Impact of teleophthalmology during COVID-19 lockdown in a tertiary care center in South India.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the experience of teleconsultations addressed at our hospital in India during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. METHODS: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 977 teleconsultations presenting between April 1st and May 31, 2020. A two-level protocol was implemented to triage the calls. RESULTS: Overall, 977 teleconsultation were addressed. Of the 621 teleconsultation addressed the most common queries were related to redness/pain/ watering/blurred vision/itching/irritation (52.49%), followed by queries related to medications (28.01%), appointments (18.84%) & 0.64% cited an emergency need to visit the hospital due to sudden loss of vision. The majority of the queries were directed to the department of cornea (58.93%) followed by retina (16.26%), cataract (13.04%), glaucoma (10.14%) & pediatric ophthalmology (1.61%). The most common advice given to the patient was related to medications (47.66%) followed by appointment-related queries (31.72%) & fixing of surgical appointment (20.61%). Among the 356 preterm babies that were screened, 57 (16.01%) were diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Of them 3 required laser and 3 were given injection. CONCLUSION: Teleconsultation is here to stay beyond the pandemic. WhatsApp was the preferred modality of communication for us. Teleophthalmology has given us insights to use this evolving technology to reach out to the population at large to provide eye care services. We believe that this mode of teleophthalmology has helped us in providing feasible eye care to the patients.

A Case of Annular Iris Cyst Diagnosed With the Help of Ultrasound Biomicroscopy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of annular iris cyst presenting as a secondary angle closure managed with Nd:YAG laser iridotomy. DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: Institutional review board exemption for this case report was obtained from the institutional ethics committee, Aravind eye hospital, Tirunelveli. All research adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained.A 45-year-old woman presented with a 2-week history of sudden onset of pain and redness in the right eye. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed corneal edema, with the shallow anterior chamber, convex bowing of iris, irregular shape of the pupil, and glaucomflecken on the clear lens. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed an annular iris cyst of the iris pigment epithelium. Nd:YAG laser iridotomy was done to drain the cyst and relieve the angle closure. RESULTS: Laser treatment resulted in the collapse of the cyst, confirmed by ultrasound biomicroscopy and disappearance of the subject symptoms. CONCLUSION: Iris cysts are usually benign in nature. An annular iris cyst is a rare presentation. They can present with a secondary angle closure as in our report. Correct diagnosis and timely intervention bring about a desirable result. With this report, the authors aim to catalog and familiarize ophthalmologists with a rare ocular pathology and its management.