Safety of primary intraocular lens insertion in unilateral childhood traumatic cataract.

This study analyzes the results of cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens implantation in unilateral childhood traumatic cataract following penetrating trauma and its long term follow up. It is a hospital based study of 114 children (age 3-10 years) with unilateral traumatic cataract who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction/ lens aspiration with implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL). Primary posterior capsulotomy (PPC) was performed in 57 eyes and the rest 57 were without PPC (NPPC). The patients were followed up at regular intervals for a period of 3 years. Postoperative inflammation and pupillary capture were two frequent complications seen during postoperative period. Development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) was 1/57, 4/57 at 8th week and 7/30 and 14/39 at 6 months, in PPC and NPPC group, respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)>or=6/18 was achieved in 50% of eyes at 8th week post operatively and the same at 3 years with/without membranectomy/capsulotomy was evident in 73.3% of eyes. Meticulous case selection with insertion of "in the bag IOL" and subjecting the traumatized cataractous eyes to primary posterior capsulotomy are factors responsible for optimal outcome in unilateral traumatic cataract in children.

Retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary care hospital in eastern Nepal.

World Health Organization's Vision 2020 program has recognized Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) as an important cause of childhood blindness in industrialized and developing countries. In the last few years, it has been identified in many under developed countries as well, as a result of improved neonatal intensive care. In Nepal, ROP screening is carried out in a few tertiary hospitals but there is no published data on this disease. The purpose of this study was to find out the incidence, severity and risk factors of ROP among infants screened in a tertiary care hospital in the Eastern Region of Nepal. A prospective cohort study was carried out in neonates with gestational age of 34 weeks or less and, or birth weight of 1700 gm or less born over the period of one year. Dilated fundus examination of all babies was done by indirect ophthalmoscopy between 2-4 weeks after birth and followed up till the retinal vascularization was complete. Classification of ROP was done according to international classification (ICROP). Maternal and neonatal risk factors were also noted. A total of 55 babies fulfilled the screening criteria. ROP was present in 25.45% (n=14) of the babies. Threshold disease was noted in 5.45% (n=3) of the babies screened. Low birth weight (p<0.01) and low gestational age (p<0.01) was significantly associated with the incidence of ROP. Oxygen supplementation (p=<0.01) was an independent risk factor. ROP screening should be performed in all preterm low birth weight infants where there is availability of good neonatal intensive care units. The examination should be intensified in those having risk factors like oxygen. Further studies in the other tertiary care hospitals in Nepal would help to establish the screening criteria for Nepalese infants.

Striving for the perfect surgery in traumatic cataract following penetrating trauma in a tertiary care hospital at eastern Nepal.

This study analyzes the result of traumatic cataract surgery in a tertiary care hospital at eastern Nepal. It is a hospital-based study of 112 patients (age 15-62), who underwent cataract extraction for unilateral traumatic cataracts. The study was carried out to evaluate the surgical outcome of tramatic cataract. Thirty-eight eyes had associated posterior capsular defect. No serious postoperative complications were encountered. Posterior capsular opacification at the end of sixth week was evident only in two eyes. Best corrected visual acuity nof 6/18 or more at the eighth week was achieved in 61 (54%) eyes. Astigmatism of less than 3D was achieved in 82 (73%) eyes. Rational surgical approach in traumatic cataract provides encouraging results. To comment on actual outcome long term follow up is mandatory.

Etiology and clinical profile of pediatric cataract in a tertiary care center of Eastern Nepal.

Cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness in children. There are very few studies from Nepal on pediatric cataract. The present study is an attempt to get information on clinical profile and etiology of cataract in pediatric age group with an emphasis on preventable factors. A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out in a tertiary referral hospital in Eastern region of Nepal. After obtaining detail history, all children upto 14 years of age with cataract underwent examination under slit lamp or the operating microscope. Cataract is broadly classified into traumatic and non-traumatic groups. TORCH test for rubella, random blood sugar, urine reducing substance, chromosomal analysis were done in children with non-traumatic cataract Out of 172 children 34 (88%) had non-traumatic and 65 (12%) traumatic cataract. The mean age was 5.63 +/- 3.59 years and 7.39 +/- 3.94 years in non-traumatic group and traumatic group respectively. 8 (9.82%) patients with non-traumatic cataract were below the age of one year. Among non-traumatic cataract, 42 (37.50%) had hereditary, 9 (8.03%) had systemic syndromes, 5 (4.46%) had cataract due to maternal infection, 3 (2.67%) had metabolic disorder. While 11 (9.82%) cataract were associated with other ocular dysmorphology, cause was not ascertained in 31 (idiopathic). 11 (9.82%) had complicated cataract. 24.1% (n=27) of children with bilateral cataract had nystagmus at the time of presentation to hospital. In traumatic group, play related injuries were more common than household injuries. A very few children were below one year of age at the time of presentation to hospital. Establishing pediatric vision screening program in the primary health posts, genetic counseling, maternal immunization, health education to school children and use of safety glasses are some important measures that could prevent cataract blindness in our children.

Indirect traumatic optic neuropathy--retrospective interventional case series from a tertiary care center in eastern Nepal.

To report the demography, nature of insult and ocular characteristics in patients presenting with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy and to evaluate the visual outcome with mega dose methylprednisolone therapy. Retrospective hospital data analysis of all patients admitted with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy and treated with mega dose methylprednisolone therapy in the last three years was conducted. Nine patients (M:F= 8:1) were identified with unilateral optic nerve injury. Road traffic injury was the most common cause of injury. Lid ecchymosis and swelling on the same side was the most frequent ocular abnormality noted, followed by loss of consciousness. Time of presentation varied from 3 hours to 11 days. All patients except two had visual acuity of no light perception at presentation. Following therapy there was improvement in visual acuity in two patients who presented within two days of injury. Patients present late with traumatic optic neuropathy in this hospital. Most of the patients are with no light perception. High dose steroids was found to be beneficial only in patients presenting early (<two days).

Topiramate induced bilateral angle-closure glaucoma.

Topiramate is a sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide and is used as an antiepileptic medication. It can also be used as a prophylactic agent for headache from migraine. The main purpose of this article is to create awareness among medical colleagues regarding severe ophthalmic side effect of topiramate. This is the first reported case of topiramate induced bilateral angle-closure glaucoma in Nepal. This case was managed successfully by discontinuing topiramate and by starting anti-glaucoma medication along with atropine eye drops which were tapered and eventually discontinued.

Effectiveness of combination of permanent and releasable scleral flap sutures in trabeculectomy: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Trabeculectomy is a commonly used surgical treatment for glaucoma. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of combination of permanent and releasable scleral flap sutures to minimize the immediate postoperative complications of trabeculectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in Department of Ophthalmology, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. Forty one eyes of 34 patients undergoing trabeculectomy were randomized to undergo either conventional trabeculectomy (Group A= 20 eyes) or trabeculectomy with combination of permanent and releasable scleral flap sutures (Group B =21 eyes). The parameters studied were intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and surgical complications over a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: Significantly higher number of eyes belonging to group A (14 eyes) had shallower anterior chamber than group B (7 eyes) on first post operative day (p=0.042). Six eyes (30%) in group A had peripheral or central irido-corneal touch in early postoperative period as compared to only one in Group B. Hypotony was noted in 3 eyes in each group. Two patients in group A required reformation of anterior chamber. Other surgical complications in the two groups were similar. Both the groups had a significant drop in IOP following surgery. However, there was no significant difference in the IOP between the two groups after 6 weeks (Group A: 10.95 +/- 3.03 mmHg vs. Group B: 12.29 +/- 4.67 mmHg; p=0.87). There was a significant drop in IOP following removal of sutures (15.19 +/- 6.15 mmHg to 13.19 +/- 6.13 mmHg; p=006) in group B. CONCLUSION: Use of combination of permanent and releasable scleral flap sutures is a safe technique that significantly reduces the incidence of immediate postoperative shallow anterior chamber after trabeculectomy.

Doctor's role in early detection of diabetic retinopathy and prevention of blindness from its complications.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microangiopathy, which is caused by chronic hyperglycemia, affecting the retinal arterioles, capillaries and venules, complications of which lead to incurable blindness. Approximately 10% of the diabetic population has type I diabetes mellitus (DM) which is diagnosed before the age of 30 years and rest is type II which is diagnosed after the age of 30 years. In UK 2% general population is affected by DM. In developed countries, diabetic retinopathy is an important and leading cause of blindness in working age group where as in developing western countries this figure occupy 12% of the blindness. In developing countries like Nepal, cataract still remains a main cause of blindness and diabetes is not considered as a major problem. However due to a rapid urbanization and modernization of population, diabetes mellitus is becoming an endemic disease and bringing a new challenge in blindness reduction program.

Variation of intraocular pressure in patients with leprosy.

INTRODUCTION: There are various controversial reports on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with leprosy. PURPOSE: The current study was undertaken to study the level of intraocular pressure in leprosy patients and its association with the risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cross sectional comparative study. An ophthalmologist and a dermatologist evaluated consecutive 93 patients with leprosy. The risk factors studied were age, gender, bacillary index, clinical diagnosis, duration of disease and treatment; and ocular complications. The IOP in these patients was compared with healthy age and sex matched controls. RESULTS: A total of 186 leprosy patients (93) and healthy controls (93) were studied. The mean applanation IOP for the right and left eyes in leprosy patients was 12.87 1.20 mm of Hg and 13.222.70 mm of Hg respectively. This was found to be significantly lesser (p<0.001) than in the controls (RE=15.142.58 and LE=15.412.36 mmHg). The untreated leprosy patients had significantly lower IOP than those with treatment (p<0.001). None of the risk factors were found to be independently associated with the decrease in IOP. The duration of treatment, however, showed a trend towards having a significant association (p=0.057) with the lower level of IOP. CONCLUSION: The level of IOP is lower in leprosy patients than in the healthy controls. Age, gender, bacillary index and presence of ocular complications due to leprosy are not independently associated with the decrease in IOP. The untreated leprosy patient tends to have a lower IOP. This finding can be used to monitor effectiveness of treatment of leprosy.