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Show Journal of Clinical Neuro-ophthalmology 8(21: 137-141, 1988. Literature Abstracts Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy; VII. Incidence of Bilaterality and Various Influencing Factors. Beri M, Klugman MR, Kohler JA, Hayreh 55. Ophthalmology 1987;94:1020-8 (August). [Reprint requests to Dr. S. S, Hayreh, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.] This prospective study of 438 patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) (50 arteritic, 388 nonarteritic) was undertaken starting in 1974 "to estimate the incidence rate of involvement of the second eye by AION and determine risk factors of the condition with non-arteritic AION." Patients are analyzed in age groups for incidence of diabetes, hypertension, or both, and what seem to be valid conclusions are reached regarding a higher incidence of second eye involvement in young men with diabetes. The authors note a higher percentage of hypertension and diabetes in all age groups with first eye anterior ischemic optic neuropathy than in the general population, but note that only a prospective study can give information about any cause-effect relationship between these diseases and the initial development of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. This seems to be a carefully conceived and executed, statistically significant study, according to its stated objective; however, it is frustrating to read it once and then twice and still not be able to discern the actual number of patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy who developed bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, which can probably be done but must be translated via examining "cumulative incidence" rates only. Lyn A. Sedwick, M.D. Deficits in Visual Function after Resolution of Optic Neuritis. Fleishman JA, Beck RW, Linares 0, Klein JW. Ophthalmology 1987;94:1029-35 (August). [Reprint request to Dr. Roy Beck, Department of Ophthalmology, University of South /37 © 1988 Raven Press, Ltd., New York Florida College of Medicine, 12901 N, 30th Street, Tampa, FL 33612.] The authors state, "the current study was devised to systematically evaluate multiple parameters of visual function in patients whose visual recovery would have been classified as excellent based on return of acuity to normal or near-normal after resolution of optic neuritis." Thirty-five eyes from 27 patients were studied, all of which recovered at least 20/30 Snellen acuity. Color vision, contrast sensitivity, perimetry, stereo acuity, and light brightness were evaluated, with abnormalities found in from 26 to 89% of the patients, depending on the test. Eighty-five percent of patients had subjective complaints about their vision that correlated best with contrast sensitivity scores. These authors attempt to quantitate what is quite familiar to neuro-ophthalmologists, but may be forgotten by those who see these patients infrequently: "standard" assessment of visual function in an office setting does not adequately reflect the functional visual ability of an eye that has experienced optic neuritis. LYIl A. Sedwick, M.D. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and Its Relationship to Hematocrit in Giant Cell Arteritis. Jacobson OM, Slamovits II. Arch Ophtizallllol 1987;105:965-7 (July). [Reprint requests to Dr. D. M. Jacobson, Department of Neurology, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 N. Oak Avenue, Marshfield, WI 54449.] This very interesting article relates Westergren sedimentation rate and hematocrit in 24 patients who had biopsy-proven temporal arteritis. Clinical features in patients with low (0-40 mmlh), high (41-80 mm/h), and very high (80+ mmlh) sedimentation rates were similar, and ocular complications were equally distributed. The authors found an inverse relationship between hematocrit and sedimentation rate, i.e., patients with low sedi- |