Ophthalmic Self-Medication Practices and Associated Factors of Using Steroid Eye Drops Among Adult Ophthalmic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication is defined as the selection of medicines by individuals to treat self-diagnosed ophthalmic symptoms without consultation of healthcare professionals. Topical steroids can produce severe eye-threatening complications, including the elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) with possible development of glaucoma and infrequent optic nerve damage. In recent times, many over-the-counter (OTC) ophthalmic preparations are possible without a prescription. There are a lot of concerns about the safety of long-term use of nonprescription ophthalmic drugs, which may lead to a variety of serious ocular complications. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of self-medication ocular topical steroid practices and associated factors among adult ophthalmic patients attending ophthalmology clinics at King Saud Medical City (KSMC) in Riyadh. METHODS: A cross-sectional study targeted adults aged 18 or older who had used topical steroids eye drops. The data were collected through interviews, and an online questionnaire was distributed among patients who attended ophthalmology clinics between December 2022 and February 2023. RESULT: From a total of 308 responses, 92 (29.8%) were using ocular topical, 58 (18.8%) with a prescription, five (1.6%) without a prescription, and 29 (9.4%) with and without a prescription, while 216 (70.1%) did not use it. The frequency of using ocular topical steroids without a prescription among participants was 11 (12%) once and 33 (35%) many times. Additionally, 26 (28.3%) were having complications, mostly eye infections (11, 12.4%), glaucoma (8, 9%), and cataracts (6, 6.7%). The reasons for practicing self-medication of steroid eye drops among participants were 14 (15.2%) repeated symptoms, 11 (15.2%) had heard advice from friends, and 11 (15.2%) think they had enough knowledge. CONCLUSION: The study reported the use of self-medication with steroids in ophthalmology clinics at KSMC, even though detecting a high level of perception and acceptable practices among participants. This practice is mainly due to participants having repeated symptoms and thinking they have enough knowledge. Educating the patients would help in reducing the incidence of self-medication steroid eye drops and its associated complications.

Estimates of dry eye disease in Saudi Arabia based on a short questionnaire of prevalence, symptoms, and risk factors: The Twaiq Mountain Eye Study I.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of dry eye disease (DED) among the citizens of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence survey was administered to 4066 healthy adults from the five main regions of Saudi Arabia. Initial estimates of the prevalence and associated risk factors of DED were calculated for the general population and then stratified by demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and location. DED was assessed by a short, validated dry-eye questionnaire. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DED was 49.5 % (n = 2016), including 33.1 % (n = 1347) of participants who reported a previous DED diagnosis and 16.4 % (n = 669) who reported severe symptoms; 14.7 % reported severe symptoms and a previous DED diagnosis (n = 598). The DED prevalence among men was 49.8 % (n = 1005) compared with 50.2 % (n = 1011) for women. The multivariate model analysis confirmed the increased prevalence of DED in women (OR 1.48; 95 % CI 1.30-1.88), those ≥60 years of age (OR 1.99; 95 % CI 1.60-2.81), those who had undergone refractive surgery (OR 1.79; 95 % CI 1.50-2.59), those having undergone acne treatment (OR 1.51; 95 % CI 1.34-1.97), contact lens wearers (OR 1.77; 95 % CI 1.40-2.48), those having taken antiallergy drugs (OR 2.23; 95 % CI 1.55-2.78) or antidepressants (OR 1.60; 95 % CI 1.14-2.44), and those who reported computer use of >6 h per day (OR 1.66; 95 % CI 1.41-2.52). CONCLUSION: Dry eye is a common disease among the Saudi Arabian population. Prevalence is found to be high and vary significantly across the country. DED could be attributed to dry weather, low annual rainfall, low humidity, widespread use of air conditioners, air pollution, high temperature, and exposure to sunlight.

Foveal Congenital Simple Hamartoma of Retinal Pigment Epithelium: A Report of Two Cases.

We report two cases with foveal congenital simple hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium (CSHRPE), as both patients presented to our retina services complaining of a unilateral decreased vision. Full ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging were performed including fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and electrophysiological testing. Both patients presented with 20/80 vision in the affected eyes. Foveal CSHRPE was found in both eyes, along with parapapillary hyperpigmented rim, multiple pinpoint macular lesions, and few posterior pole hyperpigmented lesions. Multifocal electroretinogram showed diminished central amplitude in both eyes, with three-dimensional topography map showing blunted foveal peaks in one eye and the absence of a central peak in the other patient. Both patients had a stable vision and clinical examination of the CSHRPE during 5 and 6 years follow up, respectively. Foveal CSHRPE is usually symptomatic and results in a decline in visual acuity. Follow-up of these patients showed stable vision and clinical examination.

Nd:YAG laser therapy for non-resolving premacular subhyaloid hemorrhage in Saudi patients.

PURPOSE: To report anatomical and visual outcomes of Nd:YAG laser posterior hyaloidotomy (NYPH) in Saudi patients affected by Premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage (PMSHH). METHODS: 8 eyes from 8 patients (7 males and one female) were treated with NYPH when no spontaneous resolution of PMSHH was noticed. The cause of PMSHH was proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in 3 cases, Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in 2 cases, Valsalva retinopathy in 2 cases, and laser pointer injury in one case. The YAG laser was delivered using a Q switched mode and 3 mirrors contact lens. One attempt of laser delivery was enough in 6 cases and 2 cases needed 2 attempts. The laser power needed ranged between 2 and 4 mJ. RESULTS: Anatomical success was achieved in all cases. The mean LogMAR VA improved from 1.5 before treatment to 0.3 post-treatment. The difference is statistically significant (p = 0.012). No complications related to Nd:YAG laser therapy was reported in any of the study cases until the last follow up. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the outcomes of NYPH for non-resolving PMSHH in Saudi cases. In this small cases series, the procedure seems to be safe, effective, simple, cheap, and non-invasive treatment modality for this disorder that is conducted in the outpatient setting. We think it should be considered as a first option for cases of SHH covering the fovea due to various aetiologies.

Childhood microbial keratitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors for pediatric microbial keratitis and to describe the clinical picture, microbial spectrum, treatment modalities, posttreatment sequelae, and visual outcome in cases with pediatric microbial keratitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of microbial keratitis that occurred in children 16 years or younger who had an initial examination between January 2000 and December 2010 at a tertiary referral eye hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were identified. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted using a computer-based diagnosis code. Demographic data, predisposing factors, clinical course, microbial culture results, and visual outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty-eight eyes were included in this study. Predisposing factors were identified in 63 eyes (92.6%). All patients had unilateral microbial keratitis. The mean±SD age was 4.5 ± 4.8 years and 57.4% were male. Trauma was the leading cause [27 eyes (39.7%)], followed by systemic diseases [14 eyes (20.6%)], contact lens wear [11 eyes (16.1%)], and ocular diseases [11 eyes (16.1%)]. Corneal scraping was performed in all cases. Five patients needed general anesthesia to carry out the corneal scraping. Thirty-four (50.0%) eyes showed positive cultures. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 67.8% and gram-negative bacteria for 38.2% of isolates. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most commonly isolated organism [8 eyes (25.8%)], followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis [7 eyes (22.7%)]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most commonly isolated gram-negative [6 eyes (17.6%)] organism. One eye had corneal perforation and required surgical intervention. Forty-five of 68 eyes (66.2%) had a best-corrected visual acuity evaluation at the last follow-up and 28 eyes (62.2%) of them had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. CONCLUSION: Children with suspected microbial keratitis require comprehensive evaluation and management. Early recognition, identifying the predisposing factors and etiological microbial organisms, and instituting appropriate treatment measures have a crucial role in outcome. Ocular trauma was the leading cause of childhood microbial keratitis in our study.

Compliance to patching in the treatment of amblyopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate compliance of amblyopic patients to patching, and to identify reasons of poor compliance and suggest methods to overcome the problem. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study that included 37 families with a child diagnosed with unilateral amblyopia (age range 3-16 years) and attending the Pediatrics Ophthalmology clinic at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (a tertiary eye hospital). Data were collected through interviews and from hospital charts. In the interviews we asked questions that sought information with regard to four aspects (domains); knowledge, attitude, insight and community's effect. A score representing each domain was given to every family then we correlated these scores with family's compliance percentage. RESULTS: When correlated with compliance, the insight and attitude domains showed a statistically significant correlation; p-value 0.002 and 0.004, respectively. However, the knowledge and community's effect domains were not; p-value 0.084 and 0.114, respectively. Other qualitative factors affecting compliance were identified with open questions. Quotes from families of what they think can improve compliance are shown. CONCLUSION: To improve compliance, merely educating patients is not sufficient and more efforts should be undertaken toward ensuring true sense of the problem and its impact. Factors affecting compliance due to the physical properties in the patch itself should be addressed too (heat, irritation, poor adhesive material and design).

One month outcome of ocular related emergencies in a tertiary hospital in Central Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the number and characteristics of patients attending the Accident/Emergency (A/E) Department of a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, and to determine their route of referral, and pattern of ocular emergency cases. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out using the records and history of all patients attending the A/E at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in July 2010. Data collected included time of arrival, age, gender, source of referral, principal diagnosis, attending doctor, action taken, and discharge plan. RESULTS: A total of 1,412 patients were recruited in our study with an average daily attendance of 47 patients. A total of 863 (61%) patients were male, and their mean age was 28.2 years. The most frequent diagnosis in patients was trauma (382, 27%), followed by conjunctivitis (211, 14.9%), lids and lacrimal system (133, 9.4%), retina problems (51, 3.6%), glaucoma (30, 2.1%), neuro-ophthalmology (22, 1.6%), keratitis (20, 1.4%), uveitis (10, 0.7%), and episcleritis (5, 0.35%). Most cases (77.5%) seen were self-referrals. Additionally, 712 (50.4%) of cases were considered as non-emergency, which are visiting the A/E for dry eye, chalazion, blepharitis, and allergy. CONCLUSION: Most cases seen at our ophthalmic A/E had non-urgent conditions that could be managed satisfactorily by trained ophthalmic assistants under supervision of an ophthalmologist.

Gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging study of pancreatic iron overload in young Egyptian beta-thalassemia major patients and effect of splenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemic patients suffer from diabetes mellitus secondary to hemosiderosis. AIMS: The study aimed to evaluate pancreatic iron overload by T2*-weighted Gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in young beta-thalassemia major patients and to correlate it with glucose disturbances, hepatic hemosiderosis, serum ferritin and splenectomy. METHODS: Forty thalassemic patients (20 non diabetic, 10 diabetic, and 10 with impaired glucose tolerance) were recruited from Pediatric Hematology Clinic, in addition to 20 healthy controls. All patients underwent clinical assessment and laboratory investigations included complete blood count, liver function tests, serum ferritin and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A T2*-weighted gradient-echo sequence MRI was performed with 1.5 T scanner and signal intensity ratio (SIR) of the liver and the pancreas to noise were calculated. RESULTS: Significant reduction in signal intensity ratio (SIR) of the liver and the pancreas was shown in thalassemic patients compared to controls (P < 0.0001), Thalassemic patients with abnormal glucose tolerance; including diabetics and thalassemics with impaired glucose tolerance; displayed a higher degree of pancreatic and hepatic siderosis compared to thalassemics with normal glucose tolerance or controls (P < 0.001, P < 0.0001). Splenectomized thalassemic patients had significantly lower SIR of pancreas compared to non splenectomized patients (P < 0.05). A strong correlation was present between hepatic and pancreatic siderosis in studied patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: pancreatic siderosis can be detected by T2* gradient-echo MRI since childhood in thalassemic patients, and is more evident in patients with abnormal glucose tolerance. After splenectomy, iron deposition may be accelerated in the pancreas. Follow up of thalassemic patients using pancreatic MRI together with intensive chelation therapy may help to prevent the development of overt diabetes.