Background: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a disease of elevated intracranial pressure without any known cause. Visual dysfunction is the major morbidity of this disease but not much is known about the way the contrast sensitivity (CS) function is affected. Objective: This prospective, interventional study attempted to evaluate the change in central and peripheral contrast sensitivity, after treatment in patients diagnosed with IIH. Materials and methods: Twenty eyes of 10 IIH patients underwent an internet based, Spaeth Richman Contrast Sensitivity (SPARCS) test. Average and quadrant wise SPARCS scores were compared at presentation (treatment naïve), 1-month post treatment and 3 months post treatment. Results: The average SPARCS scores pre-treatment, 1-month post-treatment and at 3 months post treatment were 68.8 + 10.16, 74.45 + 11.17 and 75.7 + 10.81 respectively. At 3 months visit, the average SPARCS score was nearly comparable to the average score in normal Indian subjects, observed in a previous study of ours. Quadrant wise change in contrast sensitivity from first visit to third visit was significant in superonasal (p=0.003), inferonasal (p=0.029) and inferotemporal (p= 0.007) quadrants. Discussion: Effect of IIH on visual system is still a relatively unexplored area, especially in the Indians. Not many studies have concentrated on its impact on central as well as peripheral CS. Previous studies have hinted at a possible role of CS as a better indicator of visual dysfunction than other parameters. Conclusions: IIH affects both central and peripheral contrast sensitivity and therapy results in the improvement of contrast deficit. Poor contrast can possibly be explained by relatively more involvement of Magnocellular pathway over the Parvocellular pathway. Abbreviations: IIH = Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, CS = Contrast Sensitivity, SPARCS = Spaeth Richman Contrast Sensitivity Test, BMI = Body Mass Index, MC = Magnocellular pathway, PC = Parvocellular pathway

As the understanding of COVID-19 infection becomes better, it is being recognized as a complex multisystem pathology rather than just affecting the lungs. Several ocular findings have been documented by researchers in individuals infected with COVID-19, and ocular symptoms may even be the first presenting feature of COVID-19 infection in 2.26% individuals. Several countries have started vaccination with inactivated or live vaccines to combat this pandemic, and varied side effects have been reported after vaccination. Few cases of herpes zoster have previously been reported in elderly patients with comorbidities after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. In this article, the authors described 2 interesting cases of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) after receiving a live COVID-19 vaccine. The first case was a 35-year-old immunocompetent man who developed HZO 3 days postvaccine. The second case was a 40year-old immunocompetent man who developed HZO 28 days postvaccine. To the best of our knowledge, no literature to date has described HZO after live vaccine.

Background: Deterioration in peripheral contrast sensitivity (CS) can be an indicator to detect progressive deterioration of visual function in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in central and peripheral CS and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters and in patients with IIH. Design and Methods: In this pilot observational study, data of 20 eyes of 10 ‘treatment-naïve’ IIH patients were analyzed. Detailed ocular examination was performed including CS assessment using both Pelli–Robson (PR) test and Spaeth–Richman Contrast Sensitivity Test (SPARCS) along with the OCT for macular and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters. A comparative analysis was done for CS and OCT parameters from baseline to a follow-up visit > 12 months (range: 18–24 months). Results: The study population had a female preponderance (80%, n = 8), and mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 ± 10.3 years. Mean follow-up period was 21.2 months (range: 15–24 months). At presentation, 6/6 visual acuity was noted in 75% eyes ( n = 15) while all eyes had 6/6 vision at the last follow-up. Average PR score increased from 1.96 ± 0.36 to 2.30 at the last visit (Wilcoxon test: V = 0.0, p ⩽ 0.001) while average SPARCS score (total) increased from 71.85 ± 9.10 to 77.55 ± 6.20 (Paired t-test: t = −2.3, p = 0.035). Change in SPARCS score was significant in average total score ( p = 0.035), and quadrant-wise score in superonasal ( p = 0.014), inferonasal ( p = 0.001), and inferotemporal ( p = 0.021) quadrants. Same trend in SPARCS scores was observed when eyes with and without recurrence were analyzed. Statistically significant difference in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness ( p = 0.007) and macular thickness (MT) in nasal quadrant ( p = 0.006) was seen between the eyes with recurrence and without recurrence. Conclusion: Peripheral CS showed significant difference in all eyes over time. It showed significant change in eyes with recurrence, even in the presence of intact visual acuity and preserved central CS. Changes in RNFL thickness and nasal MT could differentiate eyes which developed recurrence from normal eyes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changing trends in terms of patient load, presenting complaints, surgical procedures and resource utilization in a multispeciality tertiary care hospital after lockdown due to COVID-19. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from Ophthalmology in-patient and emergency services of a government medical college and multispecialty tertiary care hospital in North India. Data pertaining to patient census, presenting complaints, surgical procedures and resource consumption were compared in the 6-month period (March 25 to September 30, 2020) following national lockdown and subsequent gradual unlock to data of same time period last year. Results: A total of 1152 new patients visited Ophthalmology emergency service, whereas 324 sought tele-ophthalmology consultation. Majority were males (61.8%, n = 712), whereas average age of presentation was 34 ± 7.2 years. The number of patients seeking emergency ophthalmic care reduced by 23.9% in the current year, in-patient record reduced by 96.53% and number of surgeries reduced by 98.13%. Tele-ophthalmology services comprised 21.95% of the total patient load. Use of triple layered surgical masks increased by 85.7%, use of disposable gloves increased by 89.5% but interestingly the availability of chlorhexidine hand rub fell by 15.9%, in the current year compared to last year. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have reduced the number of patients visiting tertiary health care facility for ophthalmic care. As manpower and resource consumption has increased, smart management is needed to tackle the current scenario efficiently. Tele-ophthalmology must be promoted and we must understand the changing trends to plan for the future accordingly.

Purpose: To study the impact of moderate and severe primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) on the quality of life (QoL) due to activity limitation using glaucoma-specific questionnaires. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 122 participants, 50% (n = 61) being controls and 50% were diagnosed cases of moderate/severe POAG. Three orally administered glaucoma-specific QoL instruments were used: Glaucoma Activity Limitation (GAL-9), Glaucoma Quality of Life (GQL-15), and Viswanathan questionnaires. The questions related to activity limitation were identified and analyzed for each questionnaire separately. Results: The mean age of the participants was 61.04 ± 9.88 years and a majority were males (64.8%, n = 79). The mean scores in controls, moderate glaucoma, and severe POAG patients for GAL-9 questionnaire were 9.77 ± 1.36 (P = 0.44), 13.75 ± 4.76 (P < 0.001), and 23.45 ± 5.62 (P < 0.001), for GQL-15, these were 16.39 ± 2.18 (P = 0.5), 22.75 ± 7.89 (P < 0.001), and 39.34 ± 9.42 (P < 0.001), respectively, while for the Viswanathan questionnaire, they were 9.49 ± 0.94 (P = 0.38), 7.91 ± 1.59 (P < 0.001), and 4.41 ± 2.20 (P < 0.001), respectively. The GQL-15 and GAL-9 questionnaires concluded that activity limitation pertaining to dark adaptation-related tasks affected the QoL the most in moderate as well as severe POAG (P < 0.001). Using the Viswanathan questionnaire, it was observed that the peripheral vision-related activity limitation was most significant for the decrease in QoL in moderate POAG while near vision-related activity limitation affected the QoL the most in severe POAG (P < 0.001). Conclusion: All three questionnaires concluded that the activity limitation due to moderate and severe glaucoma has a negative impact on the QoL. The limitation of the tasks involving dark adaptation/glare and peripheral vision has the most significant impact on the QoL in moderate glaucoma. As the disease progresses to a severe category, the limitation of activities requiring central and near vision causes the most significant worsening in QoL.