Comparison of intraocular pressure lowering effect of Latanoprost and Timolol combination versus Latanoprost alone in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

To compare the intraocular pressure [IOP] lowering effect of topical drug combination [Latanoprost and Timolol] with Latanoprost alone in patients of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma [POAG]. Randomized controlled Trials [RCT]. Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology [AFIO] Rawalpindi from December 2009 to May 2011. A total of 240 eyes of 120 patients [68 males and 52 females] were included in the study. The patients were randomized into two groups of 60 each using random numbers table. Group A [60 patients, 12Q eyes] were put on topical drug combination of Latanoprost and Timolol eye drops and Group B [60 patients, 120 eyes] were treated with topical Latanoprost eye drops alone. IOP assessments were done at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks intervals after initiation of treatment. Both the groups were age matched with mean age in Group A was 56.39 +/- 8.50 years and in Group B was 55.61 +/- 8.95 years [p=0.09]. Both groups showed significant IOP decrease from the baseline at each follow up interval. However after 8 weeks of start of treatment, pressure lowering effect in group A [14.73 +/- 2.50 mmHg] was significantly more as compared to Group B [9.10 +/- 2.51 mmHg] [p<0.001]. Combination therapy of Latanoprost and Timolol is more effective as compared to monoyherapy with Latanoprost in lowering IOP of patients with POAG

Refractory keratitis in hot climate

This article presents patients with unilateral painful red eye refractory to recommended standard treatment regimes in which staining, culture and sensitivity reports were inconclusive. On ocular examination hazy cornea with central corneal abscess was common in all cases. Corneal biopsy was reserved for cases with inconclusive laboratory reports as well as poor response to standard treatment regime. The former revealed fungal hyphae in all cases. Patients mentioned had general predisposition e.g. diabetes mellitus, hot climate [Multan] as well as predisposing factors such as contact lenses, dry eye syndrome, poor ocular hygiene, agricultural background were more prone to fungal keratitis, hence better diagnosed and confirmed early by contemplating corneal biopsy