Anterior chamber depth in normal subjects by rotating scheimpflug imaging

Anterior chamber depth [ACD] is an important preoperative parameter in anterior segment surgery. Several factors are known to influence ACD, including race and geography. Our purpose was to sample data from various countries to characterize differences in ACD worldwide and, if any, assess their level of clinical significance. International, multicenter. Cross-sectional study. Using the Pentacam Eye Scanner [OCULUS GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany], we analyzed ACD measurements from 1077 eyes of 568 normal adults from nine countries spanning six continents. Differences between countries were assessed by comparison of 95% confidence intervals and by ANOVA. Normative thresholds were constructed at three standard deviations [SD] above and below the mean. Mean ACD was 3.11 mm overall, ranging from 2.91 mm [New Zealand] to 3.24 mm [United States]. The ACD among New Zealanders was significantly shallower [P < .0001] than that among Chinese, Egyptians, Germans, Indians, and Americans. The maximum difference in the mean ACDs was 0.33mm, between New Zealand and the United States. The shallowest 0.15% of normal ACD values occurred below 2.04mm overall, ranging from 1.69mm [New Zealand] to 2.42 mm [United States]. The deepest 0.15% of normal ACD values occurred above 4.18 mm overall, ranging from 4.03 mm [Saudi Arabia] to 4.35 mm [Brazil]. ACD did not vary significantly in the countries studied, with the notable exception of New Zealand. Surgeons should anticipate a greater likelihood of a shallow ACD when evaluating patients from New Zealand. Clinical examination and direct measurement of ACD are recommended. Finally, deep ACD has limited clinical utility in screening for keratoconus

Microbiology of dacryocystitis among adults population in southern Australia.

Retrospective study on microbiology of dacryocystitis cases in adults was carried out at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH). Sixty-four consecutive cases seen between March 2000 and June 2003 were included. Seventy-nine organisms were isolated from the sixty-six samples (1.2/specimen). Aerobic or facultative bacteria were recovered in 76 (96.2), fungi from two specimens (2.5%). And anaerobic bacteria from only one specimen (1.3%). Staphylococcus aureus (27), was most common followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6), Proteus mirabilis (4), Hemophilus parainfluenza (4) and H. influenza (4). Fifty-four samples showed single organism while 12 samples showed multiple organisms. Overall, Gram-positive organisms were predominating (54.4%) over Gram negative (41.8%) organisms. The current bacteriology of lacrimal duct obstruction in the population served by the RVEEH should be taken into account while selecting first line antimicrobial treatment for dacryocystitis and in prophylaxis in lacrimal drainage surgery.