The coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several ophthalmic manifestations have been reported to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, including conjunctivitis, acute sixth nerve palsy, and multiple cranial neuropathies. We present a unique case of unilateral phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in a 5-year-old boy in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of acquired visual loss, is a microvascular complication of DM, among the middle-aged and economically active population. At present, there is a lack of accuracy and specificity in our ability to identify this particular cohort. As the disease remains asymptomatic until the pathology is significantly advanced, screening to detect it during the early stages is necessary. Ability of miRNAs to alter or fine tune the expression of key regulators in various physiological processes and pathophysiological disease states makes them novel targets for diseases such as diabetic complications. Aim: The present work aimed to find out the possibility to use the expression pattern of miRNAs (146a, 21, and 34a) as biomarkers for early detection of DR in addition to the underling mechanisms. Also, to evaluate the correlation between them in each stage of DR to help in diagnosis by simple noninvasive methods. Patients and methods: Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in this study and diagnosed after investigation into normal, mild, moderate, severe NPDR and PDR patients. miRNAs 1436a,-21 and 34a were evaluated in the serum of patients in each group. Results: The present study revealed that the levels of miRNA-146 and miRNA-21 are increased in serum of DR patients in direct relation with the severity. However, serum miRNA-34a is decreased with progression of the disease. Conclusion miRNAs level in the serum of diabetic patients can be used as diagnostic biomarkers of DR.

Background B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is one of the key regulators of B-cell function. Overexpression of BAFF is a characteristic feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The effect of low-dose long-term corticosteroid therapy on BAFF level and its relation to clinical and laboratory findings in SLE patients were not thoroughly investigated. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of low-dose long-term corticosteroid therapy on serum BAFF levels, and to relate the BAFF results with various clinical and laboratory features. Patients and methodsThis study included 40 Egyptian SLE patients receiving a low-dose corticosteroid regimen (20 mg prednisone orally daily) for a period of 6 months together with 40 controls. Patients were evaluated both clinically and serologically. Blood samples taken from each patient and control were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for estimation of serum BAFF level. Results BAFF level was elevated in 75% of corticosteroid-treated SLE patients and its mean level (1.468 ± 1.540 ng/ml) was significantly higher than its mean in controls (0.517 ± 0.175 ng/ml), with a P value less than 0.001. No statistically significant relationship was detected between elevated BAFF level and any of the clinical and laboratory features except for disease duration (P = 0.005).

To compare the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification-goniotomy to phacoemulsification alone on intraocular pressure (IOP) primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Design: A comparative retrospective research. Patients and Methods: The study included 2 groups with POAG & cataracts. Group (Ph) included thirty patients who had phacoemulsification alone; while Group (PhG) included thirty patients who had combined phacoemulsification-goniotomy. They were further divided into severe (Phs and PhGs) and moderate (Phm and PhGm) glaucoma groups depending on the level of glaucoma. We recorded the medicated preoperative IOP, number of glaucoma drops, and postoperative IOP for all patients. We followed up patients for 24 months for IOP and the number of IOP lowering drops. All complications were recorded and managed.Results: On the first postoperative week, Group (Ph) recorded a reduction of IOP from 35±0.54 and 33±1.9 to 31±0.83 and 28±1.2 mmHg in groups Phs and Phm, respectively. Therefore, we needed to reintroduce the IOP lowering medications for all patients in group Ph with no significant drop in the number of IOP lowering medications by the 24-month follow-up. In group (PhG), we noted a significant fall in postoperative IOP in the first follow-up week from 34±0.29 and 31±0.9 to 26±1.2 and 14±0.9 mmHg in groups PhGs and PhGm, respectively (P-value <0.0001).Patients in Pm and PhGm groups stopped all IOP lowering medications, while those in Phs and PhGs groups needed less medications by the end of follow-up period. Conclusion: Combined Phaco-goniotomy shows higher efficacy with a good safety profile when compared to phacoemulsification in POAG patients regarding IOP control, particularly the moderate POAG.