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Background Health needs and access to health care is a huge challenge in developing countries, especially in some isolated indigenous communities. Amantani is an island located at 3854 m above sea level in Lake Titicaca, Peru. There is no official date on key local health needs and determinants, which precludes the prioritization and efficient implementation of health interventions. The objective of this study is to validate a health need assessment tool and ascertain the main health needs of the indigenous high-altitude population living on Amantani. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to describe the health needs of the indigenous population of Amantani using a questionnaire based on the “Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey”. The questionnaire underwent expert and field-work validation. We selected a random sample of the island residents using two-stage cluster sampling. We estimated the prevalence of key health needs and determinants, and evaluated their distribution by age, sex and education through prevalence ratio. All analyses accounted for the complex sampling design. Results We surveyed 337 individuals (223 adults and 144 children) in 151 houses. The most frequent health needs were: (i) lack of access to medical screening for a)non-communicable diseases (> 63.0%) and b)eye problems (76.5%); and (ii) poor knowledge about communicable diseases (> 54.3%), cancer (71.4%) and contraception (> 32.9%). Smoking and alcohol use was more frequent in males (PR = 4.70 IC95%:1.41–15.63 and PR = 1.69 95% CI:1.27–2.25, respectively). People with higher education had more knowledge about TB/HIV and cancer prevention ( p < 0.05). Regarding children’s health, > 38% have never undergone eye or dental examination. Corporal punishment and physical bullying at school in the last month were relatively common (23 and 33%, respectively). Conclusion The main health needs in Amantani are related to poor healthcare access and lack of awareness of disease prevention. Our findings can be used to develop and implement efficient health interventions to improve the health and quality of life of indigenous populations living in the islands in Southern Peru/Northern Bolivia. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12939-019-0993-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Purpose: To present successful management of bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) by using an allogeneic limbal epithelial stem cell transplantation together with solid activated platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Methods: A 59-year-old man with a history of bilateral LSCD due to penicillin-induced Stevens–Johnson Syndrome suffered from a lime corneal burn in his right eye, leading to a total LSCD with severely reduced visual acuity. After stabilizing the ocular surface, we performed an allogeneic limbal epithelial transplantation from a cadaveric donor using an autologous clot of PRP to cover the limbal grafts to nourish the ocular surface microenvironment. Results: At the first week after the procedure, the corneal epithelium had fully reepithelized. At month 3, visual acuity improved from hand motion to 20/70. Conclusions: In this case, this new modified procedure was a promising, easy-to-perform, apparently safe, and effective treatment option to enhanced epithelial wound healing in ocular surface diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the incorporation of solid PRP in limbal transplantation procedures.

Purpose: To describe a modified ab interno technique for the tube implantation from a glaucoma draining device into the ciliary sulcus. Materials and methods: The modified ab interno technique was performed on four eyes of four patients. Results: After the plate was fixed, a 21G needle is inserted through a paracentesis 180° away from the tube position into the anterior chamber and advanced to the posterior chamber through the sclera; finally, the needle exits the eye, then the tube is inserted into the lumen of the needle. The tube is then inserted simultaneously as the 21G needle is pulled out so the tube is placed on the ciliary sulcus. Conclusions: We report a simple and novel technique for the tube implantation from a glaucoma draining device into the ciliary sulcus, in which the tube is guided with a 21G needle from an accessory paracentesis in order to achieve a posterior placement of the tube.

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