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Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its risk factors among diabetic patients in rural and urban West Bengal (WB). Methods: Patients were screened in the physician's clinic by a team of ophthalmologist, optometrist and counsellor. Demographic details, diabetic control, compliance to eye checkup, awareness regarding diabetic blindness, and visual acuity were recorded using a questionnaire. DR was graded both by indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photo taken with a portable fundus camera. Results: A total of 1553 subjects were screened over 39 camps across 14 districts of WB over 17 months. The prevalence of DR was 21.51%, with a significant difference between rural (26.55%) and urban (13.89%) areas (P < 0.01). No significant difference with gender was seen (P = 0.99). Presence and grade of DR were related to age, loss of vision, diabetic age, diabetic control, awareness of diabetic blindness and last eye checkup. Conclusion: This study provides the first major prevalence data from WB, and gives valuable insight regarding modifiable risk factors for DR. It is also the first DR study in India to be conducted in the physician's clinic. The study results emphasise the need to "fix the missing link" between ophthalmologists and treating physicians to win the battle against DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 42-year-old female presented to us with a complaint of sudden painless loss of vision in both eyes of three days duration. Visual acuity was 20/100 for distance in both eyes. Fundus examination showed bilateral peripapillary hemorrhages, with subhyaloid and vitreous hemorrhage in both eyes. Hematological investigations revealed hemoglobin (HB 7 gm %) and severe thrombocytopenia (12,000/ ul). She was referred to a hematologist where a diagnosis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was made. She was treated for systemic condition with regular ophthalmic follow-up. Over the next nine months, retinal hemorrhages completely resolved and the patient regained her visual acuity. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the clinical presentation of severe anemia, which is different from previous reports and the role of an ophthalmologist in first detecting the Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), which led to successful recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious endophthalmitis is a serious and vision-threatening complication of commonly performed intraocular surgeries such as cataract surgery. The occurrence of endophthalmitis can result in severe damage to the uveal and other ocular tissues even among patients undergoing an uncomplicated surgical procedure. If the infections result from common factors such as surgical supplies, operative or operation theater-related risks, there can be a cluster outbreak of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) or infectious endophthalmitis, leading to several patients having an undesirable outcome. Since prevention of intraocular infections is of paramount importance to ophthalmic surgeons, the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) has taken the lead in the formation of a National Task Force to help ophthalmic surgeons apply certain universal precautions in their clinical practice. The Task Force has prepared a handy checklist and evidence-based guidelines to minimize the risk of infectious endophthalmitis following cataract surgery., Competing Interests: None

Aim: To study the vitreo-retinal interface and macular changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the fellow eyes of patients with macular hole., Methods: Patients with idiopathic macular hole in one or both eyes presented to our institute between January 2003 and December 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic details, best-corrected visual acuity and vitreo-retinal interface, and macular changes of the fellow eye on OCT were studied., Results: Seventy patients underwent OCT of both eyes during the study period. The average age group was 61.96 years and 35 (50%) were females. Among the fellow eyes, normal foveal contour was noted in 36 (51.4%) eyes and 34 (48.6%) eyes were observed to have vitreo-retinal interface changes. Of them, 13 (18.6%) eyes had some stage of full thickness macular hole and 21 (30.0%) eyes had interface changes. There was no statistical correlation between involved eye lesions (P=0.64) or visual acuity (P=0.55) as predictors of development of either fellow eye lesions or poor visual acuity., Conclusion: There is a significant chance of having vitreo-retinal interface findings in the fellow eyes of patients presenting with macular hole. OCT should be considered in both eyes of patients with macular hole to detect early changes in the fellow eyes, which may require an early intervention.