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The identification of some important retinal anatomical regions is a prerequisite for the computer aided diagnosis of several retinal diseases. In this paper, we propose a new adaptive method for the automatic segmentation of the optic disk in digital color fundus images, using mathematical morphology. The proposed method has been designed to be robust under varying illumination and image acquisition conditions, common in eye fundus imaging. Our experimental results based on two publicly available eye fundus image databases are encouraging, and indicate that our approach potentially can achieve a better performance than other known methods proposed in the literature. Using the DRIVE database (which consists of 40 retinal images), our method achieves a success rate of 100% in the correct location of the optic disk, with 41.47% of mean overlap. In the DIARETDB1 database (which consists of 89 retinal images), the optic disk is correctly located in 97.75% of the images, with a mean overlap of 43.65%.

Aims To evaluate the prevalence of cataract and the possible factors associated with cataract in young type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods 293 patients were evaluated. The association of cataract with diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal laser treatment, hypertension, body mass index, peripheral neuropathy, lipid profile, glycemic control, serum creatinine and albuminuria was evaluated. Results Cataract was present in 19.8% ( n =58) of the sample. Patients with cataracts were older, had a higher frequency of history of retina photocoagulation treatment, higher serum creatinine values and higher prevalence of arterial hypertension. There was a progressive increase in cataract frequency according to the number of risk factors, starting to rise with two or more. In logistic regression model cataract was associated with mild/moderate DR (odd ratio (OR) 4.28 95% CI 1.63–11.29), severe DR (OR 4.07 95% CI 1.63–10.23) and macroalbuminuria (OR 2.34 95% CI 1.06–5.16). Conclusion These data indicate a high prevalence of cataract in subjects with type 1 DM attending a general hospital in Southern Brazil and suggest that the more severe the disease process the greater is the risk of having this diabetic complication. Cataract should be suspected in young patients with two or more risk factors.

Purpose. A case of Phialemonium curvatum wound corneal infection after phacoemulsification is reported. Methods. Case report. Results. The marked aggressiveness of this fungus is demonstrated by the absence of therapeutic response to both medical and surgical treatment. Conclusions. The poor outcome resulted in evisceration of the affected eye.

KID syndrome is a congenital ectodermal dysplasia characterized by the association of keratitis, hyperkeratotic skin lesions and neurosensorial hearing loss. Ocular involvement occurs in 95% of patients. Although KID syndrome cutaneous manifestations have been studied in-depth, the treatment and prognosis of ophthalmic impairment have not been described in detail. At present, the treatment of the ocular damage caused by the syndrome is symptomatic and there are no studies defining a treatment that could change the disease course. In this case, ophthalmologic findings of a patient with KID syndrome and the use of subconjunctival bevacizumab to treat corneal neovascularization are described. In spite of the absence of improvement in this patient and the few reports of this disease, additional studies with bevacizumab to treat corneal deep neovascularization are suggested.

To evaluate the use of fibrin glue and its complications in different ophthalmic surgeries.A retrospective and non-comparative case series study. 161 eyes were evaluated. The mean age was 51.8 years. Fibrin glue (Beriplast--Aventis Behring, Germany) was used in all patients for tissue adherence or incisional closure.Main preoperatives diseases were pterygium (76 patients), superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (4 patients), limbal tumor (4 patients), conjunctivochalasis (21 patients), bullous keratopathy (31 patients), limbal stem cell deficiency (7 patients), alkali injury (6 patients), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2 patients), cataract (5 patients) and glaucoma (5 patients). Complications occurred in 28 patients (17.4%). Detachment of the fixed tissue and granulomatous foreign body reaction were the main complications. Detachment occurred in 10 cases (5.6%) (7 in amniotic membrane transplantation in bullous keratopathy, 2 in autologous conjunctival grafting for pterygium surgery, 1 in autologous limbal transplantation in a Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Granulomatous foreign body reaction was described in 9 patients (5.6%) (5 in amniotic membrane transplantation due to acute alkali injury, 1 in autologous limbal graft due to chronic burn injury, and 3 in autologous conjunctival transplant due to pterygium surgery). All the complications described occurred in the first week after surgery.Despite the limitations related to the retrospective and non-comparative setting, this study suggests that the use of fibrin glue seems to be safe and effective for tissue fixation or incisional closure presenting low rates of complications in ocular surface and anterior segment surgeries.

To describe 9 eyes in 8 patients who received Dohlman-Doane type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro) with a mean follow-up of 11.2 months (2 to 25 months).A retrospective, non-comparative interventional case series. Previous corneal disease was alcaline burn in 4 eyes, multiple graft failure in 3 eyes, Stevens-Johnson syndrome in 1 eye and thermal injury in 1 eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was hand motions or worse in all patients. Glaucoma was present preoperatively in 3 eyes and received Ahmed valve implantation.88,9% eyes achieved BCVA of better than or equal to 20/100, and 44,4% better than or equal to 20/40. In the postoperative period, 3 eyes developed posterior capsule opacity treated with YAG laser capsulotomy; 3 retroprosthetic membrane treated with tPA injection or steroids; 2 glaucoma in clinical treatment; 1 corneal melting, treated with donor cornea bottom exchange; and 1 fungic endophthalmitis, treated with corneal transplant, anterior vitrectomy, KPro and intraocular lens explantation, and specific intravitreal and endovenous treatment.Dohlman-Doane K-Pro seems to be a good option for cases of corneal blindness with poor prognosis for traditional penetrating keratoplasty. Its main advantage is not requesting systemic immunossuppression. Best results were achieved in non-immune diseases.

To evaluate the prevalence of cataract and associated risk factors in a diabetic type 1 population.181 patients (362 eyes) were evaluated in a case-control study. Cases were classified when cataract was present at the time of the examination. The studied outcomes were the presence of diabetic retinopathy, retinal panphotocoagulation, high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, HDL, LDL, body mass index, creatinine levels, albuminuria, glycosylated hemoglobin and glycemia levels.Cataract was present in 19.9% of the studied patients. The association of the presence of cataract and diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, elevated levels of creatinine, panphotocoagulation and high blood pressure were statistically significant (univariate analysis). After the logistic regression analysis the presence of cataract was significantly associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy.The prevalence of cataract was 19.9% and the presence and severity of the diabetic retinopathy were the main risk factors for its development.

Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (cotrimoxazole) is an antibiotic combination widely used for infections treatment and prophylaxis. These and others sulfonamides have been implicated in a rare syndrome of choroidal effusion with transient myopia and angle-closure glaucoma. Previous cases reported in literature evolved to complete resolution after drug withdrawal. In contrast, we describe a rare case in which a patient developed the syndrome while taking cotrimoxazole, but did not recover visual acuity. A 49-year-old man started Pneumocystis carini prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole; four days later, the patient presented severe ocular pain, hyperemia and chemosis. Intraocular pressure reached more than 50 mmHg in both eyes a 360 degrees choroidal effusion occurred. Medication was removed soon after the diagnosis was suspected and intraocular pressure decreased in four days. Even so total cataract and phthisis bulbi occurred in both eyes two months later. This would be the first case in the literature in which the outcome was unfavorable despite early diagnosis and withdrawal of the drug.