A Rare Hideout for Caterpillar Hairs.

Ophthalmia nodosa is an inflammatory reaction of ocular tissues in response to caterpillar setae. Setae are fibers produced by a number of insects and plants, and there are extensive reports of cases caused by caterpillars and spiders. These hairs are covered by microscopic barbs that facilitate their entry and migration into the ocular tissues resulting in severe inflammation. They are predominantly found buried in the conjunctiva and cornea. Rarely, they may penetrate through the cornea to enter the anterior chamber, lens, and posterior segment. Caterpillar hair in the meibomian gland orifice is a rare presentation and has not been reported previously.

Are Severe Forms of Thyroid Eye Disease Common in the Indian Population? Clinical Characteristics of 136 Patients from a Tertiary Eye Care Centre.

Context: Considerable evidence of gender, ethnicity, thyroid dysfunction, and environmental factors including smoking influencing the development and progression of thyroid eye disease (TED). Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study of the clinical characteristics of 136 patients with TED who presented to the Orbit and Oculoplasty services at a tertiary eye care center in south India between October 2018 and June 2020. Results: Among the 136 patients (M: 61, F: 75), the mean age was 47.04 (SD ± 13.24) years. Hyperthyroid disease was present in 53%, hypothyroid disease in 40%, and 7.3% were euthyroid. Active disease was noted in 25% and inactive disease in 75% of patients. Active disease was present in 25% of hyperthyroid, 18.5% of hypothyroid, and 15% of euthyroid patients. Active TED showed statistically significant association toward development of greater severity of proptosis (P = 0.001), optic neuropathy (P = 0.004), and extraocular movement restriction (P < 0.001) as compared to inactive disease. Mild, moderate to severe, and sight-threatening TED was noted in 34.6%, 59.6%, and 6% of patients, respectively. Nine eyes had dysthyroid optic neuropathy, of which eight had either mild or no proptosis while one had moderate to severe proptosis. Conclusion: Prevalence of active as well as severe thyroid eye disease is common in our population. Recommendation for ophthalmological examination of patients even with milder disease especially when associated with decreased vision and signs of inflammation. Active disease is less common in euthyroid patients, thus necessitating maintaining the euthyroid status toward reducing disease activity and progression.

Effect of congenital ptosis correction on corneal topography- A prospective study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in corneal topography, cycloplegic refraction, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after ptosis correction surgery in patients with congenital ptosis. Methods: Our study represents a prospective observational study conducted on 27 eyes of 21 patients with congenital ptosis. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological evaluation, cycloplegic refraction, and baseline Orbscan prior to ptosis surgery. At 6 months postoperative review, the cycloplegic refraction and Orbscan were repeated to evaluate the changes in these parameters. The main outcome measures in our study were Steepest K, Inferior-Superior Asymmetry (I-S Asymmetry), cycloplegic refraction and BCVA. Results: A significant decrease in Steepest K postoperatively (P < 0.001) was noted. Superior K and Inferior K also decreased, but the decrease in Inferior K was statistically significant (P = 0.044). However, change in I-S Asymmetry was not significant. Variation in BCVA, and cycloplegic sphere and cylinder was minimal. Sim K astigmatism, Surface Regularity Index, I-S Asymmetry and Central Corneal Thickness did not show significant variation. Conclusion: Ptotic eyelid constantly presses on the cornea causing significant changes in corneal contour and surface remodeling. This pressure when relieved, results in significant flattening and regression of anterior corneal surface to its near normal anatomy. This further resulted in improvement of corneal surface irregularity and symmetry.

Masquerades less known: Case report of benign hair follicle tumors.

Benign eyelid tumors derived from hair follicles are rare and frequently misdiagnosed as basal-cell carcinoma when evaluation is based on clinical evidence alone. The discrepancy between the clinical aspect and the histological diagnosis can be as high as 30-40%, even for experienced clinicians. Unfortunately, this masquerade is not only clinical but also histological. Patients may be subjected to unnecessarily extensive surgery. We present a case report of three patients clinically diagnosed as malignancy but histopathologically proven as benign hair follicle tumors.

Factors affecting treatment outcome in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction: A retrospective analysis from South India.

PURPOSE: To investigate outcomes for different treatment modalities in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in an Indian population. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional, case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an institutional setting, case records of patients with CNLDO from January 2008 to 2012, were reviewed, and data on patient demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment details (sac massage, probing, and/or dacryocystorhinostomy) were recorded. Success of treatment was defined as complete resolution of symptoms and negative regurgitation on pressure over lacrimal sac (ROPLAS) area. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-eight eyes of 240 patients with a mean age of 22.2 ± 26.14 months (median = 12 months, interquartile range = 17) were analyzed. Sac massage (n = 226) was successful in 67 eyes (30%). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that children with mucoid ROPLAS were almost 6 times more likely (odds ratio [OR] = 5.55 vs. clear ROPLAS, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.35-13.09, P < 0.001) to experience failure of sac massage. Overall probing (n = 193) was successful for 143 (74%) eyes. Multivariable logistic regression showed that older children were 25% more likely to experience probing failure (OR = 1.25 for every 6 months increment in age, 95%, CI = 1.09-1.42, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sac massage is successful in only a third of our patients and those with mucoid ROPLAS are more likely to experience failure. Probing is successful in three-quarter of our subjects, and its success declines with a progressive increase in age. Lower socioeconomic status, poor general health, and recurrent respiratory infections are unique to our population and may influence outcomes.