Prevalence of functional amblyopia among Egyptian population Alexandria during the year 1991

The fact that the amblyope is exposed to the potential risk of blindness from loss of the good eye by disease or injury adds urgency to our effort to learn more about amblyopia in Egypt for better management of this socio-economic problem. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of this problem in Alexandria governorate. The standard cluster sampling technique was used. It involved screening of 30 clusters [each consisted of 25 house-holds] i.e. 3810 subjects representing population of Alexandria. The overall prevalence was 4.03%. Anisometropic amblyopia was the most common type seen in this study [39.85%] most of them were myope [43.04%], while the strabismic type was the second common type [24.81%] most of them were hypermetrope [48.85%]. This high overall prevalence of amblyopia calls for early detection and management in the pre-school age or first year of school enrollment [4-6 years]

Effect of visibile light on the testis and retina of albino rats: a histological and histochemical study

Forty male albino rats were classified equally into a control group under natural daily, light and an experimental group exposed to 40 W fluorescent lamp for a period of one month. After sacrificing the animals the right eye and testis were processed for histological study, while those of the left side were used for the histochemical study. The semineferous tubules of the testes exposed to light appeared to be enlarged and showed complete spermatogenesis and both the succinic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity were increased. Retinas exposed to visible light showed folds in the outer layer and hypertrophy in the cells of the inner nuclear layer. The enzymatic activity of succinic dehyrogenase was decreased while the activity of alkaline phosphatase was increased in the pigment epithelium

Effects of labetalol and diltiazem on the intraocular pressure responses to tracheal intubation

The effects of labetalol and diltiazem on intraocular pressure [IOP] during laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation were investigated in 30 patients, scheduled for elective extraocular ophthalmic operations. Anaesthesia was induced by thiopentone Na followed by succinylcholine to facilitate tracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained by oxygen, and Halothane 1-2% manual inflation of the lungs, then spontaneous respiration. Pretreatment with labetalol [0.2 mg/Kg] 4 minutes before intubation lead to attenuation of the mean heart rate [MHR], and mean arterial pressure [MAP] changes, although these changes were still significant [t=6.79, 8.84]. Pretreatment with diltiazem [0.3 mg/Kg] 2 minutes before intubation lead to attenuation of the MHR, and MAP. These changes were still significant [t=5.58, 7.41]. The attenuation of MHR, MAP were less in labetal group than in diltiazem group. Both drugs produced a significant reduction in IOP at intubation, 2.5 and 5 minutes after intubation in relation to the preoperative value. The decrease in IOP was less in labetalol group than in diltiazem group. In conclusion, single dose of IV labetalol and diltiazem before intubation is a practical and effective method of attenuating hypertension, tachycardia and ocular hypertension in response to tracheal intubation

Effect of Argon laser panretinal photocoagulation on intra-ocular pressure

In 80 patients with diabetic retinopathy, the effect of argon laser pan-retinal photocoagulation on the IOP was recorded with Goldman applanation tonometer. One month after the treatment, the photocoagulated eyes showed an average decrease in pressure of 3.75 mmHg, which was statistically highly significant [t=27.22] when compared to the untreated fellow eye

Allergic rhinitis in cases of allergic conjunctivitis

To study the incidence of allergic rhinitis in cases of conjunctival allergy, 502 patients suffering from one form of conjunctival allergy were included in this study, about 80% of them were cases of simple conjunctival allergy, 17% were cases of vernal kerato-conjunctivitis, and 3.5% were cases of phlyctenulosis. Associated nasal allergy was found in 36.65% of all cases of conjunctival allergy, and this was marked in cases of simple allergy [42.5%]. None of cases of phlyctenular kerato-conjunctivitis showed nasal allergy

use of soft contact lenses in hot dry weather

Over a period of 12 months, in the Holy Mekka, with outdoor temperature varied between 30 and 50C or more, 119 subjects fitted with soft contact lens; 48 of them used daily wear type, while 142 desired extended wear lenses. With exception of six bandage lenses and 10 aphakic lenses, all patients were myopic, mostly needed contact lens of less than five diameters [67.98%]. With the frequent use of artificial tears and lubricating agents, most of the lenses were tolerated in this hot weather. In five patients with extended wear lenses, bacterial corneal ulcer was developed. In less than one year, three patients needed lenses of higher power. Giant papillary conjunctivities occurred in 2.11% of all subjects included

Daily change in refraction of the eye detected by automated-refractometers

To detect any change in automated refraction of the eyes between day and night times, 60 patients were evaluated using NIDEK-AR 1100 twice daily with not less than nine hours in between. In addition, 12 patients were autorefracted by the same apparatus before and after cycloplegia. Definite changes were found between day and night measurements in the spherical error [66.1%], in the astigmatic power [67.8%], and most prominent in the axis of astigmatism [83.33%]. It is necessity before final prescription of a glass after an automated refractometry is to re-adjust the readings obtained according to the patient's requirements by the trial set and test type

Bacteriology of ophthalmia neonatorum

To investigate the type and incidence of bacteria responsible for ophthalmia neonatorum, conjunctival swabs from 34 neonates with conjunctivitis were examined. Bacterial growth was obtained in 58.82% of cases. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, Streptococci and Escherichia coli were the only microorganisms isolated from the affected eyes. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated and was found in 26.76% of these cases. No bacterial growth was found in 41.18% of the eyes showing conjunctivitis. The results suggested that some of these cases may be caused by chemical irritation, viral, chlamydial or other unidentified infection

Comparative bacteriological study between neonatal conjunctiva and its maternal birth canal

To determine the relation and incidence between the bacterial growth found in the neonatal conjunctiva and abnormal bacterial flora found in their maternal birth canal, neonatal conjunctival swabs immediately after their delivery, as well as a high vaginal swabs from the mothers before the onset of labor, and before rupture of the amniotic membrane were examined. Concomitant presence of Enterobacter aerogenosa organism was found in 6.67% of cases