Lens Replacement Habits in Soft Contact Lens Wearers

The aim of this paper was to assess soft contact lens replacement habits of patients of Contact Lens Clinic, Zagreb University Hospital Department of Ophthalmology, Zagreb, Croatia. During spring of 2010, a survey was conducted in Contact Lens Laboratory, Zagreb University Hospital Department of Ophthalmology, Zagreb, Croatia. 47 completed surveys were collected and analyzed. The results of the survey have shown that the majority of soft contact lens wearers wear them longer than recommended by the manufacturer. It also showed that they eventually replace the lenses in regular intervals, indicating that they base their lens replacement on constant criteria. The main reasons for the eventual lens replacement were increased blur or discomfort while wearing lenses. Since it is obviously impossible to convince all lens wearers to replace their lenses as recommended by the manufacturer, it is up to the contact lens practitioners to find the way to reduce the risks of lens overwear. It may be achieved by introducing a method that will enable each soft contact lens wearer to choose an optimal lens replacement regimen without risking their eye health

Testing of the Retinal Visual Acuity in High Myops with Cataracts

In the presence of the media opacities and extreme ametropia, especially in high myopia, often arises a question of expected visual acuity, e.g. after cataract extraction because of the possible degenerative changes of the choroid and retina. In the measurements were enrolled 15 patients between 45 and 60 years of age, 9 female and 6 male. We have tested preoperative retinal visual acuity by the interferometer. One month postoperatively visual acuity was measured by Snellen international charts at a distance of 6 m. Both measurements are calculated using log MAR scale. Measurements were paired and the differences are calculated and analyzed for the significance. No significance was found (p>0.05). It was concluded that measured differences were incidental and interferometer measurements are reliable in predicting post cataract visual acuity in high myopia

Comparative Study of Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lens Disinfecting Solutions

The aim of this study was to compare antimicrobial efficacy of rigid contact lens disinfecting solutions. We tested five commercially available solutions: Unique pH (Alcon Laboratories), Boston Advance (Polymer Technology Corp.), Nitilens Conditioner GP (Avizor), Total Care (AMO), Boston Simplus (Bausch&Lomb). Their efficacy to disinfect saline solution experimentally contaminated with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC): Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (isolated from our laboratory) was tested. All tested solutions reduced concentrations of bacteria and fungi below 1000 CFU/mL (Colony forming unit; reduction by 3 log and 1 log, respectively) after the 8 hours period. Overall, all contact lens care solutions showed good disinfecting activity against tested bacteria and fungi, with more variation in their antifungal than in antibacterial efficacy. Results of our study might be valuable when selecting appropriate solutions for non-compliant contact lens wearers

Comparison Between Refractometer and Retinoscopy in Determining Refractive Errors in Children – False Doubt

Early detection of a refractive error and its correction are extremely important for the prevention of amblyopia (poor vision). The golden standard in the detection of refractive errors is retinoscopy – a method where the pupils are dilated in order to exclude accomodation. This results in a more accurate measurement of a refractive error. Automatic computer refractometer is also in use. The study included 30 patients, 15 boys, 15 girls aged 4–16. The first examination was conducted with refractometer on narrow pupils. Retinoscopy, followed by another examination with refractometer was performed on pupils dilated with mydriatic drops administered 3 times. The results obtained with three methods were compared. They indicate that in narrow pupils the autorefractometer revealed an increased diopter value in nearsightedness (myopia), the »minus overcorrection«, whereas findings obtained with retinoscopy and autorefractometer in mydriasis – cycloplegia, were much more accurate. The results were statistically processed, which confirmed the differences between obtained measurements. These findings are consistent with the results of studies conducted by other authors. Automatic refractometry on narrow pupils has proven to be a method for detection of refractive errors in children. However, the exact value of the refractive error is obtained only in mydriasis – with retinoscopy or an automatic refractometer on dilated pupils

Epidemiology of Monosymptomatic Optic Neuritis in Rijeka County, Croatia: Meteorological Aspects

In order to analyze the meteorological factors possibly influencing the monosymptomatic optic neuritis in Rijeka County, northwestern part of Croatia, retrospective analysis of all cases diagnosed in Rijeka County in period from 1977 to 2001, was done. Meteorological data on monthly and yearly temperature, humidity, insolation in Rijeka County were collected from Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service. In the observed period there were 173 cases of monosymptomatic optic neuritis, female/male ratio was 1.66, and overall incidence was 2.18/100,000 inhabitants. There was no correlation of incidence with average yearly and monthly temperature, humidity, insolation, or month of birth. This is the first study on meteorological factors and optic neuritis in Croatia

A Comparative Study of Antibacterial and Antifungal Efficacy of Soft Contact Lens Disinfecting Solutions

Cilj studije bio je usporediti antibakterijska i antigljivična svojstva pet tekućina za dezinfekciju mekih kontaktnih leća. Ispitane su slijedeće tekućine: Oxysept Comfort (Advanced Medical Optics), Nitilens One Step (Avizor), Opti-Free Express (Alcon Laboratories), Complete Moisture Plus (Advanced Medical Optics) i Nitilens All-in-one (Avizor). Usporedili smo njihovu učinkovitost u dezinfekciji fiziološke otopine eksperimentalno kontaminirane slijedećim mikroorganizmima (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)): Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) i Staphylococcus epidermidis (soj izoliran u našem laboratoriju). Sve ispitivane tekućine su smanjile početnu koncentraciju bakterija i gljivica ispod 1000 CFU/mL (broj kolonija/mL; smanjenje 3 log za bakterije i 1 log za gljivice) nakon dezinfekcijskog razdoblja od 8 sati. Međutim, zabilježene su razlike u njihovoj dezinfekcijskoj učinkovitosti. Općenito su sve ispitane tekućine pokazale dobru dezinfekcijsku učinkovitost protiv testiranih bakterija i gljivica, ali uočene razlike u njihovoj učinkovitosti mogu postati važne kod nesuradljivih nositelja mekih kontaktnih leća. Stoga su rezultati ove studije korisni pri odabiru tekućina kod navedene skupine nositelja.The aim of this study was to compare antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of five soft contact lens disinfecting solutions. The following solutions were tested: Oxysept Comfort (Advanced Medical Optics), Nitilens One Step (Avizor), Opti-Free Express (Alcon Laboratories), Complete Moisture Plus (Advanced Medical Optics) and Nitilens All-in-one (Avizor). Their efficacy to disinfect saline solution experimentally contaminated with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC): Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (isolated from our laboratory) was tested. All study solutions reduced concentrations of bacteria and fungi below 1000 CFU/mL (reduction by 3 log and 1 log, respectively) after 8-hour overnight disinfection. However, there were differences in their disinfecting efficacy. Generally, all contact lens care solutions showed good disinfecting activity against the bacteria and fungi tested. Yet, the differences recorded in their antimicrobial activity may become more evident among non-compliant patients, and therefore the results of the study might be valuable when selecting appropriate solutions for contact lens wearers

Internal Quality Audit and Quality Standards as a Method of Quality Improvement at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital

Quality assessment of clinical health care with the programme of quality standard is a method of health management, through which better efficiency and safety of health outcomes can be achieved. In the period from 2002 to 2004, a pilot program of quality has been carried out on the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Center in Zagreb. Seven internal audit teams of hospital commission and teams of hospital departments were evaluating introducing practice for quality standards every three months. In the period of two years improvement in all standards of quality has been noticed (expressed in percent of progress towards the ideal result of 100%): personnel 20%, patient rights 15%, medical equipment 40%, quality of emergency service 60%, implementation of clinical guidelines and criteria for elective admission 55%, quality of risk prevention 70%, quality of medical records 60%. The two-years-improvement dynamics of about 46%, first year 24%

Testing of the retinal visual acuity in high myopia with cataracts [Mjerenje retinalne oštrine vida u visoko kratkovidnih s kataraktom]

In the presence of the media opacities and extreme ametropia, especially in high myopia, often arises a question of expected visual acuity, e.g. after cataract extraction because of the possible degenerative changes of the choroid and retina. In the measurements were enrolled 15 patients between 45 and 60 years of age, 9 female and 6 male. We have tested preoperative retinal visual acuity by the interferometer. One month postoperatively visual acuity was measured by Snellen international charts at a distance of 6 m. Both measurements are calculated using log MAR scale. Measurements were paired and the differences are calculated and analyzed for the significance. No significance was found (p > 0.05). It was concluded that measured differences were incidental and interferometer measurements are reliable in predicting post cataract visual acuity in high myopia