In 1980, a review appeared in the ophthalmology literature1 that summarized attempts at active treatment of the neovascular changes in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (referred to in the past as "proliferative retrolental fibroplasia [RLF]") and of retinal detachment which may occur in the disorder. The author of the survey observed (among a number of treatments tried) that the effectiveness of transscleral cryotherapy for treatment of proliferative changes was difficult to evaluate and he pointed out that "no prospective clinical trial has demonstrated the value [of this approach]." In respect to scleral buckling, as treatment for detachments in ROP, he remarked that although the approach seemed to be rational, the "ultimate fate of [treated] eyes remains uncertain."
Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the most discouraging eye diseases seen by pediatric ophthalmologists because the eyes appear so normal during the first month of life, yet by the third month, in severe cases, retinal detachment is either impending or has already occurred. With the improved survival rates of infants most at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, the 1970s have seen an increase in the absolute number of cases of severe retinopathy of prematurity. The search for a way to halt the seemingly inevitable process is a natural outgrowth of this experience. During the past 13 years at least 22 reports have appeared describing transscleral cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation of the peripheral retina of infants with retinopathy of prematurity.
Vitreous dynamics plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of various vitreo-retinal diseases, such as vitreous haemorrhage, peripheral retinal degeneration and tears, retinal detachment,… Quantitative measurement of vitreous motion has been attempted in the past using ultrasound imaging [1] and MRI [2]. However, information about vitreous motion secondary to eye rotations as well as knowledge of vitreous rheology is still limited.
A continuum survey of the galactic-centre region has been carried out at Parkes at 20 cm wavelength over the areal11= 355° to 5°,b11= -3° to +3° (Kerr and Sinclair 1966, 1967). This is a larger region than has been covered in such surveys in the past. The observations were done as declination scans.
During the last 10 years, the writer has presented evidence indicating that the Moon was captured by the Earth and that the large collisions with its surface occurred within a surprisingly short period of time. These observations have been a continuous preoccupation during the past years and some explanation that seemed physically possible and reasonably probable has been sought.
Primary retinal detachment: A review of the development of techniques for repair in the past 80 years
