Refractive profile of children treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity

Purpose: To study the refractive profile of children after they received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary eye care hospital in South India. ROP patients of more than 1 year of age, presenting to the Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic and Retina Clinic and having history of treatment for type ? ROP with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or intravitreal bevacizumab and laser photocoagulation were included in the study. Cycloplegic refraction was done, and the refractive status was evaluated. The refractive status of age?matched, full?term children with uneventful perinatal and neonatal history was also recorded and compared to the study group. Results: Among 134 eyes of 67 study subjects, the major refractive error was myopia in 93 eyes (69.4%; spherical equivalent [SE] = ?2.89 ± 3.1, range = ?11.5 to ?0.5 D). There were 75 eyes (56%) with low?to?moderate myopia; high myopia was seen in 13.4%, emmetropia in 18.7%, and hypermetropia in 11.9% of eyes. The majority of them (87%) had with?the?rule (WTR) astigmatism. In 134 eyes, the SE was ?1.78 ± 3.2 (range = ?11.5 to 4 D); the SE of the 75 eyes with low?to?moderate myopia was ?1.53 ± 1.2 (range = ?0.50 to ?5 D). In the control group, the majority had emmetropia (91.8%). There was no significant association between the age at which IVB had been injected and the development of refractive errors (P = 0.078). The prevalence of low?to?moderate myopia was more than high myopia in patients with zone ? and zone ? ROP before treatment (60.0% and 54.5%, respectively). Conclusion: Myopia was the major refractive error seen in post?IVB pediatric patients. WTR astigmatism was more commonly seen. The age at which IVB injection had been given had no effect on the development of refractive errors

‘A down and out eye’ - A case report of unilateral eccentric proptosis secondary to frontoethmoidal mucocele

Proptosis, the forward protrusion of the eyeball, is a common manifestation of a wide variety of diseases inside the orbit and its spaces. The causes of unilateral proptosis are innumerable and its evaluation requires a multidisciplinary approach. Paranasal sinus mucoceles are epithelium-lined cystic masses usually resulting from obstruction of sinus ostia. The close proximity of paranasal sinus mucoceles to the orbit and skull base predispose patients to significant morbidity. Primary ethmoid mucocele is an uncommon entity, especially in the absence of prior ear, nose and throat complaints, and therefore should remain an important differential when a patient presents with a unilateral swelling causing proptosis. Herein, we report an unusual case of a primary frontoethmoid mucocele in a 35 years old woman who presented with a painless swelling with an obvious displacement of the left eye since 1 year, associated with restriction of ocular movements, thus prompting radio imaging of orbits. The results showed a large well-defined expansile lesion suggestive of Left Eye frontoethmoidal mucocele, prompting an immediate surgical referral.

A rare case of acquired ptosis in a child secondary to Pituitary macroadenoma

Pituitary adenomas are rare neoplasms with a propensity for unusual presentations and an aggressive clinical course. An 8 years old female child presented to Department of Ophthalmology at SVS Medical College and Hospital Mahabubnagar with the chief complaints of mild ptosis of RE since 1month, associated with fever, headache, vomiting and diplopia since 2 days. On ocular examination, BCVA in BE - 6/9 and anterior segment examination suggested RE mild ptosis with hypotropia and adduction restriction. Fundus examination was normal. There was no palpable mass/ bruit in the orbit. MRI revealed lobulated enhancing soft tissue lesion in sella and parasellar region extending into basifrontal region causing pressure over optic chiasm, 3rd ventricle and cavernous sinuses suggestive of pituitary macroadenoma. Hormonal essays revealed elevated prolactin, beta HCG levels and abnormal thyroid profile. On the basis of clinical examination and investigations a clinical diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma was made. Then the case was referred to department of neurosurgery where transphenoidal resection under GA was planned and after 2days of admission she had a respiratory arrest and could not be resuscitated.

Potpourri of retinopathies in rare eye disease – A case series

This case series describes the ocular and retinal manifestations of rare eye diseases in systemic syndromes. This observational case series consists of five patients with varied ophthalmic manifestations and documentation of imaging in rare pediatric and adult retinopathies. Two patients had Kearns Sayre syndrome (KSS) based on the classical triad of external ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy, and onset before 20 years of age. In one patient of KSS, the mitochondrial retinopathy was seen in an asymmetric pattern, and the second patient presented with KSS after being mis-diagnosed as myasthenia gravis elsewhere. A case of Senior Loken syndrome in pediatric age is described in this series with varied ophthalmic manifestations ranging from retinitis pigmentosa to orbital abscess. This series also enlightens features of Hallervorden Spatz syndrome presenting with bull’s eye maculopathy and a case of spino-cerebellar ataxia type 7 presenting with pigmentary retinopathy.

Prevalence and antibacterial resistance patterns of extended‑spectrum beta‑lactamase producing Gram‑negative bacteria isolated from ocular infections.

Purpose: Extended‑spectrum beta‑lactamases (ESBLs) mediated resistance is more prevalent worldwide, especially among Gram‑negative bacterial isolates, conferring resistance to the expanded spectrum cephalosporins. As limited data were available on the prevalence of ESBLs in this area, the current study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, antibacterial resistance patterns, and molecular detection and characterization of ESBL encoding resistance genes among ocular Gram‑negative bacterial isolates from ocular infections. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was done on 252 ocular Gram‑negative bacterial isolates recovered from ocular infections during a study period from February 2011 to January 2014. All isolates were subjected to detection of ESBLs by cephalosporin/clavulanate combination disc test and their antibacterial resistance pattern was studied. Molecular detection and characterization of ESBL encoding blaTEM‑, blaSHV, blaOXA‑, and blaCTX‑M (phylogenetic groups 1, 2, 9, and 8/25) resistance genes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequence analysis. Results: Of all Gram‑negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (44%) was the most common strain, followed by Enterobacter agglomerans and Klebsiella pneumoniae each (10%). Among the 252, 42 (17%) were ESBL producers. The major source of ESBL producers were corneal scraping specimens, highest ESBL production was observed in P. aeruginosa 16 (38%) and Escherichia coli 7 (16.6%). Among ESBL‑producing genes, the prevalence of blaTEM‑gene was the highest (83%) followed by blaOXA‑gene (35%), blaSHV‑gene (18.5%), and blaCTX‑M‑1‑gene (18.5%) alone or together. Conclusion: The higher rate of prevalence of ESBLs‑encoding genes among ocular Gram‑negative bacteria is of great concern, as it causes limitation to therapeutic options. This regional knowledge will help in guiding appropriate antibiotic use which is highly warranted.

Etiology and antibacterial susceptibility pattern of community-acquired bacterial ocular infections in a tertiary eye care hospital in south India.

Aims: To identify the etiology, incidence and prevalence of ocular bacterial infections, and to assess the in vitro susceptibility of these ocular bacterial isolates to commonly used antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive samples submitted for microbiological evaluation from patients who were clinically diagnosed with ocular infections and were treated at a tertiary eye care referral center in South India between January 2002 and December 2007. Results: A total of 4417 ocular samples was submitted for microbiological evaluation, of which 2599 (58.8%) had bacterial growth, 456 (10.3%) had fungal growth, 15 (0.34%) had acanthamoebic growth, 14 (0.32%) had mixed microbial growth and the remaining 1333 (30.2%) had negative growth. The rate of culture-positivity was found to be 88% (P < 0.001) in eyelids’ infection, 70% in conjunctival, 69% in lacrimal apparatus, 67.4% in corneal, 51.6% in intraocular tissues, 42.9% in orbital and 39.2% in scleral infections. The most common bacterial species isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (26.69%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (22.14%). Sta. aureus was more prevalent more in eyelid infections (51.22%; P = 0.001) coagulase-negative staphylococci in endophthalmitis (53.1%; P = 0.001), Str. pneumoniae in lacrimal apparatus and corneal infections (64.19%; P = 0.001), Corynebacterium species in blepharitis and conjunctivitis (71%; P = 0.001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa in keratitis and dacryocystitis (66.5%; P = 0.001), Haemophilus species in dacryocystitis and conjunctivitis (66.7%; P = 0.001), Moraxella lacunata in blepharitis (54.17%; P = 0.001) and Moraxella catarrhalis in dacryocystitis (63.83%; P = 0.001). The largest number of gram-positive isolates was susceptible to moxifloxacin (98.7%) and vancomycin (97.9%), and gram-negative isolates to amikacin (93.5%) and gatifloxacin (92.7%). Conclusions: Gram-positive cocci were the most frequent bacteria isolated from ocular infections and were sensitive to moxifloxacin and vancomycin, while gram-negative isolates were more sensitive to amikacin and gatifloxacin.

Analysis of the risk factors predisposing to fungal, bacterial & Acanthamoeba keratitis in south India.

Background & objectives: Infective keratitis is rare in the absence of predisposing factors. The pattern of risk factors predisposing to infective keratitis varies with geographical regions and also influences the type of infection that occurs. The present study was aimed to identify the specific risk factors that predispose the infective keratitis (non viral) and to determine the association between the risk factors identified and the microbial aetiology of infective keratitis in a geographic region (south India). Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients clinically diagnosed infective keratitis (non viral) presenting between September 1999 and September 2002 was performed to identify risk factors. After diagnosing infective keratitis clinically, corneal scrapes were performed and subjected to microscopy and culture. Results: A total of 3295 patients with infective keratitis were evaluated, of whom, 1138 (34.5%) patients had fungal growth alone, 1066 (32.4%) had bacterial growth alone, 33 (1%) had Acanthamoeba growth alone, 83 (2.5%) had mixed microbial growth and the remaining 975 (29.6%) had no growth. Corneal injury was identified in 2356 (71.5%) patients and it accounted for 91.9 per cent in fungal keratitis (P<0.0001) (OR: 73.5; 95%CI: 61.3-98.5), 28.1 per cent in bacterial keratitis and 100 per cent in Acanthamoeba keratitis (P<0.0001). Injuries due to vegetative matter (61.2%) was identified as significant risk for fungal keratitis (P<0.0001) (OR: 15.73; 95%CI: 12.7-19.49) and mud (84.85%) for Acanthamoeba keratitis (P<0.0001) (OR: 16.52; 95%CI: 6.35-42.99). Co-existing ocular diseases predisposing to bacterial keratitis accounted for 724 (69%) patients (P<0.0001) (OR: 33.31; 95%CI: 26.98-41.12). Bacterial pathogens alone were recovered from all 35 patients with contact lens associated keratitis (100%). Co-existing ocular diseases (78.3%) were frequently documented among patients older than 50 yr (P<0.0001) (OR: 27.0; 95%CI: 25.0-28.0) and corneal injury (89.7%) was frequently recorded among patients younger than 51 yr (P<0.0001) (OR: 72.0; 95%CI: 70.0-73.0). Interpretation & conclusions: Corneal injury was found to be the principal risk factor for fungal and Acanthamoeba keratitis, while co-existing ocular diseases for bacterial keratitis. Corneal injury with vegetative matter was more often associated with fungal keratitis and injury with mud with Acanthamoeba keratitis.

A study of the spectrum of Acanthamoeba keratitis: a three-year study at a tertiary eye care referral center in South India.

PURPOSE: To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Acanthamoeba keratitis and also to determine the sensitivity and specificity of smears in the detection of Acanthamoeba. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all culture-positive cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis seen between October 1999 and August 2002 was performed. Corneal scrapes were subjected to culture and microscopy using standard protocols. RESULTS: Out of 3183 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed corneal ulcers evaluated, 33 (1.04%) were found to be due to Acanthamoeba. Twenty-four out of 33 (72.72%) were less than 51 years of age (P<0.001). All patients were from rural areas (P<0.001) and 26 (78.79%) of them were agricultural workers (P=0.031). All 33 had history of corneal injury (P<0.001) and 28 (84.85%) patients had injury with mud (P<0.001). All 33 (100%) patients had previous medical treatment (P=0.009) and 10 (30.3%) had used traditional eye medicines (P=0.183). A clinical pattern of ring infiltrate was characteristic in 15 (45.45%) patients. The diameter of the corneal ulcer was more than 6 mm in 27 (81.82%) eyes (P<0.001). Twenty-six (78.79%) patients had visual acuity of perception of light on initial presentation (P<0.001) and 24 (72.73%) had the same as their final visual outcome. The sensitivity of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation was found to be higher (P<0.001) in the detection of Acanthamoeba cysts. CONCLUSION: The incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis amongst the corneal ulcer patients was 1% in this setting and it was mainly due to corneal injury by mud. The KOH preparation is a sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of Acanthamoeba. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy results in poor visual outcome.

Ulcerative keratitis associated with contact lens wear.

To review the microbiological profile of ulcerative keratitis associated with contact lens (CL)-wear, 35 patients with culture-proven CL-associated microbial keratitis were studied between September 1999 and September 2002. Corneal scrapes and CL-care products were collected and were subjected to microbiological evaluation. Gram-negative bacilli alone were recovered from the corneal scrapes of all 35 (100%) patients, all 70 (100%) CL storage case wells and also from CL-care solution of six (17.14%) of the 35 patients. There was a significantly higher number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (71.43%) isolated from eyes with CL-related keratitis than other bacterial isolates (28.57%) (P<0.001). Microbial contamination of CL storage cases was a great risk for gram-negative bacterial infection among soft CL-wearers.

Nocardia asteroides canaliculitis: A case report of uncommon aetiology.

Ocular nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection and is believed to be a rare entity. We describe a rare case report of a patient with culture-positive Nocardia asteroides canaliculitis who presented with complaints of watering, purulent discharge and painful swelling of left lower eye lid. A purulent tenacious material was expressed from the punctum of lower eye lid and subjected to microbiological investigations such as smears and cultures. Smears and culture proved the presence of Nocardia asteroides in the sample collected from punctum.

Cemento ossifying fibroma.

Cemento ossifying fibroma is a benign, non odontogenic tumour of the jaw, a subdivision of fibro-osseous lesions. The age of occurrence is between 20 and 40 years. It has a female to male predilection of 2:1. A rare case of cemento ossifying fibroma involving maxilla and mandible in a 30 years old female is presented with a discussion on its clinical and radiographical features, computed tomograph scan findings, histopathological presentation with a review of literature.

Epidemiological characteristics and laboratory diagnosis of fungal keratitis. A three-year study.

PURPOSE: To study the epidemiological characteristics and laboratory diagnosis of fungal keratitis seen at a tertiary eye care referral centre in South India. METHODS: A retrospective review of all culture-proven fungal keratitis seen over a 3-year period, September 1999 through August 2002. RESULTS: Fungal aetiology were confirmed in 1095 (34.4%) of 3183 corneal ulcers. The predominant fungal species isolated was Fusarium spp (471; 42.82%) followed by Aspergillus spp (286; 26%). Males (712; 65.08%) were more often affected (P<0.0001). A large proportion of the patients (732; 66.85%) were in the younger age group (21 to 50 years). A majority (879; 80.27%) came from rural areas (P<0.0001), and most patients (709; 64.75%) were farmers (P<0.0001). Ocular trauma (1009; 92.15%) was a highly significant risk factor (P<0.0001) and vegetative injuries (671; 61.28%) were identified as a significant cause for fungal keratitis (P<0.0001). 172 (15.71%) patients had concurrent diabetes mellitus. The sensitivity of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) wet mount preparation was higher (99.23%) than Gram-stained smear (88.73%) (P<0.0001). Incidence of fungal keratitis was higher between June and September. CONCLUSION: Agricultural activity and related ocular trauma were principal causes of mycotic keratitis. A potassium hydroxide (KOH) wet mount preparation is a simple, and sensitive, method for diagnosis

Epidemiology of bacterial keratitis in a referral centre in South India.

PURPOSE: To study the epidemiological characteristics of bacterial keratitis seen at a tertiary eye care referral centre in south India. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of all culture-positive bacterial keratitis which were seen over a 3 years period, from September 1999 through August 2002 was performed. After clinical evaluation corneal scrapings were collected and subjected to culture and microscopy using standard protocols in all patients. RESULTS: Out of 3183 corneal ulcers evaluated, 1043(32.77%) were found to be of bacterial aetiology. A total of 1109 bacterial pathogens were isolated from 1046 eyes with keratitis. The predominant bacterial species isolated was Streptococcus pneumoniae (37.5%). Males were 592(56.76%) and 451(43.24%) were females. There were 564(54.07%) rural residents and 479(45.93%) urban residents; this difference was statistically significant (pp< 0.0001). Co-existing ocular diseases predisposing to corneal ulceration were identified in 703(67.4%) patients, compared to other predisposing risk factors in 340(32.6%) patients. One hundred and seventy seven (16.97%) had corneal injury with soil and/or sand, compared to 115(11.03%) patients who had injury due to other materials and the difference was statistically significant. There was lower incidence of bacterial keratitis from June to September. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological characteristics of bacterial keratitis vary geographically. This study describing the features of bacterial keratitis would greatly help the practising ophthalmologist and other medical practitioners in the management of their patients.

In-vitro efficacy of antibacterials against bacterial isolates from corneal ulcers.

PURPOSE: To analyse the in-vitro efficacy of commonly used antibacterials against bacterial pathogens from corneal ulcers. METHODS: We evaluated 596 patients seen over 18 months, period, September 1999 through March 2001. Corneal scrapings were subjected to microscopy and cultures using standard protocols. Antibacterial susceptibility of isolated bacteria were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method. RESULTS: 626 bacterial pathogens were isolated from 596 corneal ulcer cases. 411(65.65%) were gram positive cocci Streptococcus pneumoniae (41.85%) was the predominant bacterial species. The antibacterial susceptibility was: 451(72.04%) to cefazolin, 471(75.24%) to chloramphenicol; 321(51.28%) to cephaloridine; 430(68.69%) to vancomycin; 564(90.09%) to ciprofloxacin; 429(68.53%) to norfloxacin; 464(74.12%) to gentamicin and 202(32.27%) to co.trimoxazole. CONCLUSION: This study provides information on the efficacy of ocular antibacterials commonly used against bacterial pathogens of keratitis. It is hoped that this information will help decision-making in empiric initial treatment of bacterial keratitis.