Incidence and Risk Factors of Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma in Patients With Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of ocular hypertension (OHT) and glaucoma in patients with acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and to outline the risk factors for the development of glaucoma. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with AK at our institute during the period from 2000 to 2018. The main outcome measures were the incidence of OHT and glaucoma, and risk factors for the development of glaucoma. RESULTS: Fifty-two eyes diagnosed with AK were included. The incidence of OHT and glaucoma was 51.9% and 32.7%, respectively. The mean duration from disease onset to the first attack of elevated intraocular pressure was 8.4±16.6 months. The use of corticosteroids in the treatment regimen was significantly associated with the development of glaucoma (odds ratio, 3.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-16.15; P=0.049). At the last follow-up visit, both patients with glaucoma and nonglaucoma patients had improved visual acuity without a difference in the mean amount of logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution acuity improvement among them (0.56±0.91 vs. 0.67±0.87, P=0.686). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that OHT and glaucoma are frequent complications in AK. Patients treated with a regimen containing corticosteroids are at a higher risk; thus, they should receive close intraocular pressure monitoring.

Endophthalmitis Post Pars Plana Vitrectomy Surgery: Incidence, Organisms' Profile, and Management Outcome in a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), organisms' profile, and management outcomes at a tertiary eye hospital in a Middle East country. METHODS: In this single-arm cohort study conducted in 2020, medical records of patients who underwent PPV not accompanied by any other intraocular surgery were reviewed; those with a diagnosis of acute endophthalmitis in the immediate postoperative period (within 6 weeks) during the past 6 years were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 8153 records of PPV surgeries were reviewed. Five cases had endophthalmitis post-PPV with an incidence of 0.061%. Three (0.037%) had positive cultures, all of them for Staphylococcus epidermidis. The interval between PPV and diagnosis of endophthalmitis ranged from 3 to 25 days (mean, 15.8 days). Final vision after treatment ranged from 20/400 to no light perception, and one eye was eviscerated. CONCLUSION: The incidence of endophthalmitis post PPV is low. Despite prompt diagnosis and standard management, visual prognosis seems to be poor. The infective agents for endophthalmitis were commensals from the ocular surface.

The Effect of Tube Ligature on the Safety and Efficacy of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Surgery.

PRECIS: In this matched case-control study, ligature of the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) was associated with a reduction in the rate of postoperative complications without affecting the surgical success rate or the visual outcome following the procedure. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of AGV surgery with and without tube ligation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, matched case-control study. A review was performed of patients who underwent AGV surgery with tube ligation between June 2015 and December 2017 (ligated AGV group). Cases were matched with controls who underwent AGV surgery without tube ligation (nonligated AGV group). Data were compared on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of glaucoma medications, surgical success rates, complications, and vision. RESULTS: There were 49 eyes in the ligated AGV group, and 98 eyes in the nonligated AGV group. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups except for the number of glaucoma medications (3.72±0.55 in the ligated AGV group vs. 3.92±0.92 in the nonligated AGV group; P<0.01). At 18 months, IOP was 16.7±6.3 mm Hg in the ligated AGV group and 17.3±8.0 mm Hg in the nonligated AGV group (P=0.76). In addition, the mean number of glaucoma medications was 2.38±1.10 in the ligated AGV group and 1.68±1.51 in the nonligated AGV group (P=0.56). The overall success rate at 12 months was similar between groups (P=0.84). The overall rate of complications was statistically lower in the ligated AGV group (28.6%) compared with the nonligated AGV group (73.5%) (P<0.01). The mean change in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution acuity was similar between groups (P=0.50). CONCLUSION: Tube ligation in AGV surgery may be an effective measure that reduces the rate of postoperative complications without affecting the success rate or visual outcomes of the surgery.

The effect of a short animated educational video on knowledge among glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational video in increasing knowledge among glaucoma patients and to determine the factors that may influence a patient's level of knowledge. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a pre-post intervention study on adult glaucoma patients attending the outpatient service at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. The intervention tested was a short educational video that was edited specifically for this study. All patients completed a pre-video and post-video knowledge questionnaire; moreover, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were obtained. RESULTS: The total number of patients included was 196. The mean age of patients was 55.7±15.5 years. Overall, 55.1% were males, 29.6% were illiterate, 85.2% resided in an urban area, 62.8% had a low income, and 41.8% were unemployed. The mean pre-intervention knowledge score was 6 out of 17, and the post-intervention score was 11.1 (P≤0.001). Predictors of a poor knowledge score were old age (>60 years), female sex, illiteracy, rural residence, low income, unemployment, and a negative family history of glaucoma. CONCLUSION: The evaluated video intervention was effective in a short-term increase in knowledge among glaucoma patients. This tool may serve as an alternative to traditional educational methods.