Visual outcomes and risk factors of uveitis cataract eyes after phacoemulsification and manual small-incision cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To examine the visual outcomes and risk factors of uveitis cataract eyes after phacoemulsification and manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS). SETTING: Tertiary-care eye hospital in southern India. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: Of the uveitis eyes operated for cataract surgery between 2017 and 2020, eyes with a minimum of 6 months postoperative follow-up were included. Eyes with ocular trauma, lens subluxation, lens-induced uveitis, or retinal detachment-induced uveitis were excluded. Demography, visual acuity, intraoperative and postoperative records, and surgical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: 191 eyes of 191 patients with a mean age of 51.7 ± 14.4 years were included. Phacoemulsification was performed in 134 eyes, and 57 eyes underwent MSICS. Synechiolysis and pupil-expanding maneuvers were required in 74 eyes (38.7%). No differences were noted in the rates of complications between phacoemulsification and MSICS eyes, except at 1 year, where higher rates of posterior capsular opacification and vitritis were noted in MSICS eyes ( P = .018). The visual outcomes of eyes that underwent MSICS and phacoemulsification were comparable ( P = .463). In 12 eyes (13.5%), improvement in vision was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows phacoemulsification may be a preferred technique in uveitis cataracts, given the lesser incidence of postoperative complications. Patients should be counseled for realistic expectations.

Outcomes of toric intraocular lens realignment surgery done using slit-lamp method and wavefront aberrometry method.

Purpose: To compare the slit-lamp method and wavefront aberrometry method based on outcomes of toric realignment surgeries. Settings: Tertiary care ophthalmic hospital. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: This study included all eyes undergoing toric intraocular lens (TIOL) realignment surgery between January 2019 and December 2021 for which TIOL axis assessment by slit-lamp method and wavefront aberrometry method was available. Data were retrieved from electronic medical records, and we documented demographics, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), subjective refraction, and TIOL axis by slit-lamp and wavefront aberrometry methods on postoperative day 1 and day 14. In patients with misalignment, TIOL was realigned to the original position in group 1 (27 patients) and to an axis based on calculations provided by wavefront aberrometer in group 2 (25 patients). Post-realignment surgery, UCVA, subjective refraction, and TIOL axis by slit-lamp and wavefront aberrometry methods were assessed and analyzed. Results: We analyzed 52 eyes and found that the mean preoperative misalignment with the slit-lamp method (44.9° ±20.0°) and wavefront aberrometry (47.1° ±19.5°) was similar. The corresponding degrees of misalignment post-TIOL repositioning surgeries were 5.2° ±5.2° (slit-lamp method) and 4.7° ±5.1° (wavefront aberrometry) (P = 0.615). Both groups showed significant improvement in median log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) UCVA and reduction in median refractive cylinder. Conclusions: Slit-lamp method is as good as wavefront aberrometer method to assess TIOL axis. Toric realignment surgery is found to be safe, and realigning TIOL based on either slit-lamp method or wavefront aberrometer method equally improved UCVA and decreased residual refractive cylinder.

Clinical outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery versus conventional phacoemulsification: A retrospective study in a tertiary eye care center in South India.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) versus conventional phacoemulsification (CP) in terms of refractive outcomes, cumulative dissipated energy, and intraoperative complications. Methods: In this retrospective study performed in a tertiary care ophthalmic hospital, we reviewed 2124 eyes that underwent FLACS or CP. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), and intraoperative complications were analyzed in the study. Results: Out of 2124 eyes, 873 underwent FLACS and 1251 underwent CP. The postoperative mean UCVA after one month was 0.05 ± 0.11 logMAR and 0.14 ± 0.23 logMAR for FLACS and CP, respectively (P < 0.00001). Mean CDVA one month post operation was 0.02 ± 0.07 logMAR and 0.06 ± 0.19 logMAR for FLACS and CP, respectively (P < 0.0001). The CDE for the FLACS group was 6.17 ± 3.86 (P < 0.00001) and it was 9.74 ± 6.02 for the CP group. The intraoperative complication for the FLACS group was 1.60% and the CP group was 2.39% (P < 0.00001). Conclusion: The visual outcomes were better in FLACS compared to CP. The CDE was lower for the FLACS group and FLACS had significantly less intraoperative complications.

Cataract surgery in colobomatous eyes with advanced cataract.

BACKGROUND: Cataract surgeries are challenging in colobomatous eyes as they are associated with features such as microphthalmia, microcornea, zonular deficit, etc. These factors predispose to capsulorhexis extension, posterior capsular rent, zonular dialysis and result in unfavourable visual outcomes. The most critical step of cataract surgery in such cases is the capsulorhexis as the chances of extension are high in the colobomatous area. In presence of pre-existing zonular dehiscence, nucleus management becomes more challenging in advanced cataracts. PURPOSE: To illustrate efficient management of advanced cataract in colobomatous eyes. SYNOPSIS: A 39-year old lady presented with complaints of gradually progressive diminution of vision in both eyes. Examination revealed bilateral nuclear sclerosis grade III-IV with irido-lenticular retinochoroidal coloboma (ILRCC). The patient was scheduled for bilateral cataract surgery after a thorough evaluation. Initially, the left eye was planned for phacoemulsification, in the course of which capsulorhexis extension occurred, leading to nucleus tilt and vitreous disturbance during emulsification. Automated anterior vitrectomy was done and the surgical approach was shifted to manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) with 3-piece intraocular lens placement in sulcus. The right eye was hence planned for MSICS and a rhexis extension was noted in this eye as well. Comparing the outcome of both the surgeries it was noted that both had capsulorhexis extension, but the management of nucleus and intraocular lens implantation was efficient in case of MSICS than phacoemulsification. Posterior chamber intraocular lens were placed in both eyes and the patient attained good visual outcome. HIGHLIGHTS: MSICS is a better approach to cases of ILRCC with advanced cataract. The capsulo should be tailored according to the site of coloboma such that it should be smaller in the area involving the coloboma and larger away from it. VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/d9FC0eavhRs.

Ochrobactrum anthropi: A Rare Cause of Culture-Proven Acute Post-Operative Cluster Endophthalmitis.

AIM: To report the clinical presentation and management outcomes of an outbreak of culture-proven post-operative endophthalmitis (POE) secondary to Ochrobactrum anthropi. METHODS: This study was conducted at a tertiary-care eye hospital in South India. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients underwent cataract surgery by six surgeons on three consecutive days in the same surgical facility in September 2020. Four patients developed POE after a mean interval of 12.0 ± 4.8 days and underwent immediate vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injections (Vancomycin and Ceftazidime). All patients required a core vitrectomy (culture positive, n = 4/4). Two patients underwent an additional intraocular lens explantation, 2 and 4 months after presentation. All the four patients showed good anatomical and functional recoveries (mean follow-up, 5.75 ± 1.5 months). Two other patients had an exaggerated post-operative inflammation, which was successfully treated with topical medications. CONCLUSIONS: O. anthropi is a rare cause of acute POE. Although the isolated organism was multi-drug resistant, the outcome was good in all the patients.

Outcomes of manual small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification in eyes with chorioretinal coloboma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and phacoemulsification in eyes with chorioretinal coloboma. SETTING: Tertiary eye center, South India. DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Electronic medical records of 71 patients with chorioretinal coloboma undergoing cataract surgery from January 2017 to December 2019 were evaluated. Demographics, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), slitlamp biomicroscopy findings, grade of cataract, type of coloboma and associated posterior segment pathology, outcomes of different surgical techniques and risk factors for poor visual outcomes, and intraoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 78 eyes studied, 53.9% eyes achieved visual outcome of 20/40 or greater and 20.5% eyes achieved CDVA less than 20/200. For the MSICS group, the median preoperative CDVA was 1.78 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.08 to 2.60) logMAR), which improved to 0.60 (IQR 0.30-1.08) logMAR postoperatively. In phacoemulsification group, the CDVA improved from 0.78 (IQR 0.60-1.00) logMAR to 0.18 (IQR 0.18-0.30) logMAR. Statistically significant visual improvement was noticed in both groups (P < .001 in both). However, eyes that underwent phacoemulsification showed better visual recovery (P < .001). The mean age at presentation was 49.7 ± 10.8 years. MSICS was the most commonly performed surgery (61.54%), and 62 eyes had uneventful cataract surgery. Twelve eyes in MSICS group and 4 eyes in phacoemulsification group had intraoperative complications. Poor visual outcome was associated with male sex, microcornea, hard cataracts, and macular involvement of coloboma. CONCLUSIONS: MSICS is an alternative to phacoemulsification in colobomatous eyes with advanced cataract. Hard cataract and microcornea were risk factors for intraoperative complications. Significant postoperative improvement in CDVA was noticed in both macula involved and macula not involved groups.

Development and in vitro evaluation of ketoprofen extended release pellets using powder layering technique in a rotary centrifugal granulator.

Powder layering technique was evaluated using laboratory scale centrifugal granulator instrument to prepare extended release pellet dosage form of ketoprofen. Ethyl cellulose and shellac polymers were used for drug layering and extended release coating in the same apparatus. Inert sugar spheres were intermittently treated with drug powder and binding solution. Combination of ethyl cellulose (45cps) and shellac was evaluated as binders at different levels (1:3 ratio, at 6%, 12%, 16% and 21%w/w polymer) for drug loading and for extended release coating (1:3 ratio at 2%, 4% and 7% w/w polymer). Pellets were evaluated for drug release study using paddle apparatus in pH 6.8 Phosphate buffer, 900ml at 100 rpm. Ethyl cellulose and shellac when used as binder during drug layering did not extend the ketoprofen release beyond 4h. However, coating of drug loaded pellets using ethyl cellulose and shellac resulted in extended release profile of ketoprofen for about 10h. Ethyl cellulose coating alone at a level of 3% w/w resulted in extended release profile. Coated pellets were evaluated for sphericity, Hardness-Friability Index and scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of the pellets showed a uniform coating of polymer on the core pellets substantiating the use of centrifugal granulator for extended release coating. Release pattern from the optimized batch was best explained by Higuchi's model. The drug release pattern from the pellets was found to be Non-Fickian anomalous type, involving both diffusion and erosion mechanism. Accelerated stability study of the coated pellets filled in hard gelatin capsule was conducted for 3-month period and observed for the effect on drug release profile.