Post-keratoplasty emergency visits at a hospital in Jordan

To evaluate the different complaints and presentations, such as emergency visits, after penetrating keratoplasty [PKP], ways of management, and the outcome of these visits. This prospective study included a total of 60 consecutive emergency visits by 55 post-PKP patients at the eye clinic in King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan between January 2007 and January 2008. Fifty-five patients were included [66.7%] with a preoperative diagnosis of keratoconus. Pain and gritty sensation were the main presenting symptoms; loose irritating sutures [26.7%], and graft rejection [25%] were the most common diagnoses. Fourteen patients [23%] were admitted to the hospital for either re-suturing or intensive treatment, the graft survived in all patients, while the visual acuity was preserved in 96.3%. Proper postoperative care is critical for a successful penetrating keratoplasty; early intervention of sight threatening complications increases the chance of graft survival and best-obtained vision

Sub anesthetic dose of propofol in eye surgery

To examine the efficacy and safety of sub-anesthetic dose of propofol for reducing patient awareness during peribulbar anesthesia in eye surgery. This study was conducted on 400 patients scheduled for elective cataract surgery at King Hussein Medical Center between August 2004 and May 2005 using peribulbar anesthesia. Patients were allocated to two groups. Two hundred patients received 0.5mg/kg propofol [group P] and the rest of patients didn't receive any sedation [group N]. Vital signs were monitored with continuous pulse oximetry and blood pressure measurements. Efficacy of sedation was assessed by recording patient recall of peribulbar block after 10 minutes of injection. Propofol was effective in reducing recall in 80% of patients in-group P. No major side effects were encountered. Propofol is safe and efficacious in reducing recall of anesthetic injection without major side effects

Ocular pseudoexfoliation associated with hearing loss

Ocular pseudoexfoliation [PXF] has been recently considered as a systemic disease affecting other organs as well as the eye. This prospective study is to assess the relationship between PXF and sensorineural hearing loss. Patients attending a general ophthalmic clinic at King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan from [March 2002 through to March 2003] who were found to have ocular PXF on routine ophthalmic examination were referred to the Audiometric Department. Pure tone hearing threshold was measured at 1, 2, 3 kHz for each ear and was compared with International Standard [ISO 7029] median age associated hearing loss at 1, 2, 3 kHz [AAHL]. Forty-one patients were studied of whom 24 were males [58.5%]; the mean age of the male patients was 78-years while that of the female group was 72-years. All patients had PXF affecting at least one eye, 16 patients [39%] had bilateral PXF. Overall [72-years] of 36 patients [87%] had a higher hearing threshold level [HTL] at 1, 2, 3 kHz [HTL [1, 2, 3] than the ISO 7029 median AAHL 1, 2, 3 which included [44 ears] of 22 patients in the male group [87%] and [28 ears] of 14 patients in the female group 82%. Approximately 26.8% of patients had glaucoma, however; there was no correlation between glaucoma and sensorineural hearing threshold level. The majority of patients with ocular PXF had sensorineural hearing loss compared to age-matched controls. Thus, there is increasing evidence that PXF is a systemic disease

Cleft lip palate with actopia lentis etpupillae

A 7-year-old male child with a history of bilateral cleft lip and palate presented with ectopia lentis et pupillae; there has been no previous reported association between cleft lip and palate and ectopia lentis