Pattern visual evoked potential and foveal sensitivity in amblyopia.

PURPOSE: Amblyopic eyes show impaired visual functions such as poor visual acuity and reduced foveal sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between foveal threshold and visual evoked potentials (VEP) in strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia. METHODS: Forty-five subjects (age range: 7-28 years, 43.3% female) including 15 strabismic and 15 anisometropic amblyopes, and 15 age-similar control subjects participated in this study. Each subject had pattern visual evoked potentials and foveal threshold recorded in each eye using RetiScan (Roland Consult, Germany) and Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer II (HFA II; Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA), respectively. These outcomes were compared among the amblyopic eyes, their fellow eyes, and the control eyes. RESULTS: Compared to the amblyopic eyes (Mean ± SD: 33.4 ± 3.48 dB), the foveal threshold was higher in fellow eyes (37.0 ± 2.04 dB, p = 0.0002) and in control eyes (38.7 ± 0.96 dB, p < 0.0001). Strabismic amblyopes had a lower foveal threshold than anisometropic amblyopes (31.8 ± 3.86 vs. 35.0 ± 2.17 dB, p = 0.005). Relative to the P100 peak time in fellow eyes (1° checks:116.1 ± 9.00 ms; 0.25° checks:118.8 ± 5.67 ms), amblyopic eyes had delayed P100 peak times for both 1° (122.7 ± 11.4 ms, p < 0.0001) and 0.25° (130.4 ± 11.2 ms, p < 0.0001) check sizes. There were also significant differences in P100 peak time between amblyopic and control eyes (1°:122.7 ± 11.4 vs.112.4 ± 5.01 ms, p = 0.15; 0.25°:130.4 ± 11.2 vs.113.9 ± 5.71 ms, p < 0.0001) and between fellow and control eyes (0.25°:118.8 ± 5.67 vs.113.9 ± 5.71 ms, p = 0.009). Amblyopic eyes exhibited lower N75-P100 amplitudes than fellow eyes (1°:12.6 ± 7.96 vs.15.9 ± 8.82 µV, p = 0.01; 0.25°:10.6 ± 6.11 vs. 15.8 ± 10.6 µV, p = 0.001) and control eyes (0.25°: p = 0.0008). Foveal threshold correlated negatively with P100 peak time (1°: r = -0.45, p = 0.002 and 0.25°: r = -0.58, p < 0.0001) and positively with N75-P100 amplitude responses (1°: r = 0.42, p = 0.004 and 0.25°: r = 0.52, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Amblyopic eyes showed reduced pattern VEP amplitudes and delayed peak times with significant associations with the foveal sensitivity. However, the VEP measures overlapped extensively between amblyopic and control eyes with no apparent criterion value for optimal discrimination, suggesting that foveal sensitivity might be a better discriminator of amblyopia than pattern VEP.

Cataract among Patients with Renal Transplantation in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Intensive immunosuppressant therapy after renal transplantation has found to cause systemic and ocular side effects among them is cataracts. Studies on a similar topic have still remained explored in our setting. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of cataract among patients with renal transplantation in a tertiary care centre. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients of renal transplantation at tertiary care centres from 1 May 2021 to 31 October 2021. The data was collected after the ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee [Reference number: 397(6-11) e2077/078]. Study proforma recorded the number of patients with cataracts, duration of steroid use, mean age and other comorbidities. A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 31 renal transplant patients, 10 (32.26%) (15.80-48.72, 95% Confidence Interval) had cataract. Conclusions: The prevalence of cataract among renal transplantation patients was found to be lower than similar studies done in similar settings. Keywords: cataract; prevalence; renal transplantation; steroid.

Orbital Teratoma: A rare congenital tumour.

BACKGROUND: Orbital teratomas are congenital, unilateral germ cell tumors, which are present at birth with moderate to massive proptosis. The rare tumour has to be managed individually and is at times difficult. CASE: A female child in her 2nd day of life was brought to our department with complains of forward bulging of the left eye which was noticed since the time of her birth. OBSERVATION: Examination and investigations revealed a mass with scattered foci of calcification. The mass was causing expansion of left orbit with thinning and scalloping of bony boundaries of left orbit with no intracranial component. The scan suggests the diagnosis of orbital teratoma which was further confirmed by histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: The rare tumour presents a challenge in management. The aim of management depends upon the extent of tumour, preservation of vision whenever possible, promotion of normal orbital growth and cosmesis.

Etiopathogenetic patterns of blepharoptosis in Western Nepal : an Overview.

BACKGROUND: The clinical picture of blepharoptosis varies from a cosmetic problem to severe visual dysfunction depending on the pathogenesis and the degree of ptosis. OBJECTIVE: To study the type, pattern and causes of ptosis in patients seeking oculopastic care in western Terai of Nepal Patients and methods: A retrospective descriptive hospital based was carried out over a period of 2 years in oculoplastic clinic in Lumbini Eye Institute, Bhairahawa. Demographic variables including the age of the patient, gender, laterality of the eye(s), visual acuity, presence of refractive error and or amblyopia, type of ptosis and previous ptosis surgery were recorded. RESULTS: There were altogether 326 patients of ptosis during the 2 year-period. Congenital ptosis presented early the mean age being 23(SD ±9.91) years. Acquired ptosis presented late with the mean age of 35(SD± 14.98) years. Congenital ptosis was more common (52%) compared to acquired ptosis (48%). 4.7% of congenital ptosis had amblyopia. Among all ptosis patients, myogenic cause of ptosis was the commonest followed by mechanical, aponeurotic, traumatic and neurogenic. Simple congenital ptosis was the commonest, and among acquired ptosis, mechanical ptosis was the commonest. Most of the ptosis was unilateral (87.7%) regardless of its onset either congenital or acquired. Regarding the severity of ptosis, mild ptosis was the commonest. CONCLUSION: Ptosis was the 3rd most common lid condition in oculoplastic clinic presentation after entropion and chalazion. Simple congenital ptosis was the commonest form of ptosis.

Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis among children in the tertiary eye hospital of Kathmandu, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine clinical profile and etiological factors for phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis (PKC) in our patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the descriptive study, 50 pediatric cases of PKC were enrolled into the study from outpatient department of BP Koirala Lions Center for Ophthalmic Studies between August 2011 and August 2012. The age, sex, exposure to tuberculosis, ocular symptoms, and systemic complaints were recorded. Morphological description of PKC such as number, type, location and scars HISTORY and number of recurrence was also noted. The conjunctival swab was taken from all patients and sent for microbiological examination. Report of systemic involvement, worm infestation was also noted. Mantoux testing for possibility of tuberculosis was also performed. RESULTS: PKC was detected in 59 eyes of 50 children having mean age of 8.0 ± 6.2 years including 54% males, unilateral involvement in 82%, the limbal involvement in 52% and multiple PKC in 34% children. Associated ocular disorder was blepharitis in 12 (24%) children. Conjunctival swab and culture revealed Staphylococcus infection in 10 (20%) children. Of eight recurrent cases, two had urinary tract infection managed with systemic antibiotics, three had parasitic infestation treated with antihelmentics, one had mantoux positive without having evidence of tuberculosis and two cases had blepharitis as a local factor. CONCLUSIONS: PKC is mostly presented as unilateral disorder of conjunctiva. PKC is associated with blepharitis, Staphylococcus infection, worm infestation and systemic infection.