PurposeTo assess the awareness and knowledge on eye donation among students of Allied Health Sciences (AHS), medical, and nursing.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a standard predesigned and pretested closed-ended structured questionnaire based on eye donation to obtain information about awareness and knowledge from AHS, medical, and nursing students of Goa.ResultsThree hundred and forty participants participated in the study. The majority of the participants [97.9% (95% CI: 95.8–99.2)] were aware of the existence of eye donation. Mass media (62.9%) was the foremost source of information. However, only 145 [42.6% (95% CI: 37.3–48.1)] participants were willing to donate their eyes. AHS, medical, and nursing students stood apart significantly in their awareness and knowledge. Only 60 [17.6% (95% CI: 13.7–22.1)] participants were aware that the whole eye can be removed from the donor while 215 [63.2% (95% CI: 57.9–68.4)] were wrongly aware that the cornea can be removed separately. Awareness about eye donation was not associated with willingness to donate eyes.ConclusionsAlthough awareness regarding eye donation was satisfactory, there was lack of willingness to donate eyes. There is a need to bridge the gap between eye bank and donors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to observe pattern of digital device use and the various ocular, visual and systemic symptoms associated with them during the lockdown period of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-three volunteers were included in web-based open e-survey. The survey was designed on the ‘Survey Monkey’ website and distributed through social media platform. The information was collected regarding hours and numbers of digital devices along with numbers of digital activities carried out during the pandemic. A pretested symptom questionnaire was also included regarding ocular, visual and systemic symptoms before and during lockdown. The statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package of Social Science software. Results: During the pandemic, most of the respondents were engaged in more than two digital activities (73.81%) over more than two digital devices (48.50%) for more than six days (65.66%). Maximum respondents were mobile users (97.85%) spending major time on social media (89.70%). Symptoms including watering eyes ( P = 0.000), dry eyes ( P = 0.000), shoulder pain ( P = 0.020), back pain ( P = 0.003) and headache ( P = 0.043) showed positive correlation with hours of digital device use per day during lockdown, while itching eyes ( P = 0.036) and pain behind eyes ( P = 0.025) were the major symptoms in those engaged in a greater number of digital activities. Moreover, red eyes ( P = 0.040) were more prominent in respondents using multiple devices for a greater number of hours. Conclusion: A big jump in digital activities on multiple digital devices was seen during lockdown which are more prone to ocular symptoms. Acceleration of ocular and systemic symptoms was particular with rise in time spending on digital devices.

Ophthalmia nodosa is a relatively rare condition with subtle findings, which can be missed, causing considerable discomfort to the patient if the hairs are not removed.

Purpose: To objectively and subjectively evaluate eye drop technique and assess communicated instructions, and reported problems with eye drop instillation among tertiary care sample eye drop users. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out among patients attending our outpatient clinic from June to September 2020. Eligible participants obtained through convenient sampling were assessed for their eye drop instillation performance. The objective evaluation was made using observation of a demonstration and subjective assessment through responses to an interview. Patient inclusion criteria were being aged ≥18 years and using eye drops for ≥ one month; excluded if having a disability in communication or physical barriers in using eye drops. The patient reported difficulties and previous education about the instillation were also obtained. Results: Participants ( n = 84) had a mean age of 50.3 ± 14.0 years. During the demonstration, almost everyone (86.9%) successfully instilled at least one drop in the eye. None of the participants exhibited a perfect drop technique. The most common deviations were failing to close the eye (60.7%), touching the bottle to the eye or eyelid (36.9% of patients), and multiple blinks after drop instillation without nasolacrimal occlusion (25.0%). Forty percent of patients reported ≥1 problem and only a small sample recalled having had education in the eye drop instillation technique. Conclusion: Most participants failed to properly execute the eye drop technique. A proactive role of the prescribing practitioner to assess a patient’s ability to instill eye drops correctly could be helpful.