Comparison of Visual, Refractive and Aberrometic Outcomes of Intacs® Implant and Toric Implantable Collamer Lens (TICL) in Patients with Keratoconus: 4 Years Follow Up

Background: To assess the efficacy and clinical outcomes following the use of toric implantable collamer lens (TICL) and Intacs® implant in patients with mild keratoconus. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 30 eyes of 30 patients with keratoconic and age of 25-35. These eyes were divided into group A (15 eyes), in which Visian Toric ICL™ was implanted, and group B (15 eyes), Intacs® implantation. The outcome and complications were evaluated. We assessed the visual, refractive, and aberrometric outcome in pre-operation and 6 month, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 year post-operation. Results: There was significant difference in the mean uncorrected and best corrected distance visual acuities between the groups (P < 0.01). An uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/30 or better was achieved in 85% of eyes in the TICL group, and 20% of eyes in the Intacs® group; visual acuity of 20/20 or better in was seen in 80% and 15%, respectively. Intacs® implant produced a significant decrease in corneal refractive spherical equivalent and coma aberration (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Intacs® implant and TICL lens, both are useful, but it seems that the TICL is better and provides good visual and refractive outcomes; indicating that it is a more predictable procedure for refractive correction of keratoconus

Extent, nature and hospital costs of fireworks-related injuries during the Wednesday Eve Festival in Iran

BACKGROUND: Fireworks are commonly used in local and national celebrations. The aim of this study is to explore the extent, nature and hospital costs of injuries related to the Persian Wednesday Eve festival in Iran. METHODS: Data for injuries caused by fireworks during the 2009 Persian Wednesday Eve festival were collected from the national Ministry of Health database. Injuries were divided into nine groups and the average and total hospital costs were estimated for each group. The cost of care for patients with burns was estimated by reviewing a sample of 100 patients randomly selected from a large burn center in Tehran. Other costs were estimated by conducting semi structured interviews with expert managers at two large government hospitals. RESULTS: 1817 people were injured by fireworks during the 2009 Wednesday Eve festival. The most frequently injured sites were the hand (43.3%), eye (24.5%) and face (13.2%), and the most common types of injury were burns (39.9%), contusions/abrasions (24.6%) and lacerations (12.7%). The mean length of hospital stay was 8.15 days for patients with burns, 10.7 days for those with amputations, and 3 days for those with other types of injury. The total hospital cost of injuries was US$284 000 and the average cost per injury was US$ 156. The total hospital cost of patients with amputations was US$ 48 598. Most of the costs were related to burns (56.6%) followed by amputations (12.2%). CONCLUSION: Injuries related to the Persian Wednesday Eve festival are common and lead to extensive morbidity and medical costs