Background: Refractive errors are the commonest cause of visual impairment in school children worldwide. They can be easily corrected by a pair of spectacles, only when they are used regularly. The purpose of present study is to document the actual rate of spectacle wear at the time of examination, assess principle determinants of spectacle wear and reasons for non-compliance among different demographic groups.Methods: 200 school children in the age group of 6-15 years with refractive errors were selected. The schools were visited without prior intimation to the students 3 months after the initial examination. Reasons for spectacle wear non-compliance were enquired.Results: 78 (39.0%) children out of 200 were compliant to spectacle wear, while 122 (61.0%) were non-compliant to spectacle wear. Main reason for not wearing spectacles was ‘teased about the appearance with spectacles’.Conclusions: School teachers should explain the risk of non-wearing of spectacles and benefits of spectacle wearing to both children and their parents. Most of the children were not compliant because they were teased about, did not like, or were not comfortable in their spectacles- all societal issues that could and should be addressed.

To compare the efficacy and safety of sutureless glue-free versus suture technique for autogenous conjunctivolimbal grafting in primary pterygium excision. A prospective observational study was conducted in thirty consecutive patients of primary progressive pterygium after taking their informed written consent and ethical clearance in a tertiary eye care centre of Northern India. Patients were randomly divided equally into group “A” and “B” each constituting fifteen patients. Group A patients underwent suture technique and group “B” patients underwent sutureless technique for conjunctivolimbal graft placement. Comparison of both groups was done in terms of intraoperative time, postoperative symptoms and recurrence over a period of one year. Data was compiled and entered into Microsoft Excel software and SPSS version 21.0 was used for data analysis.The mean duration of surgery was 42 min and 30 min in group A and B respectively and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0.0001). On 1 postoperative day, pain and foreign‐body sensation was present in 12 patients in group A, while only 1 patient of group B had these symptoms and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00014). Postoperative hyperaemia was seen in 8 patients of group A and 6 patients of group B which was statistically insignificant (p = 0.564). Only two patients in group A had conjunctival chemosis while no patients in group B developed chemosis, and the difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.964). Subconjunctival haemorrhage was seen in 2 patients of Group A and 1 patient of Group B which resolved over a period of 2-3 weeks. Conjunctivolimbal graft was found to be more stable in group A while it was misplaced in 1 patient of group B and the difference was statistically insignificant (p = 1.000). Only 1 patient of group A developed suture related complication i.e suture granuloma. Over a period of 1 year follow up, only 1 patient of group A had recurrence of pterygium.Sutureless glue-free technique is a time saving, cost effective and better surgical modality in comparison to conventional suture technique for autogenous conjunctivolimbal grafting in primary pterygium resection.

This review article highlights the newer diagnostic modalities and approaches in the medical management of infectious keratitis. A Medline literature search conducted to March 2014 has been included. Recent studies or publications were selected from international indexed journals using suitable key words. Development of specular microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has a promising role as diagnostic modalities in infectious keratitis, especially in refractory cases. Previously fortified antibiotics have been the mainstay of treatment for bacterial keratitis. Recently, the advent of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones monotherapy has shown promising results in the management of bacterial keratitis. Corneal collagen cross-linking is being considered in the refractory cases. Topical natamycin and amphotericin B should be considered as the first choice anti-fungal agents in suspected filamentous or yeast infection respectively. Voriconazole and newer routes of administration such as intrastromal and intracameral injection of conventional anti-fungal agents have demonstrated a positive clinical response. Ganciclovir is a newer anti-viral agent with promising results in herpes simplex keratitis. Thus, introduction of newer diagnostic modalities and collagen cross-linking along with fourth-generation fluoroquinolones and newer azoles have a promising role in the management of infectious keratitis.

Background: An even and smooth ocular surface is vital for the functioning and comfort of the eyes. Dry eye is a group of disorders of the tear film which is due to either decreased production or increased evaporation and is associated with symptoms of ocular discomfort. Smoking and drugs have been suggested as risk factors in various studies. Cyclosporine has been shown to reduce the cell-mediated inflammatory reactions associated with the inflammatory ocular surface disease.Methods: 50 eyes of 25 patients suffering from dry-eye syndrome were included in this study. Three major ocular symptoms of dry eye i.e., ocular pain, burning, and foreign body sensation were studied in this study. Each symptom was given a score from 0 to 1 so that the ocular symptoms were given a score from 0 to 3.Results: There was a significant reduction in ocular symptoms score (OSS) 2.25 before treatment to 0.6 after 3 months of treatment (p=0.01). In addition, the Schirmer's paper test scores improved from 1.23 mm to 5.91 mm, which is significantly different (p=0.001). The tear film breakup time also improved from 5.49s to 9.86s.Conclusions: Cyclosporine 0.05% has been established to be effective and safe in our study.

Purpose: To analyse demographic data, clinical presentation, intervention and management of Post COVID 19 Rhino- orbito-cerebral- mucormycosis (ROCM) thus improving the knowledge about the disease to provide timely and optimal care for favorable outcome. Method: A retrospective interventional study was conducted on 254 patients admitted in Mucor ward over a duration of 2 months (1st May 2021- 30th June 2021). Demographic data, detailed history, clinical parameters, diagnostic procedures, management and outcome were noted. Factors affecting outcome and mortality were analysed. Results: Mean age of presentation was 50.14 ±13.38 years with male preponderance (64.56%). 55.91% patients presented with ROCM symptoms within 14 days of onset of COVID -19 symptoms. 86% patients were diabetics, 76% had history of corticosteroid use and 27.55% received oxygen therapy. 40 % patients presented with orbital edema as primary symptom. Imaging revealed 28.34% patients had disease limited to the paranasal sinuses (PNS), 56.69% had orbit and PNS involvement and 12.99% had PNS, orbit and CNS involvement. All the patients were treated with Liposomal Amphotericin B and sinus debridement. Eighteen eyes underwent (7.08%) exenteration and 82 patients received Transcutaneous retrobulbar Amphotericin-B. At the time of discharge the final outcome of being alive and having stable disease was found to be significant in stage 2 patients with involvement of PNS and orbit. Conclusion: Awareness of red flag symptoms and signs, high index of clinical suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and early initiation of treatment with Amphotericin B, aggressive surgical debridement of the PNS, and orbital exenteration, where indicated, are essential for successful outcome.