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Objectives: Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) is a multisystem disorder caused by the deletion of contiguous genes on chromosome 7q11.23. Ophthalmologic abnormalities and deficits in visual motor integration are important features of WBS. Here we describe our experience with Brazilian WBS patients and their ophthalmologic features.Methods: Sixteen patients with confirmed WBS went through thorough ophthalmologic examination.Results: The most frequent ocular findings in our group of patients were stellate iris pattern (81.2%), hyperopic astigmatism (50%), hyperopia (37.5%), tortuosity of retinal vessel (37.5%) and strabismus (18.7%).Conclusions: This is the second report of ophthalmologic abnormalities in a group of Brazilian individuals with WBS. It is extremely valuable that specific populations are studied so that clinical diagnosis can be refined and management of patients can be driven to the most common presentations of the disease.

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is a rare inherited disorder affecting the development of the face, eyes, teeth, and limbs. The majority of cases of ODDD are inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. There are few reports of probable autosomal recessive transmission. Affected patients exhibit a distinctive physiognomy with a narrow nose, hypoplastic alae nasi, and anteverted nostrils, bilateral microphthalmos, and microcornea. Sometimes iris anomalies and secondary glaucoma are present. There are malformations of the distal extremities such as syndactyly. In addition, there are defects in the dental enamel with hypoplasia and yellow discoloration of the teeth. Less common features include hypotrichosis, intracranial calcifications, and conductive deafness secondary to recurrent otitis media. We describe three brothers with ODDD. Their parents are first cousins and present no features of ODDD. These data are in favor of autosomal recessive inheritance and suggest genetic heterogeneity for this entity.

Vitreous cyst is a rare condition of the posterior segment of the eye. It can occur in eyes with coexistent ocular diseases or in eyes that are otherwise normal. This study reports a case of vitreous cyst in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa and presents its clinical and ultrasonographic features.

OBJETIVO: Realizar análise epidemiológica de pacientes com retinose pigmentar (RP), caracterizando aspectos clínicos da doença e o padrão de herança encontrado em nosso meio, de acordo com a presença ou não de síndrome de Usher. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 155 pacientes com RP, tendo sido a amostra dividida em 2 grupos: grupo 1 (n=130), com pacientes diagnosticados com RP clássica, sem associação com alterações sistêmicas; e grupo 2 (n=25), com pacientes diagnosticados com Síndrome de Usher (USH). Foram caracterizados aspectos clínicos da doença (sexo, idade, sintomas oculares, acuidade visual, alterações do segmento anterior e posterior e alterações em exames complementares) e o padrão de herança encontrado. Os dados foram obtidos através de anamnese, exame oftalmológico completo e exames subsidiários (campo visual manual, eletrorretinograma, retinografia simples e fluorescente), no período de fevereiro de 2003 a dezembro de 2009. Foi utilizado o programa SPSS versão 13.0 para análise dos dados estatísticos. RESULTADOS: A herança autossômica recessiva foi a forma mais comumente encontrada (76,2% no grupo 1), mas em proporção maior do que a de outros trabalhos da literatura. Um menor número de casos com padrão recessivo ligado ao X (1,5%) também foi notado no grupo 1. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as características clínicas entre os dois grupos. CONCLUSÃO: O padrão de herança encontrado nos pacientes com RP clássica foi similar ao encontrado em outros trabalhos. As características clínicas foram semelhantes nos dois grupos estudados. OBJECTIVE: To make an epidemiological analysis of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), characterizing clinical aspects of the disease and the pattern of inheritance found in the population studied, according to the presence or not of Usher Syndrome. METHODS: 155 patients with RP were studied and the sample was divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 130) with patients diagnosed with classical RP not associated with systemic symptoms; and group 2 (n = 25) with patients diagnosed with Usher syndrome (USH). We characterized clinical aspects of the disease (sex, age, ocular symptoms, visual acuity and anterior and posterior segment changes) and the pattern of inheritance. Data were obtained through medical history, complete ophthalmic examination and complementary exams (manual visual field, electroretinogram, retinography and fluorescent angiography) for the period of February 2003 to December 2009. We used SPSS version 13.0 for statistical data analysis. RESULTS: The autosomal recessive inheritance was the most commonly found (76.2% in group 1), but in greater proportion than that of other studies. A smaller number of cases with X-linked recessive pattern (1.5%) was also noted in group 1. There was no statistically significant difference between the clinical characteristics of the two groups. CONCLUSION: The pattern of inheritance found in patients with classical RP was similar to that found in other studies. Clinical characteristics were similar in both groups.

Background: Williams-Beuren syndrome is a multisystemic genetic disorder caused by a contiguous gene deletion at 7q11.23. Keratoconus is a complex disease and it is suspected to have a genetic origin, although the specific gene responsible for keratoconus has not been identified. Although there are several ocular features in Williams-Beuren syndrome, keratoconus is not regularly described as part of this syndrome.Purpose: To report a new patient with keratoconus and Williams-Beuren syndrome.Discussion: This is the third case of an association between Williams-Beuren syndrome and keratoconus. The authors believe that the Williams-Beuren syndrome chromosome region can be a possible target for further investigation as the genetic basis of keratoconus.

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited degenerative disease of photoreceptors leading to blindness. A well-characterized model for this disease is provided by the retinal degeneration mouse, in which the gene for the rod cGMP phosphodiesterase is mutated, as in some affected human families. We report that D-cis-diltiazem, a calcium-channel blocker that also acts at light-sensitive cGMP-gated channels, rescued photoreceptors and preserved visual function in the retinal degeneration mouse. The long record of diltiazem prescription in cardiology should facilitate the design of clinical trials for some forms of retinitis pigmentosa.

To determine whether with-the-rule (WTR) or against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism gives a better visual outcome after cataract and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation surgery by comparing the uncorrected distance and near visual acuities in eyes with low, simple, myopic residual astigmatism.S. Geraldo Eye Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.Two groups of 10 eyes each, one with WTR and the other with ATR simple, myopic astigmatism, were studied after uneventful cataract and IOL implantation surgery. All patients had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The negative cylinder ranged from 1.00 to 1.50 diopters (D). The uncorrected distance and near visual acuities of the two groups were compared.There was no statistically significant between-group difference in uncorrected distance visual acuity. However, for uncorrected near, the difference between groups was highly statistically significant (P.001). Patients with ATR astigmatism had much better uncorrected near acuity than those with WTR astigmatism.In pseudophakia, low, simple, ATR myopic astigmatism is better than WTR astigmatism because it provides superior uncorrected near visual acuity.

Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa is a rare disease characterized by loss of photoreceptors and retinal pigment deposition without affecting the contralateral eye. Although described more than one hundred years its existence is still questioned. This article reports a case of a patient with abnormalities suggestive of unilateral retinitis pigmentosa. The clinical and complementary examinations are discussed.