Therapeutic non-ectasia applications of cornea cross-linking.

Corneal cross-linking is a photopolymerization technique traditionally used to strengthen corneal tissue. Corneal cross-linking utilizes riboflavin (vitamin B2) as a photosensitizer and ultraviolet-A light (UVA) to create strong covalent bonds within the corneal stroma, increasing tissue stiffness. Multiple studies have demonstrated corneal cross-linking's effectiveness in treating corneal ectasia, a progressive, degenerative, and non-inflammatory thinning disorder, as quantified by key tomographic, refractive, and visual parameters. Since its introduction two decades ago, corneal cross-linking has surpassed its original application in halting corneal ectatic disease and its application has expanded into several other areas. Corneal cross-linking also possesses antibacterial, antienzymolytic and antioedematous properties, and has since become a tool in treating microbial keratitis, correcting refractive error, preventing iatrogenic ectasia, stabilising bullous keratopathy and controlling post keratoplasty ametropia. This review provides an overview of the current evidence base for the therapeutic non-ectasia applications of cornea cross-linking and looks at future developments in the field.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in a child following treatment for bilateral retinoblastoma.

A 3-year-old child was incidentally found to have chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) during an admission for a routine ophthalmic examination under anesthesia. The child had received systemic chemotherapy and focal treatment for Groups C and D retinoblastoma in the right and left eye, respectively, when she was 7 months old. CML was treated with dasatinib, and the child attained a major molecular response. The child is now 3 years after treatment of CML, and the retinoblastoma remains inactive. CML following treatment of retinoblastoma is a rare occurrence. Long term and close monitoring of retinoblastoma patients who received systemic chemotherapy using serial blood tests is essential.

Eye rubbing in the aetiology of keratoconus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Keratoconus is a potentially blinding condition that slowly deforms the cornea in young people. Despite the increasing prevalence of keratoconus, the exact aetiology of the condition is unknown. This first systematic review examines the evidence of eye rubbing and its association with keratoconus and presents the findings of the meta-analysis. METHODS: Two independent reviewers searched the electronic databases for all potential articles published from 1st of January 1900 to 31st of July 2020 on eye rubbing and keratoconus. The researchers assessed the methodological quality of the studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies. The assessment for statistical heterogeneity was estimated using chi-square and I-square (I2) tests. A p value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant and I2 < 30% as homogenous. Begg funnel plot was used to interpret the asymmetry or small study effects. RESULTS: Eight case-control studies were included in this systematic review. Two studies assessed eye rubbing without odds ratios and thus were excluded. The pooled odds ratios for the six remaining studies included in the meta-analysis was 6.46 (95% CI 4.12-10.1). The study results were heterogenous (I2 = 71.69 [95% CI 35.14-87.88]). All the studies scored moderate quality methodology on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Begg funnel plot showed asymmetry supporting heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Eye rubbing showed consistent association with keratoconus. However, the current evidence is limited to only a small number of case-control studies which present as heterogeneous and of sub-optimal methodological quality. Additionally, the cause-effect temporal relationship cannot be determined. Further studies are needed to address this intricate relationship of eye rubbing and its induction, ongoing progression, and severity of keratoconus.

Retinoscopy as a Screening Tool for Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To investigate the validity and reliability of retinoscopy in screening for keratoconus using the rotating Pentacam Scheimpflug camera as the gold standard comparison. METHODS: Patients between the ages of 10 and 30 years who were referred to the outpatient clinic with keratoconus, keratoconus suspect, reduced vision, eye discomfort or frequent change of glasses, or for refraction or refractive surgery, were screened by two independent and masked retinoscopists for the presence of scissoring reflex. Patients then underwent vision testing, slit lamp examination, and Pentacam imaging. A diagnosis of keratoconus by Pentacam was made if the final D index in the Belin and Ambrósio Display was ≥2.69. The results of retinoscopy and Pentacam examinations were compared to assess the validity and reliability of the test. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients (67 male patients and 45 female patients) with a mean age of 21 years ±5.6 (range 10-30 years) comprising 245 eyes were included. There were 87 eyes with keratoconus, and using the Amsler-Krumeich classification, 67.8%, 26.4%, 2.3%, and 3.4% of the eyes had stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of retinoscopy were 97.7%, 79.9%, 70.8%, and 98.4%, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.92). There was excellent agreement between the 2 retinoscopists (Cohen's kappa value 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Retinoscopy appears to be a very sensitive and reliable test for detecting keratoconus including early disease. Such a test may be implemented in population-based screening programs for keratoconus.

Clinical Profile of Omani Keratoconus Patients: An Experience from a tertiary referral centre in Muscat.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographics and associated clinical features of Omani keratoconus patients presenting to the Ministry of Defence Hospital (MODH) in Muscat. METHODS: This is a retrospective, descriptive study whereby the electronic medical records of all Omani keratoconus patients presenting to the MODH between January 2011 and December 2015 were reviewed. Demographic details, corrected distance visual acuity, refraction, corneal topography, pachymetry, and treatment received were all documented. RESULTS: There were 458 new keratoconus patients (257 males, 201 females) comprising a total of 893 eyes with a mean age of 20 years ± 5.6 (standard deviation) (range 6-46 years). On their first visit, 35% of eyes had spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity <0.5 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR), 38% had central corneal thickness <450 um, and 25% had a mean keratometry more than 53 Diopter (D). According to the Amsler-Krumeich classification, 37%, 30%, 18%, and 16% of eyes classified into stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The severity of keratoconus did not correlate with the age of patients (rs = -0.13, P < 0.05). Over the 5-year period of the study, 502 eyes were fitted with rigid gas permeable lenses with 91% achieving the vision of 0.1 LogMAR or better, 22% of eyes underwent collagen cross linking, 3% underwent intracorneal ring segments implantation, and 4% underwent corneal grafting. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of Omani keratoconus patients seen in the MODH showed advanced disease on their first visit. There was no correlation between severity and age suggesting that keratoconus can progress quickly in our pediatric group. Population-based studies are an important next step. Meanwhile, early detection and timely interventions to limit the burden of the disease are crucial.

Ocular trauma: A tertiary hospital experience from Oman.

PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of ocular trauma in a tertiary hospital setting in Muscat, Oman. METHODS: Medical records of all cases of ocular trauma which presented to the Emergency Department at Al-Nahdha Hospital and were seen by the ophthalmology service from January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013 (6 months) were reviewed to collect data on ocular trauma according to the World Eye Injury Registry initial reporting form which uses the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System. RESULTS: There were 27,951 patients seen at the Emergency Department and 611 of which were ocular trauma cases (cumulative incidence 2.2% [confidence interval 2.0-2.4]). The mean age of the patients was 23 years and males comprised the majority of the cases (72%). Thirty-two patients had bilateral injury giving a total of 643 eyes injured. More than half of all injuries were caused by either blunt or large sharp objects. The cornea was the most frequently injured tissue (49%), but most injuries were minor in nature. More than three quarters (77%) of all eyes had a visual acuity of 0.3 (LogMAR) or better on presentation. There were 35 eyes (6%) with open globe injuries (OGI) and three-quarters of them occurring in the manual laborers. CONCLUSION: Ocular trauma is a common presentation at Al-Nahdha Hospital. Although the majority of trauma cases were minor without any visual disability sequelae, OGI could have been prevented with better ocular protection in the workplace.

Surgical ward round checklist: does it improve medical documentation? A clinical review of Christchurch general surgical notes.

BACKGROUND: Poor documentation of medical notes and plans not only adversely affects patient management but also has medico-legal implications. A standardized ward round checklist (adhesive proforma sticker, PFS) was introduced at our institution in 2013 to improve documentation by junior doctors. We aimed to examine the current pattern of PFS documentation (2 years after its introduction) and to identify which fields, if any, have been the most problematic to complete. METHODS: Notes of all current general surgical inpatients admitted to Christchurch Public Hospital on or before the two study days were reviewed. All information written in the PFS, regardless of accuracy, authorship or completeness, was recorded. Documentation of the various PFS fields was classified as well documented (completed in >80% of PFS), inadequate (40-80%) or minimal (<40%). RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-nine PFS were reviewed. Most fields in the PFS were documented to an adequate level (i.e. >80%). Problematic fields identified were dietary plans, diagnosis, national health index number, estimated date of discharge and the patient's first name. Notes of patients on outlying ward contained significantly fewer PFS compared with home-ward patients' notes (0.71 PFS/day versus 1.21 PFS/day, respectively, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown generally adequate patterns of medical note documentation in the General Surgery service. Certain fields remain challenging to document accurately. The proposed modified PFS was designed to help rectify this; electronic data record may be the step forward, however. It is hoped that other institutions in Australasia would benefit from our experience.

Post-acute surgical ward round proforma improves documentation.

In health care, record keeping of doctor-patient encounters is vital for quality patient care and medico-legal reasons. We audited the documentation of post-acute consultant ward round (PACWR) in our department before and six months after an introduction of a proforma (standard form). The clinical notes of all patients admitted acutely under General Surgery over a period of one week before and one week after the introduction of a proforma were reviewed to note whether time and date, signature, impression and dietary plan were documented after PACWR. The nurses were also surveyed on the day of the PACWR for their certainty regarding the dietary plan of their patients and whether they had to contact the surgical team for clarification. There were 108 and 103 patients eligible for the first and second study periods respectively. After the introduction of the proforma, there was a statistically significant improvement in the documentation of time and date (37% vs. 72%, p-value < 0.01) and impression (40% vs. 61%, p-value < 0.01). Improvement in the documentation of the dietary plan reached statistical significant only when the analysis was restricted to the cases where a proforma was filled out (78 out of 103 patients). Introduction of the proforma had no statistically significant impact on the nurses' certainty regarding their patients' dietary plan and the number of times they had to contact the surgical teams. In conclusion, PACWR proforma improves overall documentation. This will help in avoiding adverse effects on patient care and medico-legal ramifications.

Spinal cord stimulation for intractable chronic upper abdominal pain: a case report of the first patient in New Zealand.

We present the first patient in New Zealand to undergo Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for intractable upper abdominal pain. The patient was a 53-year-old man with a 20-year history of debilitating upper abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis secondary to pancreatic divisum. Prior to the SCS, he was prescribed 680 mg of morphine sulphate equi-analgesia a day. Despite the intense analgesia, he still suffered monthly attacks of upper abdominal pain requiring hospitalisation. Nine months after implanting a Spinal Cord Stimulator, the monthly attacks ceased, his background pain was effectively controlled and the need for opioids decreased to 510 mg of morphine sulphate equi-analgesia a day.

Incidence of stomach cancer in oman and the other gulf cooperation council countries.

OBJECTIVES: Stomach cancer is the most common cancer among males in Oman and the second most frequent among females from 1997 to 2007. Reports have suggested the rate is higher in Oman than in the other GCC countries. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of stomach cancer in Oman and to explore the apparent differences in the incidence of stomach cancer between Oman and the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Omani National Cancer Registry (1997 - 2007) and from Gulf Centre for Cancer Registration reports (1998 - 2004). RESULTS: The annual average age-adjusted incidence rates for stomach cancer in Oman were 10.1 per 100,000 for males and 5.6 per 100,000 for females between 1997 and 2007. The age-adjusted incidence varied by region within Oman, and the incidence rate was higher in Oman than in most other GCC countries between 1998 and 2004. CONCLUSION: Further investigation of the completeness and accuracy of cancer registration is essential for exploration of variations in stomach cancer rates in the GCC countries.