Screening for Keratoconus in a High-Risk Adolescent Population.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of keratoconus (KC) in a majority-Emirati adolescent population and to demonstrate the feasibility of screening using a dual Scheimpflug and Placido imaging device. METHODS: Adolescent subjects from two secondary schools in Abu Dhabi, UAE underwent corneal imaging with the Galilei tomographer (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, Port, Switzerland). The prevalence of KC and KC suspects was determined using a combination of both subjective and objective criteria. Objective criteria included these KC indices: percent probability of keratoconus, inferior-superior index, asphericity asymmetry index, maximum keratometry and thinnest pachymetry. Subjective pattern analysis was performed by four experienced cornea specialists. Subjects were classified by each cornea specialist into three groups: normal, KC and KC suspect. The final classification was made by group reconciliation of cases where disagreement was present. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with the kappa statistic. RESULTS: A total of 839 eyes of 420 students between 10 and 19 years of age underwent corneal tomography. After the exclusion of 251 eyes due to insufficient scan quality based on internal instrument-derived standards, 588 eyes of 339 subjects were included in the analysis. The prevalence of KC and KC suspect was estimated to be 2.7% (95% CI [1.2%, 5.0%]) and 19.8% (95% CI [15.7%, 24.4%]), respectively. There was a strong inter-observer agreement between examiners' classification of the subjects' KC status (kappa = 0.84). CONCLUSION: KC is highly prevalent in Emirati adolescents. Screening secondary school students for keratoconus appears to be feasible and may be indicated in this population to improve early detection and intervention.

Novel technique of explantation of rigid phakic iris-claw lens and cataract extraction by sutureless manual small-incision surgery.

A 38-year-old patient presented to us with complaints of blurred vision and photophobia in the left eye with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/400, improving to 20/60 with pinhole. The patient underwent phakic iris-claw lens surgery 15 years ago for high myopia. On examination, there was anterior chamber rigid phakic iris-claw lens along with complicated cataract. We planned for sutureless self-sealing 6.5 mm sclerocorneal tunnel for explantation of rigid phakic iris-claw lens along with cataract extraction with irrigating vectis. There was postoperative reduction in astigmatism due to incision planned on steep axis, and visual acuity improved to 20/30 uncorrected. This technique provides significant advantages from the previously described techniques in terms of decreased postop astigmatism, no need for sutures, no issues of chamber instability and iris trauma and without the need for phacoemulsification.

Persistently poor vision in dim illumination after implantation of XtraFocus small-aperture IOL (Morcher).

A 21-year-old patient presents to us with complaints of blurred vision and photophobia in the left eye, with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 improving to 20/30 with pinhole and diagnostic rigid gas permeable lens trial. He had a history of trauma with subsequent cataract extraction, with residual irregular astigmatism and traumatic mydriasis. XtraFocus Pinhole intraocular lens (Morcher) was implanted in the left eye. One week postoperatively, the left eye uncorrected visual acuity improved to 20/30, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity improved to 20/40, and uncorrected near visual acuity improved to J4. The glare and photophobia resolved completely. Surprisingly, the patient complained of severely poor vision in dim illumination. His vision was limited to bare perception of objects and hand movements close to the face. He started facing difficulties in major activities such as driving at night and in dark ambient surroundings such as movie theatres, which persisted to the extent of necessitating explantation of the implant.

Association of Ramadan daytime fasting with ocular surface inflammation and dry eye.

PURPOSE: Despite the widespread practice of fasting, there are no studies looking at ocular surface inflammation, specifically matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) testing, during fasting. In this prospective study, we wanted to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on the level of tear film MMP-9 as well as other standard indicators of dry eye disease. METHODS: Forty healthy patients without history of ocular disease were tested before and toward the end of Ramadan. Each patient was assessed at each timepoint for tear film MMP-9 positivity as measured by a commercially available test (InflammaDry; Quidel Corp., San Diego, CA, USA) which detects MMP-9 levels of more than 40 ng/ml. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores, tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer I test (S1T) and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) were also evaluated at each timepoint. RESULTS: InflammaDry was positive in 10 patients (25%) prior to Ramadan and 21 patients (52.5%) during Ramadan fasting, and this change was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Mean TBUT decreased from 7 s prior to Ramadan to 5.3 s during Ramadan fasting, and this change was statistically significant (p = 0.01). OSDI, CFS and S1T did not show any statistically significant changes (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Ramadan fasting has a significant impact on TBUT and ocular surface inflammation detected by Inflamma Dry testing. Patients who suffer from dry eye disease and those who develop symptoms during Ramadan are advised to consult with a physician before or during Ramadan fasting.

Persistent troublesome floaters necessitating the explantation of XtraFocus Pinhole IOL (Morcher).

A 41-year-old patient presented with blurred vision and photophobia in the left eye with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/150, improving to 20/30 with pinhole and diagnostic rigid gas permeable lens trial. He had a history of trauma with subsequent cataract extraction with residual irregular astigmatism and traumatic mydriasis. XtraFocus Pinhole intraocular lens (Morcher) was implanted in the left eye and the vision improved to 20/40. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant floaters which persisted to the extent of necessitating explantation of implant.

Xtra focus pinhole IOL (Morchers GMBH) a novel approach to tackle irregular astigmatism and large pupillary defects with a single step surgery.

A 69-year-old patient presented to us with traumatic mydriasis with irregular pupil measuring 7 mm, with superior loss of iris tissue and large inferior peripheral iridotomy and pseudophakia. The patient had history of blunt trauma 3 years ago in a fire cracker injury. He was operated elsewhere primarily after the trauma for cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation and had suboptimal visual outcome with glare and photophobia. He presented to us with irregular pupil and inferior iridectomy with pseudophakia. The uncorrected visual acuity was 20/150 improving to 20/50 with glasses. He had a history of cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation done elsewhere several years back. The patient was not a diabetic or hypertensive. There was a para central corneal scar causing irregular corneal astigmatism. Extra focus pinhole IOL was implanted in sulcus having a pinhole aperture 1.36 mm. Preoperative total corneal higher-order aberrations were 3.3 µ and total corneal coma was 0.97 µ. Postoperatively uncorrected distance visual acuity improved to 20/40 intermediate uncorrected visual acuity improved to 20/30 and uncorrected near visual acuity was J3.

Importance of clinical signs leading to the diagnosis in a case of microbiological smear negative ocular microsporidiosis.

A 28-year-old patient presented to us with multifocal coarse raised epithelial lesions in the left eye associated with pain watering redness and blurred vision with a visual acuity of 20/40 in the left eye. The patient had been managed elsewhere with a course of topical moxifloxacin eye-drops four times a day and topical steroids (prednisolone acetate) 1% three times a day for 2 weeks without any resolution, which was stopped 2 days ago prior to presentation at our centre. Gram stain was negative for bacteria as well as microsporidial spores. 10% KOH was negative for fungal hyphae. Based on strong clinical signs of corneal microsporidiosis, in spite of the negative microbiology smear, the patient was started on voriconazole eye-drops five times a day. The lesions started resolving in 5 days and completely healed after 17 days of therapy. No relevant history pertaining to exposure of contaminated water, swimming or history of trauma could be elicited.