Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background: The literature remains controversial regarding seasonal variation of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: In this retrospective chart review, seasonal variation of RRD was examined based on the records of 211 consecutive patients operated for idiopathic RRD in one referral medical center over a 13-year period. Results: The number of eyes with RRD recorded per season was 46 in autumn, 46 in winter, 62 in spring and 57 in summer. There was a significant seasonal variation (p < 0.05) with an increase in RRD in the warm seasons (spring and summer) compared to the cold seasons (winter and autumn; 56 vs. 44%). Right eyes were more likely to be affected than left eyes (54 vs. 46%), and cases presented with a significantly younger age at onset in the warm than in the cold seasons (47 vs. 54 years, p = 0.007). A literature review of 8,533 cases including the present case series established further the seasonal variation of RRD (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is convincing evidence for a seasonal variation of RRD in Lebanon and in the literature. This is likely to be related to sun exposure and outdoor activities in the warm seasons.

Findings of the study suggest that whereas actual weight may constitute only partially the driving force for differentials by ethnicity, the perception of body weight acts as a mediating factor in the relationship between ethnicity and weight loss behavior. Understanding the disparities in weight management behavior across various adolescent groups is key to develop culturally appropriate educational and intervention programs for the youths.

Objective: To examine the differences between war and domestic ocular injuries during the Lebanese Civil War in terms of baseline characteristics, treatment provided and prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of subjects with traumatic ocular injuries referred to a major medical center from 1980 to 1996. The variables were tabulated according to the international classification of ocular trauma. Results: Compared to domestic ocular injuries, war injuries were significantly more likely to include males (84.7 vs. 75.1%) and adults (72.7 vs. 39.1%), concomitant systemic injury (43.7 vs. 10.1%), and bilateral ocular affection (19.3 vs. 4.4%). Also, patients with war injuries had significantly worse initial and final visual acuities, less visual improvement (28.6 vs. 44.8%), and more intraocular foreign bodies (42.9 vs. 11%), the majority being metallic removed via an electric magnet. Moreover, war injuries had significantly more posterior scleral involvement 5 mm behind the limbus (25.2 vs. 11.6%) with more secondary retinal detachment (10.3 vs. 4.8%) and vitreous hemorrhage (36.6 vs. 17.1%). Primary evisceration was performed significantly more frequently in war injuries (24.0%) than in domestic injuries (7.7%). Conclusions: During the Lebanese Civil War, war injuries compared to domestic ones were severer resulting in more enucleation/evisceration and more retinal detachment, tended to be bilateral, and were accompanied by concurrent systemic injuries and less visual recovery. Wearing special glasses and imposing an international arms embargo are recommended to decrease ocular injuries and blinding consequences in potential future wars.

No abstract