Background: Corneal ulcer is one of the major causes of monocular blindness in developing countries. Objective:To determine demographic pattern, risk factors, microbiological pattern and treatment outcome of infective keratitis. Materials and methods:A retrospective analysis of hospital records of 44 patients with clinically-diagnosed infective keratitis presenting to B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in the eastern region of Nepal was carried out. Outcome measures:The parameters studied were risk factors and organisms responsible for keratitis. Results:The infective keratitis was mostly prevalent among the males between 21-40 years of age (50%). 79.5 % of them were engaged in agricultural work. A history of corneal injury was found in 30 eyes (68.1%). Vegetative matter was the most common agent of trauma in 17 (56.6%). Culture positivity for microorganisms was observed in 20 (45.5%) samples. Of these, 8 (40%) patients had purely bacterial corneal ulcer. Purely fungal growth was seen in 4 (20%) and mixed in 8 (40%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated bacteria (70%). The other bacteria included Pseudomonas species, E. coli and Acinetobactor. Aspergillus species was the most common fungal organism isolated in 8 (40%) samples. 65.9 % of the patients improved with medical treatment alone. Perforation, endophthalmitis and panophthalmitis were the common complications encountered in 11.3%, 4.5% and 4.5% respectively. Conclusion:Corneal ulcer is prevalent in males, predominantly amongst the farmers. Ocular trauma with vegetative matter is the commonest predisposing factor. Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus species are the most commonly isolated organisms in corneal ulcers.

Rhinosporidiosis is endemic in India and Sri Lanka and parts of East Africa and South America. Cases of ocular rhinosporidiosis have also been reported from Nepal. Ocular rhinosporidiosis usually involves the conjunctiva and the lacrimal sac. It usually presents as a polypoidal mass. Cystic mode of presentation has not yet been reported in the literature. We herein report an unusual mode of presentation of ocular rhinosporidiosis presenting as a huge conjunctival cystic mass.

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A person with low vision has some useful sight. However, low vision usually interferes with the performance of daily activities such as reading or driving. Because low vision cannot be improved by mere traditional methods (i.e., the use of eyeglasses, contact lenses, etc), persons with low vision often rely on the use of a number of different instruments, called low vision devices, and tailored equipment for improved vision. Low vision devices are described in this article. DOI: 10.3126/nepjoph.v2i1.3710 Nep J Oph 2010;2(1) 74-77

Introduction: Modern hospitals are matrix organizations with a high investment in terms of capital, labor, and resources. It is imperative for the hospital administration to provide right material of right quality at the right time. Hospitals that set up in-house laundry operations generally make the decision without thoroughly identifying and accounting for total linen and laundry costs. Now evidence has emerged that hospitals that outsource were seeing improved linen utilization rates. If proper and clean linen is not provided, this can result in patient dissatisfaction. Further, innovations in laundry equipment have led to tremendous increases in efficacy. So, there is a need to ascertain the cost incurred in providing linen and laundry services so as to gauge the plausibility of transitioning to outsourcing-based models. Aims and objectives:To study the cost incurred in providing linen and laundry services at an apex tertiary care hospital and to evaluate outsourcing model based on rental linen management. Materials and methods:A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective, record-based study was conducted during a period of 1 month from March 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016. Observations:The quantity of monthly linen washed in Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre was found to be 22,465 kg. The monthly laundry expenditure in Dr RP Centre was Rs. 1,415,295. The linen procurement expenditure per month at Dr RP Centre was Rs. 419,386. So total expenditure on linen and laundry per month at Dr RP Centre was Rs. 1,834,681. Thus, cost/kg (with inclusion of linen cost) was Rs. 82. Discussion and conclusion:The rate quoted by a leading vendor to supply washed, sterilized linen to the hospital was Rs. 55 per kg. Since the expenditure incurred per kg at Dr RP Centre was Rs. 82, this amounted to a saving of around Rs. 27 per kg. It would mean saving of around Rs. 606,555 per month and Rs. 7,278,660 per annum. So, it was recommended that rental linen management services may be hired for Dr RP Centre after taking care of functional, operational, and strategic contingency.