ABSTRACT
Purpose: To analyze applications for blindness certificates to find causes of visual impairment (VI), handicap, and blindness in a tertiary hospital of Bihar. Methods: Applications for blindness certificates were analyzed over a two-year period. The main cause of blindness, visual handicap, and VI in these applications was ascertained by age group and etiology. VI disability percentages and definitions proposed by Governmen of India (category 0� 20�0%) were used to categorize and give percentage to all applicants. Results were compared with data from studies on blindness certificates and population based studies. Results: In total, 203 applicants were reviewed. Mean age was 23.5 � 7.9 years. Overall, most common cause of visual handicap (40�0% impairment) and blindness (75�0% impairment) was macular pathology (P <.05), while most common cause of overall VI (20�0% impairment) was amblyopia. In age group 0� years, most common causes of blindness/visual handicap were congenital globe and hereditary retinal or optic nerve disorders (P = 0.016). In age group 16� years, macular pathology was the most common cause of visual handicap [P = 0.007], while amblyopia was the most common cause of VI [P = 0.00]. Between 31 and 45 years of age group, corneal scar in one eye was the most common cause of VI, while macular scar in both eyes was the most common cause of visual handicap. Glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy were the most common causes of blindness/visual handicap between 46 and 65 years and above 65 years of age, respectively. Data about causes of VI such as amblyopia, complicated cataract surgery, and one eyed blindness could not be ascertained by analyzing blindness certificate alone. Conclusion: Data from applications for blindness certificates provide valuable information regarding different causes of VI that might otherwise not be eligible for blindness certification and provide an insight into the overall trends in disease profile and service delivery.
ABSTRACT
Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare progressive disorder. It is characterized by the appearance of unusually accelerated aging (progeria) including bilateral senile cataract. Here, we report a successful management of hypermature cataract in WS.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To study the safety and efficacy of biologic fibrin glue (FG) in comparison with infinity suture in SICS with compromised scleral flap. Methods: A retrospective comparative study of patients who were treated with FG (Group A) with 10�nylon (Group B) as sealing agent for intraoperative compromised tunnels in SICS. Parameters noted were postoperative inflammation, wound integrity, anterior chamber (AC) depth, intraocular pressure (IOP), and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) at postoperative day 1, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months, respectively. Epi Info 7 software and SIA calculator, Version 2.1 were used to analyze the result. Results: We reviewed the two groups of 18 patients each and noted that there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative inflammation (P > 0.05), AC depth (P > 0.05), and IOP (P > 0.05) between both groups at each postoperative visit. One patient in Group A showed postoperative shallow AC and subconjunctival bleb. Exposed sutures causing foreign body sensation had to be removed in five patients in Group B. At the end of 6-month postoperative period, no statistically significant difference was found in SIA (P = 0.92) between the two groups. Conclusion: Biologic FG can be safely used in securing the compromised scleral incisions in SICS. It also avoids suture-related complications.