Purpose:To determine the incidence and density of Demodex species on the eyelashes of subjects with normal eyelids, anterior blepharitis (AB), meibomian-gland dysfunction (MGD), and mixed blepharitis (MB).Materials and Methods:One hundred and fifty consecutive patients diagnosed with AB, MGD, and MB were recruited. An additional 50 individuals were recruited who were free of lid and margin disease to serve as a control group. All patients underwent a standard eye examination. Data on ocular symptomatology were gathered. Digital photography was performed of the lid margins. Lash sampling was performed by epilating the lashes and the lashes were checked for Demodex based on morphology using light microscopy. The total number of mites were tabulated for each eye. Comparison between the affected eyes and the control eyes was performed. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test.Results:A total of 200 patients were included. Twenty percenth had AB, 40% had MGD, and 40% had MB. The incidence of Demodex infestation was 90% in cases of AB, 60% in MGD cases, and 90% in MB cases. The incidence of Demodex in control subjects was 18%.Conclusions:The incidence and density of Demodex infestation was highest in patients with AB and MB. Lid irritation and presence of cylindrical dandruff were indicative of a high-density infestation. These signs should alert the clinician to treat concomitant Demodex infestation.

Purpose: The aim was to study the visual performance of a new refractive extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL). Design: Prospective, comparative study. Methods: Consenting patients with age-related cataract willing for bilateral cataract surgery within 2 weeks were implanted with the Supraphob EDOF IOL and those willing for 1 eye surgery were implanted with a monofocal IOL. The uncorrected and best-corrected distance, intermediate and near visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity were evaluated at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. We also inquired about glare, halos, difficulties in night driving, requirement for spectacles, and overall satisfaction with vision. Results: The Supraphob EDOF group (n = 72 eyes) and the monofocal IOL group (n = 54 eyes) were comparable with respect to all preoperative parameters including biometry, visual acuity, and cataract status. The mean age of participants was 58.4 ± 10.6 years. Both groups had similar distance vision but the EDOF group had significantly better intermediate (0.2 ± 0.2 logMAR vs 0.75 ± 0.19 logMAR, P < 0.001) and near vision (median = N6 vs N12, P < 0.001) compared to the monofocal group at 3 months. The contrast sensitivity was similar in both groups. Patients in the EDOF IOL group had much greater satisfaction for intermediate and near vision. Less than 10% patients reported glare, halos, and difficulty in driving at night in the EDOF group. Conclusions: The Supraphob EDOF IOL was effective in improving the distance, intermediate and near vision in majority of patients, and retained good contrast sensitivity with most patients reporting excellent satisfaction.

Background: Nocardia is a common cause of endophthalmitis in southern India. It is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Objective: This study was conducted using an amikacin antibiotic in the drip irrigation of balanced saline solution (BSS) during the surgery to prophylactically study the occurrence of Nocardia endophthalmitis and any subsequent toxic effects of the antibiotics used. Methods: Prospective study period was of 6 months, starting from July to December-2018. Preoperative and postoperative specular counts and macular thickness using Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) were compared with any incidence of Nocardia endophthalmitis. A total of 500 patients operated for manual SICS were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The first group of 250 patients received antibiotic amikacin added to the Balanced Saline Solution (BSS) irrigating solution throughout the course of the surgery. The second control group received no antibiotics. Manual SICS was performed on all 500 patients by a single surgeon and was found to be uneventful. Pre- and postoperative corneal endothelial cell density and mean macular thickness using OCT were taken and recorded of all the patients, respectively, and data obtained were statistically compared. Results: No incidence of Nocardia endophthalmitis among the cataract surgeries operated was found. There was no drug-related toxicity to the cornea or macula. Furthermore, no incidence of Nocardia endophthalmitis has been reported since 2018 after using antibiotics. Conclusion: A simple routine of adding amikacin in the drip prophylactically during the course of surgery helped us prevent Nocardia endophthalmitis with no side effects. Also, it will be an innovative technique that is economically feasible and effective in regions where Nocardia endophthalmitis is prevalent.

No abstract

Purpose: To compare different endophthalmitis prophylaxis methods adopted in cataract surgery (manual small-incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification) between the years 2013 and 2021 in the community eye care section of a tertiary eye care hospital in South India and report their outcomes. Methods: All cataract surgeries performed from January 2013 to December 2021 (2,46,874 surgeries) at a single center were included in this retrospective study. The different endophthalmitis rates with each regimen were analyzed and evaluated. Results: 70,081 surgeries were performed from January 2013 to February 2015, where Tobramycin was added to Balanced Salt Solution (BSS) (Group A). From March 2015 to January 2017, 63,245 surgeries were performed when intracameral Moxifloxacin was given (Group B). From February 2017 to December 2021, 1,13,548 surgeries were performed were Amikacin was added to BSS (Group C). In total, 42 cases of postoperative endophthalmitis were reported during the study period (0.02%). There was no significant difference in the endophthalmitis rates between groups A and B ( P = 0.4152); however, there was a significant decrease in endophthalmitis rates in group C when compared with group A ( P = 0.04) and group B ( P = 0.006). Conclusion: There was a significant reduction in the rates of endophthalmitis following the addition of amikacin in irrigating BSS. Nocardia was one of the predominant organisms isolated from these endophthalmitis patients. This is the first single-center study to report a comparative analysis of different endophthalmitis prophylactic measures in a community eye care set up with a high incidence of Nocardia endophthalmitis prevented with amikacin in BSS irrigating solution.