Aim To determine the validity of laser photocoagulation as a prophylactic treatment in the prevention of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in a group of paediatric patients presenting with chorioretinal coloboma. Methods Observational case series of consecutive patients aged 0-15 years with chorioretinal coloboma seen in a tertiary eye hospital were reviewed. Data were analysed with SPSS version 16, a P-value of o0.05 was considered significant. Results One hundred and ninety-eight patients (335 eyes) were identified. The prevalence of retinal detachment and ocular anomalies was 17.6 and 87.2%, respectively. Ocular anomalies included iris coloboma (71%), microcornea (45.1%), nystagmus (41.5%), strabismus (21.2%), and microphthalmos (19.1%). The prevalence of retinal detachment was 2.9% in those eyes that received prophylactic laser photocoagulation, whereas the risk of retinal detachment was 24.1% in eyes left untreated. Post-operative complications following retinal detachment surgery occurred in 86.7% eyes; the most frequent being recurrent retinal detachment (53.8%). The mean duration of follow-up was 1.59 ± 0.21 years (0-7 years) and 0.79 ± 0.16 years (0-8 years) in the group that had laser and in those that were treatment naive, respectively. Conclusions Prophylactic laser treatment appears to have a protective effect for the prevention of RRD in eyes with chorioretinal coloboma. Measures towards prophylactic therapy should be instituted to reduce the risk of retinal detachment in choroid colobomatous eyes due to the problems in the management of these retinal detachments.

Thyroidectomy is a safe surgery with minimal risk of complications. Grouping and cross-matching of blood in elective thyroidectomy is not an essential pre-operative preparation for all patients just as antibiotic therapy/prophylaxis made no difference in patient outcome. Simple multinodular goiter is the commonest histological diagnosis.

ObjectivesRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria.DesignDescriptive case study.SettingNeonatal intensive care units in Nigeria.ParticipantsStaff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria).Methods and analysisA WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was used to collect service data from WhatsApp group members for 2017–2018 and to assess challenges in service provision.ResultsIn 2017 only six of the 84 public neonatal units in Nigeria provided ROP services; this number had increased to 20 by 2018. Of the 723 babies screened in 10 units over a year, 127 (17.6%) developed any ROP; and 29 (22.8%) developed type 1 ROP. Only 13 (44.8%) babies were treated, most by intravitreal bevacizumab. The screening criteria were revised in 2020. Challenges included lack of equipment to regulate oxygen and to document and treat ROP, and lack of data systems.ConclusionROP screening coverage and quality improved after national and international collaborative efforts. To scale up and improve services, equipment for neonatal care and ROP treatment is urgently needed, as well as systems to monitor data. Ongoing advocacy is also essential.

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Background:Orbital cellulitis refers to the inflammation or infection of the soft tissues of the orbit located behind the orbital septum.Aim:To determine the current trends in the outcomes following the management of orbital cellulitis in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.Patients and Methods:A retrospective review of medical records of patients with orbital cellulitis from January 2008 to December 2014 was conducted. The age, sex, duration of symptoms, predisposing factors, clinical findings, laboratory/radiological investigations, treatment provided, complications, and follow-up were recorded. Results were analyzed with SPSS Version 21 program.Results:Forty-two patients were seen made of 17 (40.5%) males and 25 (59.5%) females with a mean age of 18.2 ± 18.7 years of which children <16 years constituted 24 (57.1%) of cases. Orbital cellulitis was a unilateral occurrence in 38 (90.5%) patients. Trauma and sinusitis were the common predisposing causes in 20 (47.6%) and 6 (14.3%) patients, respectively. The most common complaint was eye swelling 36 (52.9%). Most patients had visual acuities of >6/18 at presentation, 38 (82.6%) and at discharge, 39 (84.8%). The mean duration of presenting complaints was 15.5 ± 31.6 days. Patients who presented early were less likely to develop complications, P = 0.003. The most common complication was exposure keratopathy in 8 (44.4%) eyes. The only surgical intervention performed was incision and drainage of abscess in 3 (7.1%) eyes. No patient came for follow-up.Conclusion:Prompt institution of effective antibiotics and management of complications that may arise improves prognosis of orbital cellulitis.