BACKGROUND Cataract surgery is the commonest eye surgery performed. Sutureless cataract surgery is the preferred method today. A clinically significant proportion of cataract surgery patients experience some degree of dry eye symptoms after surgery. Dry eye is highly prevalent, yet largely underdiagnosed condition that can substantially affect quality of life. The aim of the study is to compare changes in the tear film in patients undergoing small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included a total of 407 patients randomly divided into two groups. Group A had 202 patients in whom phacoemulsification was performed and group B had 205 patients in whom small incision cataract surgery was performed. Detailed ocular examination and tear film tests were done as per the protocol on each group, which included Tearfilm Meniscus Height (TMH), Schirmer's 1 and 2 (S1T and S2T), Tear Film Breakup Time (TBUT) and Rose Bengal Score (RBS) to get the baseline values. Patients were followed up after one week, one month and three months postoperatively and a detailed questionnaire regarding dry eye was asked at each visit. Tear film tests were also performed. RESULTS In individual groups (A and B), there was a significant difference seen between preoperative dry eye symptoms, Schirmer's 1 and 2, Rose Bengal score, tear film breakup time and tear film meniscus height from postoperative one week, one month and three months data. But, there was no significant difference noted between the two groups when compared to each other, except for tear meniscus height, which was significantly reduced from preoperative period (p=0.00). CONCLUSION We concluded that a trend toward baseline values was seen with time that is improvement of dry eye symptoms and tear film test values at consecutive followup in both groups. Nevertheless, the dry eye symptoms and tear film changes did not return to preoperative values in three months followup.

BACKGROUND According to various surveys, cataract is the most common cause of blindness in India. India has the world's largest cataract backlog. The treatment for cataract is surgical, a highly cost-effective intervention with excellent prognosis for sight restoration. In a country like India where majority of the population resides in rural areas, community-oriented approach including the base hospital surgery and peripheral eye camp approach can be effectively utilised to tackle the backlog of cataract blindness. The aim of the study is to evaluate the outcome of cataract surgery performed in outreach eye camps in northern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and surgical complications were evaluated retrospectively in 1486 patients who underwent cataract extraction in eye camps held in northern India over a period of one year. RESULTS Of 1486 patients, 827 (55.6%) patients were operated in the peripheral surgical camp and 659 (44.3%) were brought to the base hospital for surgery. At follow up, 65.3% patient had BCVA better than 6/18 in the operated eye compared to 0.5% preoperatively and the difference was significant (p<0.0001). 93.3% of the patients operated by phacoemulsification and 91.2% of the patients who underwent manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) had regained visual acuity of 6/18 or better at 6 weeks follow up. Most common complication was corneal oedema seen in 3.3% patients. CONCLUSION It's possible to obtain acceptable results from cataract extraction in well conducted eye camps.

BACKGROUND Corneal endothelium plays an important role in maintaining the corneal transparency. Evaluation of corneal endothelial cell morphology and central corneal thickness (CCT) is important in a wide range of disorders. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the emerging health problems which also affects the corneal endothelial morphology and CCT. Aims and Objectives-To compare CCT and corneal endothelial changes in type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic controls and to assess their correlation with duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 200 eyes of type 2 diabetic subjects and 200 eyes of non-diabetic age and gender matched controls, presenting to the Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana were included in the study. The study was conducted over a period of one year and eight months. The CCT and corneal endothelial changes were measured using a specular microscope. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 21 using independent t-test, chi-square test and Spearmen correlation test. RESULTS The diabetic subjects had increased central corneal thickness, less endothelial cell density and more standard deviation and hexagonality of the corneal endothelium than the non-diabetic controls (P<0.05). Coefficient of variation for cell size was significantly higher for diabetics (P<0.05). It was observed that the central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial parameters had statistically significant correlation with the duration of diabetes mellitus. Whereas when correlated with HbA1c only CCT and CV had a statistically significant correlation (p=0.041 and p=0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION Diabetics have thicker corneas, less corneal endothelial cell density and hexagonality, and more irregular cell size. Therefore, routine assessment of central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial structure may be beneficial in all diabetic patients along with retinopathy assessment.