Ocular Chemical Burns: Epidemiological Trends in a Colombian Medical Center.

Ocular chemical burns are a significant cause of visual impairment. This study aims to characterize the ocular chemical burns in a southwestern Colombia referral center and identify associated factors with low vision. A retrospective cohort study was carried out based on the review of medical records of patients diagnosed with chemical eye burns who consulted the emergency ophthalmology service between January 2016 and December 2019. Descriptive statistics were performed. Associations with low vision (Best-Corrected Visual Acuity, ≥20/70 in Snellen chart) in the last follow-up appointment were identified using a multivariate logistic regression with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). About 219 eyes affected by chemical burns were identified from 174 patients with a mean age of 39 years (SD ± 20), of which 57.5% (n = 100) were men. We ran a multivariate model adjusted by sex, eye wash, type of chemical, and Dua's classification. We found that the odds of low vision for patients without eyewash before the consult were 3 times the odds of those who had it (adjusted OR [aOR] = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.3-9.4) and almost 5 times for those with Dua's classification >1 (aOR = 4.7, 95% CI = 1.7-12.9). The ocular chemical burns reported in this study occurred more in young people of productive age. Acids were the principal causal agent. The association between lack of early management and the severity of the chemical burn with low vision has been highlighted. Ocular burns remain a relevant cause of consultation on the ophthalmology service in Cali, and prevention strategies are required.

Keratitis in patients with corneal foreign bodies: a cross-sectional study in Cali, Colombia / Ceratite em pacientes com corpos estranhos na córnea: um estudo transversal em Cali, Colômbia

ABSTRACT Purposes: To describe the clinical characteristics and factors associated with keratitis in patients with corneal foreign bodies in Colombia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a clinical records review of patients who had corneal foreign bodies and were admitted to the emergency department between June 2018 and June 2019 in Cali, Colombia. The primary outcome was the presence of keratitis diagnosed based on clinical criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors. Results: A total of 381 corneal foreign bodies in 372 patients were analyzed (median age, 40.0; interquartile range, 29.0-53.0 years; male, 94.7% (n=352). Ninety-five patients developed keratitis (24.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 20.8%-29.5%). In the multivariate analysis, age 30 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.15, 95% CI 1.06-4.36), finding of aqueous flare (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.39-5.66]), and a foreign body in the peripheral cornea (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.19-3.50] were associated with an increased risk for keratitis. Sex, time between injury and admission, and corneal edema were not related to keratitis (p>0.05). Conclusion: In Cali, Colombia, a high proportion of keratitis was reported in patients with corneal foreign body. Age, an aqueous flare, and a foreign body in the peripheral cornea were the factors associated with keratitis.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas e os fatores associados à presença de ceratite em pacientes com corpos estranhos na córnea em uma população colombiana. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal baseado na revisão dos registros clínicos de pacientes com corpos estranhos na córnea admitidos em um departamento de emergência em Cali, Colômbia, entre junho de 2018 e junho de 2019. O desfecho primário foi a presença de ceratite diagnosticada através de critérios clínicos. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão logística univariada e multivariada para identificar os fatores associados. Resultado: Neste estudo, foi analisado um total de 381 corpos estranhos na córnea em 372 pacientes (idade média: 40,0 anos, intervalo interquartil: 29,0-53,0; sexo masculino: 94,7% [352 casos]). Noventa e cinco casos desenvolveram ceratite (24,9%, intervalo de confiança de 95% — IC 95%: 20,8%-29,5%). Na análise multivariada, para idade ≤30 anos (razão de chances — RC: 2,15, IC 95%: 1,06-4,36), o achado de flare aquoso (RC: 2,81, IC 95%: 1,39-5,66]) e a presença de corpo estranho na periferia da córnea (RC: 2,05, IC 95%: 1,19-3,50) foram associados a um risco aumentado de ceratite. Sexo, tempo entre a lesão e a internação, e edema da córnea não foram relacionados à ceratite (p>0,05). Conclusão: Há uma proporção elevada de ceratite em casos de corpos estranhos na córnea em Cali, Colômbia. Os três fatores associados à ceratite foram a idade, o achado de flare aquoso e a presença de corpo estranho na periferia da córnea.

Epidemiology of Eye Cancer in Cali, Colombia: A 55-Year Study.

PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology, incidence, mortality and survival of ocular cancer in Cali between 1962 and 2019. METHODS: Ecological population-based study analyzing data of incidence, mortality, and 5-years survival of malignant ocular tumors from the Populational Cancer Registry of Cali between 1962 and 2019. RESULTS: Between 1962 and 2019, 586 ocular tumors were found, 50.5% occurred in females, the mean age at diagnosis was 45 years (standard deviation = 25), 70.3% of ocular malignancies occurred in >14 years. The average annual incidence rate was 7.8 per million for male and 6.9 per million for females. Retinoblastoma (21%), squamous cell carcinoma (20%), melanoma (16%) and lymphoma (8%) were the most common neoplasm. In those <15 years, the most frequent malignant tumors were retinoblastomas (85.7%), followed by non-specified malignant neoplasm (NOS, 7.9%), and rhabdomyosarcoma (3.6%). In those >14 years, there were NOS (30%), followed by squamous cell carcinomas (28%), melanomas (23%), and lymphomas (9.7%). Conjunctiva (38.2%), retina (21%) and orbit (10%) constituted the majority of anatomical sites of ocular tumors. The survival rate was about 83.2% and mortality did not show a decreasing trend over time (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ocular cancer in Cali has a slightly increasing trend, with stable behavior in the last decades. Squamous cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, melanoma and lymphoma are the most frequent ocular cancers, with being retinoblastoma more frequent than melanoma. In general, ocular cancer had good survival rates in Cali.

Keratitis in patients with corneal foreign bodies: a cross-sectional study in Cali, Colombia.

PURPOSES: To describe the clinical characteristics and factors associated with keratitis in patients with corneal foreign bodies in Colombia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on a clinical records review of patients who had corneal foreign bodies and were admitted to the emergency department between June 2018 and June 2019 in Cali, Colombia. The primary outcome was the presence of keratitis diagnosed based on clinical criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 381 corneal foreign bodies in 372 patients were analyzed (median age, 40.0; interquartile range, 29.0-53.0 years; male, 94.7% (n=352). Ninety-five patients developed keratitis (24.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 20.8%-29.5%). In the multivariate analysis, age 30 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.15, 95% CI 1.06-4.36), finding of aqueous flare (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.39-5.66]), and a foreign body in the peripheral cornea (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.19-3.50] were associated with an increased risk for keratitis. Sex, time between injury and admission, and corneal edema were not related to keratitis (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In Cali, Colombia, a high proportion of keratitis was reported in patients with corneal foreign body. Age, an aqueous flare, and a foreign body in the peripheral cornea were the factors associated with keratitis.

Evaluating eye health care services progress towards VISION 2020 goals in Gurage Zone, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia signed the VISION 2020 Global Declaration and launched its eye health program in 2002. Since then, there has been limited systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the progress towards VISION 2020 goals in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Gurage Zone progress towards VISION 2020 targets and process indicators. METHOD: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among all public and private eye health care facilities in the Gurage Zone within the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People Region of Ethiopia. The evaluation protocol was adopted from the VISION 2020 situational analysis data collection tool. We used this structure to evaluate progress in terms of human resources for eye health, infrastructure, and service delivery at the zonal health office and health facilities. At the time of the study, Gurage Zone had a 1.7 million catchment area population. There were a total of five eye care centers, one of which was established by a non-governmental organization. Three of these facilities were secondary eye care centers with an operating theatre and two facilities were primary eye care centers. At the zonal level, there was no survey data available on the prevalence of blindness. RESULT: There was no systemic evaluation of VISION 2020 process indicators. The budget allocation specific to eye health care was less than 0.7% of the total budget of the zonal health office. The human resources for eye health (HReH) in the catchment area were: one ophthalmologist, two cataract surgeons, five optometrists, and 12 ophthalmic nurses, which is below the VISION 2020 targets for HReH. In terms of equipment, neither primary eye care center had a slit lamp biomicroscope, and two of the three secondary eye care centers did not have intraocular pressure measuring equipment. Only one secondary eye care center was providing glaucoma surgical services, and no center provided emergency and elective pediatric surgery. The cataract surgical rate determined by the study was 1967. CONCLUSION: Gurage Zone showed significant improvement in terms of cataract surgical rate. But it had not achieved VISION 2020 goals in terms of critical HReH and service delivery. We recommend that the zonal health office carries out a focused and baseline evaluation of eye health care service achievements.