The ester-based hydrophilic cyclodextrin-based nanosponge derivative can be used as a drug delivery system in topical ocular drug delivery, to improve stability, solubility and corneal permeation.

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Intravitreal chemotherapy (IVitC) in the management of retinoblastoma has increased the rate of globe salvage, specifically in patients with recurrent disease and associated vitreous seeds. A significant number of children with retinoblastoma in developing countries present late, resulting in higher intraocular tumour-stage at presentation. Treatment requirements for such tumours usually include intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) and/or intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC). While IVC has a long usage track record and a good efficacy, it has been reported to be associated with higher recurrence rates in a significant number of patients. Intra-arterial chemotherapy has the advantage of lower recurrence rates but requires personnel with advanced interventional radiology skills and has limited efficacy in treating intravitreal seeds. Intravitreal chemotherapy has gained popularity recently, largely because of its superior efficacy in the management of vitreous seeds, subretinal seeds and recurrent retinal tumour. An 8-month-old male infant initially presented with bilateral retinoblastoma, International Classification System for Intraocular Retinoblastoma (ICRB) Group E in the right eye and Group B on the left eye. The right eye was enucleated and currently has a prosthesis. The left eye had tumours that initially responded to brachytherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT). Approximately two years later his tumours recurred with vitreous seeds and were successfully managed with the use of cryotherapy and intravitreal chemotherapy. The simplicity of the technique of IVitC and its efficacy in controlling vitreous seeds and recurrent retinal tumours makes this route of regional chemotherapy a viable one in areas with limited expertise and resources such as South Africa.

A thin CCT has been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of glaucoma, and many studies have shown that people of African descent have thinner corneas than people of European descent. 7 A study by Sardiwalla et al. 9 which looked at the CCT of about 200 South Africans demonstrated that black South Africans had a lower mean CCT compared to Indian South Africans (512.4 µm vs. 526.5 µm). These findings were consistent with what has been reported before in multicentre studies such as the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS).Background: Corneal astigmatism and central corneal thickness are important clinical parameters for cataract surgery and glaucoma, respectively. There is very little research on the central corneal thickness and the prevalence and pattern of corneal astigmatism in black South Africans. Aim:The aim of this study was to analyse the corneal astigmatism and central corneal thickness of a large population of black South Africans awaiting cataract surgery.

Background: Back and neck pain are common in the general population and a common occupational condition. Occupationally related back and neck pain is common amongst ophthalmologists.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of back and neck pain amongst South African ophthalmologists.Setting: This was a survey that was conducted amongst South African ophthalmologists (n = 324) and ophthalmologists-in-training (n = 115).Methods: The response rate was 44.8% (n = 197). There was no sampling and a hyperlink to an electronic questionnaire, hosted on the REDCap survey platform, was sent to 440 potential respondents. A descriptive analysis was carried out using STATA version 15. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Witwatersrand.Results: Mean age was 47.1 years (standard deviation [s.d.] ± 12.1) and 62 (31.5%) women. The cohort was stratified into specialists (n = 81, 41.1%), subspecialists (n = 75, 38.1%) and ophthalmologists-in-training (n = 41, 20.8%). Most of the participants (n = 156, 79.2%) were qualified ophthalmologists. Respondents reported current back pain (n = 124, 62.9%), lower back pain (n = 66, 33.5%) and neck pain (n = 76, 38.6%). The overall median pain rating (on a scale from 1 to 10) was 4. Respondents reported mild pain (n = 71, 36%) and severe pain (n = 35, 17.7%). Operating and using a slit lamp were pain aggravating factors in 36% (n = 71) and 37.1% (n = 73), respectively.Conclusion: Back and neck pain are prevalent amongst South African ophthalmologists and comparable to other ophthalmologists worldwide.