Ophthalmic complication of pityriasis rubra pilaris.

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare dermatological condition which may present with ocular manifestations. We report a case of recurrent cicatricial ectropion (CE) with topical beta-blocker use in the rare dermatological condition PRP. The patient underwent release of scar tissue, lateral tarsal strip and full-thickness supraclavicular skin graft for CE following immunosuppression with methotrexate for 3 months. Postoperatively, CE recurred, with skin graft shrinkage and resumption of periocular disease activity, 8 weeks following the introduction of topical timolol. The patient was referred for further immunosuppression and substitution of timolol before consideration for further surgery. PRP has a variety of potential ocular complications. Surgery has a high risk of recurrence and should be performed when the overall disease is quiescent and drugs, which could trigger reactivation, have been discontinued and/or substituted. Skin grafts should be oversized to off-set shrinkage.

Lateral tarsal strip procedure: comparison of absorbable sutures and non-absorbable polypropylene suture. Does the suture type matter?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the success and complication rates of the Lateral Tarsal Strip (LTS) Procedure, when treating involutional ectropion/entropion, is influenced by the use of suture when attaching the tarsal strip to the periosteum. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Multi-centre retrospective comparative study of re-operation and complication rates (Recurrence, Dehiscence, Suture Infection, Granuloma, Haemorrhage, Residual-Lid Laxity, Suture Extrusion and Repeat Procedure) in LTS, between 01/01/2017 and 01/01/2022 who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, for involutional ectropion/entropion using an absorbable polyglactin (vicryl) and non-absorbable polypropylene suture (prolene). RESULTS: 1079 operations in 891 patients (36% female, average age 81.4 years) were performed with an average follow-up of 1.785 years. 588 operations in 475 patients were performed using prolene whilst 491 procedures in 416 patients were performed using vicryl sutures. Of these, 61% were performed by a consultant surgeon in the prolene group compared to 49.7% in the vicryl group. Overall complication rates between prolene and vicryl were 24.7% and 29.7% (p = 0.061) respectively. Higher complication rates for post-operative residual lid laxity, granuloma and suture infection were greater in the vicryl group versus prolene (2.65% and 0.51% p = 0.004, 2.24% and 0.68% p = 0.03, 1.83% and 0.17% p = 0.007 respectively). Non-significant results for dehiscence or repeat procedures (2.24% and 2.21% p = 0.974, 6.72% and 9.01% p = 0.166 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both sutures are effective for the correction of involutional ectropion/entropion with LTS. Dehiscence and redo rates were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the use of vicryl suture was found to be associated with a higher complication rate for: post-operative residual lid laxity, granuloma and suture infection.

High-resolution computed tomography assessment of bony nasolacrimal parameters: variations due to age, sex, and facial features.

PURPOSE: To compare nasolacrimal duct anatomy between gender, age, and facial features, and explore correlations between bony parameters. METHODS: A retrospective case series of patients of four races who had high-resolution computed tomography (CT) between 2004 and 2019 covering the full length of their nasolacrimal ducts in two hospitals in Essex, England. Only normal ducts were included; patients with tearing or radiological abnormalities were excluded. Measurements were taken of the nasolacrimal duct and surrounding anatomy based on measurements found in the existing literature. RESULTS: More females (n = 114) than males (n = 40) were included. Mean age was slightly older for females (45.7 years) compared to males (42.5). Males have taller noses and wider faces. Nasolacrimal duct calibre correlated positively with age, male gender, and facial width, and negatively with nasal height. There was a tendency for nasolacrimal ducts to be longer in males. CONCLUSION: The bony nasolacrimal duct is smaller in younger female patients. Having a taller nose and narrower upper face is also correlated with a smaller calibre duct. Acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction in patients without these demographics or facial features may be more likely due to secondary causes.

Morphometric differences in normal bony nasolacrimal anatomy: comparison between four ethnic groups.

PURPOSE: To compare bony nasolacrimal duct anatomy between ethnic groups. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patients of four ethnic groups who had high-resolution CTs between 2004 and 2019 covering the full length of their nasolacrimal ducts in two hospitals in Essex, England. Only normal ducts were included; patients with tearing or radiological abnormalities were excluded. Measurements were taken of the nasolacrimal duct and surrounding anatomy based on measurements found in the existing literature. RESULTS: More females (n = 114) than males (n = 40) were included. South Asian (Indian subcontinent), Afro-Caribbean and European groups were equivocal demographically (n = 25-29, mean age 40-45); however, the Oriental group was fewer in number (n = 13) and slightly older (mean age 51). South Asian and European ducts had no significant differences. Afro-Caribbean ducts were wider and shorter than European. Afro-Caribbean faces are wider and their noses flatter and wider than European. Oriental ducts were wider and longer than European, but Europeans have taller noses. CONCLUSION: The results from our Oriental group fits with the published data in Orientals. The bony nasolacrimal duct is greater in calibre (inner diameter) if the patient is of Afro-Caribbean or Oriental origin compared to European or South Asian. Acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction in Afro-Caribbean or Oriental patients may be more likely due to secondary causes.

Gold in the balance: How does patient posture affect eyelid closure?

A retrospective audit was conducted of four patients with upper eyelid gold weights (inserted >5 years ago) as treatment for facial nerve palsy-related lagophthalmos. Each patient was presently examined for lagophthalmos ("opened" or "closed") at three different patient inclinations (lying flat at 0º, lying back at 45º, and sitting upright at 90º). In all four cases at 0º inclination, the upper eyelid remained "open" with significant lagophthalmos, and therefore the ocular surface was vulnerable. At other inclinations, 45º and 90º, the eyes were substantially "closed" and the ocular surface was protected. We discuss the mechanism by which this occurs. We suggest that patients fitted with upper eyelid gold weight implant who do not show adequate closure during postoperative clinical examination or signs of corneal show should try sleeping in a slightly upright position to aid ocular surface protection.

Frontal Sinus Mucocele Formation as a Late Complication of External Dacrocystorhinostomy.

Two cases of frontal sinus mucocele post external approach dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery are reported. The possible anatomical causes of this condition are discussed and in particular, attention is drawn to the consideration of frontal sinus mucocele in patients presenting with frontal sinus symptoms post-DCR surgery.

Do doctors have hidden distress; a study conducted at tertiary care hospital at Lahore.

OBJECTIVE: Toanalyse the prevalence of distress in doctors serving in a tertiary care hospital and studying the factors having significant impact on the subject. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from February to December 2014, and comprised doctors serving for at least six months who volunteered to fill out the standardised General Health Questionnaire-12Demographic features and level of job satisfaction were taken as independent variables. Outcome variable was the questionnaire score. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean questionnaire score of the 97 respondents in the study was 12.27±6.397. Of them, 19(19.6%) and 11(11.3%) had distress and severe distress respectively. Marital status (p=0.006), age (p=0.029), income per month (p=0.010) and levels of job satisfaction (p=0.001) had significant impact on the scores. Variables having insignificant impact were gender (p=0.529), number of children (p=0.220), education (p=0.816), service years (p=0.155), current employment (p=0.504), nature of job (p=0.531), working hours (p=0.632), additional duties (p=0.663), and socioeconomic class (p=0.935). CONCLUSIONS: Almost one-third of the doctors had distress under the significant impact of multiple factors.

Sliding tarsal advancement flap for upper eyelid reconstruction.

The Sliding Tarsal Advancement Flap, a modification of Hughes procedure has been used for the repair of large upper eyelid defects in three patients. The procedure yielded both good functional and aesthetic outcomes. At presentation the defect measured 50% in two cases and >50% in one case.

Transport and interaction of cosmetic product material within the ocular surface: beauty and the beastly symptoms of toxic tears.

Eye cosmetics such as mascara, eye shadow and eyeliner are used extensively to highlight the eyes, and are normally applied external to the ocular surface. Adverse reactions of cosmetics within the ocular surface include mild discomfort, eyelid dermatitis, pre-corneal tear film instability, and keratitis. These are attributed mainly to the preservative (benzalkonium chloride (BAC)) constituent of cosmetic product material (CPM). Transport of CPM from an external environment to any location on the ocular surface, essentially precedes the adverse interactions occurring at the location, and the control of these transport modes is therefore of clinical relevance. The inter-transport of CPM across the TF occurs due to both diffusion and drift processes. Diffusion of neutral species is driven by concentration gradients, and the drift of cationic BAC is influenced by the inherent electric field; determined by the distribution of the various ions secreted into the aqueous layer, and the negative glycocalyx charge at the mucin layer. In the presence of mucin deficiency, the corneal epithelium is exposed to invasion by both incident BAC and lipophilic species. The transport of cationic BAC across the TF may be controlled by regulating the secretion of various electrolytes at the lacrimal gland. This is of clinical significance in reducing corneal epithelial adverse effects. However, the risks of adverse effects at the corneal surface due to invasion by the lipophilic species remain. Patients with mucin deficiency, and especially those on eye ointment/drops medication, should be discouraged from using cosmetics in a way likely to contaminate the TF.

Local anesthesia for cataract surgery.

Various aspects of local anesthesia for cataract surgery, such as the anesthetic agents and their interaction with ocular nerve supply, anesthesia requirements, available clinical techniques and their inherent complications are reviewed. A comparative evaluation of clinical techniques in terms of efficacy, akinesia, and patient-perceived pain during both anesthesia administration and intraoperative cataract surgery is presented, along with the prevailing practice patterns of anesthesia techniques among refractive surgeons in the United Kingdom and United States. More randomized clinical trials are needed to facilitate statistical methods of metaanalysis to establish convincingly the overall benefits and efficacy of the various local anesthesia procedures in cataract surgery. The wide scope of the present review is of relevance in structuring ophthalmology and anesthesia specialist training programs for junior staff.

Concurrent macular oedema and optic neuritis in Crohn's disease with varied response to steroids.

A patient with a 10-year history of Crohn's disease presented to our ophthalmology service with symptoms of acute anterior uveitis. Previous episodes had been treated successfully with topical steroids.However, on this occasion after treatment with topical steroids, the patient developed macular oedema with concurrent optic neuritis in the affected eye.Furthermore, optic neuritis persisted despite oral steroid treatment contrary to expectations based on current literature. After 6 months of treatment, optic disc oedema had markedly improved but was replaced by sectoral disc pallor.