RESUMEN
To assess the awareness about glaucoma and the factors affecting it in urban Punjab population. Cross-sectional study. Study was conducted in March-April 2011 in Rawalpindi District Punjab, Pakistan. Glaucoma awareness study was conducted on urban population of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Taxila. Individuals belonging to medical profession [doctors, nurses and paramedics etc] were not included. Demographic details and educational status of all participants were documented. A brief structured close-ended study questionnaire was used to collect information about their awareness of risk factors, treatment aspects and complication of glaucoma. There were 729 participants in the study. Majority were females [60.1%] and adults [76.1%]. Literacy level of 40.2% was up to matriculate level. The study indicated that the awareness level about glaucoma was low especially about the recognition of high-risk groups and symptoms. Only one-third of respondents i.e. 32.6% had an idea about the symptoms of the disease and 27.4% participants had awareness of glaucoma as a blinding eye disease. Determinants of glaucoma awareness amongst study participants were gender, age, education level and occupation. Awareness of glaucoma was quite low among the urban population in Punjab. There is need of increased public health education to reduce glaucoma associated blindness and its burden on society
RESUMEN
To determine the association between pre-operative and intra-operative factors leading to transient corneal edema after phacoemulsification. Cohort study. Department of Ophthalmology, Shifa Foundation Community Health Centre, Islamabad, from October 2011 to September 2012. Patients undergoing phacoemulsification and Intraocular Lens [IOL] implantation were enrolled in the study using consecutive non-probability sampling. Pre-operative risk factors including peripheral corneal degenerations, the type and density of cataract were documented. Surgical risk factors included the incision site, the type of intraocular lens, the phacotechnique and the phacopower time. Postoperatively the patients were assessed for corneal clarity and the degree of striate keratopathy. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 17. There were 43% male and 57% female patients [n = 182]. Mean age was 58.92 +/- 13.00 years [median and mode-60 years]. Factors which increased the risk of transient corneal edema after phacoemulsification included hypertension [p = 0.022], dense nuclear cataracts [p=0.006], divide and conquer technique [p = 0.008], duration of phacopower use [p < 0.001] and peripheral corneal degenerations [p < 0.001]. Patients with peripheral corneal degenerations and dense nuclear cataracts had significantly higher rates of postoperative corneal edema. Use of phaco-chop technique and less phaco-power time helps in decreasing corneal edema