with the water subphase of a Langmuir tro...

“How much does one minute of OR time cost?” is a question often asked in the operating room (OR) suite. We hear this question during cases that seem to be taking longer than they should, or when a missing piece of equipment delays the next step of the surgery. This question also arises if there is a last-minute cancellation that leaves the OR unexpectedly idle until another case can be assigned...

(Fam Med 2003;35(6):391-3.) Editor’s Note: The “One-minute Preceptor” is a widely accepted teaching model that summarizes important tasks or “microskills.” In this month’s column, Jon Neher, MD, and Nancy Stevens, MD, MPH, explain the five microskills in the model and give specific suggestions on how office-based teachers can use them in their interactions with learners. I welcome your comments...

One of the great triumphs in the history of numerical methods was the discovery of the Conjugate Gradient (CG) algorithm. It could solve a symmetric positive-definite system of linear equations of dimension N in exactly N steps. As many practical problems at that time belonged to this category, CG algorithm became rapidly popular. It remains popular even today due to its immense computational p...