Showing papers by "Alfred Sommer published in 1978"

Field guide to the detection and control of xerophthalmia

Abstract: a grant from the Helen Keller International Foundation in New York and from the US Agency for International Development. The author is a distinguished American ophthalmologist who is now the principal investigator of the Indonesian Nutritional Blindness Prevention Project and visiting professor in Bandung, Indonesia. Xerophthalmia is the leading cause of blindness among young children in the developing world and one of the most frequent causes of blindness in general. Dr Sommer estimates that up to 250,000 children in Asia alone lose their sight because of this disease each year and another five to ten million are at risk. This monograph describes assessment, prevention, and evaluation procedures of this condition. It is illustrated with beautiful photographs, most of which are in color and complement the text very well. This is an important contribution to one of the most urgent aspects of public health in the world. Frederick C. Blodi, MD Iowa City

Vitamin A-responsive panocular xerophthalmia in a healthy adult.

Abstract: • An unusual case of classical xerophthalmia occurred in an otherwise healthy, well-nourished, 25-year-old woman. She had marked conjunctival and corneal xerosis, including early stromal edema, evolving pigmentary alterations of the retinal pigment epithelium, and notable constriction of her visual fields, which paralleled the distribution of the retinal lesions. Abnormalities of the conjunctiva, cornea, and visual fields disappeared within two weeks of oral vitamin A therapy, and 1½ months later, many of the retinal lesions cleared as well. This case supports the primacy of isolated vitamin A deficiency in the etiology of corneal xerosis and "fundus xerophthalmicus"; demonstrates that stromal edema is an important early component of corneal involvement; and localizes the funduscopic abnormalities to the retinal pigment epithelium.