RESUMEN
We report two adult cases of abducens nerve palsy presenting immediately (within weeks) after they received the first dose of Covishield vaccination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain obtained after the onset of diplopia demonstrated demyelinating changes. The patients had associated systemic symptoms. Post-vaccination demyelination typically known as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) associated with several vaccines is more common in children. Although the mechanism of the nerve palsy remains unclear, it is suspected to be related to the post-vaccine neuroinflammatory syndrome. Cranial nerve palsies and ADEM-like presentations may represent part of the neurologic spectrum following COVID-vaccination in adults, and ophthalmologists should be aware of these sequelae. Although cases of sixth nerve palsy following COVID vaccination are already reported, associated MRI changes have not been reported from India.
RESUMEN
Purpose: The study was aimed at finding out the present pattern of referrals to the Pediatric Ophthalmology outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary eye care hospital and thus identify the discrepancy of referral, if any, which would help to modify and enhance the practice guidelines. Methods: The study was conducted by retrospectively collecting data from all referral letters that were already uploaded in the Electronic Medical Report (EMR) against all patients from June 2019 to December 2019. All pediatric patients in the age group of 0–16 years were included in the study. The practicing field of referring clinicians was noted along with the maximum information that could be collected from the referral letter and were thus assessed for the quality, accuracy, and timely referral. Results: Out of 77 referrals received in the study period, six referral letters neither had any mention of the designation of the referring clinician nor any specific diagnosis or details. Thus, only 71 patients were included for further study. The referring clinicians were mainly ophthalmologists, pediatricians, general practitioners (GPs), and others (cardiologists, neurologists). Maximum patients were referred by ophthalmologists (76%) but visual acuity was noted only for 30% of these patients. Almost half of the referral diagnosis was accurate. Pediatrician referrals were found to be more detailed and précised. Conclusion: There is a need for a standardized hospital?specific format of referrals and basic training to primary care providers on some simple tests (Lights reflex tests) for identifying the “red flags” in pediatric eye examination and thus enhancing the quality and timely referral per se