BACKGROUND The blindness due to corneal aetiology accounts for 0.9% of blindness in India. Corneal transplantation is the major treatment option for them. The lower rate of eye donation is the major obstacle to this procedure. Twenty-two thousand eyes are collected every year in India, which only serve half the requirement of corneal transplantations. Medical students who are future medical practitioners can be a good motivator for this eye donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS To assess the awareness of eye donation among medical students, we did a cross-sectional study enrolling 112 fourth year MBBS students on the occasion of eye donation fortnight in the year 2015. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was given to each student to conduct the study. RESULTS All the students knew that eyes can be donated after death, but only 68.7% knew that the ideal time of donation was within 6 hours of death. Most students (88.4%) were willing to donate eyes. Eye donation can give vision to the blind was the motivational force for eye donation according to most of the students. Lack of awareness (87.5%) and objection by family members (61.6%) were the main perceived reason by the students for not pledging the eyes for donation. Television, newspapers, magazines and posters were found to be the important sources of information about eye donation. CONCLUSION The study revealed that though the majority of medical students were aware of eye donation practices, still there is lack of knowledge among students, which need to be considered. As the medical students are one of the knowledge group of community, their perception regarding non-donation of eyes by the people can be considered, while creating awareness about eye donation.

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Purpose: Congenital ocular anomalies are rare but important cause of childhood blindness. This study aimed to observe the clinical patterns of congenital ocular anomalies in the pediatric age group (0 to 5 years) and its association with various demographic parameters. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study done on all pediatric patients in the 0-to-5-year age group presenting with congenital ocular anomalies to the Ophthalmology department of a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India between October 2018 and October 2020. Thorough clinical history was obtained, and comprehensive ocular examination was done in each case. Results: A total of 5686 patients in the 0 to 5 years age group attended the eye OPD during the study period. Congenital ocular anomalies were seen in 140 patients. The prevalence of ocular anomalies was 2.46%. Average age of patients was 3.32 ± 1.42 years. There were 74 (52.9%) males and 66 (47.1%) females. Unilateral and bilateral involvement was seen in 100 (71.45%) and 40 (28.6%) cases, respectively. Antenatal period was uneventful in 92.14% cases. Decreased vision was the most common presentation (40%). Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction was the most common anomaly seen in 29 (20.71%) cases followed by congenital cataract in 21 (15%) cases. Conclusion: Few of the congenital ocular anomalies can be prevented by increasing community awareness. Findings of the study can act as a reference guide for clinicians and health professionals for counseling and health planning.

BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) also known as atopic eczema, is an allergic condition with hereditary predisposition. It mostly presents with intensely itchy skin, raised, splotchy lesions anywhere throughout the body. AD is most commonly seen in younger age group, the severity increases with increasing age. It is a chronic allergic condition, having both dermatologic as well as ocular manifestations. Ocular manifestations and its complications of AD are proven to be potentially morbid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequencies, prevalence and pattern of ocular manifestations in patients with Atopic Dermatitis in our Tertiary eye care center in Western Odisha, so that early diagnosis and treatment of symptoms can be effectively done to prevent complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS A Hospital based observational study of Ocular manifestations in 80 cases of Atopic Dermatitis was done over 12 months. To study the frequency of ocular symptoms and its complications, a study group comprising of 49 males and 31 females were examined thoroughly. Associated ocular signs, anterior segment of eye and fundus were examined. RESULTS Atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) having the maximum contribution (38.8%) followed by severe blepharoconjunctivitis (20.3%) was found in our study. Lid involvement appeared as thickening, scaling and Dennie Morgan folds, while conjunctival changes were seen in form of severe follicular and moderate to severe papillary reactions with limbal thickening. Cobblestone appearance of papillae were typically found along with papillary hypertrophy. The ocular abnormalities were mostly found in the age group of 0-10 years with an average duration of suffering from AD of >1 year. The ocular manifestations in our case group were not significantly associated with visual impairment or any serious morbidity.