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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the short-term incidence, clinical features, and management of glaucoma in children after successful surgery for stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: The retrospective study included all eyes undergoing successful surgery for stage 4 ROP with good outcomes at a tertiary eye care center between June 2014 and June 2016. Cases developing postoperative glaucoma underwent examination under anesthesia for measurement of intraocular pressures (IOP), corneal diameters, Retcam-assisted fundus imaging, and gonioscopy. Outcomes of glaucoma management were evaluated. Results: Hundred eyes of 70 babies underwent successful surgery for stage 4 ROP (with postoperative attached retina, and minimal sequelae) with minimum follow-up of 15 months. Six eyes (6%) developed postoperative glaucoma. Of these, four eyes had undergone lens-sparing vitrectomy and two were managed with lensectomy and vitrectomy (LV). Median time duration for development of glaucoma after primary vitreous surgery was 17.5 weeks. Two cases could be managed with topical IOP-lowering agents alone, whereas four required filtering surgeries (trabeculotomy with trabeculectomy and 0.04% mitomycin C [MMC] application). Average IOP decreased from 25 ± 2.36 to 12.2 ± 2.05 mmHg at 12 months from glaucoma diagnosis. Conclusion: Glaucoma is a potential adverse event following successful vitreous surgery for stage 4 ROP. A combined trabeculotomy–trabeculectomy along with MMC gives favorable outcome.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of conventional laser photocoagulation versus additional posterior barrage laser in advanced stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: A total of 20 infants with bilateral symmetric zone 2 stage 3 advancing ROP were treated with conventional laser treatment followed by randomization of one eye to receive additional posterior retinal laser treatment. Disc–fovea and inter-arcade distance was measured. The patients were followed up prospectively for 3 months. Structural and functional outcomes and safety profile were analyzed. Results: 18/20 (90%) eyes in the study group and 19/20 (95%) eyes in the control group achieved regression of disease. Faster and complete regression was observed at 4 weeks after posterior laser compared to the control group (P = 0.024). Disc–fovea and inter-arcade distance was comparable in both groups. Conclusion: Additional posterior barrage laser is a safe technique that led to faster and more complete regression in eyes with advancing ROP. Final regression profile was comparable in both treatment modalities.

Purpose: Bilateral eye surgery in the same session may be required for advancing stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of immediate sequential bilateral vitreoretinal surgery (ISBVS) in stage 4 ROP. Methods: In a retrospective interventional study at a tertiary care center, 60 eyes of 30 infants who underwent ISBVS for stage 4 ROP between December 2015 and May 2017 were studied. In cases with clear retrolental access, 25G or 27G lens sparing vitrectomy (LSV) was performed and in the rest 25G lensectomy with vitrectomy (LV) was performed through clear corneal entries. The final anatomical outcome measures were the status of tractional retinal detachment (TRD) and macular status. Results: The mean gestational age was 28.4 ± 2.0 weeks and birth weight was 1214.5 ± 329.7gms. The mean postconceptional age at surgery was 40.8 ± 2.2 weeks. Stages 4a and 4b were present in 86.7% and 13.3% eyes respectively. LSV was performed in 95% eyes whereas LV was performed in the rest. None of the eyes developed lens touch, choroidal hemorrhage, postoperative hypotony, corneal decompensation, or endophthalmitis. At last follow-up (mean 45 weeks, range 20–68 weeks), macula was attached in 90% eyes with the TRD resolved completely in 61.7% eyes and significantly decreased in another 25% eyes. Sequalae included macular drag, epiretinal membrane, and progression to fibrotic stage 5 disease. Conclusion: ISBVS is safe and effective for bilateral stage 4 ROP and should be recommended in rapidly progressive cases.

Two eyes of 2 patients with macular hole-associated retinal detachment in clinically diagnosed vitelliruptive stage of Best vitelliform dystrophy were surgically managed by 25-gauge sutureless pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with inverted ILM flap, and short-acting (SF6) gas tamponade. The patients were assessed with respect to best-corrected visual acuity, color fundus photographs, shortwave fundus autofluorescence, and swept source optical coherence tomography. Surgical intervention led to Type 1 closure of macular hole, resolution of retinal detachment, and improvement in vision in both patients.

We report a case of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in an infant with oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), with the challenges faced in diagnosis, and subsequent management. Poor fundus contrast and blanching of retinal vessels on indentation caused significant visualization problems in detection of ridge and extraretinal vessel proliferation. Careful examination revealed zone 2 Stage 3 ROP with preplus disease in both eyes. Laser photocoagulation was attempted, but laser uptake was poor. The disease regressed over 3-week close follow-up. ROP along with OCA is a rare finding. There is a need for high index of suspicion and caution while screening and managing such babies.

A preterm infant with zone 1 aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity developed infectious endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. Urgent empirical intravitreal therapy with vancomycin, ceftazidime, and dexamethasone along with intravenous therapy with amikacin and meropenem helped in early resolution. Vascularization/activity of disease subsided on follow-up, media cleared, and laser photocoagulation was completed. Later the disease reactivated, developed vitreous membranes and central retinal traction, for which 25-gauge lens-sparing vitrectomy was performed. Emergent treatment helped in salvaging the eye from both aggressive ROP disease and devastating endophthalmitis. Rationale approach to such a case is being discussed.

A safe technique for entry incisions and closure in stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) surgery is being described. Three 23G clear corneal incisions are made which allow for safe and snug entry of 25G calibrated infusion and 25G instruments for performing lensectomy, membrane removal and vitrectomy. At the end of surgery, air is injected and corneal entries are hydrated for sutureless closure. The technique was performed in 50 eyes of 36 children with stage 5 ROP. The hybrid technique ensured safe entry and exit with stable anterior chamber during surgery. None of the cases developed retinal breaks during surgical entry nor had any complications such as hypotony, flat anterior chamber, hyphaema or corneal edema in post operative period. Clear corneal entry using 23G incisions for 25G instrument access is a safe and effective technique for performing lensectomy and vitrectomy with sutureless closure in cases with stage 5 ROP.

Cataract surgery in eyes with microcornea is associated with frequent complications such as corneal edema, posterior capsular rent, and risk of unplanned aphakia. We describe an improved surgical technique for the creation of surgical incisions during phacoemulsification in eyes with cataract associated with microcornea. A retrospective analysis of eight patients (8 eyes) operated at our center was undertaken. The mean age of the patients was 29.5 ± 10.9 years. All eyes were operated using the scleral pocket incision for phacoemulsification. This scleral pocket incision was tangential to the limbus and created approximately 2.5 mm behind limbus through which phacoemulsification probe was inserted. Because of the posterior placement of incision, the anterior chamber crowding was minimized. There was no incidence of port-site peripheral corneal edema. Fifty percent eyes developed transient central corneal edema, the intraocular lens in bag was implanted in 5/8 eyes, and none developed Descemet′s membrane detachment. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 1.85 ± 0.38 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) to 1.26 ± 0.70 LogMAR postoperatively (P = 0.01; paired t-test). Posterior incision placement during phacoemulsification in microcornea helps achieve favorable postoperative outcomes in contrast to outcomes using clear corneal approach described in literature.

Context : Study of patients attending tertiary care ophthalmology institute at Ahmedabad. Aims : To study the microbiological etiology and epidemiological factors associated with suppurative keratitis. Settings and Design : A total of 150 corneal scrapings were evaluated from patients presenting with corneal ulcers at a tertiary ophthalmology center, Ahmedabad from July 2007 to June 2008. Materials and Methods : Scrapings were subjected to Gram stain, potassium hydroxide preparation and culture for bacterial and fungal pathogens. Socio-demographic data and risk factors were recorded. Results : Ninety percent (135/150) people with corneal ulcers had trauma as predisposing factor for keratitis. Trauma due to wooden objects was the leading cause (46/135) followed by vegetable matter and stone injury (23/135). Microbial etiology was established in 59.3% (89/150) of scrapings. Out of 89 positive isolates, 65.1% (58/89) were bacterial while 34.9% (31/89) were fungal. Among the bacterial isolates, 60.3% (35/58) were Gram-positive cocci while 39.7% (23/58) were Gram-negative bacilli. The most common bacterial isolate was Staphylococus aureus (32.7%, 19/58) followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococci (25.8%, 15/58) and Pseudomonas (18.9%, 11/58). Among the 31 fungal pathogens, Aspergillus species was the most common (35.4%11/31), followed by Fusarium species (22.5%, 7/31). Conclusion : Trauma with wooden material is the most common predisposing factor for suppurative keratitis. Males were more affected than females. Bacterial ulcers were more common than fungal in areas in and around Ahmedabad. Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus were the commonest bacterial and fungal isolates respectively. Geographical variation persists in microbial etiology of suppurative keratitis.

The study evaluated the impact of implantable Collamer lens (ICL) implantation on stereoacuity in myopes in a retrospective case series. Ninety-five eyes of 48 patients were recruited. Distance and near stereoacuity were measured using distance Randot stereotest and TNO test, respectively, before surgery and at 4 weeks postoperatively. Mean age of the patients was 23.67 ± 3.7 years. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 1.28 ± 0.37 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (median: 1.3; range: 0.3-1.8), and median best-corrected distance visual acuity (BDVA) was 0.18 logMAR (range: 0-0.6). There was a significant improvement in both UDVA and BDVA postsurgery (P < 0.001; Wilcoxon signed rank test). The overall improvement in stereopsis was observed in 15/48 (31.25%) and 13/48 (27.10%) subjects for near and distance, respectively, with no significant difference between the two (P = 0.82; Fisher′s exact test). Among stereoblind individuals, the odd′s ratio for near stereoacuity to improve in comparison to distance stereoacuity was 8.85 (95% confidence interval: 1.68-46.70; P = 0.01). ICL implantation for refractive correction aided stereoacuity improvement in myopes more so for near.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the visual outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNVM) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Settings and Design: Patients with subfoveal classic CNVM caused by ARMD attending vitreo-retinal services at a tertiary care setup were included in this nonrandomized, open label, prospective, clinical, comparative pilot trial. Materials and Methods: Standardized refraction, visual acuity testing, evaluation of fundus and serial color photography and fundus fluorescein angiography were carried out to evaluate the effects of treatment in 32 eyes each undergoing either PDT or TTT. Follow-up was carried out at four weeks, 12 weeks and six months. Retreatment if indicated was carried out three months post treatment. Results: Stabilization or improvement occurred in 69% of patients undergoing PDT and 50% patients undergoing TTT at six months of follow-up. Among patients with a pretreatment visual acuity greater than or equal to 20/63, only one out of six patients who underwent PDT had a drop of visual acuity > 2 lines as compared to four patients (100%) who underwent TTT. ( P =0.0476, two-tailed Fisher′s exact test). Conclusion: For short-term preservation of vision in patients of classic CNVM due to ARMD, PDT seems to be better than TTT if the pre-laser best corrected visual acuity is > 20/63 but both are equally effective if pre-laser best corrected visual acuity is < 20/63.

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate the quality of ophthalmology training in India. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to existing medical schools and accredited training institutions. Institutions were followed up thrice to obtain responses. Data were analysed using Stata 8.0. RESULTS: Responses were received from 128 (89.5%) of the 143 institutions. Each year, 900 training slots were available across the country. Faculty: student ratios were better in accredited training institutions than in postgraduate medical schools. Fifty three (41.4%) of 128 institutions subscribed to more than 2 international journals. Fewer than 1 in 6 institutions conducted research projects. 11 (8.6%) institutions reported more than five publications in international peer- reviewed journals over three years. Only a third of the responding institutions had a wet lab. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the training facilities and optimally utilise the infrastructure available in postgraduate medical schools.

Purpose: To report our initial experience in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane, secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT). Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to AMD, were included in the study. The parameters assessed before the TTT were visual acuity by ETDRS chart, scotoma score by Amsler grid chart, reading speed, fundus examination by direct and indirect ophthalmoscope as well as +90 Diopter lens followed by digital fundus photography and fluorescein angiography (FA). Results: The letter visual acuity improved or stabilized in 72% cases up to 12 weeks after TTT. Mean scotoma score decreased from a mean of 47.56, to 43.56 at 6 weeks and to 37 at 12 weeks. Mean reading speed increased from 27.04 words/minute at pretreatment to 34.52 words/minute at 6 weeks and 37.33 words/minute 12 weeks after TTT. Conclusion: TTT is not only a cheaper alternative to photodynamic therapy (PDT), but also is an efficacious tool in stabilisation or improvement of visual acuity in the management of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane due to AMD.

PURPOSE: To determine the normative values for macular thickness and volume by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT 3) in healthy Indian subjects. METHODS: The macula of 170 consecutive, randomly selected normal subjects was imaged on OCT 3 in this cross-sectional study. OCT parameters of macular thickness were analysed with baseline variables including age, gender, axial length and refractive error. RESULTS: The average foveal thickness in the population under study was 149.16 +/- 21.15 micro. Macular thickness and volume parameters of OCT correlated significantly (Pearson′s Correlation coefficient) with age (r=0.23, P

PURPOSE: To quantitatively assess the normative values for peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT 3) in Indian subjects. METHODS: The peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer of 146 normal subjects was imaged on OCT 3 in this cross-sectional study. Thickness of the RNFL around the disc was determined with three 3.4 mm diameter circle OCT scan. The RNFL thickness was measured in four quadrants; superior, nasal, inferior and temporal. The data was analysed using SAS commercial statistical software. Influence of age and gender was evaluated on various measured parameters using unpaired t test, one-way analysis variance (ANOVA) and Pearson′s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: One hundred and forty six eyes of 146 patients, 84 males and 62 females were studied. The average RNFL thickness in the sample population under study was 104.27 +/- 8.51 (95% CI 87.25-121). The RNFL was thickest in the inferior quadrant, followed by the superior quadrant, and progressively less in nasal and temporal quadrant. The difference between inferior and superior quadrants was not statistically significant. Age had a significant negative correlation with average RNFL thickness (r = -0.321, P = 0.000) and with average superior (r = -0.233, P = 0.005) and average inferior RNFL thickness (r = -0.234, P = 0.004). There was no effect of gender on various RNFL thickness parameters. CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness is significantly correlated with age, but not with gender. This normative database of RNFL thickness with OCT in Indian eyes is similar to previously reported values in normal Asian eyes.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the elderly population. The prevalence is reported to be 1.2-1.4% in several population-based epidemiological studies. Currently 25-30 million people worldwide are blind due to AMD. With the aging world population it is bound to increase significantly, and could become a significant public health problem in next two decades, with serious socio-economic implications. Several strategies are today available to treat the wet form of AMD, which is responsible for significant visual loss. These were until recently confined to laser photocoagulation, and subretinal surgery, but today two other modalities, namely, radiation and photodynamic therapy, are available. These treatment modalities however, are aimed at preservation of vision only, and not at reversing the process of the disease. Further research on antiangiogenic drugs and gene therapy could significantly help AMD patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate cataract surgery procedures and caseloads among Indian ophthalmologists in private and government practices. Members of the All India Ophthalmological Society and state ophthalmic societies were surveyed by mail questionnaire in December 1995. Out of 6,800 surveyed, 2,098 responses (31%) were received. Over 61% of the 990,249 reported cataract surgeries were carried out in private facilities with 24% of private patients receiving extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and 41% ECCE with intraocular lens (IOL). Intracapsular cataract extraction remains more common in government facilities with 62% of cases. Over 85% of all surgeons reported some experience with ECCE/IOL. Surgeons operating in both private and government facilities carry an average annual caseload of 861 cataract surgeries, which is twice that of their colleagues operating exclusively in either private or government settings. Although the questionnaire response rate was low, the findings suggest that ECCE is more common in India than is generally recognized, and with the recent availability of low-cost IOLs, its popularity is rapidly expanding.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains the most common cause of failure in retinal detachment surgery. Surgical procedures for its repair entails complex and extensive instrumentation besides technical skill. The success rate varies widely with high incidence of redetachment. Keeping this in view, we evaluated the role of intravitreal daunorubicin as an anti-mitiotic agent in the inhibition of PVR. Our study concluded that 5 micrograms of intravitreal daunorubicin effectively inhibited PVR in the rabbit eye and the dosage was safe and nontoxic. The half-life of the drug was determined to be about 140 minutes, suggesting a prolonged intravitreal concentration sufficient to prevent fibroblast proliferation

Thirty-five patients of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were investigated for the effect of various metabolic factors on retinopathy. The severity of retinopathy increased with duration and age of onset of IDDM. Degree of glycaemia (fasting blood sugar, FBS) was similar in patients with or without retinopathy. All IDDM patients as a group showed severe carbohydrate intolerance with lower basal and post glucose serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels and serum C-peptide radioimmunoreactivity (CPR) as compared to controls. The insulin secretory response was similar in no retinopathy, mild retinopathy and severe retinopathy groups. Patients with retinopathy had higher incidence of hyperlipidemia but mean serum levels of cholesterol and triglyceride were similar. This study does not suggest a direct relationship between the various metabolic factors studied and retinopathy due to IDDM

30 patients with Graves′ ophthalmopathy were subjected to exophthalmometry in the upright and supine positions to determine if the difference in exophthalmometer readings in these two situations are significantly different and would help in distinguishing the early and late Graves′ ophthalmopathy patients. The cases were divided into two groups (of 15 patients each) of early Graves′ ophthalmopathy (Grades 0,1,2) and late Graves′ ophthalmopathy (Grades 3,4,5) according to the American Thyroid Association classification. In addition, 15 age and sex matched normal individuals who served as controls, also underwent similar investigation. Contrary to earlier observations, the results showed statistically insignificant increase in exophthalmometer readings when going from the erect to the supine position. It was concluded that postural change in exophthalmometer readings neither helps in distinguishing normal subjects from patients of Graves′ ophthalmopathy nor can it differentiate between various grades of Graves ophthalmopathy.

Twenty patients with Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were subjected to applanation tonometry and Corneal Thickness measurement to ascertain (i) the change in central & peripheral corneal thickness and (ii) effect of Intra Ocular Pressure on these corneal changes. Twenty age and sex matched controls also underwent similar investigation. It was observed that both the mean Intra Ocular Pressure and the corneal thickness (both Peripheral Corneal Thickness and Central Corneal Thickness] of the affected eye showed statistically significant reduction (P 0.001) when compared to Intra Ocular Pressure and Corneal Thickness changes of fellow-eyes and eyes of control subjects. In addition to these even the fellow eyes which had normal Intra Ocular Pressure, showed statistically low Central Corneal Thickness measurement, when compared with controls. In view of the above observation and reduction in Corneal Thickness measurement, the present study indicates generalised corneal changes in Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment unrelated to intraocular pressure.

Classical forms of diabetic maculopathy are well-known. We observed various macular pathologies in the form of macular stippling, retinal pigment epithelial defects, colloids & disciform lesions all in NIDDM patients, 70% of whom were uncontrolled on therapy. These patients did not present with any of the classical changes suggestive of diabetic retinopathy, and we have grouped them as cases with ′Diabetic Non-Diabetic Maculopathy′ - DNDM.

Records of 37 consecutive patients of postoperative endophthalmitis referred to our centre from North India were retrospectively analysed to study the first contact management profile. Ten (27%) patients had received intravitreal antibiotics as a primary mode of treatment, and 27 (73%) had received only parenteral antibiotics. The outcome was worse in the latter group. This suggests that general ophthalmologists lack the capability to provide adequate treatment to patients with endopthalmitis in Northern India.