Advances in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of long-term diabetes mellitus (DM). Over the last 2 decades lot of work has been on early diagnosis of DR and screening programs have been designed to help the masses. Large numbers of clinical studies have been done for patients of diabetes and DR wherein the role of blood sugar control, metabolic control, role of oral medicines for DR, role of imaging, fluorescein angiography, and retinal photocoagulation has been studied. Newer treatment modalities are being devised and studied for better patient care. We discuss these issues in our review highlight and newer advances over the last few years.

Atropine poisoning mimicking septicemia.

A young female was admitted in medical emergency room with fever, tachycardia and breathing difficulty. A provisional diagnosis of septicemia was made and empirical antibiotics were started. The patient required intubation and assisted ventilation. The patient recovered within 72 hours completely except bilateral mid-dilated fixed pupils. Atropine was not administered in the hospital. All blood investigations and infection screening tests were negative. After detailed history, examination and discussions, atropine poisoning was suspected which could explain all the signs and symptoms of the patient. This highlights the examination of pupillary reflexes in emergency room and meticulous clinical examination.

Macular Thickness Variability in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Patients using Optical Coherence Tomography.

AIM: To compare the difference of retinal macular thickness and macular volume using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with the normal subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational case control study included primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients (n = 124 eyes) and healthy subjects in the control group (n = 124 eyes). All subjects underwent detailed history, general and systemic exami -nation. Complete ocular examination included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness, gonioscopy, dilated fundus biomicroscopy. Field analysis was done by white on white Humphrey Field Analyzer (Carl Zeiss). Optical coherence tomography imaging of macular area was performed using Stratus OCT (OCT 3, Version 4, Carl Zeiss Inc, Dublin, California, USA). In both these groups, parameters analyzed were macular thickness, inner macular thicknesses (IMT), outer macular thicknesses (OMT), central macular thick ness (CMT) and total macular volume (TMV). RESULTS: The POAG group had significantly decreased values of TMV, OMT and IMT, compared to control group, while there was no difference in CMT, presumably due to absence of ganglion cells in the central part. Thus, macular thickness and volume parameters may be used for making the diagnosis of glaucoma especially in patients with abnormalities of disc. CONCLUSION: Macular thickness parameters correlated well with the diagnosis of glaucoma. How to cite this article: Sharma A, Agarwal P, Sathyan P, Saini VK. Macular Thickness Variability in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Patients using Optical Coherence Tomography. J Current Glau Prac 2014;8(1):10-14.

Evaluation of Central Macular Thickness and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the normative data of macular thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) among normal subjects using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal subjects presenting to a tertiary medical hospital were included in the study. All patient underwent clinical examination followed by study of macular thickness and RN FL thick ness by spectral domain Topc on OCT. The data was collected and analyzed for variations in gender and age. The data was also compared with available literature. RESULTS: Total numbers of patients enrolled in the study were 154 (308 eyes). Numbers of males were 79 (158 eyes) and numbers of females were 75 (150 eyes). The mean age among males was 42.67 ± 12.15 years and mean age among females was 42.88 ± 11.73 years. Overall the mean mac ular thickness (central 1 mm zone) with SD - OCT was 241.75 ± 17.3 microns. The mean macular volume was 7.6 cu. mm ± 0.33. On analysis of the RNFL thickness, we observed that the RNFL was thickest in the inferior quadrant (138.58) followed by superior (122.30) nasal (116.32) and temporal quadrant (73.04). Gender-wise comparison of the data revealed no statistically significant difference for age, macular thickness parameters, volume and RFNL values except outer temporal thickness among males and females. No age-related difference was noted in the above parameters. On comparison with available norma tive data from India and elsewhere, we found significant variations with different machines. CONCLUSION: The study is the first to provide normative data using SD-OCT from central India. The data from spectral domain OCT correlated well with the values obtained from similar studies with SD - OCT. Values obtained from time domain OCT machines are different and are not comparable. How to cite this article: Agarwal P, Saini VK, Gupta S, Sharma A. Evaluation of Central Macular Thickness and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in a Tertiary Care Hospital. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2014;8(2):75-81.

Evaluation of moxifloxacin 0.5% in treatment of nonperforated bacterial corneal ulcers: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the equivalence of moxifloxacin 0.5% with a combination of fortified cefazolin sodium 5% and tobramycin sulfate 1.3% eye drops in the treatment of moderate bacterial corneal ulcers. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, equivalence clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS: Microbiologically proven cases of bacterial corneal ulcers were enrolled in the study and were allocated randomly to 1 of the 2 treatment groups. INTERVENTION: Group A was given combination therapy (fortified cefazolin sodium 5% and tobramycin sulfate) and group B was given monotherapy (moxifloxacin 0.5%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome variable for the study was percentage of the ulcers healed at 3 months. The secondary outcome variables were best-corrected visual acuity and resolution of infiltrates. RESULTS: Of a total of 224 patients with bacterial keratitis, 114 patients were randomized to group A, whereas 110 patients were randomized to group B. The mean ± standard deviation ulcer size in groups A and B were 4.2 ± 2 and 4.41 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. The prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (40.9% in group A and 48.2% in group B) was similar in both the study groups. A complete resolution of keratitis and healing of ulcers occurred in 90 patients (81.8%) in group A and 88 patients (81.4%) in group B at 3 months. The observed percentage of healing at 3 months was less than the equivalence margin of 20%. Worsening of ulcer was seen in 18.2% cases in group A and in 18.5% cases in group B. Mean time to epithelialization was similar, and there was no significant difference in the 2 groups (P = 0.065). No serious events attributable to therapy were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal healing using 0.5% moxifloxacin monotherapy is equivalent to that of combination therapy using fortified cefazolin and tobramycin in the treatment of moderate bacterial corneal ulcers. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Course and outcome of accidental sodium hydroxide ocular injury.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the course and outcome of patients with accidental ocular alkali burns. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional case series. METHODS: Study of a cohort of 16 patients (31 eyes) who sustained concomitant accidental sodium hydroxide ocular burns and received appropriate treatment at a tertiary care eye hospital in India. The patients were followed up for 1 year, and parameters including best-corrected visual acuity, epithelial defect area, conjunctival and limbal involvement, and injury-related complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Severe sodium hydroxide exposure of a mean duration of 12 ± 2.5 minutes and delay in specialist eye care caused moderate to severe injury (grade II, 19% [n = 6]; grade III, 19% [n = 6]; grade IV, 10% [n = 3]; and grade VI, 52% [n = 16]). Median best-corrected visual acuity at presentation was 1.0 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) units (range, 0.3 to 1.9 logMAR units), and at 1 year, it was 1.0 logMAR units (range, 0 to 1.9 logMAR units; P = .121). The median initial epithelial defect was 100 mm(2) (range, 18 to 121 mm(2)), which healed in all eyes by 3.5 months. Initial median limbal involvement was 12 clock hours (range, 3 to 12 clock hours), resulting in a residual limbal stem cell deficiency of 6 clock hours (range, 0 to 12 clock hours) at 1 year. Most common complications were glaucoma and cataract. Corneal ulcers developed in 2 eyes, and keratolimbal graft was performed in 1 patient. Grade VI injuries had significantly worse outcome than the lower-grade injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The course and outcome of ocular alkali burns depends on effective first aid (including a thorough eyewash), age, initial grade of injury, response to treatment, prevention of secondary infection, and control of glaucoma. Despite appropriate treatment, these eyes responded poorly and carried a guarded visual prognosis.

Bilateral Mooren's ulcer in a child secondary to helminthic infestation of the gastrointestinal tract.

To report an unusual association of bilateral Mooren's ulcer in a child with helminthic infestation of gastrointestinal tract. A 6-year-old female presented with redness, watering and photophobia in left eye for 2 months and in right eye for 2 weeks. BCVA was 20/200 in OD and 20/400 OS. Superior peripheral corneal ulcer of 8 × 2 mm was present in the right eye and 8 × 3 mm perforated limbal corneal ulcer with staphyloma was present in the left eye. Hemogram revealed microcytic hypochromic anemia, eosinophilia and elevated ESR. No organism was isolated on corneal scraping. Stool examination revealed presence of Ancylostoma duodenale. Therapy included fortified topical antibiotics, cycloplegics, lubricants and oral albendazole. Conjunctival recession and crescentic therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was done in OD and OS respectively. At 18 months follow up, there was no recurrence in any of the eyes. Bilateral Mooren's ulcer may be present with gastrointestinal hookworm infestation. Prompt and appropriate management may provide optimal therapeutic success.

Optimal use of donor corneal tissue: one cornea for two recipients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the use of 1 donor cornea for 2 recipients who required anterior lamellar and posterior lamellar keratoplasties, respectively. METHODS: Twelve eyes with anterior corneal stromal pathology and 12 eyes with irreversible endothelial dysfunction were evaluated for transplant surgery at a tertiary eye care referral center. Twelve healthy donor corneas were split into 2 parts, that is, anterior lamellar button (350-µm-thick) and posterior lamellar button (150-µm-thick) using a microkeratome (Moria, Antony, France). The anterior lamellar button was used to perform automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty in 12 eyes, and the posterior lamellar button was used to undertake Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in 12 eyes. The parameters evaluated were feasibility of the procedure, intraoperative and postoperative complications, if any, and visual outcome. RESULTS: It was possible to use 12 donor tissues for 24 patients as envisaged. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. In the automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty group, 83.3% (10 of 12) of patients achieved a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of >20/60, and in the Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty group 75% (9 of 12) of patients achieved a BCVA of >20/60. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that 1 donor corneal tissue can be successfully used for 2 patients as a routine practice with appropriate and optimal case selection. Such techniques may help to reduce the magnitude of corneal blindness in developing countries where there are shortages of donor corneal tissue.

Role of voriconazole in combined acanthamoeba and fungal corneal ulcer.

We report a case of a 21 year old male who presented with smear-proven fungal corneal ulcer in left eye, refractory to treatment with topical natamycin. Corneal smears and culture were taken along with anterior chamber tap for microbiological investigations and intracameral 1% voriconazole was injected followed by institution of oral as well as topical voriconazole drops. Corneal and aqueous smear as well as culture confirmed the presence of acanthamoeba. The keratitis responded favourably to voriconazole therapy which was instituted along with topical trophicidal drugs and anterior chamber became quiet by 7th day. The patient was slowly tapered from voriconazole and was off the drug by 6 months. At one year follow up, he continues to remain asymptomatic. The possibility exists that the fungal organisms had either partially or completely responded to natamycin eye drops and voriconazole therapy further inhibited their growth along with being highly efficacious in suppressing acanthamoeba trophozoites. Voriconazole may be specifically instrumental in corneal ulcers with coinfection of acanthamoeba and fungal organisms and preventing recrudescence of both. Normal saline wet mount and 10% KOH mount of paracentesis sample for suspicious cases of refractory corneal ulcers to specifically look for trophozoites in order to institute timely treatment are recommended.

Evaluation of intrastromal voriconazole injection in recalcitrant deep fungal keratitis: case series.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of intrastromal voriconazole, as a modality of treatment for management of recalcitrant fungal keratitis. METHODS: Twelve patients of smear and/or culture positive fungal keratitis not responding to topical and systemic antifungal therapy were treated with additional intrastromal voriconazole therapy. Patients were given one or more intrastromal injection of voriconazole (50 µg in 0.1 ml) at the junction of clear cornea and infiltrates, using a 30-gauge needle in five quadrants to form a barrage around the ulcer. All patients continued to receive topical and systemic antifungal therapy. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 47.58 ± 15.13 years, and the mean time to presentation at the centre was 37.58 ± 10.54 days. Organisms isolated were Aspergillus species (n=8), Fusarium species (n=3) and Curvularia (n=1). Of 12 eyes, 10 eyes healed with scar formation, and the mean resolution time was 39.75 ± 7.62 days. Two corneas perforated and required therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. The best-corrected visual acuity was less than 20/1200 in all patients at the time of presentation, which improved to better than 20/400 in 10 eyes and 20/40 in eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasty at the end of 24.75 ± 2.14 weeks' follow-up. CONCLUSION: Intrastromal injection of voriconazole may be used as a modality of treatment for managing cases of recalcitrant fungal keratitis.

Visual hemifield loss in thalamic hematoma.

A 45 year old hypertensive patient presented to the emergency medical room (EMR) with sudden onset of severe headache, episode of vomiting, visual loss and confusion. A C.T scan and MRI brain was done revealing a large hematoma in the region of posterior part of left thalamus. The patient was disoriented in time, place and had right visual field hemianopia. The headache and higher functions became normal with control of intracranial pressure and supportive therapy. There were no motor or sensory symptoms or signs. This case is unique as a large thalamic hematoma presented with only visual field deficit and no sensory or motor system affection.

Pattern of bilateral blinding corneal disease in patients waiting for keratoplasty in a tertiary eye care centre in northern India.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical profile, demographic characteristics, and socioeconomic status in patients with bilateral blinding corneal disease who are waiting for keratoplasty. METHODS: Patients with bilateral blindness from corneal diseases, who were admitted for keratoplasty in the cornea services of a tertiary eye care center in Northern India from May 1, 2004, to December 31, 2004, were enrolled in the study. The clinical presentation, demographic details, and socioeconomic status of the patients were noted and analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients with bilateral blindness from corneal disease were included in the study, of which 56 (95%) had bilateral corneal disease resulting from similar etiology and three (5%) of different etiology in both eyes. Twenty-two patients (37%) had simultaneous onset and 37 patients (63%) had separate onset of the corneal disease with subsequent involvement of the fellow eye and a mean interval of 16.4 years. Infection was the predominant etiologic diagnosis in patients with bilateral similar etiologic disease (62.5%). The pinhole visual acuity was 1/60 or less in the better eye in 45 patients and 1/60 to 3/60 in eight and 3/60 to 6/60 in six patients. Fifty-four patients (92%) lived in rural areas, whereas only five patients (8%) lived in urban areas. Only 18 patients (31 %) were gainfully employed. Thirty patients (51 %) were illiterate. CONCLUSION: Corneal infection is the most common cause of bilateral corneal blindness. There is a high frequency of involvement of one eye with subsequent involvement of the other eye at a later date. This is more commonly seen in the rural population, particularly in those belonging to a lower socioeconomic stratum and those who are illiterate and tend to be ignorant about proper eye care.

In vitro susceptibility of bacterial keratitis isolates to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones.

PURPOSE: To study the microbiological profile of bacterial keratitis in Northern India and to determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial keratitis isolates to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones. METHODS: Laboratory records of all consecutive cases of clinically suspected bacterial corneal ulcers were retrospectively reviewed. Data noted included microorganism isolated and antibiotic culture sensitivity to cefazolin, tobramycin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin. In vitro susceptibility toward individual antibiotics was determined and compared with the potential in vitro susceptibilities to cefazolin-tobramycin, cefazolin-gatifloxacin, and cefazolin-moxifloxacin combinations. RESULTS: A total of 292 bacterial isolates were identified. Of these, 255 (87.3%) were Gram-positive and 37 (12.7%) were Gram-negative. Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=227, 77.7%) was the most common organism. Overall susceptibility of isolates was 95.52% to gatifloxacin, 92.83% to moxifloxacin, 90.07% to tobramycin, and 83.56% to cefazolin (p<0.000). Organisms which showed resistance to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, viridans streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Susceptibilities to gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were comparable with each other (p=0.312) and with potential susceptibilities to cefazolin-tobramycin (p=0.479), gatifloxacin-cefazolin (p=0.134), and moxifloxacin-cefazolin (p=0.412) combinations. CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy with moxifloxacin or gatifloxacin can be an effective alternative to cefazolin-tobramycin combination as a first-line empirical therapy for bacterial keratitis. The addition of cefazolin to a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone is of limited value.

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis with bilateral optic nerve involvement as an initial presentation of acute lymphocytic leukemia in an adult.

BACKGROUND: To report a case of peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) and scleritis, along with bilateral optic nerve infiltration as an initial presentation of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in an adult. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 24-year-old patient presented with complaints of pain, redness, and watering in the right eye since 15 days along with progressive decrease of vision since 3 months, leading to bilateral blindness. On examination, the visual acuity was absence of light perception in both eyes. Examination of the right eye revealed a PUK and adjacent localized scleritis. Fundus examination revealed bilateral multiple flame-shaped retinal haemorrhages. The optic discs in both eyes showed pallor with blurred margins. B-scan ultrasonography revealed bilateral optic nerve thickening. Head computed tomography was normal. Blood picture and bone marrow examination revealed features consistent with ALL. For sclerokeratitis, the patient was recommended topical steroids along with adjuvant therapy. She was referred to the oncology services for management of leukemia and was treated with chemotherapy. RESULTS: The sclerokeratitis responded well to medical management. However, no gain in vision could be achieved. CONCLUSIONS: ALL can present with sclerokeratitis and bilateral blindness due to optic nerve infiltration in an adult. Early diagnosis and prompt management may save the patient from blindness.