Assessment of prevalence of dry eye among medical students using ocular surface disease index questionnaire – Is COVID-19 to be really blamed?

Purpose: An undergraduate research conducted during the pre?covid times, to highlight the importance of screen time and its association with dry eye in medical students. The aim was to study the prevalence of dry eye among medical students using the ocular surface index (OSDI) questionnaire. Methods: This was a cross?sectional study. This study was conducted among medical students using an OSDI questionnaire in the pre?covid times. Based on the pilot study, the minimum sample size calculated was 245. A total of 310 medical students participated in the study. These medical students answered the OSDI questionnaire. The OSDI score was used to categorize students with dry eye as mild (13–22 points), moderate (23–32 points), and severe (33–100 points). In addition, the associations between the OSDI score and possible risk factors such as gender, contact lens/spectacle wear, laptop/mobile usage, and duration of exposure to air conditioners were also studied. Results: The analysis of the study revealed that out of 310 students, dry eye was seen in 143 (46.1%) and severe dry eyes were seen in 50 (16.1%). A high OSDI score (>13 points) was associated with the usage of a laptop/mobile for more than 6 h in 40 (52.6%) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of dry eye among medical students was 46.1% in the present study. Longer duration of usage of visual display units (laptop/mobile) was the only factor that showed a statistically significant association with dry eye in our study.

Locally advanced cervical cancer: A study of 5-year outcomes

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women. This present retrospective study was conducted to report patient outcomes with locally advanced cervical cancer treated in the year 2010. Materials and Methods: Case records of cervical cancer patients registered from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2010 were retrieved. A total of 1200 patients were registered, of which 583 received either definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Of these, 345 patients who received complete treatment at our hospital were included for outcome analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient- and treatment-related variables, and Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed for survival analysis. Results: The median age was 56 years (range: 33–90). Squamous carcinoma was the most common histology (91.4%) and the majority were FIGO Stage III (45.4%). Median follow-up of the cohort was 44 months (1–85 months). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) across stages was 50%. Most important predictor of DFS was FIGO staging (Stage II vs. Stage III: 62% vs. 45%) and use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) l (RT vs. CTRT: 32% vs. 57%, respectively). Patients aged >70 years had a significantly poor DFS at 5 years; however, did not have any effect on survival. Grade 3 or more late toxicity was seen in only 5% of the patients. Conclusion: Five-year DFS of 62% and 45% of Stage II and III patients treated under routine care represents comparable stage-matched results to the rest of the world, respectively.

Eye donation – Awareness and willingness among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia.

Aim: Corneal blindness accounts for 3.42% of blindness in Malaysia; the rate of eye donation is low. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness about eye donation and willingness to donate eyes among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted on attendants who accompanied patients (n = 400) visiting various outpatient departments of the General Hospital and two peripheral clinics in Melaka between August and October 2007. The participants answered a questionnaire (Malay and English versions) which included demographic profile, awareness of eye donation, knowledge regarding facts of eye donation, and willingness to donate eyes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed at 5% level of significance. Results: Awareness of eye donation was observed in 276 (69%) participants. Multivariate analysis showed that awareness was more among females when compared to males (P = 0.009). Of the 276 participants who were aware of eye donation, only 34.42% were willing to donate eyes. Willingness was more among the Indian race (P = 0.02) and males (P = 0.02). Educational status did not influence the willingness to donate eyes. Conclusions: Although majority of participants were aware of eye donation, willingness to donate eyes was poor.

Assessment of Awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy Among the Diabetics Attending the Peripheral Diabetic Clinics in Melaka, Malaysia

In view of the alarming increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus in Malaysia, we conducted a study to assess the awareness of complications of diabetes among the diabetics attending the peripheral clinics in Melaka. The study period was from January 2007 to December 2007. 351 patients were included in the study. 79.8% were aware of the complications of diabetes mellitus and 87.2% were aware that diabetes can affect the eyes. However, only 50% of the patients underwent an ophthalmological evaluation. Although awareness was good, the motivation to undergo the assessment was poor.

Descriptive study on ocular survival, visual outcome and prognostic factors in open globe injuries.

A prospective observational study was done to assess ocular survival, visual outcome and prognostic factors of open globe injury. Eighty eyes of penetrating trauma between 2004 and 2006 were categorized according to the ocular trauma classification system. Primary repair was done and outcomes were assessed at one, three and six months. The final vision was categorized as per World Health Organization classification of visual impairment. Factors at presentation were evaluated for prognostic value towards visual outcome. Sixty-nine eyes with minimum one month follow-up were included for analysis. Statistical analysis was done using Univariate and Multivariate analysis. We found Grade IV visual acuity (<5/200) at presentation (64%) as the most important factor contributing to poor visual outcome. Statistically insignificant factors were time since injury, cataract, and presence of intraocular foreign body. Ocular survival was 97%. We concluded that initial visual acuity, hyphema, zone and length of injury, retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage are statistically significant factors affecting outcome in open globe injuries.

Bilateral macular hole secondary to remote lightning strike.

We report a case of a 16-year-old girl, who was struck by lightning, and experienced blurred vision in the right eye (RE) immediately following the episode. She reported for ophthalmic evaluation two months later. Examination revealed relative afferent pupillary defect in the RE. Posterior subcapsular cataract was noted in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed macular holes and multiple areas of RPE hyperpigmentation in the periphery in both eyes. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed increased choroidal transmission with early fluorescence and late fading in the foveal region and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) stippling in the periphery in both eyes. This is the first case report of such nature in India to the best of our knowledge.

Molecular assessment of genetic diversity in mung bean germplasm.

RAPD profiles were used to identify the extent of diversity among 54 accessions of mung bean that included both improved and local land races. Out of the 40 primers screened, seven primers generated 174 amplification products with an average of 24.85 bands per primer. The RAPD profiles were analysed for Jaccard's similarity coefficients that was found to be in the range from 0 to 0.48, indicating the presence of wide range of genetic diversity at molecular level. Cluster analysis was carried out based on distances (1-similarity coefficient) using neighbour-joining method in Free Tree package. The dendrogram resolved all the accessions into two major clusters, I (with 11 accessions) and II (with 43 accessions). However, the cluster was further divided into four subclusters (II A with six, II B with nine, II C with 15 and II D with 13 accessions). The distribution of the accessions in different clusters and subclusters appears to be related to their performance in field conditions for 10 morphological traits that were scored. This study indicated that the RAPD profiles provide an easy and simple technique for preliminary genetic diversity assessment of mung bean accessions that may reflect morphological trait differences among them.