A 43 year old intravenous drug abuser presented to the accident and emergency department with a three week history of bilateral visual loss and frontal headaches. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral retinal cotton wool spots and haemorrhages and an ophthalmic opinion was requested. His blood pressure was subsequently found to be 210/140. A diagnosis of malignant hypertension was made and blood pressure was gradually controlled on oral antihypertensives. This case illustrates the importance of checking the blood pressure of all patients presenting with visual loss.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Assisted conception and retinopathy of prematurity.

This study was performed to assess the workload imposed by treatment for infertility on a retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening programme. We reviewed the records of all babies born between August 1991 and December 1994 as a result of treatment in the Assisted Conception Unit of this hospital, and of all babies screened for ROP over the same period. Of the babies born after assisted conception treatment, 20% fulfilled the ROP screening criteria. ROP of any stage was present in 23% of all the assisted conception babies screened. This group also accounted for a large proportion of those reaching stage 3 disease and of those requiring treatment.

England↗

PubMed1990

Prevalence of angioid streaks and other ocular complications of Paget's disease of bone.

Seventy randomly selected patients with Paget's disease of bone were examined for ocular complications. The prevalence of macular degeneration and cataract was 24.3%. Only one patient was found to have angioid streaks. Eight patients had peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy. These findings suggest that the prevalence of serious ocular complications of Paget's disease is not as high as previously thought. The significance of peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy requires further evaluation.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of lens matter dislocation during phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence and visual morbidity of lens matter dislocation during phacoemulsification and the relationship between this complication and surgical experience. SETTING: Teaching and district general hospitals. METHODS: A multiple-choice questionnaire was sent to members of the Northern and Midlands Ophthalmological Societies. They were asked about the incidence of lens matter dislocation, the visual outcome of the cases, and their surgical experience. RESULTS: Forty-seven of the 177 survey respondents (26.5%) were using phacoemulsification. The incidence of lens matter dislocation was 1.1%; 49.0% of the surgeons had experienced at least one case. The incidence increased significantly when surgeons assessed their expertise with phacoemulsification toward the expert end of the scale. Final visual acuity was worse than 6/12 in 35.0% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of lens matter dislocation with phacoemulsification is significant and related to an incorrect assessment of expertise by the surgeons. The considerable visual morbidity associated with this complication can be minimized using the management strategy discussed.

Clinical Competence↗