Purpose:The aim was to determine the extent of daily disposable contact lens prescribing worldwide and to characterise the associated demographics and fitting patterns. Methods: Up to 1,000 survey forms were sent to contact lens fitters in up to 40 countries between January and March every year for five consecutive years (2007 to 2011). Practitioners were asked to record data relating to the first 10 contact lens fits or refits performed after receiving the survey form. Survey data collected since 1996 were also analysed for seven nations to assess daily disposable lens fitting trends since that time. Results: Data were collected in relation to 97,289 soft lens fits, of which 23,445 (24.1 per cent) were with daily disposable lenses and 73,170 (75.9 per cent) were with reusable lenses. Daily disposable lens prescribing ranged from 0.6 per cent of all soft lenses in Nepal to 66.2 per cent in Qatar. Compared with reusable lens fittings, daily disposable lens fittings can be characterised as follows: older age (30.0 Ϯ 12.5 versus 29.3 Ϯ 12.3 years for reusable lenses); males are over-represented; a greater proportion of new fits versus refits; 85.9 per cent hydrogel; lower proportion of toric and presbyopia designs and a higher proportion of part-time wear. There has been a continuous increase in daily disposable lens prescribing between 1996 and 2011. The proportion of daily disposable lens fits (as a function of all soft lens fits) is positively related to the gross domestic product at purchasing power parity per capita (r 2 = 0.55, F = 46.8, p < 0.0001). Conclusions:The greater convenience and other benefits of daily disposable lenses have resulted in this modality capturing significant market share. The contact lens field appears to be heading toward a true single-use-only, disposable lens market.

BackgroundThe WHO seeks to control trachoma as a public health problem in endemic areas. Achham District in western Nepal was found to have TF (trachoma follicular) above 20% in a 2006 government survey, triggering 3 annual mass drug administrations finishing in 2010. Here we assess the level of control that has been achieved using surveillance for clinical disease, ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection, and serology for antibodies against chlamydia trachomatis protein antigens.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of children aged 1–9 years in communities in Achham District in early 2014 including clinical examination validated with photographs, conjunctival samples for Chlamydia trachomatis (Amplicor PCR), and serological testing for antibodies against chlamydia trachomatis protein antigens pgp3 and CT694 using the Luminex platform.FindingsIn 24 randomly selected communities, the prevalence of trachoma (TF and/or TI) in 1–9 year olds was 3/1124 (0.3%, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.8%), and the prevalence of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection was 0/1124 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 0.3%). In 18 communities selected because they had the highest prevalence of trachoma in a previous survey, the prevalence of TF and/or TI was 7/716 (1.0%, 95% CI 0.4 to 2.0%) and the prevalence of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection was 0/716 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 0.5%). In 3 communities selected for serological testing, the prevalence of trachoma was 0/68 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 5.3%), the prevalence of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection was 0/68 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 0.5%), the prevalence of antibodies against chlamydia trachomatis protein antigen pgp3 was 1/68 (1.5%, 95% CI 0.04% to 7.9%), and the prevalence of antibodies against chlamydia trachomatis protein antigen CT694 was 0/68 (0%, 95% CI 0 to 5.3%).Conclusion/SignificanceThis previously highly endemic district in Nepal has little evidence of recent clinical disease, chlamydia trachomatis infection, or serological evidence of trachoma, suggesting that epidemiological control has been achieved.

Purpose: To study whether manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) in a high-volume setting gives acceptable postoperative visual outcomes. Settings: Geta Eye Hospital, Kailali, Nepal. Design: Single-center retrospective study. Methods: One-year records of all MSICS in adult patients without any other ocular comorbidity were analyzed retrospectively. Surgical outcomes of cataract cases when surgeons performed more than 72 surgeries (high volume) in a single operating session (1 day) were compared with when fewer than 30 surgeries (low volume) were performed in a single operating session (1 day). Results: Of 23 717 cases in the study, 20 574 patients (87%) had preoperative visual acuity of less than 3/60; 15 632 patients (66%) achieved good visual outcome (uncorrected distance visual acuity of 6/18 or better) postoperatively. Patients operated during high-volume months achieved good visual outcomes in 9930 cases (66.9%) as compared with 5702 (64.3%) in low-volume months. However, 6235 patients (61.7%) operated on during high-volume days had good visual outcomes as compared with 3053 (71.4%) during low-volume days; 175 patients in the high-volume group and 73 patients in the low-volume group (1.7% each) achieved visual acuity worse than 3/60. There were comparable posterior capsular rupture rates (423 [1.78%]) during high- and low-volume months, and 21 cases (0.09%) of postoperative endophthalmitis were noted. Conclusions: MSICS can be used to reduce large cataract backlogs in developing countries as good visual outcomes could be achieved in high-volume settings if standard protocols for quality control are followed.

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