Effects of Exposure Time to Sun on Hair Fall During Lockdown in Covid Pandemic

OBJECTIVES The study aimed to assess the effects of quarantine on non-scarring hair fall and to determine the relationship between sun exposure and hair fall. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi from January to June 2022 . Ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical review committee. Participants were recruited by non-probability convenience sampling technique after obtaining informed consent. Those with dermatologic diseases of the scalp (cicatricial alopecia, alopecia areata, seborrheic dermatitis, infections), high-stress levels, post-pregnancy, thyroid disorders, hormonal disorders and COVID-19 were excluded from the study. Hair loss was assessed using a self-filled questionnaire regarding the history of comorbidities, demographics, education, institute status during quarantine, hair fall experience and personal habits. RESULTSThe study consisted of 137 participants after exclusion criteria were applied. Among these, 95.6% complained of increased hair fall during quarantine. Most participants were women (63.4%) compared to men (36.6%). The average age of the hair fall group was 20 years. Only 15.3% of participants spent more than 1-2 hours in the sun, and the majority had their hair covered when going out during quarantine. CONCLUSION Hair fall is high during quarantine, particularly among women of young age group. Personal habits and exposure to the sun for a short time at noon can affect hair fall in quarantine, although no direct correlation was found. Hair fall during lockdown is inversely related to certain comorbidities

Comparative Evaluation of Lamina Cribrosa Anatomical Parameters with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Defects In Primary Open-angle Glaucoma Cases And Controls

OBJECTIVES To assess the lamina cribrosa (LC) anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALCD), lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) cases and age-matched controls and to compare these anatomical variables among POAG cases and age-matched controls. METHODOLOGY The case-control study was researched at Al-Ain Eye Institute, Karachi, in four month’s duration (November 2018 till February 2019). Expert eye specialist recruited 57 POAG cases and 46 age-matched healthy controls. Observation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and open angle was done using Goldmann tonometry and Slit-lamp biomicroscopy with stereoscopic ophthalmoscopy respectively. Visual field parameters of mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) measured using Humphrey Field Analyzer. Highly sensitive spectral domain ocular coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT) was used to determine ALCD, LCT and RNFLT. RESULTS Statistically significant results were produced by RNFLT defects when it is compared in groups of mild with moderate cases of POAG (P-value 0.037). ALCD and LCT did display an association with RNFLT defects but did not produced statistically significant results. CONCLUSION Assessments of ALCD and LCT can provide important prognostic evidence about RNFLT and can assist in future planning of mild and moderate cases suffering from POAG