Distribution of ophthalmologists and optometrists in Islamic Republic of Iran and their associated factors Distribution des ophtalmologues et des optométristes en République islamique d�Iran et facteurs associés

We aimed to determine the distribution of ophthalmic care providers and its correlation with health and socioeconomic status and health system indicators. Data were gathered from the Iran Medical Council and the Iranian Societies of Ophthalmology and Optometry. Concurrent indicators were collected from the Statistical Center of Iran and national studies. A population-adjusted number of combined ophthalmologists and optometrists was used as the main dependent variable. Optometrist/ophthalmologist ratio was 0.9. We had 1 ophthalmologist and 1 optometrist for every 40 000 and 45 000 individuals, respectively. We observed a direct correlation between the number of ophthalmologists, optometrists and life expectancy at the provincial level. Gross provincial income and expenditure and provincial literacy were correlated as well. Provincial unemployment had a negative correlation. Provincial hospital statistics and population density were also significantly correlated. The Islamic Republic of Iran has met the World Health Organization�s desired per capita number of ophthalmologists and optometrists, but there is wide variation in their density. © 2016, World Health Organization. All rights reserved

VISUAL OUTCOME OF TRAUMATIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH INTRAVENOUS MEGADOSE OF STEROIDS

Although uncommon, traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is an important cause of visual loss. Different therapeutic approaches including different dosages of steroids, surgical decompression of optic canal and observation alone have been suggested but there has been no conclusive evidence to establish a standard approach to this devastating cause of visual loss. To determine the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) steroids in the treatment of these patients, the medical records of patients with TON, including one bilateral case, treated with IV steroids were reviewed. Twenty-eight patients (22 males, 6 females) with mean age of 24.1 (11 to 41 years) were enrolled. All patients had received 30 mg/kg loading dose of methylprednisolone succinate followed by 5.4 mg/kg/ hour for 48 hours. Visual acuity (VA) was improved by ≥ 1 line in 8 eyes (28.6%) immediately after treatment and in 10 eyes (37%) after 3 months; however, most of them (6 and 8, respectively) were in the range of initial VA of no light perception to hand motion. After adjustment for the baseline VA, these improvements in visual acuities were not considered significant. Neither different orbital fractures, nor various extraocular muscle palsies had any significant effect on the prognosis of ultimate VA. Regarding the natural course of TON, this investigation showed that IV megadose steroids had no clear benefit on the visual outcome of patients with TON

Erratum – Biodistribution of Cy5-labeled Thiolated and Methylated Chitosan-Carboxymethyl Dextran Nanoparticles in an Animal Model of Retinoblastoma

This is an Erratum to "Biodistribution of Cy5-labeled Thiolated and Methylated Chitosan-Carboxymethyl Dextran Nanoparticles in an Animal Model of Retinoblastoma" [J Ophthalmic Vis Res 2021;17(1):58–68] and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article HTML

"PRIMARY VITRECTOMY VERSUS SCLERAL BUCKLING IN PATIENTS WITH RETINAL DETACHMENT AFTER CATARACT SURGERY"

The purpose of this study was to compare the anatomic and visual outcome of primary vitrectomy with scleral buckling in patients with retinal detachment following cataract surgery. Fifty-six consecutive patients with retinal detachment after cataract surgery were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: standard scleral buckling and standard three-port deep vitrectomy. Successful treatment was defined as improvement in vision (minimum of 2 lines in Snellen chart), anatomic reattachment and prevention of post-operative proliferative vitreo-retinopathy (PVR). The prognostic role of pre-operative and intra-operative conditions of the affected eye was also evaluated. Twenty-six of fifty-six eligible patients underwent scleral buckling and thirty had deep vitrectomy. Anatomic reattachment was achieved in 18 (69.2%) cases in scleral buckling group and 19 (63%) cases in vitrectomy group. Improvement in visual acuity was achieved in 76.9% and 83.3% and PVR occurred post-operatively in 23.1% and 16.7%, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant, and pre- and intra-operative ocular conditions did not prove to be prognostic factors, either. Scleral buckling and primary deep vitrectomy seem to have comparable outcomes in terms of anatomic reattachment and visual improvement in patients with pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachment. Failure to achieve anatomic reattachment and visual improvement or PVR occurred in about one third and one fifth of the cases respectively, irrespective of the technique used. This warrants further research to improve treatment result

Safety of Intravitreal Injection of Stivant, A Biosimilar to Bevacizumab, in Rabbit Eyes

Purpose: To evaluate the safety of intravitreal injection of Stivant, a biosimilar to bevacizumab, in rabbits using electrophysiological and histological analysis. Methods: Both eyes of 41 New Zealand albino rabbits were injected with 0.1 mL (2.5 mg) of Stivant. The rabbits were scheduled to be sacrificed 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after injection for histopathological evaluations. Clinical examinations and electroretinography (ERG) were performed at baseline and just before sacrificing the rabbits. Fourteen separate rabbits received a reference drug (Avastin) and were considered as the control group. Furthermore, three other rabbits received the same volume of saline (saline control group). Rabbits of both control groups were sacrificed four weeks after injection. ERG was performed 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after injections. Results: No significant difference was observed in a- and b-wave amplitudes and latency after intravitreal Stivant injection between baseline and different time points. Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in wave amplitudes and latency between the Stivant and control groups. The histology of rabbit eyes of the Stivant and control groups after intravitreal injections was not distinguishable. Conclusion: The biosimilar Stivant, up to a dose of 2.5 mg, did not appear to be toxic to the retina in albino rabbits. These results suggest that this drug could be a safe and inexpensive alternative to intravitreal bevacizumab. The efficacy of these injections was not investigated in this study and needs to be evaluated in future studies