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Development of pigment-cup eyes in the polychaete Platynereis dumerilii and evolutionary conservation of larval eyes in Bilateria.

The role of Pax6 in eye development in insects and vertebrates supports the view that their eyes evolved from simple pigment-cup ocelli present in their last common ancestors (Urbilateria). The cerebral eyes in errant polychaetes represent prototype invertebrate pigment-cup ocelli and thus resemble the presumed ancestral eyes. We have analysed expression of conserved eye specification genes in the early development of larval and adult pigment-cup eyes in Platynereis dumerilii (Polychaeta, Annelida, Lophotrochozoa). Both larval and adult eyes form in close vicinity of the optic anlagen on both sides of the developing brain ganglia. While pax6 is expressed in the larval, but not in the developing, adult eyes, expression of six1/2 from trochophora stages onwards specifically outlines the optic anlagen and thus covers both the developing larval and adult eyes. Using Platynereis rhabdomeric opsin as differentiation marker, we show that the first pair of adult eye photoreceptor cells is detected within bilateral clusters that transitorily express ath, the Platynereis atonal orthologue, thus resembling proneural sensory clusters. Our data indicate that--similar to insects, but different from the vertebrates--polychaete six1/2 expression outlines the entire visual system from early developmental stages onwards and ath-positive clusters generate the first photoreceptor cells to appear. We propose that pax6-, six1/2- and ath-positive larval eyes, as found in today's trochophora, were present already in Urbilateria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Registered eye position: short- and long-term effects of botulinum toxin injected into eye muscle.

Botulinum toxin is sometimes injected into human eye muscles as an alternative to surgery in the correction of strabismus. Within minutes of botulinum injections into ungulate eye muscles, proprioceptive discharge from muscle spindles decreases dramatically. It is only over 7-48 h, however, that surgically treated strabismus patients usually show an altered proprioceptive signal about eye position, presumably from the palisade endings attached to the global multiply innervated fibers. How quickly will botulinum toxin alter proprioceptive registration of eye position in humans? First, to examine the short-term effects, we measured open-loop pointing responses (which requires knowledge of eye position) in six strabismus patients preinjection and then over a 45 min postinjection period, and in six normal controls over the same time period. Second, to examine the long-term effects, 13 strabismus patients were tested preinjection and then daily over the next 3 weeks, and three normal controls over the same time period. We compared their open-loop pointing responses with the injected eye fixating the target to the photographically determined position of the occluded other eye (a measure of where the patient would point if eye position were determined by efference, not proprioception). There were three groups of patients: esotropes with no previous injection, exotropes with no previous injection, and exotropes with previous injection. First, all patients showed significant correction of their tropias. Second, over the short-term, there was no difference in pointing responses found between the patients and the controls (t(18) = -1.427, P = 0.1706). Third, over the long-term, however, the difference between the pointing responses and eye position information was compared among the four groups across four posttests and a significant difference found (F3,12 = 58.988, P < 0.00001). Only in patients with no previous injections was there altered proprioceptive feedback about eye position. Also, injections into the medial rectus induced a significantly greater proprioceptive response than those injected into the lateral rectus. In humans, botulinum toxin alters proprioception from eye muscles only over the long-term. We suggest that the toxin temporarily affects proprioceptive feedback from palisade endings.

Adult↗

[Diagnosis of supranuclear eye movement disorders. Part I: different types of eye movements].

The hallmark of a supranuclear eye movement disorder is a functional impairment of one or several types of different eye movements while other types of eye movements still work. All eye movement information is conveyed via the nuclei of the eye muscle nerves. However, the information for a specific type of eye movement is generated in prenuclear cortical and subcortical areas which are activated depending on the type of eye movement performed. Knowledge about the anatomy of these areas enables us to make a clinical diagnosis or to localize the pathological process to a specific area in many neurological conditions. Examination of eye movements are thus a valuable clinical tool in many neurological and neuroophthalmological diseases. The first part of this two-part contribution presents the different types of eye movements, the concept of neural integration, and prenuclear structures important for horizontal eye movement as well as the pertinent pathology. The second part will appear in the next issue and deals with the cerebral structures that are relevant for vertical eye movements including their pathology.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Sequential changes of lipid tear film after the instillation of a single drop of a new emulsion eye drop in dry eye patients.

PURPOSE: The lipid tear film stabilizes the tears by lowering the surface tension and preventing aqueous tear evaporation and may be analyzed by kinetic analysis of the tear interference images. This study investigated changes in the lipid film after application of a new emulsion-based eye drop of Refresh Endura (Allergan, Irvine, CA) in normal subjects and patients with dry eyes. DESIGN: Comparative, nonrandomized interventional study. PARTICIPANTS: Five normal subjects and 10 aqueous tear deficiency (ATD) patients with or without lipid tear deficiency were enrolled prospectively. METHODS: A complete eye examination was performed, including symptom score, tear break-up time, dye staining, and fluorescein clearance test. One eye received a single dose of emulsion eye drop (EED), whereas the other eye received nonpreserved saline as a control. Kinetic analysis of tear interference images taken by DR-1 (Kowa, Japan) was performed before and at various times after instillation of the drops. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptoms, pattern, thickness, and spread time of the tear film. RESULTS: Compared with the control, all eyes receiving EED showed rapid restructuring of the preexisting lipid film. In normal persons, restructuring resulted in a thick lipid band across the cornea and a significant increase of the lipid film thickness. For ATD patients, EED application resulted in either a scant, irregular tear film, which became covered by the lipid film, or a modified lipid film changed without forming a band or irregularities. Emulsion eye drops tended to be more comfortable in patients with more severe ATD. Kinetic analysis showed that the mean spread time improved for all patients after EED when compared with baseline or with controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Emulsion eye drop produces significant changes in the tear film of normal and dry eye patients. Further investigation with a prolonged period of treatment is warranted to establish whether EED may help improve the spread and thickness of the lipid tear film in moderate and severe dry eyes.

Adult↗

New screening methods for donor eye-bank eyes.

PURPOSE: Current methods of screening donor eyes for corneal transplantation are not always effective in excluding corneas with abnormal topography. We used the Orbscan to determine whether corneal-thickness maps could be used as a technique for donor tissue screening. METHODS: Forty eye-bank eyes were measured with the Orbscan, and a corneal-thickness map was generated. Average central pachymetry measurements from each map were compared with the thinnest midperipheral thickness reading. Two eyes from a donor who had photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and two eyes from a donor with keratoconus were then compared with the normal donor eye results. RESULTS: The average difference between the thinnest midperipheral pachymetry and the central pachymetry in the control group was 0.040 +/- 0.026 mm. The eyes from the donor with PRK showed larger disparities between the central and midperipheral thicknesses because of the thinned central cornea, with differences of 0.154 mm in the right eye and 0.106 mm in the left eye. The eyes from the donor with keratoconus had midperipheral corneas that were thinner than the center, indicating eccentric, ectatic cones. The differences in thickness between the center and midperiphery in the eyes from the donor with PRK and the donor with keratoconus differed from the control group by >2 SD. CONCLUSIONS: Diseases or surgery that affect the relationship between the central and midperipheral corneal thickness may be screened through Orbscan pachymetry mapping with comparison with a normal range.

Aged↗

Deficits in eye movements following frontal eye-field and superior colliculus ablations.

1. This study investigated the effects of frontal eye-field and superior colliculus ablations on fixation patterns and saccadic eye movements. Monkeys were trained to pick apple pieces out of a multiple-slotted apple board while their heads were fixed. Eye movement records were obtained using predominantly the implanted search-coil method. 2. Both unilateral and bilateral frontal eye-field lesions produced only temporary deficits in eye movements. Following surgery monkeys tended to neglect the contralateral peripheral visual field and made fewer saccades to peripheral targets. Recovery was virtually completed in 2-4 wk. 3. Superior colliculus ablation reduced fixation accuracy, saccade frequency, and saccade velocity. These deficits showed little recovery with time. 4. Paired frontal eye-field and superior colliculus lesions produced dramatic deficits in visually triggered eye movements. Animals could no longer fixate their eyes on visual targets with any degree of accuracy. The range of eye movements was greatly reduced, as was the frequency and velocity of saccades. These deficits showed little recovery with time. 5. These results suggest that visually triggered saccadic eye movements are controlled by two parallel channels, one involving the superior colliculus and the other the frontal eye field.

Animals↗

Eye movements induced by electrical stimulation of the frontal eye fields of marmosets and squirrel monkeys.

Two or three sites in the region of the frontal lobe of marmoset and squirrel monkey are definable as frontal eye fields (FEF) on the basis of electrical stimulation which results in slow and/or saccadic eye movements. In the squirrel monkey these are located on the banks of the arcuate and principal sulci; in the marmoset at estimated analogous locations. Eye ball deviations result from stimulation of these sites with a return to initial position at the end of stimulation. The induced eye movements included large, slow eye movements of varying speeds, micro- and macro-saccades, pendular eye movements, and saccadic stairways. The direction of these eye movements depended on the site stimulated. Both smooth slow and saccadic eye movements were obtained even with stimulation of the same site, depending on the stimulus intensity and the depth of anesthesia. A precise relationship between the site stimulated and the type of eye movement elicited could not be established in these species. Effective stimulus was 300 Hz frequency, 0.2-0.5 ms pulse duration, 0,05-0.05 mA current, and trains of 4-160 pulses. Characteristically, sites for induction of saccadic eye movements were frontal to sites for induction of slow eye movements.

Animals↗

Effects of three kinds of topical eye-drops on the experimental rabbit dry eye.

We studied the ultrastructural changes of the corneal epithelium of the experimental rabbit dry eye and the effects of three topically applied eye-drops. Fourty rabbits were divided into experimental rabbit dry eye group, 0.1% bromhexine-treated group, 50% Chinese medicinal herb-treated group and 0.01% retinoic acid-treated group. Ten days after surgical removal of lacrimal gland, nictitating membrane and Harder's gland of the rabbit eyes, and corroding the conjunctiva with 50% trichloroacetic acid, the rabbit eyes showed typical dry eye signs. A lot of pathologic ultrastructural changes of the corneal epithelium were observed. Fourteen days after topically applying the three eye-drops, no significant effect was found on the ultrastructural changes of the dry eye corneal epithelium in the 0.1% bromhexine-treated and 50% Chinese medicinal herb-treated groups. However, in the 0.01% retinoic acid-treated eyes, normal microvilli and microplicae reappeared, denuded corneal epithelium was covered by new epithelial cells, no cell swelled, degenerated mitochondria recovered, basement membrane returned completely, and the completely recovered corneal epithelial cell count showed a significant difference compared with the control (P < 0.01). We conclude that removing the lacrimal gland, nictitating membrane and Harder's gland of rabbit eye, and corroding the conjunctiva with 50% trichloroacetic acid can result in rabbit dry eye and topically applying 0.01% retinoic acid can promote the recovery of the dry corneal epithelium.

Animals↗

Separate motion aftereffects from each eye and from both eyes.

UNLABELLED: Monocular and binocular motion aftereffects (MAEs) are described, which were contingent upon which eye(s) was (were) exposed to the adapting motion. Subjects viewed clockwise rotation of a patterned disc with their left eye, alternating every 5 sec with anticlockwise rotation seen with their right eye, for a 10-min adapting period. RESULT: they saw an anticlockwise motion aftereffect with their left eye, and a clockwise MAE with their right eye. These monocular MAEs lasted for only 2-20 sec, but could be elicited repeatedly over a 2-6 min period, and could still be re-elicited two hours later. In a second experiment, subjects adapted for 10 min to the following cycle of 5-sec rotations: left eye, clockwise: right eye, clockwise: and both eyes together, anticlockwise. RESULT: they saw an anticlockwise MAE with their left eye only or with their right eye only, and a clockwise MAE when both eyes were open. A model of monocular and binocular inputs to motion sensitive neural channels is proposed.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

Intraocular lens power in bilateral cataract surgery: whether adjusting for error of predicted refraction in the first eye improves prediction in the second eye.

PURPOSE: To assess whether the retrospectively calculated intraocular lens (IOL) position value in the first eye reduces the error of predicted refraction in the second. SETTING: Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one consecutive patients who had bilateral cataract surgery with the same IOL (SI-30NB, Advanced Medical Optics) were identified. The case-derived A-constant in the first eye was calculated from the postoperative refraction. This value was used to calculate the adjusted error of predicted refraction in the second eye and compared against the unadjusted error in that eye (calculated using manufacturer's A-constant). RESULTS: Axial length (r = 0.97), corneal power (r = 0.97), and IOL power (r = 0.90) were strongly correlated between eyes with no statistically significant mean interocular difference. Although there was no significant interocular difference in the mean error of predicted refraction (SRK/T), there was only a moderate correlation between eyes (r = 0.40). Using the axial length vergence formula, the mean adjusted error of predicted refraction in the second eye (-0.66 diopter [D]) was significantly larger than the mean unadjusted error (-0.47 D) (P = .029). The standard deviation of the adjusted error of predicted refraction (SRK/T) in the second eye (0.85 D) was greater than the standard deviation of the unadjusted error (0.79). Similarly, the adjusted mean absolute error of predicted refraction (0.65 D) was greater than the unadjusted error (0.63 D). CONCLUSION: Adjusting the IOL power in the second eye by the amount of overprediction or underprediction in the first eye did not improve prediction accuracy because the error of predicted refraction varied independently between the 2 eyes of an individual.

Cataract Extraction↗

Time course of development of posterior vitreous detachment in the fellow eye after development in the first eye.

PURPOSE: To determine when posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) develops in the fellow eye after development in the first eye. DESIGN: Prospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one patients with acute unilateral PVD participated in the study. METHODS: All patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, including a dynamic vitreous examination using biomicroscopy with and without a preset lens and retinal examination with scleral depression, every 3 months at least until PVD developed in the fellow eye. RESULTS: Posterior vitreous detachment developed in 4 eyes (8%) within 6 months, 12 eyes (24%) within 1 year, 24 eyes (47%) within 18 months, 33 eyes (65%) within 2 years, 41 eyes (80%) within 30 months, and 46 eyes (90%) within 3 years. In 5 eyes (10%), PVD did not develop during the follow-up period of more than 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior vitreous detachment develops frequently in the fellow eye from 6 months to 2 years after development in the first. These findings are useful for the management of patients with unilateral PVD.

Aged↗

Krupin eye valve with disk for filtration surgery. The Krupin Eye Valve Filtering Surgery Study Group.

PURPOSE: The authors evaluate a long posterior tube shunt device with a pressure sensitive valve for filtration surgery in eyes with recalcitrant glaucoma. METHODS: The device consisted of an anterior chamber tube connected to an oval (13 x 18 mm) episcleral explant. The explant was designed to maximize the area of surrounding encapsulation while still allowing implantation within one quadrant. A pressure-sensitive and unidirectional slit valve in the tube provided resistance to aqueous humor flow. One-stage implantation without the use of restrictive sutures was performed in 50 eyes with various types of glaucoma unresponsive to prior glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: Mean (+/- standard error of the mean) preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of 36.4 +/- 1.6 mmHg was reduced significantly (P < 0.001) to 8.3 +/- 1.3 mmHg on the first postoperative day. Mean anterior chamber depth (scale, 0-4+) was 3.4 +/- 0.1. Mean IOP 1 month after surgery was 14.1 +/- 1.3 mmHg. The implant was removed from four eyes due to IOP failure (1 eye), external erosion (2 eyes), or endophthalmitis (1 eye). A suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred in one eye on the first postoperative day. Diplopia developed in one eye after surgery. Mean IOP at last follow-up examination (mean, 25.4 +/- 2.4 months; range, 16-36 months) was 13.1 +/- 1.3 mmHg. Intraocular pressure was 19 mmHg or lower in 80% of the eyes, 59% of which were without adjunctive antiglaucoma medications. CONCLUSIONS: Design features of the Krupin Eye Valve with Disk result in a large area of encapsulation in a single ocular quadrant which functions as an external reservoir for passage of aqueous humor. The valve portion facilitates maintenance of anterior chamber depth during the early postoperative interval. This new therapeutic device can be effective in the long-term control of IOP in glaucomatous eyes not responsive to prior filtration surgery with adjunctive antimetabolite therapy.

Female↗

Secondary closure of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis in normal eyes and eyes at risk for postoperative inflammation.

PURPOSE: To observe the posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) after cataract surgery in control eyes and eyes with an increased risk for postoperative inflammation. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium. METHODS: After phacoemulsification, a PCCC was performed before intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in 20 eyes of 18 patients with ocular or systemic conditions that predisposed them for increased postoperative inflammation; e.g., diabetes, uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa (inflammation group). These eyes were compared with 20 eyes of 16 patients who had the same surgical procedure but did not present a history of medical or ocular pathology (control group). The postoperative follow-up was 6 months to 3 years. Reclosure of the PCCC was evaluated by anterior segment photographs. The reclosure was classified as partial when newly formed tissue was present at the PCCC margin and total when the proliferation covered the entire PCCC area. RESULTS: Three types of PCCC reclosure were found: fibrotic, Elschnig pearl or multilayer, and monolayer. All 3 were seen within or at the margin of the PCCC area. Reclosure (total and partial) occurred in 8 eyes (40%) in the control group and 10 (50%) in the inflammation group. Total reclosure was more frequent in the inflammation group (4 eyes [20%]) than in the control group (1 eye [5%]). Monolayered or multilayered cellular proliferation was present in 8 eyes (40%) in the control group and 4 eyes (20%) in the inflammation group; fibrotic proliferation was found in the inflammation group only (7 eyes [35%]). CONCLUSION: Reclosure of the PCCC occurred in both groups, although the frequency of reclosure was slightly higher in the inflammation group. Although PCCC does not prevent posterior capsule opacification in all cases, it is useful in specific situations.

Adolescent↗

Corticocortical input to the smooth and saccadic eye movement subregions of the frontal eye field in Cebus monkeys.

1. The locations and connections of the smooth and saccadic eye movement subregions of the frontal eye field (FEFsem and FEFsac, respectively) were investigated in seven hemispheres of five Cebus monkeys. The supplementary eye field was also mapped in seven hemispheres and the hand/arm regions of the dorsal and ventral premotor areas were localized in five hemispheres. Monkeys were immobilized during experiments with Telazol, a dissociative anesthetic agent that has no significant effect on microstimulation-induced eye movement parameters (threshold, velocity, and duration). The functional subregions were defined with the use of low threshold intracortical microstimulation (current < or = 50 microA). Then different retrogradely transported fluorescent tracers were placed into these functionally defined regions. 2. The FEFsac in Cebus monkey is in the same location as the one in macaque monkeys, which is in Walker's areas 8a and 45. The FEFsem is located in the posterior shoulder of the superior arcuate sulcus near its medial tip and is therefore more accessible for tracer injections than the one in macaque monkeys. This subregion is within cytoarchitectural area 6a beta, which is distinct from the adjacent area 6a alpha (dorsal premotor area). This smooth eye movement subregion may be comparable with the one in macaque monkeys. 3. Cortical connection patterns of the FEFsac and FEFsem are similar and parallel to each other. The predominant neural input to these two subregions originates in other cortical eye fields, including the supplementary eye field, the parietal eye field, the middle superior temporal area, and the principal sulcus region. These cortical eye fields each contain two separate, almost non-overlapping, distributions of labeled neurons that project to the corresponding frontal eye field (FEF) subregions. These results suggest that there may be similar, but relatively independent, parallel corticocortical networks to control pursuit and saccadic eye movements. The weak connections between the middle temporal area (MT) and FEF suggest that the MT may not provide the major source of visuomotion inputs to the FEF, but that it rather plays a role in mediating visual information that is relayed from the striate and extrastriate cortices via MT to the parietal cortex and then to the FEF. In addition to the well-known neural connections between the lateral intraparietal area and the FEF, additional parietal projections have been demonstrated from the dorsomedial visual area area specifically to the FEFsac and from area 7m specifically to the FEFsem.

Animals↗

[Dissociation of voluntary eye closure--to keep the eyes closed and to blink--following right hemisphere stroke].

We report a case of a unique eye sign following right hemispheric infarction. This patient was a 78 year old right-handed woman. There was a history of a left hemispheric stroke 1 year previously. On admission, she showed left hemianopia, dysarthria, mild left central facial paresis, bilateral sensory deficit and quadriparesis which were marked on the left side. Babinski sign was elicited on the left. She did not have anosognosia or visual neglect. She had mild orofacial apraxia, but ideomotor and ideational apraxia was absent. There was no motor impersistence. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a recent infarction in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery and an old infarction in the left tempro-parietal lobe. The patient could not open her eyelids to verbal command or voluntarily until about two weeks later, when she became able to open her eyes but showed difficulty keeping her left eye closed. She was aware of this problem and could repeat the command and comprehend what was requested to her. On verbal command to close the eyes, her right eye would be closed continuously and excessively and the left eye would only blink. When requested to blink, however, she could blink correctly without excessive eye closure. Spontaneous, reflex and voluntary blinking were normal. Her eyes were closed normally during sleep. Blepharospasm was not seen. The patient showed a striking dissociation between a failure to close her eyes continuously and a preserved ability to blink voluntarily. We suggest that her ability to contract palpebral portion of her left orbicularis oculi muscle is preserved. Regarding the mechanism of the voluntary eye closure system, separate control mechanisms should exist on closing eyes continuously and blinking.

Aged↗

[Disorders of eye movements in point fixation of the dominant eye in unilateral deprivation amblyopia, squint amblyopia and unilateral organ damage].

In four juvenile patients with unilateral deprivation amblyopia three types of involuntary eye movement were identified by simultaneous binocular infrared reflection oculography (IROG). During apparent steady-point fixation of the dominant eye three cases showed sinusoidal pendular movements (type 1) of the amblyopic eye mainly in a horizontal and slightly in a vertical direction, amplitude (A) 1 to 4 degrees, frequency (F) 0.25-0.4 Hz; only one patient had similar movements with smaller deviations even in the fixing eye. In three cases disturbed fixation of the dominant eye was found, a lateral drift (type 2) up to 3 degrees followed by slow correcting movement (F 0.05-0.1 Hz). At the same time there were disjugate movements of the amblyopic eye, the movements of the two eyes resulting in variations in squint angle of up to 6-7 degrees. These movements of the weaker eyes were clinically observed by Ohm (1958) and were termed pendular flutter to distinguish them from nystagmus. This paper presents the first objectively recorded curves of these movements, and differentiates them according to the various types of movement. Type 3 is a fine jerky or pendular nystagmus (A = max. 1 degree, F = 1.0-2.8 Hz), which was also present in three cases. Two patients had a combination of all three types of motility disturbance. Four cases with unilateral organ lesions, either congenital or acquired in early infancy, were observed and compared. All these cases showed excessive pendular flutter (type 1)--horizontal in the case of the fixing eye and horizontal and vertical in the case of the weaker eye.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

The Drosophila eyes absent gene directs ectopic eye formation in a pathway conserved between flies and vertebrates.

The fly eyes absent (eya) gene which is essential for compound eye development in Drosophila, was shown to be functionally replaceable in eye development by a vertebrate Eya homolog. The relationship between eya and that of the eyeless gene, a Pax-6 homolog, critical for eye formation in both flies and man, was defined: eya was found to be essential for eye formation by eyeless. Moreover, eya could itself direct ectopic eye formation, indicating that eya has the capacity to function as a master control gene for eye formation. Finally, we show that eya and eyeless together were more effective in eye formation than either gene alone. These data indicate conservation of the pathway of eya function between flies and vertebrates; they suggest a model whereby eya/Eya gene function is essential for eye formation by eyeless/Pax-6, and that eya/Eya can in turn mediate, via a regulatory loop, the activity of eyeless/Pax-6 in eye formation.

Animals↗

[Incidence and risk factors for eye injuries sustained at fairs: metal particles in the eye after a ride of dodg'em cars].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of fair eye and its determinants. DESIGN: Inventory and case referent study. METHOD: All general practices (370) in the middle and south of Limburg, the Netherlands, were asked to report patients with a 'faireye' after having visited a fair in this region (population approximately 866,000) in a 6-week period during the late summer of 1997. Personal data of these patients were obtained by telephone interview. A case referent study was performed to establish the potential protectiveness of wearing glasses, lenses or a cap. RESULTS: 88% of the general practices responded. These reported a total of 40 patients with a fair eye. There were 41 fairs with dodgem cars during the observation period (a relation between dodgem cars and faireyes has been suggested). In the study area the incidence of fair eye was 5 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Of the 36 responding patients 26 (72%) were male, 97% were 10-19 years old, and 69% had had 11-20 rides in dodgem cars. Glasses (3%), lenses (0%), or a cap (6%) were rarely worn during the rides. The complaints related to the fair eye were: pain in the eye (64%), an irritated eye (42%), a red eye (41%), an inflamed eye (17%), tears (11%) and photophobia (8%). The odds ratio for wearing glasses or lenses in comparison with a sample of the general Dutch population, standardised for age and sex, was 0.1 (95% confidence interval: 0.01-0.69). CONCLUSION: With 5 per 100,000 inhabitants per year fair eye is a regular complaint in general practice in South and Middle Limburg. The metal particles involved probably come from dodgem attractions, which usually move weekly to another town or village between March and November. Wearing glasses or lenses is rare in patients with fair eyes. It is advisable to wear protective goggles when riding dodgem cars.

Accident Prevention↗