ABSTRACT
Background: Corneal diseases are among the major cause of vision loss and blindness in the world today. Corneal transplantation remains the mainstay of treatment. Hence creation of awareness carries paramount importance. Aim of this study is to assess the awareness about eye donation amongst attendants of deceased patients, their willingness to donate eyes and the reasons for poor donation rate. To assess the efficacy of grief counselling by Eye Donation Counsellor (EDC), its impact on the conversion rateMethods: A prospective hospital based study was done in 135 participants (guardians of deceased subjects) admitted in intensive care units, from June 2017 to June 2018. Counsellor accompanied with a junior resident would first screen the cases. Relatives of suitable cases were approached and counselled in a systematic manner following a standard interview pattern. Responses were noted in a predesigned proforma.Results: Among 618 deceased cases 135 potential donors were identified.57.8% next of kin were aware of the concept of eye donation, but 42.2% were not. After counselling, willingness for eye donation was seen in 54.1%, others refused. Among 57.8% kin who were aware, 51.3% gave consent. Prior knowledge of eye donation, literacy and socioeconomic status did not have any significant influence on willingness. Counselling was found to be the best method to facilitate eye donation.Conclusions: An active counselling by eye donation counsellor is the main factor which is responsible for eye donation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Brimonidine is a potent ocular hypotensive agent widely used in glaucoma treatment. A reduction in central corneal thickness can lead to an underestimation of intraocular pressure by Goldmann applanation tonometry and vice versa. The aim of this study is to determine whether brimonidine has an effect on central corneal thickness.Methods: 30 eyes of patients who attended the Ophthalmology OPD between the time period October 2017 and June 2018 who were newly diagnosed with normal tension glaucoma with no history of any systemic illness or not on any medication were included. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation including fundus examination, visual field assessment, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness measurement by pachymetry before as well as 1 month and 6 months after starting treatment with 0.2% topical brimonidine twice daily.Results: Administration of brimonidine 0.2% resulted in an increase in central corneal thickness from 525±21 µm before starting brimonidine to 528±21 µm (p<0.05) after 1 month and 535±20 µm (p<0.001) after 6 months. It also resulted in a reduction in intraocular pressure from an initial value of 16±2 mmHg before starting brimonidine to 14±2 mmHg (p<0.05) and 13±2 mmHg (p<0.05), 1month and 6 months after starting treatment, respectively.Conclusions: The data presented in this study show that topical administration of 0.2% brimonidine twice daily results in a significant increase in central corneal thickness in patients with normal tension glaucoma.