Diabetic retinopathy screening at primary and community health centers in Maharashtra

In order to integrate and improve eye care in noncommunicable disease (NCD) clinics, screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) was introduced in primary and secondary-level government health facilities. Initially, the project was carried out at the fixed health facilities at one district hospital (DH), two sub-district hospitals (SDH) and two community health centers (CHCs). This was combined with training of existing health care personnel, information-education-communication (IEC) campaign among patients and service providers along with the provision of essential equipment required for screening. In the revised strategy, NCD nurses were also trained for screening. Of 12,788 DM patients registered in NCD clinics, 63.8% (n = 8159) were screened for DR by trained paramedical ophthalmic assistants and the four trained NCD nurses using non-mydriatic fundus camera and teleophthalmology supported remote grading of retinopathy. DR was detected in 9.45% (n = 771) patients and sight-threatening DR (STDR) was detected in 2.35% (n = 192) in one or both eyes. Of 8,159 people screened, 55% (n = 4481) and 45% (n = 3678) were screened at CHC and mobile screening at primary health centers (PHC), respectively. DR screening in a fixed facility at CHC combined with the mobile screening at PHC level and fixed-day screening strategy provides effective coverage.

Effect of health education and screening location on compliance with diabetic retinopathy screening in a rural population in Maharashtra

Purpose: To compare the acceptance of diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening by the proximity of care and health education in rural Maharashtra. Methods: Study was done in the public health facilities in four blocks (in two blocks at community health center (CHC) level and in other two blocks at primary health center (PHC) level with the provision of transport from villages to PHCs) over 3 months. Health education was not imparted in one block in each segment. Health education consisted of imparting knowledge on diabetes mellitus (DM) and DR by trained village-level workers. The screening was done using non-mydriatic fundus camera and teleophthalmology supported remote grading of DR. Results: In the study period, 1,472 people with known diabetes were screened in four blocks and 86.6% (n = 1275) gradable images were obtained from them. 9.9% (n = 126) were detected having DR and 1.9% (n = 24) having sight-threatening DR (STDR). More people accepted screening closer to their residence at the PHC than CHC (24.4% vs 11.4%; P < 0.001). Health education improved the screening uptake significantly (14.4% vs 18.7%; P < 0.01) irrespective of the place of screening—at CHC, 9.5% without health education vs 13.1% with health education; at PHC, 20.1% without health education versus 31.6% with health education. Conclusion: Conducting DR screening closer to the place of living at PHCs with the provision of transport and health education was more effective for an increase in the uptake of DR screening by people with known diabetes in rural Maharashtra.

The clinical profile and prevalence of dry eye in tertiary care hospital- based population

Background: Dry eye is recognized as a growing public health problem and one of the most frequent reasons for visiting an ophthalmologist in middle and old age people. Objectives: To the best of our knowledge, very less study has been undertaken in central India on dry eye. The present study was designed to study clinical profile and to evaluate the true prevalence and risk factors of dry eye in central India. Materials and Methods: A total of 1562 participants aged 30 years or more visiting ophthalmology department in a tertiary care rural hospital enrolled in a study. Study duration was 18 months. The study design was a prospective, cross-sectional, and observational study. An ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire was administered to all participants and individuals with OSDI score greater than 12 were further evaluated with dry eye tests in sequence of tear break-up time, lissamine green staining, Schirmer-1 test, and slit-lamp examination for meibomian gland dysfunction. The participants with OSDI Score ≥13 were diagnosed to be having dry eye. The data were compiled and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS v.17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of dry eye in our study was 24.7%. Prevalence of lipid layer, aqueous layer, and mucin layer deficiency dry eye was 13.8%, 5.2%, and 7.8%, respectively. Increasing age, illiteracy, and menopause were the significant risk factors and female sex, urban habitat, and laborer and factory worker were insignificant risk factors for dry eye. Conclusion: Prevalence of dry eye in our study is higher than reported in literature in central India. Lipid anomaly dry eye was the most prevalent, followed by mucin layer deficiency and lastly aqueous tear deficiency.

Dohra- a mixture of potent carcinogens

Background & objectives: Dohra is a areca nut preparation used with or without tobacco in a few of the areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. There is evidence that it causes potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer. This study was undertaken to provide information on dohra by searching through literature and also through a survey in three areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Methods: The information on dohra was collected through literature search, study tour to different areas of UP, where group discussions with dohra vendors and with community members of different age group were done to obtain information. Results: Dohra was prepared by the users for their personal use or prepared by small-scale industry for sale. It was available mostly in betel shops or any other store/kiosks and was also available in special dohra shops. Dohra was available in both dry and wet form. Its common constituents were areca nut, catechu (Acacia catechu), edible lime, peppermint (Mentha piperita), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and some flavoring agents. Dohra was consumed as such or with tobacco. Interpretation & conclusions: Different varieties of Dohra were available such as sukha dohra, sukha mulethi dohra and geela dohra. Different processing methods for producing dohra existed. As dohra increases the risk of cancer, it needs to be banned or it should be sold in packets with the details of its constituents and also statutory warning about its adverse health effects.

Mycotic keratitis due to Engyodontium album: First case report from India.

Engyodontium album is a rare and an unusual human pathogen. It is a common inhabitant of waste and moist material and frequently isolated from substrates such as paper, jute, linen and painted walls. This fungus grew within 3 days on SDA with chloramphenicol from corneal scrapping of a 70‑year‑old male farmer with a history of trauma by unknown vegetative matter. The fungus can be confused with Tritirachium sp and Beauveria sp.