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To evaluate the characteristics of pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) in traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) compared with optic neuritis (ON), we retrospectively studied 47 patients with TON and 64 patients with unilateral ON. PVEPs elicited by the stimulation with 3 reversals/s were recorded in all patients. A PVEP could be recorded in 29.8% of the TON patients and 49.6% of the ON patients at their first visit. In the 14 patients with TON and recordable PVEPs, the mean amplitude ratio (affected/fellow eye) was 0.29 +/- 0.03 (SE) and the mean delay of the peak latency was 17.9 +/- 2.9 ms. In the 30 patients with ON and recordable PVEPs, the mean amplitude ratio was 0.48 +/- 0.04 (SE) and the mean delay of the peak latency was 23.5 +/- 2.5 ms. The amplitude ratio was significantly lower in patients with TON than in those with ON., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

We report a case of Kearns-Shy syndrome in a 44-year-old woman. She complained of bilateral ptosis, exotropia and gait disturbance. Diffuse chorioretinal degeneration and numerous punctate whitish spots were observed in both fundi. Eye movements were severely disturbed. An electroretinogram was almost nonrecordable, while visually evoked cortical potentials to pattern stimulation were normal. The dark adaptation curve showed an elevation of rod threshold. Besides such ophthalmological findings, muscle weakness, extinguished tendon reflex and healing difficulty were observed. Blood lactate, pyruvic acid and serum creatinine kinase were at high levels. A muscle biopsy showed ragged-red fibers and partial deficiency of cytochrome c oxidase. The patient is being treated with coenzyme Q, and we are now following up the therapeutic effects of this treatment.

We performed an epidemiological study to identify risk factors of cataract based on 2,243 subjects who underwent a general health checkup. Each subject underwent a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test and blood chemistry analysis. The prevalence rate of cataract was higher in diabetic subjects in their 50s than in nondiabetics in the same age range (p less than 0.01). The incidence of vesicular and radial lens opacity was higher in diabetics than in nondiabetics (p less than 0.05).