Background: We present the magnitude and determinants of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) among the 50 year and older population that visited our hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a cohort of eye patients with ARMD, seen from 2006 to 2009. Optometrist noted the best-corrected vision. Ophthalmologists examined eyes using a slit-lamp bio-microscope. The ARMD was confirmed by fluoresceine angiography and optical coherent tomography. The age, sex, history of smoking, sun exposure, family history of ARMD, diet, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes were associated with ARMD. Result: Of the 19,140 persons of ≥ 50 years of age-attending eye clinic in our hospital, 302 persons had ARMD in at least one eye. The proportion of overall ARMD was 1.38% (95% CI 1.21--1.55). The proportion of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and late ARMD was 1.14% (95% CI 0.99--1.29) and 0.24% (95% CI 0.21-0.24) respectively. ARM was unilateral and bilateral in 64 (29.2%) and 155 (70.8%) persons respectively. Dry ARMD was found in 47.8%. On regression analysis, old age (OR = 1.05), male (OR = 0.54), and history of smoking (OR = 2.32) were significant risk factors of ARMD. A total of 4.2% of persons with ARMD were blind (vision <3/60). Only 43% of persons with ARMD had J6 grade of the best-corrected near vision. Conclusion: ARMD does not seem to be of public health magnitude in the study area. Early stages of ARMD were common among patients. ge, being male, and history of smoking were significant risk factors for ARMD.

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Background: Cultivated limbal epithelium for reconstruction of corneal surface is a well-established procedure; however, it is not adequate for damage which also extensively involves the conjunctiva. In severe cases of ocular surface damage that warrant additional conjunctival transplantation apart from cultivated limbal stem cell transplantation, we describe the long-term survival of a novel method of cocultivating autologous limbal and conjunctival epithelium on a single substrate. Materials and Methods: Forty eyes of 39 patients with severe limbal stem cell deficiency and conjunctival scarring or symblepharon underwent transplantation of autologous cocultivated epithelium on human amniotic membrane. A ring barrier was used to segregate the central limbal and peripheral conjunctival epithelia in vitro. Patients were followed up at regular intervals to assess stability of the ocular surface, defined by absence of conjunctivalization into the central 4 mm of the cornea and absence of diffuse fluorescein staining. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was subsequently performed, where indicated, in patients with surface stability. Results: The cumulative survival probability was 60% at 1 year and 45% at 4 years by Kaplan-Meier analysis (mean follow-up duration: 33 ± 29 months, range: 1-87 months). Best-corrected visual acuity improved to greater than 20/200 in 38% eyes at the last follow-up, compared with 5% eyes before surgery. Immunohistochemistry in five of the corneal buttons excised for PKP showed an epithelial phenotype similar to cornea in all five. Conclusions: Synchronous use of cultured limbal and conjunctival epithelium offers a feasible alternative and a simpler one-step surgical approach to treat severe ocular surface disorders involving limbus and conjunctiva.

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No drug is absolutely safe. Pharmacovigilance is the science related to detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems. The ocular medications and devices can cause localized and systemic adverse effects. Not all adverse effects are known when a drug or device is launched in market because of limitations of clinical trials. Many adverse effects are recognized due to the spontaneous reporting of the vigilant doctors who observe and report such events encountered in their practice. Despite a large ophthalmic patient population base, India does not have robust adverse drug reaction (ADR) database because of lack of reporting culture. Government of India recently launched the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) to monitor ADRs and create awareness among the healthcare professionals about the importance of ADRs. Suspecting and reporting a possible drug reaction is very important in developing a safe and rational ophthalmic practice.

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Purpose: To evaluate frequency and severity of segmentation errors of two spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) devices and error effect on central macular thickness (CMT) measurements. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 25 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, examined using the Cirrus HD-OCT and Spectralis HRA + OCT, were retrospectively reviewed. Macular cube 512 × 128 and 5-line raster scans were performed with the Cirrus and 512 × 25 volume scans with the Spectralis. Frequency and severity of segmentation errors were compared between scans. Results: Segmentation error frequency was 47.4% (baseline), 40.7% (1 month), 40.7% (2 months), and 48.1% (6 months) for the Cirrus, and 59.3%, 62.2%, 57.8%, and 63.7%, respectively, for the Spectralis, differing significantly between devices at all examinations (P < 0.05), except at baseline. Average error score was 1.21 ± 1.65 (baseline), 0.79 ± 1.18 (1 month), 0.74 ± 1.12 (2 months), and 0.96 ± 1.11 (6 months) for the Cirrus, and 1.73 ± 1.50, 1.54 ± 1.35, 1.38 ± 1.40, and 1.49 ± 1.30, respectively, for the Spectralis, differing significantly at 1 month and 2 months (P < 0.02). Automated and manual CMT measurements by the Spectralis were larger than those by the Cirrus. Conclusions: The Cirrus HD-OCT had a lower frequency and severity of segmentation error than the Spectralis HRA + OCT. SD-OCT error should be considered when evaluating retinal thickness.

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We report a case of progressive atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) after trypan-blue-assisted peeling of internal limiting membrane (ILM) for macular hole surgery. A 68-year-old Caucasian female underwent a 20-g pars plana vitrectomy for a chronic stage-3 macular hole. The ILM was stained with 0.06% trypan blue (VisionBlue™, DORC Netherlands) for 2 min after fluid air exchange. Dye was reapplied for another 2 min due to poor staining. The ILM was completely removed around the macular hole with forceps. RPE atrophy was noticed at the edge of the hole 1 month after surgery. It progressively increased in intensity and enlarged over 2 years. Her final visual acuity was counting fingers, significantly worse compared to her presenting visual acuity of 20/200. Progressive atrophy of RPE in our patient was most likely due to the toxicity of trypan blue. Reapplication of the dye may increase the likelihood of toxicity.

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Welder's maculopathy is a form of photochemical damage to the retina and is typically characterized by involvement of the outer retinal layers. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging was performed in three eyes of two patients with clinical findings suggestive of Welder's maculopathy in occupational welders. A faceted foveal lesion characterized clinical examination and the SD-OCT line scans images showed a distinct discontinuity of the photoreceptor inner and outer segment (IS/OS) junction. The external limiting membrane (ELM) and the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) layer remained intact at the site of IS/OS defect. SD-OCT imaging offers a noninvasive way of evaluating the microstructural changes at the fovea in Welder's maculopathy.

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Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in patients with keratoconus using a mechanical implantation technique. Materials and Methods: Thirty eyes of 17 patients with keratoconus were enrolled. ICRSs (Keraring) were implanted after dissection of the tunnel using Tunc's specially designed dissector under suction. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed, including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent, keratometric readings, inferosuperior asymmetry index (ISAI), and ultrasound pachymetry. All 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups were completed, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The mean preoperative UDVA for all eyes was 1.36 ± 0.64 logMAR. At 12 months, the mean UDVA was 0.51 ± 0.28 logMAR (P = 0.001), and the mean preoperative CDVA was 0.57 ± 0.29 logMAR, which improved to 0.23 ± 0.18 (P = 0.001) at 1 year. There was a significant reduction in spherical equivalent refractive error from -6.42 ± 4.69 diopters (D) preoperatively to -1.26 ± 1.45 D (P = 0.001) at 1 year. In the same period, the mean K-readings improved from 49.38 ± 3.72 D to 44.43 ± 3.13 D (P = 0.001), and the mean ISAI improved from 7.92 ± 3.12 to 4.21 ± 1.96 (P = 0.003). No significant changes in mean central corneal thickness were observed postoperatively. There were no major complications during and or after surgery. Conclusion: ICRS implantation using a unique mechanical dissection technique is a safe and effective treatment for keratoconus. All parameters improved by the 1-year follow-up.

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Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) enables enhanced visualization of retinal layers and delineation of structural alterations in diabetic macular edema (DME). Microperimetry (MP) is a new technique that allows fundus-related testing of local retinal sensitivity. Combination of these two techniques would enable a structure-function correlation with insights into pathomechanism of vision loss in DME. To correlate retinal structural derangement with retinal sensitivity alterations in cases with diabetic macular edema, using SDOCT and MP. Prospective study of 34 eyes of 30 patients with DME. All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, microperimetry and SDOCT. Four distinct morphological patterns of DME were identified- diffuse retinal thickening (DRT), cystoid macular edema (CME), schitic retinal thickening (SRT) and neourosensory detachment (NSD) of fovea. Some retinal loci presented with a mixture of above patterns There was significant difference in retinal thickness between groups (P<0.001). Focal retinal sensitivity measurement revealed relatively preserved retinal sensitivity in areas with DRT (13.8 dB), moderately reduced sensitivity (7.9 dB) in areas with CME, and gross retinal sensitivity loss in areas with SRT (1.2 dB) and NSD (4.7 dB) (P<0.001). Analysis of regional scotoma depth demonstrated similar pattern. Retinal sensitivity showed better correlation to OCT pattern (r=-0.68, P<0.001) than retinal thickness (r=-0.44, P<0.001). Structure-function correlation allows better understanding of the pathophysiology of visual loss in different morphological types of DME. Classification of macular edema into these categories has implications on the prognosis and predictive value of treatment.

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Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of measurements of central macular thickness (CMT) in diabetic macular edema using stratus time-domain and cirrus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Materials and Methods: A total of 36 eyes from 19 patients with clinically significant diabetic macular edema (DME) were included. All participants underwent automated scanning patterns using cirrus HD-OCT and stratus OCT examinations on the same day. The sensitivity/specificity of retinal thickness measurements was calculated from published normative data. Agreement was calculated using Bland--Altman method. The receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and areas under the ROC were plotted. Results: The mean difference between the cirrus HD-OCT and stratus OCT in the central foveal zone was 49.89 μm. Bland--Altman analysis confirmed that the retinal thickness measurements had poor agreement in patients with DME. The areas under the ROC for retinal thickness measurements were 0.88 using cirrus HD-OCT and 0.94 with stratus. Conclusions: In patients with DME, the cirrus HD-OCT gives a higher reading than stratus OCT with poor agreement between the devices in most regions within the nine subfield zones. The sensitivity and specificity of the stratus OCT was comparable to the cirrus.

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In a 71-year-old patient with bilateral open-angle glaucoma, intracorneal blood was found after a canaloplasty procedure in the right eye. Six weeks after surgery on ultrasound biomicroscopy examination, liquified blood and blood clots could be observed nasally in the deep corneal stroma close to the Descemet's membrane. The intracorneal blood was washed out with balanced saline solution following deep corneal incision and lamellar dissection. Descemet's membrane was reattached with air injection into the anterior chamber. Two months later, visual acuity improved to 20/50, intraocular pressure was 16 mm Hg without medication and confocal microscopy showed deep stromal folds and limited endothelial cell loss. Viscoelastic entering the cornea at Schwalbe's line and reflux of blood from the collector channels to Schlemm's canal can account for corneal hematoma. Even six weeks after canaloplasty, successful blood removal could be fulfilled without rupturing the Descemet's membrane.

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In this study, we have presented the case report of a 20 year old boy who suffered an electric injury shock, following which he showed peripapillary retinal opacification and increased retinal thickening that subsequently progressed to retinal atrophy. The fluorescein angiogram revealed normal retinal circulation, thus indicating thermal damage to retina without any compromise to retinal circulation.

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