Prevalence of visual impairment, uncorrected refractive errors and effective refractive error coverage in Koshi Province, Nepal - Rapid Assessment of Refractive Errors.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of visual impairment (VI), uncorrected refractive errors (URE), and effective refractive error coverage among individuals aged 15-50 years in Koshi Province, Nepal. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Koshi Province in which 4800 participants were selected from 80 clusters. The study teams visited the selected households and conducted eye examinations. This included monocular unaided (and aided) visual acuity assessment using a Snellen chart with tumbling E optotypes at a distance of 6 meters. Near vision was assessed binocularly using the N notation chart at a fixed distance of 40 cm for each individual. Torchlight examination and distance direct ophthalmoscopy was done. VI was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/12 in the better eye. URE was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/12 and improving to 6/12 or better on using a pinhole. Near Vision Impairment was defined as binocular presenting near vision worse than N8 among those age 35 years and older. RESULTS: In total, 4057 were examined (84.5% response rate). The prevalence of VI was 3.52% (95% CI:2.89-4.13; n = 143). The prevalence of URE in the better eye was 1.95% (95% CI:1.54-2.42; n = 79). The Refractive Error Coverage and Effective Refractive Error Coverage were 34.8% and 31.3% respectively. The prevalence of NVI was 34.24% (95% CI: 32.1-36.40; n = 666). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of VI and  URE was low, attributed to the availability and uptake of services in Koshi province in Nepal.

Profile of Secondary Glaucoma in a Tertiary Eye Hospital of Eastern Nepal.

BACKGROUND: To determine the clinical profile and causes of various types of secondary glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary eye hospital of eastern Nepal from 1st June to 30th November, 2017. Patients who met the criteria for secondary glaucoma underwent detailed ophthalmic examination. RESULTS: Out of 7079 patients diagnosed with glaucoma or glaucoma suspects, 528 (7.4%) had secondary glaucoma. The mean age at presentation was 52 ± 17 years with male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The most common cause was lens induced 173 (32.8%) followed by neovascular 107 (20.3%), steroid induced 86 (16.3%), traumatic 76 (14.4%), post-vitrectomy 17 (3.2%), uveitic 11 (2.1%), pseudophakic 10 (1.9%), aphakic 8 (1.5%), post-keratoplasty 5 (0.9%) and miscellaneous included 35 (6.6%). Post-traumatic 31 (29.5%) was more prevalent below 41 years while lens induced glaucoma 86 (49%) above 60 years of age. At presentation, the average IOP was 40 ± 11 mmHg. 36 (6.8%) had no light perception in the presenting eye and a large number of participants 307 (58.1%) presented with visual acuity of <3/60 to perception of light. Glaucomatous optic atrophy was found in 22 (9.0%) cases. CONCLUSION: The causes of secondary glaucoma are diverse, lens induced glaucoma being most common. Most patients present late with poor vision, high IOP and even glaucomatous optic atrophy. So, early identification and treatment of the causes is important so that we can prevent the burden of blindness due to secondary glaucoma.

Lens induced glaucoma: An experience in tertiary eye care center in eastern Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Lens Induced Glaucoma (LIG), is one of commonest cause of secondary glaucoma due to senile cataracts. The purpose of this study was to see the outcome of cataract surgery in patients with LIG. METHODS: This was a prospective case series of 40 patients with LIG who presented to our hospital between April to June 2014. The purpose of this study was to look into the age and sex distribution, causes for delayed presentation, immediate post-operative visual outcome and the reasons for poor visual outcome. RESULT: There were 23 phacomorphic cases and 17 phacolytic glaucoma patients included in our study. The mean age at presentation was 63±10 years. Female to male ratio was 2.1:1. The majority of patients 57% presented after 2 weeks of symptoms and the reason for late presentation in more than half of the patients (52.5%) was financial constraints. At presentation, mean preoperative intra ocular pressure was 39±10 mm Hg. Following surgery, 36 of 40 eyes (90%) had an IOP less than 21 mm Hg at discharge. Visual acuity was either hand-movement or just perception of light in all eyes before surgery. At discharge, 26 of 40 operated eyes (65%) achieved 6/60 or better, 2 (5%) had less than 6/60 and 12 (30%) less than 3/60. The reasons for poor VA in these 12 patients were optic atrophy in 5 patients, uveitis in 5 patients, macular cause in one and corneal edema in one. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery proves to be effective in lowering the Intraocular pressure and visual recovery in patients with lens induced glaucoma.