Clinical features of early-onset pediatric traumatic glaucoma and predictive factors for the need of early glaucoma surgery

Purpose: To assess the clinical presentation of pediatric patients having early traumatic glaucoma and to analyze early predictors for the need of filtration surgery. Methods: Patients with early traumatic glaucoma after close globe injury (CGI) from January 2014 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical features, treatment provided (medical and surgical), and visual outcomes were documented. Patients were divided into two groups based on the management required: group A? trabeculectomy and group B? medication + minor surgery. Results: A total of 85 patients were studied after applying the necessary inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of these, 46 underwent trabeculectomy for the control of intraocular pressure (IOP) and the remaining 39 were managed with antiglaucoma medications. Significant male predominance of 9.6:1 was observed. Patients presented to the hospital after a mean duration of 8.5 days posttrauma. Wooden objects were most commonly responsible for trauma. Mean best corrected visual acuity at presentation was 1.91 log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Mean IOP at presentation was 40 mmHg. The common anterior segment finding were severe anterior chamber (AC) reaction (63.5%), followed by angle recession (56.4%). Severe AC reaction (P = 0.0001) and corneal microcystic edema (P = 0.04) were significant predictive factors for early need of trabeculectomy. Conclusion: Need of trabeculectomy was higher in patients with severe AC reaction and corneal microcystic edema. The threshold to perform trabeculectomy should be lower, as glaucoma is often relentless, severe, and may result in irreversible vision loss.

Awareness and knowledge among paramedical staff about glaucoma surgeries and post-surgery counseling – A questionnaire based study at a tertiary eye care center in Central Rural India

Purpose: To determine the level of awareness and knowledge about glaucoma surgery and post?surgery counseling amongst paramedical staff at a tertiary eye?care hospital. Methods: This observational cross?sectional study included a random sample of 94 hospital personnel: 37 general nurse midwives, 47 ophthalmic assistants, and 10 patient caretakers (PCTs). Participants were administered a questionnaire about glaucoma surgery and post?surgery counseling of patients. Results: The study included 41 (43.6%) females and 53 (56.4%) males. The mean age of the participants was 24.85 ± 4.54 years. All participants were aware of trabeculectomy surgery in glaucoma (100%). A total of 95.7% knew that surgery helps in controlling IOP, of whom 57 (60.6%) participants got information during their course of learning. Overall 53 (56.4%) believed that surgery is done when medication failure occurs, and 58 (61.7%) knew that surgery helps in preserving vision. A total of 63 (67.0%) participants knew to counsel patients to visit an ophthalmologist when called for and take the treatment as advised, whereas 74 (78.7%) correctly said to visit an ophthalmologist immediately if pain/diminution of vision/discharge occurs. Overall, PCTs were found to be having significantly better knowledge (P = 0.01) compared to others and they also reported ophthalmologists as the chief source of information. Conclusion: This study revealed that paramedical staff had an excellent awareness of trabeculectomy surgery. However, the knowledge and counseling parts of the questionnaire revealed less than satisfactory responses. So, there is a need to continuously educate paramedical staff members so that they can help in propagating information about the role of glaucoma surgery and the importance of proper follow?up

Central macular thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness changes on spectral domain optical coherence tomography after cataract surgery in pediatric population

Purpose: To evaluate the central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) changes on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD?OCT) after cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in a pediatric population. Methods: This was a longitudinal, prospective, interventional study which included 90 pediatric patients who underwent cataract extraction with IOL implantation. Serial SD?OCT scans were done at postoperative day 1, 1?month, and 3?month follow?up. CMT and SFCT were measured at each visit. Results: A statistically significant increase in CMT was noted at 1 month (from 199.3 ?m to 210.04 ?m) post surgery, which declined over a 3?month period (202.70 ?m, P = 0.0001). In case of SFCT, a constant increase was observed for over 3 months of follow?up (baseline: 296.52 ?m; 1 month: 309.04 ?m; and 3 months: 319.03 ?m, P = 0.0001). The traumatic cataract group showed more pronounced changes in CMT and SFCT than the non?traumatic cataract group. No significant difference was observed regarding these parameters between those who underwent primary posterior capsulotomy (PPC) versus those who did not. None of the patients in the study group developed cystoid macular edema. These posterior segment–related anatomical changes did not affect the final visual outcomes. Conclusion: Cataract surgery induces potential inflammatory changes in the macula and choroid in pediatric patients. Such changes are more pronounced in trauma?related cases; however, they are not significant enough to affect the visual outcomes. Similarly, the additional surgical step of PPC does not induce significant anatomical or functional changes

Gonioscopic angle evaluation and its correlation with graft survival and post-operative ocular hypertension in patients of Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty

Purpose: To evaluate the gonioscopic changes in patients receiving Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) without pre?existing ocular hypertension (OHT) and to report its correlation with post?surgery OHT, graft survival, and visual outcomes. Methods: Adult patients who underwent DSEK surgery from April 2014 to March 2018 with at least 2 years of follow?up were analyzed in this retrospective study. Demographic details, indication of DSEK, necessary anterior and posterior segment findings, and the post?DSEK OHT details were documented. Results: A total of 58 patients (23 males and 35 females) with a mean age of 61.44 ± 8.8 years were included in the study. The most common etiology for DSEK surgery was pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in 47 eyes (81.03%). A total of 22.41% (13/58) eyes showed elevated intra?ocular pressure (IOP) following DSEK surgery. The most common cause of IOP elevation was steroid?induced OHT in seven eyes (12.06%). Gonioscopy examination revealed areas of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) in 17 (29.3%) eyes. OHT was found in 4/17 (23.5%) eyes having PAS. Three of these cases required trabeculectomy + goniosynechiolysis (GSL), and the fourth case required GSL alone to control IOP. These four cases also required repeat DSEK for failed grafts. The mean pre?operative best corrected visual acuity was 1.62 logMAR (range 1.17–1.77), which gradually improved to 0.79 logMAR (range 0.3–1.77) after 2 years (p < 0.00001). Conclusion: PAS was found to be an important factor associated with post?DSEK ocular hypertension in our study. OHT in PAS cases required definitive surgical treatments to control IOP. It adversely affected the graft survival and in turn affected visual outcomes also.

Outcomes and risk factors for failure of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in children with traumatic glaucoma - A retrospective study

Purpose: To determine surgical outcomes and risk factors for failure of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (TMMC) in pediatric traumatic glaucoma. Methods: Children who underwent TMMC post trauma from January 2014 to December 2019 were reviewed. Demographic features, ocular findings, and surgery details were noted. Surgical success was defined as achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) within 6–21 mm Hg. Results: Seventy?one eyes of seventy patients underwent TMMC. The mean age of the patients was 11.28 ± 3.63 years with a male/female ratio of 13:1. The median time from trauma to IOP rise was 13 days. The majority of the patients (n = 64, 90.1%) had close globe injury. Baseline IOP was 39.3 ± 10.5 mm Hg. Results of the surgery were noted at the last visit. Cumulative success was noted in 51 (71.8%) eyes, while 20 (28.2%) eyes were labeled failures. Mean IOP reduced from 39.3 ± 10.5 to 14.5 ± 8.1 mm Hg. Mean visual acuity improved from 2.3 ± 0.93 to 1.19 ± 1.08 logMAR. Post surgery, the mean follow?up of the patients was 20.3 ± 11.4 months. Age <6 years (RR 3.6), elevated IOP at 1 month after TMMC (RR 2.19), and hypotony within a week of surgery (RR 1.81) were found as independent risk factors of surgical failure. Conclusion: TMMC is effective in reducing IOP in traumatic glaucoma. Young age and inability to control IOP within normal ranges in the immediate period after surgery are important risk factors of failure.

Impact of online classes and home confinement on myopia progression in children during COVID-19 pandemic: Digital eye strain among kids (DESK) study 4

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the rate of progression of myopia before and during the COVID?19 pandemic and to assess the risk factors of hastened progression. Methods: All children with myopia of spherical equivalence ? ?0.5 D with at least two prior documented refractions 6 months and 1 year before were included. The annual progression rate before COVID?19 and during COVID?19 was calculated. Annual myopia progression was categorized as no progression (0), slow progression (<1 D), and fast progression (?1 D). Results: A total of 133 children (266 eyes) aged 6–18 years were included in the study. Mean annual myopia progression was found to be statistically significant during COVID?19 as compared with pre?COVID?19 (0.90 vs 0.25 D, P < 0.00001). A total of 45.9% of children showed an annual progression of ?1 D during the pandemic as compared with 10.5% before the COVID?19 (p < 0.00001). In multivariate analysis, history of rapid progression in pre?COVID?19 era (P = 0.002) and sun exposure <1 h/ day (P < 0.00001) were found to be independent risk factors for rapid myopia progression. Conclusion: Parents should consider risk of rapid myopia progression in children during current pandemic and children should be provided with socially distant outdoor activities to increase their sun exposure and diminish the rate of myopia progression

An alternative approach with a low dose and prolonged chemotherapy for palliative treatment of locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent squamous cell head and neck cancer

Background: It is expected that about 65,000 new patients will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2017 in the United States. Patients with recurrent or advanced or metastatic head and neck do not have good survival due to aggressive and recurrent nature of this cancer. Moreover, cumulative and residual toxicities from previous and ongoing treatments significantly impede quality of remaining part of their life. Currently available chemotherapeutic regimens for this group are derived from the treatments used for the potentially curable disease. These regimens and associated toxicity are obviously not the best matches for the treatment with palliative intent. We here present a retrospective study where we used dose-adjusted chemotherapy specifically for palliative treatment this sub-group of head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Study population was identified from the University of Florida, and IRB approval was obtained. We used currently available and approved chemotherapeutic agents (including Taxols, Platins, 5-Fluorouracil and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor inhibitors) for treatment of head and neck cancer but dose-adjusted at approximate 50% dose of currently recommended doses. We then gave personalized doses for a prolonged period by titrating doses based on response and tolerability of each patient. Data was collected for treatment, response, side effects, and outcomes. KM analysis was performed for survival data. Results: Total of 32 patients were included in this study with a median age of 65.2 years and a median follow-up of 10.1 months. 62.5% (n = 20) had locally advanced disease and rest had metastatic disease. 37.5% (n = 12) had new disease while rest had recurrent cancer. Of 32 patients, 14 patients received TPF based while 18 patients received PFE based chemotherapy. Total of 270 chemotherapy cycles were delivered among these 32 patients. They received a median of 9 cycles (range 3­14) over a median of 6.2 months (range 1.8­21.1). With this treatment approach, we noted median progression-free survival of 14.0 months and median overall survival of 15.7 months. Notable grade 3 toxicities were generalized fatigue in 12.5% (n = 4), nausea/vomiting in 6.3% (n = 2), diarrhea in in 6.3% (n = 2), mouth soreness in 6.3% (n = 2), rash in 3.1% (n = 1), neutropenia in 18% (n = 6) and anemia in 15.6% (n = 5) while notable grade 4 toxicities were neutropenia and anaphylaxis in 3.1% (n = 1) patient each (AU)

Role of HRCT temporal bone in pre operative evaluation of choesteatoma.

Background: Cholesteatoma is potentially dangerous condition as it can extend and erode into adjacent structures and can cause various serious complications. HRCT temporal bone very clearly depicts the anatomy of various small important structures in middle and inner ear cavity. Hence it is an excellent modality and investigation of choice in diagnosing and defining the extent of cholesteatoma. It has become essential investigation in preoperative planning for surgeon. Present study shows good correlation of various preoperative HRCT findings with intraoperative findings. Aims & Objective: To study the role of HRCT temporal bone in pre-operative evaluation of cholesteatoma. Material and Methods: Total 35 cases with clinically suspected cholesteatoma were selected for this study. All the patients were from Sir Sayajirao General Hospital, Vadodara and were scanned at the CT scan, Radiology Department of the hospital. The important intra-operative surgical findings were correlated with pre-operative HRCT findings. The results were analyzed, studied and compared with similar studies of the past. Results: Present study shows good correlation between the preoperative findings of cholesteatoma by HRCT temporal bone and intraoperative surgical findings. Conclusion: In present study HRCT enabled the pre-operative delineation of the cholesteatoma and the recognition of its manifestations and complications. HRCT is confirmed to be valuable in the diagnosis and in guiding the surgical management of cholesteatoma.