Central corneal thickness and corneal diameter in preterm and term newborns and preterm neonates at term

Purpose: To record central corneal thickness and corneal diameter in preterm and term newborns within first week of their birth and in preterm neonates at term age. Methods: Babies born at ?34 weeks of gestation period (n = 100), term babies who have a gestation period of >37 weeks (n = 100) and preterm neonates at term age (38-42 weeks) who were born at ?34 weeks (n = 100) were included in this hospital based observational descriptive study. Corneal diameter was taken by Castroviejo Calipers. Central corneal thickness was measured using portable ultrasonic pachymeter (Pachette 3). Refractive status of the eyes was measured using streak Wellch Allyn retinoscope under cyclopentolate cycloplegia. Results: Measure of central corneal thickness and corneal diameter in preterm newborns was found to be 633.5 ± 2.8 ?m and 8.1 ± 0.6 mm, in full term newborns it was 555.1 ± 2.7 ?m and 9.5 ± 0.6 mm, and in preterm neonates at term age, it was 563.5 ± 2.5 ?m and 9.6 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. Mean central corneal thickness was found to be more in preterm newborns 633.5 um then term newborns 555.1 um and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.001). Mean corneal diameter was found to be maximum (9.6 mm) in preterm neonates at term age. Conclusion: Preterm babies have thick corneas and small corneal diameters. This study is useful with respect to the analysis of glaucoma in children and using preterm corneas as donor corneas in penetrating keratoplasty.

Comparative double blind multicentric randomised placebo controlled clinical trial of a herbal preparation of eye drops in some ocular ailments.

A double masked placebo controlled multicentric randomised clinical trial was conducted in 157 patients suffering from different eye ailments namely, cataract, dry eye syndrome, ocular asthenia, refractive errors and allergic conjunctivitis with a herbal eye drop preparation and placebo. In both dry eye syndrome and ocular asthenia the herbal eye drop preparation was found better than placebo. In a few cases of cataract, the vision seems to be improved. In early myopia it seems to correct the refractive errors while in high myopic conditions it controlled the progressive deteriorations. Subjective improvements were also noted with hypermetropia, presbyopia and astigmatism. Its healing capacity in allergic conjunctivitis was certainly better than placebo. It had no short term or long term side-effects. It is considered to be a useful drug in all conditions studied.