Introduction. Fungal keratitis is a severe condition which may lead to blindness. Fungal keratitis, also known mycotic keratitis or keratomycosis, has worldwide distribution, but is more common in tropical climates compared to moderate zones. In recent years, there have been several studies suggesting an increase in the number of mycotic keratitis cases in countries with a moderate climate. There is little data available with no literature review concerning fungal keratitis in European countries. Objective. To analyse the causes, presentation, and clinico-pathological associations of fungal keratitis in a retrospective series of patients referred to the Department of Ophthalmology of the Railway Hospital in Katowice, southwest Poland, and comparing the findings to previously published studies in peer reviewed articles from other European countries published between 2000-2019. Materials and method. Data were collected using the medical records of patients with fungal keratitis. Risk factors, clinical manifestation and treatment results were analysed from 45 patients (45 eyes) with fungal keratitis treated in the Department of Ophthalmology of Railway Hospital in Katowice between January 2013-December 2017. The factors affecting the development of infection, visual acuity at baseline and at the end of treatment, as well as treatment method selection, were analysed. Literature review was performed using the Medline, Pubmed, Embase databases and Google scholar. The inclusion criteria were peer reviewed papers published between 2000-2019 which reported data from patients with fungal keratitis in at least one European country. 11 peer reviewed articles which matched the inclusion criteria were analysed. Results. The mean BCVA of patients treated in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Railway Hospital in Katowice upon diagnosis was 2.3 (logMAR), compared to 1.95 (logMAR) at the end of treatment. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to establish the final mean BCVA in eyes with keratitis caused by Candida spp. compared with keratitis caused by Filamentous spp. The reviewed articles showed poor results of treatment and diagnostic difficulties in fungal keratitis. Conclusions. Fungal keratitis is a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and may occur in rural and urban areas. Early and accurate diagnosis followed by proper antifungal treatment can prevent blindness and improve BCVA results.
Gnathotrichus materiarius (Fitch, 1858) is an alien species in the European fauna. In Poland, this species has not been recorded thus far, although it was assumed that it may be present. This paper presents the fi rst site of G. materiarius in Poland. A single individual of the beetle was captured during monitoring activities of the Double-spined bark beetle -Ips duplicatus (Sahlb.) in the pheromone traps with ID Ecolure pheromone in the Kamienna Góra Forest District, Krzeszów forest circle. Selected aspects of this species' ecology in the European conditions were discussed: capturing of Double-spined bark beetles in pheromone traps intended for various coniferous tree bark beetles, species' low count, possibility of the presence of two generations in one season and vertical distribution at various heights above sea level.
Purpose Extended depth of focus intraocular (EDOF) IOLs form a bridge between single- and multifocal IOL design. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes obtained after implanting two different optical designs of EDOF IOLs: the Mini Well Ready (SIFI Medtech, Catania, Italy) and Tecnis Symfony (Abbott Laboratories, Illinois, USA). Methods The retrospective observational study included 61 patients (122 eyes) who underwent bilateral implantation of the Mini Well Ready IOL (32 patients) or the Tecnis Symfony IOL (29 patients). The following preoperative and postoperative parameters were evaluated: spherical equivalent, anterior astigmatism, pupil size, monocular and binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), monocular and binocular uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA), monocular and binocular uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) and distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA). In the 6 months postoperative period, defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, photopic phenomena, and posterior capsule opacification were assessed. Results The patients receiving the Tecnis Symfony had slightly better monocular and binocular UDVA and CDVA than with the Mini Well Ready IOL, the differences were not statistically significant. Whereas the UIVA, DCIVA, UNVA, DCNVA, UNVA and DCNVA values were higher in the Mini Well Ready group, the differences were not significant. There were no significant between-group differences regarding the defocus curve for the vast majority of tested vergences. Dysphotopsias postoperatively were assessed at 6 months. Conclusion Patients receiving both the Mini Well Ready and Symfony IOLs had excellent visual acuity outcomes and spectacle independence.
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology, which may affect every organ. Ocular manifestation of sarcoidosis may be diagnosed in as many as 70% of patients. The objective of this work was to describe the ophthalmological and neuro-ophthalmological symptoms, which may occur in this disease, with a detailed division into eye structures. For this purpose, a search was conducted in the Pubmed, MEDline and Google Scholar databases to find the appropriate articles, which described investigation of sarcoidosis, ocular symptoms rate in sarcoidosis and were written in English. According to the literature the most frequent ocular manifestation of sarcoidosis is granulomatous anterior uveitis. Only early diagnosis and proper treatment may protect patients from late complications, leading to permanent damage to eyesight and complications in other organs.
devices complain of unfavourable symptoms associated with the eyes [2-4]. In 1994 the American Academy of Ophthalmology used the definition of computer vision syndrome (CVS) to describe ocular and extraocular manifestations associated with near-vision work, which are experienced during work on the computer or other electronic devices, such as tablets or smartphones [5]. It was noted that computer users complained of such signs and symptoms as eye redness, irritation, burning, ocular pain, sensation of having sand under eyelids. Some patients experienced double or blurred vision, or even a subjective feeling of visual deterioration [6]. In Poland, due to the increasing access to computers CVS is a growing social problem. According to data obtained in 2020 the average time spent by Polish computer users in front of a screen was 6 h 26 min (the data were retrieved from Digital 2020 report published
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