A practical model for effective eye care delivery in Southeast Asian rural communities: A proposal built based on experts' recommendations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate rural community-based eye care models from the perspective of community ophthalmology experts and suggest sustainable technological solutions for enhancing rural eye care delivery. METHODS: A semi-structured descriptive survey, using close-ended and open-ended questions, was administered to the experts in community ophthalmology sourced through purposive sampling. The survey was self-administered and was facilitated through online platforms or in-person meetings. Uniform questions were presented to all participants, irrespective of their roles. RESULTS: Surveyed participants (n = 22 with 15 from India and 7 from Nepal) in high-volume tertiary eye hospitals faced challenges with resources and rural outreach. Participants had mixed satisfaction with pre-operative screening and theatre resources. Delayed presentations and inexperienced surgeons contributed to the surgery complications. Barriers to rural eye care included resource scarcity, funding disparities, and limited infrastructure. In rural/peri-urban areas 87% of participants agreed with providing primary eye care services, with more than 60% of the experts not in agreement with the makeshift center model of eye care delivery. Key components for an effective eye care model are sustainability, accessibility, affordability, and quality. These can be bolstered through a healthcare management platform and a human-chain supply distribution system. CONCLUSION: Tailored interventions are crucial for rural eye care, emphasizing the need for stronger human resources, optimized funding, and community awareness. Addressing challenges pertinent to delayed presentation and surgical training is vital to minimizing complications, especially with advanced cataracts. Enhancements in rural eye care demand a comprehensive approach prioritizing accessibility, affordability, and consistent quality.

Microbiological Profile of Post-cataract Surgery Endophthalmitis with Usage of Prophylactic Intracameral Moxifloxacin.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of prophylactic intracameral moxifloxacin (ICM) on microbiological profile and antimicrobial sensitivity of culture-proven postoperative endophthalmitis (POE). METHODS: This study evaluated culture-proven POE diagnosed within 6 weeks of cataract surgery over two periods, period-1 (January 2010-March 2015) and period-2 (April 2015-December 2019), before and after introduction of prophylactic ICM, respectively. RESULTS: In period-1, 100 cases of culture-positive POE were reported (1 in 4879, 0.02%), while 20 cases (1 in 24635, 0.004%) were reported in period-2 (5-fold reduction, p < .001). The cumulative culture positivity rate decreased from 27.6% to 17.1% (1.6-fold) . Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) were significantly reduced (p = .005). CONCLUSIONS: ICM reduced the incidence of culture-proven POE, CoNS in particular. In future, POE caused by rarer pathogens may become more prevalent due to reduction in the rate of commoner and more virulent pathogens with use of intracameral antibiotics. The moxifloxacin sensitivity of CONS did not show change with the use of ICM. Studies with larger population of POE will be more helpful to understand the trend better.

Ocular features in a patient presenting with a rare combination of multiple phakomatoses.

Phakomatoses are a group of congenital disorders characterised by hamartomatous lesions of the skin as well as the central and peripheral nervous systems. The presence of naevus flammeus or port-wine stain is a characteristic feature of many such disorders including Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) and Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV).We describe the ocular findings in a patient with coexisting PPV, SWS and KTS.

Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Choroidal Structural Analysis and Vascularity Index in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated choroidal structural changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) using choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD). METHODS: This retrospective case control study included 78 patients with BVMD of different clinical stages and 242 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Subfoveal OCT scans were analysed. Total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA) and CT were measured after image segmentation and binarization. CVI, a novel marker for choroidal angioarchitecture, was defined as the ratio of LA to TCA. CVI and CT were compared between BVMD and control group, as well as among the BVMD subgroups. RESULTS: Mean CVI was lower in eyes with BVMD (65.0 ± 3.5%) compared to that in control eyes (67.5 ± 3.9%) and this was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in subfoveal CT between BVMD (302.88 ± 81.68 µm) and control (309.31 ± 65.46 µm) eyes (p = 0.4799). In the subgroup analysis, all stages of BVMD showed lower CVI compared to control while SFCT remained similar. Within the BVMD subgroups, CVI and subfoveal CT did not differ significantly and both were not shown to be associated with visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Decreased CVI was shown in eyes with BVMD compared to control eyes, while no significant difference in subfoveal CT was seen. CVI may be helpful in the understanding of choroidal pathology in BVMD.

Surgical management of full-thickness macular hole following Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy for pre-macular haemorrhage in a patient with anaemic retinopathy.

Pre-macular haemorrhage (PMH) can cause profound visual loss. Some surgeons prefer neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) hyaloidotomy as the first line of treatment due to being an easy technique and having a high success rate. However, the use of high energy close to the fovea can lead to various macular complications. We present a case of a patient who presented with PMH secondary to anaemic retinopathy. He underwent Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy, but developed a full-thickness macular hole. He further underwent vitrectomy and a type 1 closure was achieved. However, the visual gain was poor due to the large hole size and the collateral thermal damage. The hole may not close spontaneously, thus requiring surgical intervention. The surgical outcome of these holes depends on the size of the hole and the collateral thermal damage caused during the laser procedure.

A bibliometric analysis of research on genetic retinal diseases done in India.

Purpose: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on genetic retinal diseases (GRD) done in India published from 2011 to 2020 in peer-reviewed journals, and assess the productivity, trends in journal choice, publication types, research funding, and collaborative research. Methods: We searched PubMed for articles indicating both vision-related content and author affiliation with an Indian research center. We identified research collaborations and classified articles as reporting basic science, clinical science, or clinically descriptive research. Impact factors were determined from Journal Citation Reports for 2015. Results: The total number of published articles that were retrieved from 2011 to 2021 was 341. During the 10 years of study, the annual output of research articles has nearly doubled, that is, from 21 in 2011 to 44 in 2021. A total of 298 (87%) articles were published in international journals, and 149 (42%) articles in vision-related journals had an impact factor. A total of 224 (65%) articles came from six major eye hospitals. Clinical science articles were most frequently (86%) published, whereas basic science was the least (14%). The diseases on which the maximum and the minimum number of articles were published were retinoblastoma (n = 82,24%) and Stargardt disease (n = 3, 0.9%), respectively. Conclusion: This bibliometric study provides a broad view of the current status and trends in the research on GRD done in India and may help clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to better understand this research field and predict its dynamic directions.

Multimodal imaging of congenital retinal macrovessel with secondary foveal hypoplasia.

Congenital retinal macrovessel (CRM) is defined as a large aberrant blood vessel that traverses through the central macula. It can have large tributaries extending on both sides of the horizontal raphe. The condition is typically asymptomatic. However, visual loss may be reported in case of associated branch retinal artery occlusion, cavernous haemangioma, retinal artery macroaneurysm, retinal deep capillary ischaemia, retinal detachment and vitreous haemorrhage. However, association of CRM and foveal hypoplasia has rarely been reported.We report multimodal imaging in a patient who was presented with visual loss due to foveal hypoplasia secondary to CRM.

Combined treatment modality including topical 20% fluorescein dye in the management of phthiriasis palpebrarum - A case series.

Purpose: To study the clinical presentations and outcomes of phthiriasis palpebrarum (PP) managed with combined treatment modality comprising of 20% fluorescein dye, mechanical removal of the ectoparasites, and topical application of antibiotic eye ointment with paraffin base. Methods: This is a prospective interventional noncomparative hospital-based series of 13 patients of PP. All the patients underwent local application of 20% fluorescein dye over the eyelashes and eyebrows of both the eyes followed by the mechanical removal of all the ectoparasites and trimming of the eyelashes from the base followed by application of ophthalmic ointment. Results: Mean age of the patients was 28 ± 22 years (range 3-60 Years). Out of the total of 13 patients, 11 patients (85%) were having bilateral involvement. The mean duration of symptoms in 11 patients (rest 2 were accidental findings) was 4 ± 3 weeks (range 1-10 weeks). Three patients (23%) had a history of sexual contact with possible parasite-infested partners. Four patients (31%) had additional parasites in the pubic area or torso. All the patients were completely parasite free at the end of 1 month. There was no infestation of the treating medical personnel from the patient. The average follow-up was 8 ± 5 months (range 3-21 months). Conclusion: Itching and irritation of the eyes were the most common presentations of PP. Combined treatment modality comprising of 20% fluorescein dye, mechanical removal of ectoparasites, and topical application of antibiotic eye ointment with paraffin base is effective in the management of PP.

Clinical features, management, and outcomes of expulsive choroidal hemorrhage during cataract surgery: 13-year experience of a tertiary eye center.

PURPOSE: To study the risk factors, clinical features, management, and outcomes of intraoperative expulsive choroidal hemorrhage (ECH) during cataract surgery. SETTING: Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. DESIGN: Retrospective hospital-based study. METHODS: Of the 1 167 250 patients who underwent cataract surgery between 2008 and 2020, patients diagnosed with intraoperative ECH were included. Demography, ocular and systemic risk factors, visual acuity, type of ocular anesthesia, intraoperative and postoperative records, management, and surgical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: 52 eyes (0.004%) of 1 167 250 patients had ECH. Of the 52 cases, 43 cases (incidence rate 0.006%) were reported in the years 2008 to 2015 and 9 cases (incidence rate 0.002%) in the years 2016 to 2020. The change in the ocular anesthesia from peribulbar and retrobulbar anesthesia (2008 to 2015) to sub-Tenon anesthesia (2016 to 2020) was associated with a reduced rate of ECH ( P = .002). 28 eyes (53.8%) experienced limited ECH and 24 eyes (46.2%) full-blown ECH. The visual outcome was better in eyes with limited ECH compared with full-blown suprachoroidal hemorrhage in all follow-up visits. The median vision (interquartile range) before the cataract surgery and at postoperative day 1 were 1.30 (0.78 to 2.60) and 2.45 (1 to 2.75), respectively. The median final vision (interquartile range) after the secondary surgical intervention was 2.2 (0.60 to 2.60). CONCLUSIONS: This series included 52 eyes with ECH, recognized associations of ECH with different types of anesthesia and with different cataract surgical procedures, and described management of ECH. Postoperative visual outcome was poor.