RESUMEN
Introduction and Objective: To describe a novel technique for providing external ligation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) to prevent hypotony in eyes at high risk with a 4/0 nylon stent suture and report outcomes compared to ligation with an absorbable vicryl suture and no ligation in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study investigating the efficacy and safety of in situ stenting compared to an absorbable ligature and the standard care, in high risk eyes, of hypotony. It included 116 patients; 34 in Group A (ligation + stent), 27 in Group B (ligation - stent), and 55 in Group C (no ligation). Results: The mean age (in years) of the participants was 53.94±19.01 in Group A, 44.85±29.92 in Group B and 52.62±24.47 in Group C, 59% (n = 20), 63% (n = 17) and 60% (n = 33) were males, respectively. The follow-up period was at least 6 months (Group A: 9.1±4.2 months, Group B: 9.6±3.4 months and Group C: 10.2±6.4 months). The mean baseline Snellen VA (LogMAR) was 1.82±1.34, 1.30±0.98 and 1.34±1.07 and the mean baseline IOP was 32.50±9.48, 28.22±7.12 and 28.33±10.63 mmHg, in Groups A, B and C, respectively. The failure rates, by the Kaplan Meier Survival curve, were higher 27.3% in Group C (no ligation) compared to 20.6% in Group A (ligation + stent) and 18.5% in Group B (ligation - stent) yet not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.4; log rank test). There was lower hypotony 2.9% in Group A and lower complications 25.9% in Group B but no statistical significance was found amongst the groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, temporary nylon in situ stenting of AGV had lower rates of hypotony. Furthermore, lower failure and complication rates were observed in vicryl only ligated AGV, then nylon in situ stented AGV and lastly in standard AGV controls.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To study the magnitude of chronic diseases among patients suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) and compare them with published findings in the literature. METHODS: Patients diagnosed in 2016 suffering from DES based on presenting symptoms and findings of ocular examination were included in this study. The demographic information included age and gender. Chronic diseases among them were identified through case records, assessment and ongoing medications. RESULTS: This case series had 62 patients (58% males) of DES. The mean age was 60.2 ± 16.6 years. The prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes among them was 48.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 31.5-65.5), 55.9% (95% CI 40.1-71.7) and 47.1% (95% CI 29.8-64.4) respectively. The rate of thyroid diseases (16.2%), renal diseases (6.5%), and liver diseases (6.7%) was not significant in this series. CONCLUSIONS: This series in central Saudi Arabia suggests that the magnitude of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia seems to be higher in patients with DES compared to the population.