Ophthalmic manifestations in people living with HIV attending a tertiary care centre of Eastern India.

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate ophthalmic lesions in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals in eastern part of India. One hundred and seventy-five Indian patients attending one tertiary care centre in Kolkata, were included in the study. Ophthalmic manifestations were found in 29.14%. Of them 64.70% had posterior segment lesion, 23.52% had neuro-ophthalmic lesion, 19.60% had anterior segment lesion, 15.69% had adnexal lesion. Human immunodeficiency virus retinopathy was the commonest ophthalmic lesion involving 23 eyes. Cytomegalovirus retinitis was found in only 10 eyes. Ophthalmic lesions were less common in this study than reported in earlier literature in India and abroad.

A cross-sectional study on aqueous humour lactate dehydrogenase level in retinoblastoma.

Lactate dehydrogenase enzyme is a non-specific marker found raised in different body fluids in various pathological conditions. This cross-sectional study was done in a medical college of Kolkata, India to find out lactate dehydrogenase level of aqueous humour in retinoblastoma cases. Aqueous humour lactate dehydrogenase level from 21 histology proved retinoblastoma cases and 21 controls was estimated and compared. Range of lactate dehydrogenase levels in retinoblastoma cases were 863-4819 IU/l; mean being 3396.9 IU/l; and in controls range was 48-146 IU/l; mean being 90.6 IU/l; 76.19% of retinoblastoma cases had value over 3000 IU/l. None of the controls had value above 150 IU/l. The difference between lactate dehydrogenase values of cases and controls was significant (p<0.001).

Posthepatitis aplastic anaemia presenting only with bilateral vision loss.

Aplastic anaemia is pancytopenia with marrow hypocellularity. Hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia is a varient or aplastic anaemia that follows an acute attack of seronegative hepatitis. Here a case of hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia presenting with sudden onset of severe simultaneous bilateral vision loss and without any other usual presenting signs is reported. Partial recovery of blood cell count occurred following immunosuppressive therapy. Posterior hyalodotmy helped rapid resolution of premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage. Although bilateral vision loss may rarely be the initial presentation of aplastic anaemia, no such report is known in hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia. Posthepatitis vision loss needs careful investigation to exclude an underlying haematological disorder.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the management of tumours in superolateral quadrant of orbit.

Forty-two cases of orbital lesions in superolateral quadrant were evaluated in our study by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Cases were histologically proven wherever possible. In 92.85% cases the diseases were correctly diagnosed. Females were mainly affected. Lymphomatous tumours were diagnosed on the basis of atypical lymphoid proliferation, correlated with clinical features and findings of computed tomographic scan and managed by radiotherapy. Pseudotumours, dermoid and epithelial tumours of lacrimal gland were diagnosed accurately except in one case of malignant mixed tumour where the malignant component was aspirated. Pseudotumours were treated by steroid, dermoid by excision. In case of adenocarcinoma and adenocystic carcinoma, tumour masses were removed by lateral orbitotomy and radiotherapy was applied when bony erosion was present. One case of eosinophilic granuloma was treated by radiotherapy and curettage. The suspected case of intra-osseous cavernous haemangioma did not turn up for treatment.

Ophthalmomyiasis.

Ophthalmomyiasis is a rare condition. Here two such patients, one of 70-year-old male farmer with history of neglected trauma presented with painful swelling with sinus of right orbit and the second one of 65-year-old female destitute who presented with fungating mass near the medial canthus of left eye with pain and bleeding are reported. All the maggots were removed after applying ether.

Ocular involvement in diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is a worldwide medical problem and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable impact on both the patient and the society because it typically affects individuals in their most productive years. It is also one of the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment. A person with diabetes has 25 times the risk of blindness compared to a non-diabetic. This article reviews the variety of ways in which the eye and its adnexa can be involved in diabetes mellitus.