Comparison of levobunolol and brimonidine in prophylaxis of intraocular pressure [IOP] rise following ndryag laser capsulotomy

To compare the efficacy of topical 0.5% Levobunolol and 0.2% Brimonidine in preventing intraocular pressure rise after Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Randomized controlled trial [RCT]. Ophthalmology Department Combined Military Hospital Multan, from September 2010 to March 2011. A total of 82 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected from out-patient department and randomly divided into two equal groups. Topical 0.5% levobunolol was instilled in group A while 0.2% brimonidine was instilled in group B one hour before and immediately after doing Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. The intraocular pressure [IOP] was measured using Goldmann applanation tonometer 1, 3 and 24 hours later. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. There was no statistically significant difference in mean IOP between 0.5% Levobunolol group [Group A] and 0.2% Brimonidine group [Group B] at 1 hour, 3 hours and 24 hours after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. The mean intraocular pressure [IOP] one hour after Nd:YAG laser and topical treatment in group A was 16.10 +/- 1.60 mmHg while in group B was 15.65 +/- 3.01 mmHg [P=0.401]. Mean IOP after three hours in group A was 15.80 +/- 1.35 mm Hg and in group B was 15.05 +/- 2.15 mmHg [p=0.062]. Mean IOP after 24 hours in group A was 15.13 +/- 2.05 mmHg while in group B was 14.32 +/- 1.62 mmHg [p=0.058]. Both 0.5% Levobunolol and 0.2% Brimonidine are equally effective in controlling the IOP spike after Nd: yAG laser capsulotomy. Either of these medicines can be used as a prophylaxis to prevent rise in IOP after NdrYAG laser capsulotomy

Frequency of different grades of retinopathy in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients at military hospital Rawalpindi

To analyse the various types of retinopathy in individuals with type 2 DM. Descriptive study. Military Hospital Rawalpindi from January 2010 to July 2010. One hundred and fifty patients with type 2 DM were studied into for different types of retinopathy, based on history, clinical examination [ophthalmological] and laboratory investigations. Out of 150 patients who fulfilled the criteria for study, 93[62%] were male and 57[38%] were female patients, frequency of retinopathy was 28.67%. The duration of diabetes ranged from 5 to 30 years. The frequency of retinopathy was higher in males as compared to females. The mean age of the patients was 51.10 +/- 8.33 years with range 36-77 years. Proliferative retinopathy was seen more in those diabetic patients whose duration of disease was more than 10 years. They also showed poor glycaemic control in the form of raised blood glucose and HbA1C levels. About twenty eight percent of our diabetic patients are suffering from diabetic retinopathy. This can be controlled by early detection and effective treatment both in terms of strict glycemic control and laser photocoagulation, thus decreasing the morbidity and mortality due to this chronic disease

Interferon associated retinopathy

Interferon is an immunomodulating cytokine which is used to treat different diseases. Nowadays it is being commonly used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Few patients develop ocular complications secondary to the use of Interferon. We report here a case in which a young soldier with no other risk factors developed retinopathy changes after five months of interferon alpha 2b therapy which included cotton wool spots at the posterior pole and dot-blot haemorrhages in both fundi. These changes gradually started resolving after cessation of treatment and completely disappeared after six months