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With the surging demand for versatile products with eclectic fabric construction, weaving industries often qualify the standardized denting order with a view to utilize the reeds that are at their disposal. In the weaving cycle, beat-up operation is performed by reed which also controls the denting order. The appearance and quality of woven fabric vary due to various parameters. Among them denting order is one of the most overlooked parameters. The present study is uniquely designed to determine the ramifications of the denting order changing on plain woven fabric quality and appearance while keeping the loom parameters, yarn parameters and fabric construction constant. A total of five plain fabrics were manufactured and six performance properties including tear resistance, tensile strength, seam slippage resistance, fabric weight, abrasion and pilling resistance of the samples were analyzed and statistically evaluated with ANOVA. The appearance was assessed visually. What appeared was that tensile, tear, and appearance had undergone perpetual change for all the samples but change of seam slippage, fabric weight, abrasion, and pilling resistance remained inconsistent. Statistical evaluation also revealed that the difference among the fabric properties due to variation of denting order were significant especially for tearing and tensile strength.

PURPOSE: To describe the preoperative characteristics, intraoperative details, management, and postoperative in patients with bilateral epithelial defects after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: Retrospective non-comparative case series. RESULTS: Six patients with bilateral epithelial defects after LAISK were part of a cohort of 605 patients undergoing bilateral LASIK at our center from December 2001 to April 2003. The mean age of the patients (5M:1F) was 28.5 7.9 years, and the average pretreatment myopic spherical equivalent (SE) refraction was 7.3 0.7 D (-4, -12.25D). An epithelial flap was present in 6 eyes and an epithelial defect with a mean diameter of 3 mm (2mm, 6mm) was seen in 6 eyes. In four patients the epithelial disturbance was bilaterally similar. All defects occurred in the inferior cornea and the epithelial flaps had the hinge positioned superiorly. None of the patients had ocular or systemic risk factors that could have resulted in this complication. A bandage contact lens was used in 6 eyes. At last follow-up of 5.5 9.5 months (0.25, 21 months), unaided visual acuity was 6/9 or better in 10 eyes. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was maintained in 8 eyes, while 4 eyes lost one line of BSCVA. Recurrent corneal erosions were not reported in the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: These patients represent a hitherto unrecognised group of individuals who appear to have a subclinical weakness of adhesion of the corneal epithelium to the underlying structures, which is not evident on clinical examination. This results in bilateral epithelial disturbances after LASIK. Appropriate management results in satisfactory clinical outcomes. Other options for treatment of the fellow eye of such patients include the use of a different microkeratome, release of suction during the reverse pass of the Hansatome microkeratome, and photorefractive keratectomy if the refractive error is low.

Purpose: To report the application of a digital camera for ophthalmic photography in routine clinical use. Methods: A digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 995) was used both for external macrophotography of the eye and ocular adnexa, and slitlamp photography of the anterior segment of the eye. Results: We were able to take external macrophotographs under high magnification of the eye and ocular adnexa. Slitlamp photography could be performed under diffuse, slit beam, and retroillumination. The structures of the angle, the optic disc and surrounding retina could be photographed using appropriate lenses. The attachment to the operating microscope allowed intra-operative photography. It could also be attached to the laboratory microscope to capture images of various histopathology and microbiology slides. Conclusions: A digital camera is a versatile instrument for ophthalmic photography. It is easy to use in routine clinical practice and provides good quality photographs.

Human immunovirus infection in India is rapidly increasing. Ocular lesions due to highly active antiretroviral therapy have been well recognized. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome can affect all parts of the eye. However, posterior segment lesions are the most common and of these, Human immunodeficiency virus retinopathy and cytomegalovirus retinitis predominate. Often clinical examination can establish the diagnosis of many ocular lesions in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; therefore, ophthalmologists need to be aware of the more common ones. Various drugs in different routes can used to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis. Highly active antiretroviral therapy has remarkably reduced systemic and ocular morbidity among acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. To facilitate care of these patients aseptic precautions for ophthalmic care personnel are now well established and therefore ophthalmologist should not hesitate to provide ophthalmic care to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

PURPOSE: To report indications, technique, and results of excimer phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), and describe possible reasons for the small numbers of such procedures performed in a referral institute in India. METHODS: Retrospective review of case records of 10 patients (11 eyes) who underwent excimer PTK at our institute between February 1994 and September 1997. RESULTS: Corneal scars were the most common indication for treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 6 eyes (mean: 2 lines of Snellen acuity). All eyes had BCVA > or = 6/12 after treatment. None of the patients experienced loss of BCVA after treatment. Unaided visual acuity improved in 3 eyes and decreased in 2 eyes. Change in spherical equivalent refraction > or = 1 diopter occurred in 77.8% of eyes after treatment. Treating central corneal scars resulted in a significant hyperopic shift in refraction. CONCLUSIONS: Excimer PTK is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of superficial corneal opacities. Post-treatment ametropia may require further correction with optical aids. Inappropriate referrals, deep corneal scars, and cost of the procedure could have contributed to the small numbers of PTK performed at our institute. Improved understanding of procedural strengths and limitations could lead to increased use of this procedure, with satisfying results in selected patients.

An 82-year-old healthy man with unilateral chronic stromal keratitis, initially diagnosed to have viral keratitis and refractory to medical therapy, showed numerous oval, microsporidial organisms, measuring 4-5 m in length in the corneal biopsy. Penetrating keratoplasty, followed by treatment with systemic albendazole and topical propamidine isethionate resulted in resolution of the infection. Electron microscopy of the keratoplasty specimen demonstrated sporoblasts with diplokaryotic nuclei and multiple coils of the filament. The light and electron microscopic features were consistent with microsporidial keratitis.

A case of unilateral interface keratitis due to Mycobacterium fortuitum following simultaneous bilateral LASIK procedure for low myopia is reported. Excimer phototherapeutic keratectomy was performed to the stromal bed to reduce the infective load. Intensive topical therapy with topical amikacin and ciprofloxacin resulted in resolution of the keratitis.