Incision-sparing management of canaliculitis: an efficacious alternative to surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of conservative (punctal dilation, manual expression, microcurettage, and canalicular irrigation with antibiotics) and surgical (punctoplasty) modalities for the management of canaliculitis in an Asian population. METHODS: The medical records of 11 consecutive patients (12 eyes) presenting with canaliculitis to one surgeon from August 2010 to January 2014 were reviewed. The clinical presentation, findings, management, microbiology, and treatment outcomes were studied. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.6 years (57-91 years), 8 (72.7%) patients were females, and all 11(100%) were Chinese. The majority had unilateral canaliculitis-8 (66.7%) right eye only and 4 (33.3%) left eye only (1 patient had consecutive right canaliculitis followed by left canaliculitis)-involving the lower canaliculi (75%). Ten (83.3%) eyes had primary canaliculitis, and 2 (16.7%) eyes had secondary canaliculitis from punctal plug insertion. Common presenting symptoms included eye discharge (75%) and eyelid swelling/redness (50%). Common clinical signs included mucopurulent punctal regurgitation (75%) and pouting punctum (58.3%). Facultative anaerobes (56.3%) formed the majority of organisms, and the most common bacteria isolated were Streptococcus spp. (18.8%). Mean duration to definitive treatment was 35 days (0-126 days). Ten (83.3%) eyes were successfully treated with incision-sparing modalities, and 2 (16.7%) eyes were treated surgically. No recurrences were observed at 3, 6, and 12 months, and only 1 (10.0%) of the 10 conservatively managed eyes had a recurrence of canaliculitis after 3.8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical modalities remain effective for the treatment of canaliculitis. However, they are not without disadvantages, such as scarring, discomfort, infection, and recurrence of punctal stenosis. In our experience, incision-sparing modalities are effective in the treatment of canaliculitis and have low recurrence rates.

Maximising safety of cataract surgery training: improving patient safety by reducing cataract surgery complication rates.

PURPOSE: Cataract surgery is a highly successful, high-volume surgery, hence reducing surgical complications are imperative for organizations to deliver cost-effective, high-quality services that meet the needs of patients. This paper aims to describe 18-month results of a sustainable program to maximize the safety of cataract surgery training. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Modifications to the comprehensive cataract-training program and tested were developed in a controlled, interventional case series to evaluate their effect on trainee complication rates. Data collection and interpretation were performed in a prospective and blind manner. FINDINGS: Prior to intervention, PCR rates for trainee-surgeons averaged 3.34 per cent cf international published figures of 4.6-10 per cent. This compared with 1.89 per cent PCR rate for trained cataract surgeons (p < 0.002, Mann Whitney test). Multiple interventions were introduced and enforced to maximize cataract surgery training safety. After 18 months follow-up data were consistent with a statistically significant reduction in trainee PCR rates (1.53 per cent, p < 0.007, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test) compared with trained cataract surgeons (1.23 per cent, p < 0.074, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test). Parameters of training efficacy were improved or maintained during this period. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Limitations included using trained cataract surgeons as controls as apposed to a similar group of trainee surgeons. In addition, multiple interventions were simultaneously instituted, making identification of a single influential factor impossible to identify. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Maximally safe and effective cataract surgery training is achieved in Singapore without compromising service and quality markers. Similar training goals can be extrapolated to other surgical disciplines. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This is the first study to demonstrate maximally safe and effective cataract surgery training in a large patient group, over sustained periods.

Post-LASIK myopic shift after a trek in the North Pole.

Bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis was performed in a 37-year-old male ethnic Chinese adventurer. Eight weeks postoperatively, the patient made an unassisted trek to the geographic North Pole. After 2 weeks in this environment, a myopic shift of more than -1.50 diopters occurred in both eyes. The myopic shift resolved over 2 months when the patient returned to a tropical climate. Using Orbscan corneal topography, we propose that the myopic shift was attributed to biomechanical changes in the cornea induced by corneal dehydration in the Arctic environment.