Reserve drug as first-line management: Topical interferon α-2b for vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the efficacy and safety profile of interferon α-2b in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS: In this prospective interventional study, VKC patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included and their signs and symptoms were scored based on the Clinical Scoring System. Patients were treated with topical interferon α-2b eye drop (1 MIU/ml) QID dosing for 6 weeks. Changes in symptoms and signs were evaluated at 2, 4, 8 weeks and 6 months after initiating treatment. A higher score meant severe disease, and a decline in score meant improvement in clinical signs and symptoms. Categorical variables were presented in number and percentage (%) and continuous variables as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Post-medication total subjective symptom score (TSSS) and total objective sign score (TOSS) were compared with baseline, and a P- value of <0.05 was considered significant. Possible ocular and systemic complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 40 patients (32 male and eight female) with a mean age of 8.05 ± 2.33 years. Mean baseline TSSS and TOSS were 6.71 ± 0.564 and 6.59 ± 0.262, respectively, which reduced to 2.71 ± 0.011 ( P = 0.040) and 2.96 ± 0.210 ( P = 0.032), respectively, at 4 weeks and further reduced to 0.42 ± 0.552 and 0.47 ± 0.434, respectively, at 8 weeks. After 6 months of stopping the drug, mean TSSS and TOSS did increase to 2.80 ± 0.820 ( P = 0.044) and 2.50 ± 0.520 ( P = 0.030), respectively, but was still statistically significant improvement compared to the baseline. Also, no ocular or systemic side effects were observed anytime during the study period. CONCLUSION: Eye drop interferon α-2b (1 million IU/ml) is a safe and effective option as first-line monotherapy for VKC. No side effects and recurrence were observed for 6 months.

Topical steroid alone vs a combination with a posterior segment NSAID after Nd-YAG capsulotomy: Is the posterior segment NSAID really necessary?

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of topical 1% prednisolone acetate and 0.09% bromfenac versus topical 1% prednisolone acetate alone on macular thickness following Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 150 eyes with posterior capsule opacification following were included. All patients were treated with Nd: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 75. Group 1-Patients received: Topical 1% prednisolone acetate and Topical 0.09% bromfenac. Group 2-Patients received: Topical 1% prednisolone acetate alone. Outcome measures by an independent observer were BCVA by Snellen chart, IOP by NCT, and Central Macular Thickness (CMT) by Macular OCT. All patients were examined before the procedure, 1 h after the procedure, at 1 week, and at 6 weeks. STATISTICS: 1. Quantitative variables: Mann-Whitney Test and Wilcoxon ranked sum test. 2. Qualitative variables: Chi-square test. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Mean IOP increase in both groups is statistically significant at 1 h and later decreases back to nonsignificant levels at 1 week and 6 weeks. No significant change in mean CMT was seen in the duration of 6 weeks neither in Group 1 nor Group 2. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic antiglaucoma medications are not recommended in patients undergoing Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. No evidence of cystoid macular edema was recorded till the end of 6 weeks follow-up.

Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of multifocal basal cell carcinoma of the face: A novel chemotherapeutic approach.

To determine the safety and efficacy of topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 5% ointment in treatment of non-syndromic multifocal basal cell carcinoma. A 55-year-old male patient, with 8 hours of daily sun exposure, having histologically proven and radiologically non-syndromic, multifocal basal cell carcinoma with involvement of 6 sites on the face, was treated with topical 5-FU 5% ointment twice daily over all sites except the site involving lid margin to prevent corneal toxicity. Left lid lesion underwent wide surgical excision with 5-mm clear margins and reconstruction with nasal septal mucoperichondrium and local skin mobilization. Pharmacologic effects first appeared at 4 weeks and by 8 weeks, the lesions had scabbed and had fallen off with no induration but residual mild perilesional erythema. Patient had post-op histopathological clear margins and recovered uneventfully. No recurrence in 6 months. A topical 5-FU 5% ointment represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of BCC from invasive and disfiguring options (surgery and chemoradiotherapy) to cheap, convenient, effective, non-invasive, non-disfiguring topical chemotherapy. Topical 5% 5-FU is a safe and effective modality of treatment of superficial spreading multifocal basal carcinoma, especially lesions larger than 10 mm, where margins cannot be identified clearly and recurrent lesions.

Intraoperative intracameral pilocarpine after capsular tension ring and capsule/iris hook insertion in pediatric eyes with subluxated cataract.

UNLABELLED: Capsular tension rings and iris hooks have proved to be useful devices in cataract surgery in cases of zonular weakness and dialysis. We describe the use of intracameral pilocarpine-induced pupillary miosis to couple the iris and the capsulorhexis edge with iris hooks during phacoemulsification in pediatric cases with posttraumatic subluxated cataractous lens. The coupled iris and capsule act as a single unit, eliminating the space between them and significantly reducing the possibility of vitreous or ophthalmic viscosurgical device passing through the zonular defect. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

26-G needle-assisted sutureless glueless intrascleral haptic fixation for secondary ciliary sulcus implantation of three-piece polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens during penetrating keratoplasty.

After tenotomy adjoining 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock limbus, 3-mm-wide partial-thickness scleral tunnels are created at these two diametrically opposite points 3 mm from the limbus such that they reach up to a distance of 1.5 mm from the limbus. Two ab externo sclerotomies are created using 26-G needles on the bed of these partial-thickness scleral tunnels. Precaution is taken to ensure that the positions of the sclerotomies are diagonally opposite each other. A scleral niche is made using a 26-G needle to accommodate the intraocular lens (IOL) haptic later. A 7.5-mm trephine is used to excise the corneal button, and anterior vitrectomy is performed. The haptic of a three-piece polymethylmethacrylate IOL is docked in a bent 26-G needle. It is then pulled out under the partial-thickness scleral tunnel and placed securely in the scleral niche opposite to the haptic. An 8-mm donor corneal button is sutured in place using 16 equidistantly placed 10-0 nylon interrupted sutures.

Strategies to Improve Glaucoma Compliance Based on Cross-Sectional Response-Based Data in a Tertiary Healthcare Center: The Glauco-Jung Study.

PURPOSE: To elucidate compliance rates among glaucoma patients in a tertiary healthcare center, reasons for noncompliance and response-based-solutions to improve compl iance in the same cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the Glauco-Jung study, a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological one, information was obtained from 500 patients from 1st January, 2014 to 30th June, 2014. Patients were intercepted at entry point where they get their intraocular pressure (IOP) checked, wherein they were asked to fill an exhaustive questionnaire. At the same setting, they were also asked to demonstrate how they (or their relatives or helpers) instill eyedrops, following which any irregularities were brought to notice and corrected. Finally, they were also asked any suggestions to improve compliance to medications. Noncompliance rates were determined based on the number of patients who did not instill anti-glaucoma medications as per prescribed dosage or frequency schedule. Noncompliance rates were then evaluated by the Chi-square test for any association with distributions based on various parameters. RESULTS: In case of a positive association, correlation coefficient was further calculated to know the strength of this association. No association was observed in distributions based on diet, associated co-morbidities, daily dosage frequency and side-effects experienced by patients. Positive association was noted in distributions based on age, sex, duration of treatment, social structure and number of medications (p < 0.05); but correlation coefficients were very weak (c < 0.3). Cost of medications not only had positive association but also had a very strong correlation coefficient (c = 0.9188), proving that cost of medications had a modest bearing on compliance rates. CONCLUSION: The Glauco-Jung study concluded that besides availability of medications at reasonable cost, simplification of treatment regimen and interactive health education appear to be the most important factors for improving compliance so that patients do not feel guilty or inadequate because they have problems while administering their eyedrops. How to cite this article: Gupta VS, Sethi H, Naik M. Strategies to Improve Glaucoma Compliance Based on Cross-Sectional Response-Based Data in a Tertiary Healthcare Center: The Glauco-Jung Study. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2015;9(2):38-46.

Posterior migration of Ahmed glaucoma valve tube in a patient with Reiger anomaly: a case report.

BACKGROUND: To describe, a yet non-documented complication of GDI surgery (glaucoma drainage incision surgery)--anterior to posterior segment migration of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) tube. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a young 9 year old boy, diagnosed with refractory glaucoma with Reiger anomaly. History included of poor vision in both eyes, left more than right with glare since childhood. He underwent GDI surgery with AGV implantation following which he developed posterior migration of AGV tube. The detailed ocular history, ophthalmic findings, clinical course, surgical management and development of the posterior tube migration is discussed. CONCLUSION: Posterior Migration of AGV tube has yet not been described. Also there is a role of expectant management of the complication in this case as evidenced by the benign course of events.

Bilateral anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy in Takayasu arteritis.

This report describes a case of a young male with bilateral, asymmetrical AION. He was subsequently diagnosed with Takayasu's disease.