Botulinum toxin-A in acute acquired comitant esotropia during COVID pandemic in children and young adolescents.

PURPOSE: To study the effectiveness of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in the treatment of patients with acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) due to excessive use of mobile and laptops in the COVID era in the pediatric population and adolescents. METHODS: This was a retrospective, interventional study of pediatric patients and young adults who presented with AACE and received unilateral or bilateral BTX-A. All the patients complained of binocular diplopia and sudden onset of esotropia with a history of mobile or laptop usage during the COVID era (2020-2023). Twenty-seven patients with acute-onset esotropia in 3 years (2020-2023) were included. All patients were administered 2.5-7.5 units of BTX-A (Botox, Allergan, India) into the unilateral or bilateral medial rectus muscle of the deviating eye under short general anesthesia or local anesthesia. The main outcome measures were pre- and post-injection angle of deviation, pre- and post-injection stereopsis, final level of stereopsis achieved, recurrence, and whether strabismus surgery was later required. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 12.85 ± 7.15 years (range: 4-25 years). The mean dosage of Botox was 6 U (2.5-7.5 U). The mean follow-up was 6 months (6 months-2 years). The mean preoperative angle of deviation (AOD) was 41.11 ± 10.9 prism diopters (PD) for distance and 41.67 ± 10.9 PD for near. The maximum effect of BTX-A was seen at 1 month; post-injection AOD was 13.65 ± 14.7 PD for distance and 14.87 ± 15.8 PD for near (P < 0.001). Over half of the patients achieved optimal outcomes, with improvements in stereopsis and sensory fusion. Early intervention (within 3 months of symptom onset) significantly correlated with treatment success. CONCLUSION: While BTX-A therapy for acute-onset esotropia demonstrates efficacy, patient-specific considerations are essential. This study highlights the evolving nature in the digital age and early administration of BTX-A along with close follow-up to monitor residual and recurrence of esotropia. The surgical intervention can increase the final success rate.

Management of pediatric subluxated cataract and different methods to face the challenges.

Background: Traumatic cataracts present in multiple and different forms. Based on the nature of injury, it necessitates a customized approach for individual case. Capsulorhexis and in the bag intraocular lens (IOL) placement are vital for long term centration of pediatric IOLs. Paediatric lenses having elastic capsule provide more challenges to perform optimum rhexis and the surgery becomes further complicated, when it is subluxated or fibrosed. Here is a pediatric case with such challenges managed using capsular tension ring (CTR) and capsular tension segment (CTS). Purpose: To demonstrate the making of optimum rhexis in a fibrosed capsule in subluxated lens and placing the IOL along with fixation of bag using CTR and CTS. Synopsis: A 13-year-old boy sustained an injury in the right eye from an air pistol, underwent lid tear repair in a local hospital, and presented to us one month post trauma with visual acuity of 6/60 in the right eye and 6/6 in the left eye. On examination, there was more than 180° temporal zonular dialysis with fibrosis of the anterior capsule. In this situation, creating an intact capsulorhexis was a challenge which was solved using micro-scissors and micro-vitreo-retinal forceps, in addition to routine instruments. After removing the lens material, CTS was placed initially in the bag to stabilize it while introducing CTR. The CTS was then fixated to the sclera. Foldable IOL was placed in the bag. Technique and tips to make intact rhexis and easy passage of suture are demonstrated. Highlights: This video shows tips and different methods adopted in each step of the surgery for successful placement of IOL in bag along with fixation of bag using CTR and CTS in a case of traumatic subluxated cataract with shrunken anterior lens capsule. Video link: https://youtu.be/Vwp1qUh1Mrc.

Anisometropia and refractive status in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction-a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: To assess the refractive status and anisometropia in children with unilateral and bilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO). METHODS: Consecutive children newly diagnosed with CNLDO were prospectively enrolled from November 2017 to May 2019. A complete ophthalmic evaluation including cycloplegic refraction was performed followed by appropriate intervention. Patients were followed for 6 months, and cycloplegic refraction was performed at each visit. The final refractive error was defined as the refractive error obtained from the most recent visit. Amblyogenic risk factors were assessed based on 2013 referral criteria of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). RESULTS: A total of 308 patients with CNLDO were enrolled: 205 (67%) unilateral cases and 103 (33%) bilateral cases. In unilateral cases, the affected eye and unaffected fellow eye showed statistically significant difference in terms of sphere (P < 0.001), cylinder (P = 0.019), and spherical equivalent (P < 0.001); there was no interocular difference in bilateral cases (P > 0.05). Anisometropia was more prevalent in unilateral cases than in bilateral cases (11.2% vs 1.9%; P = 0.005). Based on the 2013 AAPOS referral criteria, 3.9% of the unilateral and 3.9% of bilateral cases exhibited amblyogenic risk factors. Later age of presentation was associated with higher rate of anisometropia (53.8% in the age group >48 months). CONCLUSIONS: In our study cohort, unilateral CNLDO was associated with a higher prevalence of anisometropia compared with bilateral CNLDO. The affected eye in unilateral CNLDO had higher prevalence of refractive error.

Impact of teleophthalmology during COVID-19 lockdown in a tertiary care center in South India.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the experience of teleconsultations addressed at our hospital in India during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. METHODS: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 977 teleconsultations presenting between April 1st and May 31, 2020. A two-level protocol was implemented to triage the calls. RESULTS: Overall, 977 teleconsultation were addressed. Of the 621 teleconsultation addressed the most common queries were related to redness/pain/ watering/blurred vision/itching/irritation (52.49%), followed by queries related to medications (28.01%), appointments (18.84%) & 0.64% cited an emergency need to visit the hospital due to sudden loss of vision. The majority of the queries were directed to the department of cornea (58.93%) followed by retina (16.26%), cataract (13.04%), glaucoma (10.14%) & pediatric ophthalmology (1.61%). The most common advice given to the patient was related to medications (47.66%) followed by appointment-related queries (31.72%) & fixing of surgical appointment (20.61%). Among the 356 preterm babies that were screened, 57 (16.01%) were diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Of them 3 required laser and 3 were given injection. CONCLUSION: Teleconsultation is here to stay beyond the pandemic. WhatsApp was the preferred modality of communication for us. Teleophthalmology has given us insights to use this evolving technology to reach out to the population at large to provide eye care services. We believe that this mode of teleophthalmology has helped us in providing feasible eye care to the patients.

Monotherapy of topical tacrolimus 0.03% in the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis in the pediatric population.

PURPOSE: To report the results of treating children with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) using a monotherapy of topical tacrolimus 0.03%. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonrandomized observational study of children newly diagnosed with VKC. The severity of the disease was graded on a 4-point scale of symptoms and signs. Patients were treated with tacrolimus 0.03% ointment and were followed for 8 months according to a schedule based on the severity of the disease. The primary measure of treatment efficacy was the change in the score of objective signs. The incidence and severity of adverse events, if any, were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 45 children aged 5-15 years were enrolled. The mean composite symptom score was 6.84 ± 2.26 at baseline and 0.71 ± 1.62 at 8 months, a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.001). The mean composite sign score was 9.6 ± 3.14 at baseline and 1.16 ± 1.28 at 8 months, also a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.001). Four patients had to be started on steroids within the first month of treatment and were considered treatment failures. Thus, 89% of patients showed significant improvement. No participant experienced adverse effects, although some reported a transient stinging sensation. CONCLUSIONS: In our study cohort topical tacrolimus ointment 0.03% as a monotherapy for VKC was successful in the majority of subjects, and there was no adverse effect.

Glaucoma following childhood cataract surgery: the South India experience.

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics and risk factors for the development of glaucoma after cataract surgery in children seen at a major referral tertiary eye centre in South India. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the medical records of consecutive patients seen at the glaucoma/paediatric eye clinic of the centre, with a diagnosis of glaucoma secondary to aphakia/pseudophakia over a 5-year period. RESULTS: There were 21 eyes of 14 children that developed glaucoma and 23 eyes of 12 children were selected as control. The mean age (standard deviation SD) at the time of cataract surgery for the glaucoma group was 7.4 (± 10.1) months and 39.13 (± 41.2) months for the control. The mean follow-up (SD) period was 114.29 (± 61.9) months and 97.61 (± 43.5) months for the glaucoma and control, respectively. The mean duration from cataract surgery to onset of glaucoma was 81.19 (± 52.4) months (median 66 months, range 21-172 months). Multivariate analysis detected age at surgery younger than 12 months (OR 10.45, 95%CI 1.76-62.03, p = 0.010) and ocular anomalies mainly microcornea (OR 7.11, 95%CI 1.14-44.46, p = 0.036) as risk factors for development of glaucoma after paediatric cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: Glaucoma can develop several years after childhood cataract surgery. Surgery in the first year of life and microcornea are risk factors for the development of glaucoma post-surgery. Signs of glaucoma should specifically be looked for during follow-up visits.