Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P E Grala.
This paper reports the case of a 27-year-old obese female who presented for routine eye examination with bilateral disc edema. A preliminary diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was confirmed following neurologic examination. Causative mechanisms and treatment alternatives of this syndrome, as well as differential diagnosis of the swollen disc, will be discussed.
X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) is an inherited dermatological disorder which is characterized by dryness of the skin and thick scaling of the trunk and extremities. Nearly all cases demonstrate a specific corneal dystrophy which appears as a thin, gray-white, "frosted" layer deep in the stroma. Since other forms of ichthyosis present with similar cutaneous features causing confusion in the dermatological assessment, optometric identification of corneal changes in suspected individuals allows for definitive diagnosis. In addition, most female carriers of XLI present with corneal opacities of the same nature, although these are generally less prominent. Early detection of these corneal variations in mildly symptomatic females, and especially in sisters of affected males, can be the initial step toward identification of carriers of the trait.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Myotonic dystrophy is a unique form of muscular dystrophy which is associated with a variety of ocular manifestations. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these is the distinctive myotonic cataract which often appears early on in the course of the disorder. In this report, a seemingly healthy young man who presented for routine visual examination was found to have specific lenticular changes suggestive of myotonic dystrophy. Other signs of this condition, including the myotonic facies, restrictions of ocular motility, and the myotonic handshake, were not readily apparent. Although visual acuity was not dramatically impaired, the unusual nature of the lens opacities, and in particular the presence of brilliant polychromatic particles, called for a neurologic consultation which promptly confirmed the diagnosis.
With proper spectacle correction, the healthy human eye is capable of seeing 20/20. Common causes of reduced vision, such as cataracts and macular degeneration, are easily detected during routine examination. In many cases, however, patients present with reduced vision for which no obvious etiology is immediately apparent. This paper deals with the most common of such presentations. Entities to be discussed include amblyopia, hysteria/malingering, monofixation syndrome, partial albinism, subtle macula disease, and occult optic nerve disease.