Role of fundus fluorescein angiography in the diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy

This study was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital, Karachi, to ascertain the role of Fundus Fluorescein Angiography [FFA] in the diagnosis of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy [CSCR] and to see the various patterns of CSCR on FFA. In the outpatient department 33 patients were diagnosed as having CSCR on the basis of careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. They included 28 [84.85%] males and 5 [15.15%] females with a sex incidence of 6 Male.- 1Female. Majority of cases i.e. 28[84.85%] were between 20-40 years of age, whereas only 3[9.09%] were in the late teens and 2[6.06%] above the age of 40 years. Right eye was involved in 15 [45.45%] and left eye in 18 [54.55%] cases. The presenting clinical features were blurred vision, micropsia, metamorphopsia and positive central scotoma. At the time of presentation a visual acuity of 6/12 or better was seen in 25 [75.75%] cases, and 6/18 or less in 8 [24.25%] cases. FFA showed 21[63.64%]cases with ink-blot and 11[33.33%] with smoke-stack pattern, whereas one [3.03 %] case turned out as Sub-Retinal Neovascular Membrane [SRNVM]

Major ocular trauma: an analysis of 98 cases

Ocular trauma [OT] is a common but preventable disease. A total of 102 eyes with OT involving 98 admitted patients were analyzed in a retrospective study spanning over a period from Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2004 in Ophthalmology Unit II of Civil Hospital, Karachi. The aims of the study were to identify etiological factors, to assess the visual outcome and to explore possible methods of reduction of OT in our setting. Out of the 98 patients, 92 [93.88%] were males and the commonest age group involved was 11-30 years with 64 [65.30%] cases. OT most frequently [72.44%] occurred in out-door cases, mostly from sharp objects [68.36%], followed by blunt objects [26.53%] and intra-ocular foreign bodies [3.06%]. Primary enucleation was done in four cases, and the patients were followed-up for a mean period of 20 months. Phthisis bulbi occurred in two patients, but none developed sympathetic ophthalmitis, siderosis bulbi or post-operative infections. Predictors of better visual outcome i.e. visual acuity [VA] 6/12 or better were initial VA of hand movement, wound location anterior to the plane of insertion of recti, wound length of 10mm or less, and sharp injuries. Even blunt trauma when tackled urgently and methodically gives excellent final visual outcome. Major causes of decreased VA were astigmatism, central corneal scar and central retinal injury. This study has identified that OT requiring hospital admission remains a serious problem. Prevention, as the optimum management of trauma, should however remain a priority in order to reduce morbidity and costs