ABSTRACT
Purpose: To analyze the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS?CoV?2) in tears/conjunctival epithelium and assess the cytomorphological changes in the conjunctival epithelium of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID?19) patients. Methods: In this pilot study, patients with moderate to severe COVID?19 were recruited from the COVID ward/intensive care unit of the institute. Tears and conjunctival swabs were collected from COVID?19 patients and sent to the virology laboratory for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT?PCR) testing. Conjunctival swabs were used to prepare smears, which underwent cytological evaluation and immunocytochemistry for SARS?CoV?2 nucleocapsid protein. Results: Forty?two patients were included. The mean age of participants was 48.61 (range: 5–75) years. Seven (16.6%) patients tested positive for SARS?CoV?2 ribonucleic acid in tears samples, four (9.5%) of which were positive on conjunctival swab by RT?PCR in the first test. Cytomorphological changes were observed significantly more in smears from patients with positive RT?PCR on tear samples, including bi?/multi?nucleation (p = 0.01), chromatin clearing (p = 0.02), and intra?nuclear inclusions (p < 0.001). One case (3.2%) showed immunopositivity for SARS?CoV?2; this patient had severe disease and the lowest Ct values for tear and conjunctival samples among all positive cases. Conclusion: Conjunctival smears from patients with COVID?19 revealed cytomorphological alterations, even in the absence of clinically significant ocular infection. However, viral proteins were demonstrated within epithelial cells only rarely, suggesting that although the conjunctival epithelium may serve as a portal for entry, viral replication is possibly rare or short?lived.
ABSTRACT
We present a case of post-trabeculectomy encapsulated dysesthetic bleb with scleral fistula, managed successfully with autograft. The child was operated on twice before for trabeculectomy, and intraocular pressure (IOP) recorded was in the normal range for the initial few years. This time child presented with a large encapsulated dysesthetic bleb with borderline IOP. As the IOP was on the lower side, an underlying scleral fistula was suspected and planned for bleb revision with a donor patch graft. We describe the novel technique of bleb revision along with the repair of the scleral fistula with an autologous free fibrotic Tenon’s tissue graft instead of a donor patch graft with a successful outcome.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate visual field changes in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) with retinal nerve fiber layer thickness on optical coherence tomography. Methods: In this cross?sectional, observational study, consecutive PCG children who underwent combined trabeculotomy with trabeculectomy and on regular follow?up were enrolled. All patients were aged over four years and co?operative for RNFL OCT and visual field examination. Perimetry was done on Humphrey visual field (HVF) analyzer using 30?2 and 10?2 SITA standard algorithms as appropriate. If a reliable automated perimetry was not feasible, kinetic perimetry was done. The following were noted at baseline and every follow?up: age, sex, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), cup–disc ratio (CDR), corneal diameters, refraction, any topical antiglaucoma medications, surgeries underwent, age at surgery and duration between surgery and final examination. Results: Forty?eight eyes of 34 children operated for PCG and 19 eyes of 17 controls were analyzed. A statistically significant thinner average RNFL thickness of 87.2 ± 28 ?m was noted in PCG eyes as compared to controls with 100.6 ± 7.2 ?m (P = 0.04). The mean cup–disc area ratio on OCT in PCG eyes was 0.43 ± 0.2 (0.02–0.93) and in control eyes was 0.23 ± 0.07 (0.1–0.4) (P < 0.001). On RNFL OCT, there was significant focal RNFL loss in temporal superior (P = 0.003), nasal inferior (P = 0.037) and temporal inferior (P < 0.001) quadrants compared to controls. Among PCG eyes, 20/48 eyes (41.7%), had definitive, reproducible glaucomatous VF defects. Mean baseline IOP in PCG eyes with VF defect was 28.7 ± 5.7 mmHg and in eyes with normal VF was 24.6 ± 5.9 mmHg (P = 0.03). On univariate regression analysis, higher baseline IOP was significantly associated with both RNFL loss (odds ratio (OR): ?2.17) and VF defects (OR: 3.35). Fluctuation in follow?up IOP (OR: 3.33) was also significantly associated with the presence of VF defects. On multivariable regression analysis maximum, IOP was significantly associated with RNFL loss and VF defects. Conclusion: Peripapillary RNFL thickness could be used to identify PCG eyes having visual field loss and possibly poor visual function from PCG eyes without visual field defects. Baseline and follow?up IOP, significantly correlated with RNFL thickness in PCG eyes
ABSTRACT
ExPress glaucoma filtration device (GFD) has recently become available in India as a surgical option for glaucoma patients. We retrospectively evaluated the outcome of ExPress GFD in 12 eyes with advanced glaucoma with intraocular pressures (IOPs) not controlled on maximal tolerable medical therapy. The mean preoperative IOP of 29.58 ± 7.13 mmHg decreased to 17.0 ± 2.67 and 17.40 ± 0.89 mmHg at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Absolute success (IOP ≤ 18 mmHg, with no additional glaucoma medications) was achieved in eight cases (66.7%) and qualified success (IOP ≤ 18 mmHg, with additional glaucoma medications) in two cases (16.7%) at 1‑year after surgery. Early intervention was needed in 4 patients; two underwent anterior chamber reformation while the other two required needling. Two patients required resurgery. There was no significant change in the best corrected visual acuity postoperatively (P = 0.37). ExPress GFD does not seem to offer a benefit over standard trabeculectomy in patients with advanced glaucomatous disease in terms of IOP control or complication rate. However, due to the small sample size with a heterogeneous mixture of primary and secondary glaucoma’s, we await further studies with a larger sample size and long‑term follow‑up, to see how the device performs.
ABSTRACT
Glaucoma is an acquired progressive optic neuropathy which is characterized by changes in the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). White‑on‑white perimetry is the gold standard for the diagnosis of glaucoma. However, it can detect defects in the visual field only after the loss of as many as 40% of the ganglion cells. Hence, the measurement of RNFL thickness has come up. Optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) are the techniques that utilize the evaluation of RNFL for the evaluation of glaucoma. SLP provides RNFL thickness measurements based upon the birefringence of the retinal ganglion cell axons. We have reviewed the published literature on the use of SLP in glaucoma. This review elucidates the technological principles, recent developments and the role of SLP in the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucomatous optic neuropathy, in the light of scientific evidence so far.