76 The Philippine Journal of Science 1920 
Department of the Philippine General Hospital. The large num- 
ber of enucleations and eviscerations led us to work out a more 
conservative treatment, and to practice various methods of 
saving the eyes, the most important of which is corneal para- 
centesis. It must be admitted that but very little has been done 
on this operation lately, leaving a wide gap in the medical 
literature. 
CONCLUSIONS 
In conclusion I should like to present to you the following 
facts for your consideration: 
1. The treatment by corneal paracentesis of corneal ulcers, 
with hypopyon and disintegration of corneal tissues amounting 
to panophthalmitis, is very satisfactory, producing definite cure 
with complete recovery of vision and improvement in general 
of what may be considered as totally lost eyes. 
2. This operation produces immediate relief of pains and ten- 
derness of the eyeball caused by the intraocular tension due to 
the presence of pus and disintegrated tissues filling up the an- 
terior chamber. 
3. The evacuation of the pus from the anterior chamber not 
only gives immediate relief of the symptoms, but also prevents 
the extension of the infection into the deeper and vital struc- 
tures of the eyeball which will result in serious complications 
of the injured eye and may even produce sympathetic ophthalmia 
of the good eye. 
4. This operation gives a great opportunity for the diseased 
eye to recuperate, so that in those cases where recovery is not 
complete secondary operations such as iridectomy for artificial 
pupil may be possible. 
5. The operation minimizes the extraction of the eyes by either 
enucleation or evisceration, keeping the eyeball intact, and in 
the majority of the cases tattooing of the cornea and plastic 
operations for the use of artificial eyes may be indicated. 
6. The operation is simple and not dangerous, and in the hands 
of those who are experienced it is one of the safe operations in 
ocular surgery. It does not require complicated and expensive 
instruments. 
7. Medicinal treatment, except the use of atropin, is prac- 
tically of no value; this is very important in preventing serious 
complications largely affecting the vision, such as plastic iritis, 
seclusio et oclusio pupillae. 
