Attitude, beliefs and awareness towards corneal donation in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: Corneal donation has not received adequate attention in Saudi Arabia, and donors are lacking. This study explores the underlying knowledge of, attitude regarding, and practice of corneal donation in Saudi Arabia, which will possibly help in designing healthcare policies and creating a national eye bank. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire and was administered to the residents of Saudi Arabia from August to December 2017. We surveyed 1292 random subjects who agreed to fill out the self-administered questionnaire. The sample included Saudi and non-Saudi residents across adult age groups from medical and non-medical professions. RESULTS: Of the 1292 respondents, only 4.3% believed that they had sufficient knowledge about corneal donation; 66.3% of the sample had not decided whether to donate their corneas after death; 40.2% stated that they would be more willing to donate if they had sufficient knowledge about corneal donation; and 46.1% of the population did not know where to apply to donate their corneas. Those who believed that they had sufficient information about corneal donation were significantly more likely to donate (p < 0.001) than those who believed they did not have enough information. CONCLUSION: Increased awareness about corneal donation is required, as a higher level of awareness was associated with a higher willingness to donate corneas. Establishing healthcare policies and creating community campaigns is necessary to increase corneal donation awareness and willingness.

Self-inflicted eye injury.

Individuals with a factitious ocular disorder feign or exaggerate having an eye injury or intentionally produce an eye injury so as to assume the role of a sick person. We report two cases of self-inflicted ocular injury using needle-like foreign bodies and razor that represent possible diagnoses of Munchausen syndrome. Both patients presented with different clinical pictures that misguided the clinical diagnosis and delayed proper management. Although self-inflicted ocular injuries are rare, ophthalmologists should be aware of the possibility of their existence, particularly when caring for patients with psychiatric conditions. SIMILAR CASES PUBLISHED: 13.

Clinical features and bacteriology of lacrimal canaliculitis in patients presenting to a tertiary eye care center in the Middle East.

PURPOSE: To study the clinical features and bacteriology of canaliculitis in patients presenting to King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), a major tertiary eye care center in the Middle East and compare the results to previous studies from other countries. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a chart review was performed of 131 patients (135 eyes) diagnosed with lacrimal canaliculitis who underwent treatment between January 1983 and December 2012 at KKESH. Data were evaluated on demographics, presenting signs and symptoms, diagnostic studies, causative organisms, treatment rendered including medical or surgical interventions and rate of recurrence. RESULTS: There were 47 males and 84 females with a mean age of 64 years. The average duration of symptoms was 81.38 weeks. The most common presenting symptom was eye discharge (68.7%). The lower canaliculus was most commonly involved (49.6%) and 27 (20.6%) patients had upper and lower canaliculi involved. The left eye was most commonly involved in 71 patients (54.2%). Microbiological studies were available for 101 (77.1%) patients. Streptococcus species (48.2%) were the most commonly cultured organisms. Concretions were noted in 45 (34.4%) patients. Canaliculotomy was performed in 33 (25.2%) patients. Topical Penicillin G was the most commonly used antibiotic (65.7%). Seventeen (13%) patients had a recurrence of canaliculitis. CONCLUSION: Canaliculitis is frequently overlooked and misdiagnosed as conjunctivitis. Persistence or recurrence may complicate the condition. New organisms are emerging as the most common causative agents. Canaliculotomy with removal of all concretions is still considered the gold standard of treatment to eliminate the infection and improve patient symptoms.