Post-fever Retinitis With a Positive Weil-Felix Test: A Study From a Tertiary Center in South India.

Background Post-fever retinitis (PFR) is reported two to six weeks after fever and affects one or both eyes. Rickettsial fever is one of the most common causes of PFR. This study aimed to report the clinical features and treatment outcomes of PFR cases with a positive Weil-Felix test. Methodology In this study, we collected demographic data, fever details, eye symptoms, ocular examination findings, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography findings, laboratory findings, and length of follow-up of consecutive PFR cases with a positive Weil-Felix test. All cases were treated with oral doxycycline and prednisolone. Final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and ocular examination findings were recorded. Visual field examination and follow-up OCT results were noted if available. Results A total of nine patients (eight males) with a mean age of 39.1 years with fever before ocular symptoms and positive Weil-Felix test were included. Six patients had bilateral disease. The mean initial and final BCVA in the affected eyes was 1.16 and 0.35 logMAR units, respectively (p < 0001). All 15 eyes had typical white retinitis patches and retinal hemorrhages which resolved after treatment. OCT showed hyperreflectivity and inner retinal disorganization over retinitis patches. White subretinal lines were noted in three patients and retinal nerve fiber bundle defect with corresponding visual field defect was seen in one eye. Conclusions In this study, PFR due to rickettsia infections has been reported from our region for the first time. Hence, eye specialists in the region should be aware of this entity.

Epidemiology, clinical profile, management, and outcome of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis in 2826 patients in India - Collaborative OPAI-IJO Study on Mucormycosis in COVID-19 (COSMIC), Report 1.

Purpose: COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) has reached epidemic proportion during India's second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, with several risk factors being implicated in its pathogenesis. This study aimed to determine the patient demographics, risk factors including comorbidities, and medications used to treat COVID-19, presenting symptoms and signs, and the outcome of management. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of patients with COVID-19-associated ROCM managed or co-managed by ophthalmologists in India from January 1, 2020 to May 26, 2021. Results: Of the 2826 patients, the states of Gujarat (22%) and Maharashtra (21%) reported the highest number of ROCM. The mean age of patients was 51.9 years with a male preponderance (71%). While 57% of the patients needed oxygen support for COVID-19 infection, 87% of the patients were treated with corticosteroids, (21% for > 10 days). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 78% of all patients. Most of the cases showed onset of symptoms of ROCM between day 10 and day 15 from the diagnosis of COVID-19, 56% developed within 14 days after COVID-19 diagnosis, while 44% had delayed onset beyond 14 days. Orbit was involved in 72% of patients, with stage 3c forming the bulk (27%). Overall treatment included intravenous amphotericin B in 73%, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)/paranasal sinus (PNS) debridement in 56%, orbital exenteration in 15%, and both FESS/PNS debridement and orbital exenteration in 17%. Intraorbital injection of amphotericin B was administered in 22%. At final follow-up, mortality was 14%. Disease stage >3b had poorer prognosis. Paranasal sinus debridement and orbital exenteration reduced the mortality rate from 52% to 39% in patients with stage 4 disease with intracranial extension (p < 0.05). Conclusion: : Corticosteroids and DM are the most important predisposing factors in the development of COVID-19-associated ROCM. COVID-19 patients must be followed up beyond recovery. Awareness of red flag symptoms and signs, high index of clinical suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and early initiation of treatment with amphotericin B, aggressive surgical debridement of the PNS, and orbital exenteration, where indicated, are essential for successful outcome.

Visual Outcome Following Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery at a Tertiary Center in South India.

Introduction Cataract being one of the leading causes of avertible blindness has been found to be quite prevalent in developing countries like India. The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) aims at reducing blindness due to cataract via cataract control programs. The most commonly performed surgery is the manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). Aim The aim of this study was to determine the visual acuity and outcome in patients who underwent MSICS in a tertiary hospital in south India. Methodology A prospective longitudinal interventional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Karnataka, India, over a period of nine months. A total of 105 eyes underwent MSICS and were followed up for one month to assess their postoperative visual outcome and complications, if any. During this period, they were started on antibiotic + steroid combination eyedrops, which were tapered over four weeks. Results Results were assessed based on visual grading categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO). A total of 103 (98.1%) patients had good vision, i.e., visual acuity of 6/6 - 6/18, followed by two (1.9%) who had moderate vision i.e., visual acuity of <6/18 - 3/60, and none were blind or with visual acuity of <3/60. Complications seen intraoperatively in two patients (1.9%) were iris prolapse and posterior capsular rent, respectively, and postoperatively one (0.95%) patient showed hyphema with inferior haptic in the anterior chamber. Conclusion This study proves that a good visual outcome with a low complication rate can be achieved after MSICS with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

A Clinical Study of the Evaluation and Assessment of the Etiology and Patterns of Ocular Injuries in Midfacial Trauma in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Aims The aim is to study the pattern of ocular injuries in midfacial trauma and to evaluate the overall incidence of ophthalmic injury of any severity following maxillofacial trauma. Methods and Materials The maxillofacial surgeon conducted routine facial examination of patients with midfacial fractures, which also included a detailed ophthalmologic examination of patients, at the time of initial presentation. These patients were then further evaluated by an ophthalmologist for thorough examination of the eye. Results The total number of recorded midface maxillofacial trauma cases was 181. Out of 181 patients, 161 had ocular injuries. Among 181 cases, 161 (88.95%) cases were due to road traffic accidents, which was the prime etiologic factor. Out of total 181 patients, 172 (95.03%) were males and 9 (4.97%) were females. The maximum number of cases were of zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures (44.75%) followed by nasal bone fractures (21.5%). Periorbital ecchymosis accounted for the maximum number of cases, amounting to 61.88%. Loss of vision or blindness was seen in eight (4.42%) patients. Conclusions The study stresses further on the importance of long-term and continuous data collection and record management of trauma patients, which may help health care providers with necessary information to develop treatment protocols and device measures for the prevention of complications.