Optical Scattering Measurements of Laser Induced Damage in the Intraocular Lens

This study optically determines whether the amount of light scatter due to laser-induced damage to the intraocular lens (IOL) is significant in relation to normal straylight values in the human eye. Two IOLs with laser-induced damage were extracted from two donor eyes. Each IOL had 15 pits and/or cracks. The surface area of each pit was measured using a microscope. For 6 pits per intraocular lens the point spread function (PSF) in terms of straylight was measured and the total straylight for all 15 pits was estimated. The damage in the IOLs was scored as mild/moderate. The total damaged surface areas, for a 3.5 mm pupil, in the two IOLs were 0.13% (0.0127 mm2) and 0.66% (0.064 mm2), respectively. The angular dependence of the straylight caused by the damage was similar to that of the normal PSF. The total average contribution to straylight was log(s) = −0.82 and −0.42, much less than the straylight value of the normal eye

Changing challenges in the control of blindness in children.

One cannot address issues of control of blindness in children without first considering the epidemiology, as this allows priorities to be determined and appropriate strategies to be delineated. Control does not occur within a vacuum, and so it is also important to understand the context in which programmes are to be implemented, particularly in relation to development and poverty--the distal risk factors that are powerful determinants of the incidence of disease in populations. Interventions need to be considered from the perspective of patients as well as providers if services are to be acceptable and appropriate

Severe retinopathy of prematurity in big babies in India: history repeating itself?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of babies with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) attending a tertiary referral eye hospital in South India. METHODS: Data on consecutive preterm infants with severe ROP presenting between July 2002 and October 2007 were retrieved from medical records. Severe ROP was defined as high risk prethreshold disease or worse. RESULTS: 144 babies with severe ROP were divided into two groups: group 1 had high risk prethreshold or threshold ROP while group 2 had stages 4 or 5 ROP. The overall mean gestational age was 30.7 weeks (range 25-35 weeks) and the mean birth weight was 1410 g (range 650-2310 g). Most babies had received unmonitored supplemental oxygen (ascertained through discussion with the treating pediatricians). CONCLUSION: More bigger and mature babies are developing severe ROP in South India than in industrialized countries. The characteristics of babies affected are similar to those seen during the first epidemic of ROP which occurred during the 1950s in Europe and North America. Guidelines on oxygenation and screening policies should be jointly developed by pediatricians and ophthalmologists to end this epidemic of avoidable blindness in India

Comparison of clinical outcome with different treatment regimens in acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis

Purpose To compare the clinical outcome with different treatment regimens in Acute Adenoviral Keratoconjunctivitis (AAK). Methods The records of 110 patients diagnosed as AAK in two tertiary eye care centers were evaluated retrospectively. The treatment regimen, follow-up duration, time until improvement of the symptoms, visual acuity, clinical findings, Schirmer's test and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score at the first day, first week and third week were recorded. The Kruskal-Wallis Test and Chi-square test were used for comparison of quantitative and categorical variables, respectively. Results Forty six patients were receiving topical corticosteroids (Group 1), 32 topical 2% Cyclosporin A (CsA) (Group 2) and 32 only artificial tears (Group 3). Mean time until resolution of the symptoms was lowest in Group 1 (9.5 +/- 4.9 days) and highest in Group 3 (13.3 +/- 4.2 days)(p: 0.001). OSDI scores at the first and third weeks were highest in Group 3 (52.4 +/- 16.4 and 32.3 +/- 13.0) and lowest in Group 1 (41.0 +/- 21.3 and 23.9 +/- 13.2)(p: 0.01 and p: 0.009). At day 21, percentage of the patients with subepthelial infiltrates was the highest in Group 3 (63.4%) and lowest in Group 1 (42.5%). Conclusions The symptoms were less severe and had a shorter duration with topical corticosteroids and CsA when compared with palliative therapy. Topical 2% CsA may inhibit development of corneal subepithelial infiltrates when used in the acute phase of infection, similar to corticosteroids