Treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis with diclofenac sodium eye drops 0.1%

Twenty seven patients having bilateral active vernal keratoconjunctivitis [VKC]: 5 mild [all palpebral], 14 moderate [9 palpebral and 5 mixed] and 5 severe [all mixed] were treated with a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops [Diclofenac Sodium 0.1%] for 4 weeks. Two patients did not complete treatment. All symptoms disappeared in mild cases except itching in one patient. Total score of foreign-body sensation was markedly reduced in moderate and severe cases [92% and 75% respectively], while total score of photophobia showed the least decrease in both groups [63.6% and 58.33% respectively]. Conjunctival hyperaemia and discharge disappeared in all mild cases with treatment. The greatest decrease in total score of clinical signs was in conjunctival hyperaemia for moderate cases [90.9%] and in conjunctival discharge for severe cases [70%]. While the least decrease was in superficial punctate keratitis [SPK] [46.6% and 33.33% in moderate and severe cases respectively]. In all cases tarsal papillae did not disappear but became less hyperaemic and slightly smaller in size. Diclofenac Sodium eye drops 0.1% could be considered an additional tool in treatment of VKC as it showed efficacy in managing most of symptoms and signs. Its action is similar to systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDS] without having their side effects

Acute ophthalmological problems among patients attending Benha University Hospital

Two hundred and sixty four patients having acute ophthalmological problems who attended outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department or emergency room in Benha University Hospital during the last three months of the year 1994 were studied. Acute ocular inflammations, ocular trauma and miscellaneous causes represented 36.7%, 36% and 27.3% of cases respectively. Acute conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and acute allergic conjunctivitis were the commonest in the previous three categories [40.2%. 35.8% and 48.6% respectively]. Acute ocular inflammations were common in preschool children [76.7%], rural residents [42.5%] and non-educated patients [42.0%]. Ocular trauma affected males more than females with a ratio of [1.6: 1]. It occurred mainly in childhood [48.4%] and in manual and skilled workers [48.6%]. Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of ocular trauma in childhood [52.2%] while foreign bodies were the commonest in adults [42.9%]. Self referral accounted for 80.7% of cases while referral by private or general health services accounted for the remainder [11.7% and 7.6% respectively]. Among the studied cases, 73.8% attended the out-patient clinic and 26.2% attended the emergency room. Most of acute ocular Inflammations [81.5%] received out-patient medical treatment, while cases of ocular trauma were mainly surgically managed either in outpatient [45.3%] or inpatient [28.4%]. Miscellaneous cases were either medically treated in outpatient [63.9%] or were admitted to hospital for surgical or medical management [29.2% and 6.9% respectively]. Residents managed most cases of acute inflammations and ocular trauma alone [87.6% and 85.2% respectively], while staff interfered more in management of miscellaneous cases [31.9%].Preventive measures for ocular infection and trauma are recommended. Supply of needed equipments and continuous training of residents is essential to maintain effective services

Angle changes after anterior chamber lens implantation

Twenty two patients [25 eyes] having uncomplicated senile cataract were operated upon by intracapsular cataract extraction with primary implantation of semiflexible and flexible anterior chamber lenses. Postoperative angle changes in three months duration were studied. Semiflexible lenses were associated with high incidence of coarse iris-haptic adhesions and peripheral anterior syhnechiae with rise in intraocular pressure. While flexible lenses showed fine iris-haptic adhesions and less incidence of peripheral anterior synechiae