Prevalence of dry eye disease among IT students in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease (DED) is a common tear film disorder caused by decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation. The increased use of computers in the workplace has brought about the development of ocular health concerns, including dry eye disease. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of DED associated with computer work and recommend preventing or reducing its development. This study investigated the prevalence of DED among IT students in Dera Ghazi Khan. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 327 undergraduate students of the IT department in the district of Dera Ghazi khan over 5 months from September 2021 to January 2022. DED was assessed subjectively with Ocular Surface Disease Index. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. The quantitative analysis was presented as mean and standard deviation, and qualitative variables were introduced in frequency and percentages. The chi-square test (Fisher's exact test) was used to study the significance of associations between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 20.25 ± 1.305 years (range 17-25). The prevalence of DED among computer programmers was 47.7%. This study showed that gender (p = 0.31), contact lens usage (p = 0.64), and duration of time spent on computer display units (p = 0.47) were not significant determinants of DED among computer programmers. CONCLUSION: DED is prevalent among IT students, along with different symptoms. However, further studies are required to adequately measure the prevalence of DED during longer exposure time to computer screens and explore environmental risk factors.

Ring-shaped cataract and urinary metabolites among 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene exposed population of Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Safety protocols are usually neglected among most of the trinitrotoluene (TNT)-exposed population, therefore, rendering the community prone to various occupational hazards. The current study highlights ring-shaped cataract and urinary metabolites of TNT among TNT-exposed population (n = 26) against a control group (n = 20). METHOD: An observational case-control study was carried out in two groups: subjects exposed to TNT in Dir and Bajour Agency, Pakistan, and a control group from the base hospital. We determined the presence of ring-shaped cataract and urine metabolites of TNT using slit-lamp biomicroscope and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Results substantiate a high level of urine metabolites for exposed subjects compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Age had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the presence of ring-shaped cataract and the level of urinary metabolites of TNT, while duration of exposure showed significant effect (p < 0.001). Females showed high incidence of ring-shaped cataract and urinary metabolites of TNT than men ( p < 0.001). The mean age of the exposed subjects was 51 ± 14.38 (Mean ± SD) years. The mean year of exposure was 49 ± 5 (Mean ± SD) years. CONCLUSION: This study showed TNT as a risk factor for the presence of ring-shaped cataract among TNT-exposed group in Pakistan. It is important to screen exposed community for the presence of ring-shaped cataract, and pre-clinical identification of TNT adducts to prevent systemic complications.

Feasibility of Silicon Quantum Dots as a Biomarker for the Bioimaging of Tear Film.

This study investigated the fluorescence and biocompatibility of hydrophilic silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) that are doped with scandium (Sc-SiQDs), copper (Cu-SiQDs), and zinc (Zn-SiQDs), indicating their feasibility for the bioimaging of tear film. SiQDs were investigated for fluorescence emission by the in vitro imaging of artificial tears (TheraTears®), using an optical imaging system. A trypan blue exclusion test and MTT assay were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of SiQDs to cultured human corneal epithelial cells. No difference was observed between the fluorescence emission of Sc-SiQDs and Cu-SiQDs at any concentration. On average, SiQDs showed stable fluorescence, while Sc-SiQDs and Cu-SiQDs showed brighter fluorescence emissions than Zn-SiQDs. Cu-SiQDs and Sc-SiQDs showed a broader safe concentration range than Zn-SiQDs. Cu-SiQDs and Zn-SiQDs tend to aggregate more substantially in TheraTears® than Sc-SiQDs. This study elucidates the feasibility of hydrophilic Sc-SiQDs in studying the tear film's aqueous layer.

Quantum Dots in Ophthalmology: A Literature Review.

Purpose: The aim of the current review was to summarize the current applications, the latest advances and importantly, highlight research gaps in the use of quantum dots in the eye. Quantum dots are nanoscale semiconductor crystals with characteristic size and tunable optical properties, which deliver bright and stable fluorescence suitable for bioimaging and labelling. Methods: A systematic search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. This review systematically searched published data to summarize the characteristics and applications of quantum dots in ophthalmology. Two hundred and eighty published articles were initially selected for this review following searches using the criteria quantum dots AND nanoparticles AND ophthalmology in the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science. Results: After duplicates were removed, a total of 22 eligible articles were included for the review. Quantum dots potentially provide a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in ophthalmology. Quantum dots offer visible and near-infrared emission, which is highly desirable for bioimaging, due to reduced light scattering and low tissue absorption. Their applications include in vivo bioimaging, labelling of cells and tissues, delivery of genes or drugs and as antimicrobial composites. Conclusion: Quantum dots have been used in ophthalmology for bioimaging, electrical stimulation and tracking of gene/stems cells, and ocular lymphatics. However, there is no detailed description of their desirable characteristics for use in ophthalmology, and there is limited information about their cytotoxicity to ocular cells and tissues.