A comparative study on surgical outcomes of trabeculectomy with and without anti-metabolites in juvenile open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: To compare the surgical outcomes of trabeculectomy with and without anti?metabolites in patients with juvenile open?angle glaucoma (JOAG). Methods: This retrospective comparative case series included 98 eyes of 66 patients with JOAG who underwent either trabeculectomy without anti?metabolites (group A, n = 53 eyes) or with anti?metabolites (group B, n = 45 eyes) with a minimum of 2 years follow?up. The main outcome measures were intra?ocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, additional surgical interventions, surgical complications, and risk factors for failure. Surgical failure was defined as IOP >18 mmHg or failure to reduce IOP by <30% from the baseline value or IOP ?5 mmHg or re?operation for refractory glaucoma or a complication or loss of light perception vision. Results: The mean post?operative IOP reduced significantly from baseline at all post?operative visits until 6 months and thereafter. The cumulative probability of failure at 2 years was 28.7% in group A [95% confidence interval (CI) = 17.6–44.8%] and 29.1% in group B (95% CI = 17.1–46.7%) (P = 0.78). Surgical complications occurred in 18 eyes (34%) in group A and 19 eyes (42%) in group B. Re?operations for glaucoma or complications were performed in two eyes (3.8%) in group A and two eyes (4.4%) in group B. Cox?hazard regression model revealed male gender (HR = 0.29; P = 0.008), baseline high IOP (HR = 0.95; P = 0.002), and an increased number of pre?operative glaucoma medications (HR = 2.08; P = 0.010) as significant factors associated with failure. Conclusion: Our study results on trabeculectomy in JOAG revealed a success of 71% in both groups at 2 years follow?up. There was no significant difference in success or failure rates between the two groups. The risk factors for poor surgical outcome in JOAG were male gender, baseline high IOP, and an increased number of glaucoma medications

Impact of glaucoma on vision-specific quality of life in monocular glaucoma patients using the Indian vision function questionnaire

Purpose: To evaluate the determinants affecting the quality of life in monocular glaucoma patients using the Indian vision function questionnaire. Methods: In this prospective cross?sectional study, total of 196 patients were divided into two groups: cases and controls. Indian Vision Function Questionnaire (IND?VFQ) was administered and analyzed. One hundred twenty?nine (58.6%) patients who had lost their vision in one eye due to glaucoma were included as cases and 67 (30.4%) patients who had lost their vision due to other causes were taken as controls. Results: Median composite score of subscales was 54.62 (29.7–74.7) in group 1 and 45.38 (23.7–76.7) in group 2. The psychosocial impact scale was the most affected scale, the median scores were 33.02 (0 to 60.0) and 19.07 (0 to 53.0) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Among all dimensions of IND?VFQ, the highest score was for color vision 100.0 (0–100.0) and 100.0 (0–100.0), and the lowest median score was found in mental health and dependency in both the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that visual acuity was associated with a low score (P < 0.001). Female gender was significantly associated with the overall score in the univariate model (P = 0.006). Conclusion: Monocular glaucoma patients have a poor general and vision?related quality of life. Depression associated with monocularity and the perception of dependency and being a burden on their family members greatly impacted the mental health of the participants

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

Assessment of parental awareness about pediatric visual problems by Knowledge-Attitude-Practice survey in South India

Purpose: To find out parents’ knowledge, attitude, and treatment practice (KAP) toward pediatric eye problems and to assess the effect of demographic factors such as gender, age, educational status, and number of children on KAP. Methods: A cross?sectional descriptive study was conducted in a hospital setting. Two hundred parents were randomly selected for the questionnaire. All parents had children who were included in Systematic Pediatric Eye Care Through Sibling Screening Strategies (SPECSSS) study. A survey with 15 questions on KAP of pediatric eye diseases was prepared and administered to parents coming to a tertiary eye hospital with varied experience and education qualifications. Results: The mean age of 200 patients was 9.6 (3.4) years, with the majority of them male (n = 110; 55.0%). The majority of the children (n = 91, 45.5%) were between the age group of 6–10 years. Knowledge of visual problems among parents was of a good grade in 9% only. The attitude of the parents toward the visual problem was positive at 17%, and the responses regarding the practice were of excellent grade at 46.5% and good at 26.5%. Analysis suggests that the level of knowledge and practice were not significantly associated with the demographic factors (p > 0.05). The positive attitude toward the visual problems of the children was associated with education of the parents (p < 0.05) and the father occupation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge about pediatric eye diseases was poor among parents and it was significantly affected by education and occupation of parents. The parents have positive attitude toward enhancing their attitude in treatment.

Non-compliance for wearing spectacles: Prevalence and determinants in school-going children in South India

Purpose: To study the prevalence and determinants of compliance with spectacle wear among school?age children in South India who were given spectacles free of charge under a school vision screening program. Methods: A cross?sectional, descriptive study was performed. The participants were recruited from the school from Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu, where a school vision screening camp was conducted between January 2012 and October 2012. The school screening was performed under “Lavelle Pediatric Eye Care Project”. Of the 129,720 children examined of 249 schools, 4253 of children had refractive error and 3333 were prescribed and dispensed spectacles. A total of 683 children were interviewed, who were not wearing glasses on follow?up. Results: About 20% of the participants (683/3333) were not wearing their spectacles at examination. The most common reasons given for non?wear were lost (44.9%) or broken (35.3%) spectacles. There was no gender preference on compliance to spectacles. Conclusion: Compliance with spectacle wear is less even when spectacles are provided free of cost, particularly in children among the age group of 5–15 years. Because factors such as type of school, area (urban or rural), parent’s income, occupation, and their education were not significantly affecting the compliance of spectacle wear, proper encouragement and counseling of the parents and the child become extremely important.

Comparison of the effect of audiovisual and verbal instructions on patient performance while performing automated Humphrey visual field testing

Purpose: To compare the effect of audiovisual and verbal instructions on patient performance while performing automated Humphrey visual field testing. Methods: This was a prospective study. A total 120 patients divided into groups of 40 each were recruited from the glaucoma outpatient department (OPD). All patients were aged 35–75 years with no previous experience of performing HFA. Patients with hearing impairment, any other cognitive impairment, and best?corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ?6/36 on Snellen’s visual acuity were excluded. The first two groups were given strict (conservative) and lenient (liberal) verbal instructions. The instructions were adapted from those listed in the manufacturer’s instruction. and the third group was shown a standard video depicting in detail how perimetry was to be performed. A questionnaire was given to each patient before and after the test to assess the patient’s performance. Results: Patients diagnosed with glaucoma during testing in each group were 29 (72.50%), 30 (75.0%), and 33 (82.5%) in the video instructed, strictly verbal, and leniently verbal groups, respectively. The overall mean deviation (MD) in the right eye (RE) was of ? 3.38 (?4.9 to 1.9) and in the left eye (LE) was ? 3.96 (?6.4 to ? 1.9). Reliable field was slightly higher for the video instructed group (47.5%) and lowest for the strictly verbal group (22.5%) (P = 0.033). A higher number of patients were very motivated in the video instructed group (27%) (P = 0.041). Post?test questionnaires showed that 40% of patients felt they have performed the test with 100% accuracy in video group with less guessing. A higher number of patients in the video instructed group (85%) felt instruction was helpful in performing the test (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The video groups were more motivated and had better confidence to perform the test with less anxiety and stress and with probably better understanding of the procedure due to visual effects enhancing their understanding.

Short-term outcomes of micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation as a primary versus additional therapy in eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma

Purpose: To study the safety and efficacy outcomes of Micropulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (MP?TSCPC) as a primary versus additional therapy in eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma. Methods: This was a prospective, interventional, comparative study. All patients with advanced and refractory glaucoma treated with MP?TSCPC from April 2020 to December 2020 were recruited in this study. Results: A total of 77 eyes of 77 patients were analyzed. Group A (n = 33), included patients with advanced glaucoma at high risk for invasive surgery, who underwent MP?TSCPC as the primary intervention, and group B (n = 44) included patients who had undergone previous surgical intervention and MP?TSCPC was used additionally to control the intraocular pressure (IOP). Mean IOP and mean number of antiglaucoma medications were 34.06 (13.9) mmHg and 3.64 (0.7), respectively, in group A and 35.61 (11.5) mmHg and 3.73 (0.9), respectively, in Group B. Postoperatively, the mean IOP and percentage of IOP reduction were significantly lower at 1, 3, and 6 months, that is, 20.78 (32%), 22.07 (30%), and 19.09 (37%), respectively, in group A and 23.68 (35%), 19.50 (44%), and 19.61 (42%), respectively, in group B, but there was no difference between the groups at all visits. Postoperative need for ocular hypotensive drugs did not differ in group A (P = 0.231); however, it was significantly lower in group B (P = 0.027). Group A had 87%, 77%, and 74% success rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, whereas group B had 91%, 86%, and 77% success rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Postoperative complications and intervention did not reveal any statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion: MP?TSCPC may be considered as a temporizing measure both as a primary or as an additional intervention to control the IOP in eyes with refractory and advanced glaucoma that have a high risk of vision?threatening complications with invasive surgery.

Short-term surgical outcomes of twin-site combined phaco-emulsification and mitomycin-C augmented trabeculectomy in pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma versus primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: To compare the short?term outcomes of combined phaco?emulsification with posterior chamber intra?ocular lens and mitomycin augmented trabeculectomy in patients with pseudo?exfoliation glaucoma (PXFG) versus primary open?angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: A total of 144 eyes of 144 patients were enrolled in this prospective interventional comparative study, 72 each of which had PXFG and POAG, respectively. All patients underwent twin?site combined phaco?trabeculectomy at a tertiary eye center in India between December 2017 and December 2018 and were followed up for a period of 12 months. The main outcome measures were intra?ocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), total surgical time, rate of intra?operative and post?operative complications, and the number of ocular hypotensive medications needed. Success rates were determined via Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: The mean age was 63.9 ± 7.9 years in the POAG group and 66.4 ± 6.8 years in the PXFG group (P ? 0.04). The baseline BCVA, IOP, and cup?disc ratio were comparable between two groups. Intra?operative complications and post?operative outcomes were comparable between the two groups. There was a significant drop in anti?glaucoma medications in both groups. Six patients, three (4.2%) in each group, were lost to follow?up after 6 months. Three patients (4.2%) in PXFG needed additional glaucoma intervention for controlling IOP, one patient needed a non?valved glaucoma drainage device, and two patients required diode cyclo?photocoagulation within the follow?up period. Conclusion: Patients with PXFG had a longer surgical time than POAG. Similar success and complication rates were observed following combined twin?site phaco?trabeculectomy in both POAG and PXFG at 1 year. Combined glaucoma surgery resulted in good IOP control, improvement in BCVA, and lower requirement of ocular hypotensives in both the groups.

Comparison of clinical and biometric characteristics between nanophthalmic children and age-matched controls

Purpose: To compare the clinical and biometric characteristics of children presenting with nanophthalmos (NO group) with that of age?matched controls (CO group). Methods: Electronic medical records of 40 children (<18 years of age) with diagnosis of nanophthalmos (NO), presented to a tertiary center in Tamil Nadu between January 2010 and December 2019, were reviewed and compared with 30 age?matched controls (CO) presenting for routine eye examination between October 2019 and December 2019. Clinical parameters compared were best?corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length (AxL), keratometry (K), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), retinochoroidal scleral thickness (RCS), corneal diameter, central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), lens axial length factor (LAF), and lens thickness/anterior chamber depth ratio (LT/ACD). Results: Mean age of the NO group was 8.95 ± 4.0 years. Mean spherical equivalent (SE) in NO group was 10.87 ± 3.1 D and was inversely correlated to AxL (r = ?0.46, P value = 0.003). All biometric parameters (AxL, ACD, LT, RCS, LAF, and LT/ACD), except CCT were significantly different between NO and CO groups. NO group children had 52.5% visual impairment with BCVA ? 6/24 and 17.5% had esotropia. Common ocular associations in NO group were amblyopia (64.3%), primary angle?closure glaucoma (PACG) (17.8%), pigmentary retinopathy (14.3%), and retinal detachment (3.6%). Angle?closure disease was seen in 50% of NO group and 30% underwent laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). There was a significant difference in SE, ACD, and LAF among NO children with AxL <17 mm or >17 mm. Multivariable regression analysis revealed a significant correlation of SE and ACD with AxL. Conclusion: Nanophthalmos in children often present as amblyopia with visual impairment and strabismus. NO group with AxL <17 mm, had angle?closure disease as a common association with significantly lower ACD, higher SE, and LAF. All morphometric characteristics, except CCT, were significantly different between NO and CO groups. Close monitoring with serial biometry in NO group is needed for the timely diagnosis and prompt intervention to avoid visual impairment, due to glaucoma

Outcomes and favourable prognostic factors in patients of phacomorphic and phacolytic glaucoma managed by manual small-incision cataract surgery: A retrospective study

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes and identify favorable prognostic factors in patients of phacomorphic (PMG) and phacolytic glaucoma (PLG) managed by manual small?incision cataract surgery (MSICS). Methods: The medical records of patients with PMG/PLG who had undergone MSICS in a tertiary eye hospital between September 2014 and August 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Regression analyses were conducted to identify the predictors associated with intraoperative or postoperative complications and a favorable final outcome at 1 month, namely, a best?corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/18 or better and an intraocular pressure (IOP) of <21 mm Hg. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The records of 209 patients with PMG and 279 patients with PLG were eligible for the review. The mean preoperative IOP for PMG and PLG were 43.15 � 12.9 and 40.05 � 12.0 mm Hg, respectively (P = 0.006). A younger age (<60 years) was associated with a lower risk of severe postoperative inflammation in both PMG and PLG [OR = 0.45 (0.21�99); P = 0.047 and OR = 0.44 (0.23�83); P = 0.011, respectively]. There was no significant difference in the final mean logMAR BCVA (P = 0.21) and IOP (P = 0.36) in the two groups. The likelihood of a final IOP of <21 mm Hg was significant for symptoms less than a week [OR = 3.52 (1.2�.2); P = 0.02] in PMG and for absence of vitreous disturbance [OR = 35.0 (3.8�5.7); P = 0.002] in PLG. A BCVA of 6/18 or better was strongly associated with symptoms for less than a week [OR = 1.58 (1.0�4); P = 0.043] and absence of vitreous disturbance [OR = 23.53 (5.1�8.0); P < 0.001]. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and management can translate to good outcomes in PMG and PLG.

Comparing the effectiveness of different postoperative counseling methods for post-keratoplasty patients

Purpose: To compare various counseling methods for improving patient education, compliance, and administration of eye drops prescribed for post?optical keratoplasty patients and assess the most efficient counseling method. Methods: A prospective, questionnaire?based pilot study was conducted among 60 post?optical keratoplasty patients who were randomly assigned into three groups for postoperative eye drop counseling, namely group (video counseling), group 2 (chart counseling), and group 3 (verbal counseling at Cornea department). The questionnaire was answered by the patients/attendants applying the eye drops on the first 3 consecutive visits. McNemar–Bowker test was used to compare responses in each group and the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare responses among the three groups. The Institutional Ethics Committee of Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirunelveli (Registration number ECR 816/Inst/Tn/2016) approved this study. Results: Results demonstrated improvement in various categories assessed regarding drop administration in all three groups, which assessed patients’ knowledge, attitude, and hygiene. Although all three groups showed improvements during subsequent follow?up visits, the video?counseling method was found to be an effective means of communication. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes that the nonverbal and noncontact means of communication by video demonstration would be an effective way of counseling. It can be considered in the present scenario of the pandemic as well