Ocular Infections
Physicians these days are struggling to combat a rash of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) cases that are occurring more frequently after cataract surgery.
TASS, a sterile inflammation in the anterior segment, usually
clears with the use of intense topical steroids and is often confused
with bacterial endophthalmitis. Severe cases can lead to cornea
transplantation, an atrophic iris, or glaucoma. TASS usually occurs in
clusters, frustrating surgeons who try to solve the inflammatory cause
only to see it recur in others.
"This can disrupt an entire surgeon's practice," said Nick Mamalis, M.D., Intermountain Ocular Research Center, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, a leading investigator of TASS.
"I still worry every time I take a patch off," said Ronald L.
Fellman, M.D., associate clinical professor of ophthalmology,
Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas.
Read more about how to treat and determine the cause of these ocular infections in the July 2006 issue of EyeWorld Magazine.
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