Modified low temp ophthalmic cautery for capsulorhexis

Purpose: To study the use of low temp ophthalmic cautery tip in performing continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and the effect of heat produced by cautery on the corneal endothelium Materials and Methods: The tip of an ordinary low temp ophthalmic cautery was improvised with the use of stylet of a Simcoe I&A, fashioned like a Sinskey IOL manipulator. 20 rabbits were used in this experiment -10 right eyes served as cases and 10 left eyes as controls. In the experimental eyes, viscoelastic was injected prior to a 7mm capsulorhexis; in the control eyes, no capsulorhexis was done. The cornea of both experimental and control were removed in toto and submitted for histopathologic studies Results: A complete capsulorhexis was performed in all 10 experimental eyes. The anterior capsular flap adheres to the advancing cautery tip; continuous and circular capsulorhexis was observed. There was no significant difference observed between the experimental and control groups regarding endothelial cell loss Conclusion: The modified low temp ophthalmic cautery tip produced a complete capsulorhexis, with no effect on the corneal endothelium.

Essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (tanglad; lemon grass) as a potential antifungal topical eye medication: In vivo study

Preparation of the essential oil of lemon grass was done in collaboration with the Chemical and Minerals Department of DOST. Properly washed and air dried mature leaves of lemon grass were used. Essential oil was extracted by means of hydrodistillation wherein the cut leaves were placed in a 4 liter erlenmeyer flask filled with tap water which was sealed and connected to a Clevenger tube for collection. This was then dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The percentage oil yield of the sample was computed in terms of volume per weight percent. Moisture of free oils were stored in amber colored bottles at 4 degrees centigrade A 1.17 percent has been extracted through this process. The oil obtained was subjected to bioassay gas chromatography. The gas chromatogram found that Citral was the major component with a concentration of 69.39 percent. The physical properties of lemon grass essential oil in Table 1 Antifungal sensitivities were determined with tube dilution methods. The MIC for Fusarium solani was determined at 625 ug/ml and the MFC was at 700 ug/ml. The MIC of Aspergillus was at 500 ug/ml and MFC was at 570 ug/ml.