Thomas Kuriakose

Intracameral amphotericin B injection in the management of deep keratomycosis

Purpose. To report the use of intracameral amphotericin B in the management of deep keratomycosis. Methods. Four patients with deep keratomycosis unresponsive to conventional medical treatment underwent repeated intracameral injections of 5 &mgr;g amphotericin B in 0.1 mL 5% dextrose through a paracentesis. Three to 13 intracameral injections were given to each patient over 6 to 36 days. Results. Three of the four patients had complete resolution of the ulcer. The fourth patient perforated and required evisceration. Conclusion. Preliminary experience suggests that intracameral injections of amphotericin B may have a role in the management of deep keratomycosis.

Amplitude of Accommodation and its Relation to Refractive Errors

AIMS To evaluate the relationship between amplitude of accommodation and refractive errors in the peri-presbyopic age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three hundred and sixteen right eyes of 316 consecutive patients in the age group 35-50 years who attended our outpatient clinic were studied. Emmetropes, hypermetropes and myopes with best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6 J1 in both eyes were included. The amplitude of accommodation (AA) was calculated by measuring the near point of accommodation (NPA). In patients with more than +/- 2 diopter sphere correction for distance, the NPA was also measured using appropriate soft contact lenses. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in AA between myopes and hypermetropes (P < 0.005) and between myopes and emmetropes (P < 0.005) in the 35-39 year age group. In the 40-44 year age group, there was a significant difference in AA between emmetropes and hypermetropes (P < 0.0001), emmetropes and myopes (P < 0.01) and hypermetropes and myopes (P < 0.0001). In patients above 45 years of age there was no significant difference (P > 0.5). CONCLUSION Our study showed higher amplitude of accommodation among myopes between 35 and 44 years compared to emmetropes and hypermetropes.

Optical coherence tomography in a patient with chloroquine-induced maculopathy.

We herein report the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in a case of chloroquine-induced macular toxicity, which to our knowledge, has so far not been reported. A 53- year-old lady on chloroquine for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis developed decrease in vision 36 months after initiation of the treatment. Clinical examination revealed evidence of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) disturbances. Humphrey field analyzer (HFA), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and OCT for retinal thickness and volume measurements at the parafoveal region were done. The HFA revealed bilateral superior paracentral scotomas, FFA demonstrated RPE loss and OCT revealed anatomical evidence of loss of ganglion cell layers, causing marked thinning of the macula and parafoveal region. Parafoveal retinal thickness and volume measurements may be early evidence of chloroquine toxicity, and OCT measurements as a part of chloroquine toxicity screening may be useful in early detection of chloroquine maculopathy.

Dimensions of the foveal avascular zone using the Heidelberg retinal angiogram-2 in normal eyes.

Purpose: The purpose was to study the dimensions of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) using Heidelberg Retinal Angiogram-2 (HRA-2; Heidelberg Engineering GmBH, Dossenheim, Germany). Materials and Methods: An observational study of the FAZ area and circumference was done with fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) using HRA-2 in 31 normal individuals. The FAZ was studied using both contrast-adjusted and nonadjusted methods. Contrast adjustment was done to obtain better visualization of the finer capillaries around the fovea enabling more precise measurements of the FAZ in normal eyes. Results: The mean area of the FAZ calculated by the contrast-adjusted method was 0.2753 mm2 (±0.074) and the mean circumference was 2.22 mm (±0.048). By the conventional method, the area and circumference of the FAZ were 0.6241 mm2 (±0.177) and 3.23 mm (±0.454), respectively. Conclusion: The measurements of area and circumference of FAZ using contrast-adjusted methods were significantly smaller than the conventional method.

Orbito-sinal foreign body.

Perforating injuries of the orbit involving the paranasal sinuses are uncommon. We report a case in which a large wooden foreign body lodged in the posterior orbit and maxillary sinus was surgically removed by a combined approach by ophthalmologists and ear, nose and throat surgeons.

Correlation between ocular parameters and amplitude of accommodation

Aim: To study the relationship between ocular parameters and amplitude of accommodation (AA) in the peri-presbyopic age group (35–50 years). Materials and Methods: Three hundred and sixteen right eyes of consecutive patients in the age group 35–50 years, who attended our outpatient clinic, were studied. Emmetropes, hypermetropes and myopes with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20, J1 in both eyes were included. The AA was calculated by measuring the near point of accommodation. The axial length (AL), central anterior chamber depth (CACD) and lens thickness (LT) were also measured. Results: There was moderate correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = 0.56) between AL and AA as well as between CACD and AA (r = 0.53) in myopes in the age group 35–39 years. In the other age groups and the groups taken as a whole, there was no correlation. In hypermetropes and emmetropes, there was no correlation between AA and the above ocular parameters. No significant correlation existed between LT and AA across different age groups and refractive errors. Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between AA and ocular parameters like anterior chamber depth, AL and LT.

Bilateral choroidal metastasis from carcinoma of the submandibular gland.

Metastatic tumor is the most common uveal malignancy. However, choroidal metastasis from a salivary gland neoplasm is extremely rare. We report a case of bilateral, multifocal choroidal metastasis from carcinoma of the submandibular gland.

Tenons Patch Graft in the Management of Large Corneal Perforations.

Purpose: To describe a technique to manage corneal perforations between 3 and 6 mm in size using autologous Tenons tissue with cyanoacrylate glue and a bandage contact lens. Methods: A thin layer of Tenons capsule harvested from the patients own eye is used to seal the perforation and act as a scaffold. The Tenons patch graft is spread over the perforation and held in place by the application of cyanoacrylate glue. A bandage contact lens is then placed on the eye. Results: A 6-year retrospective review of 28 patients who underwent this procedure was performed. One patient was lost to follow-up. Of the 27 patients who were followed up, 20 healed completely, with an adherent leucoma and preservation of the anterior chamber. The condition of one patient (with a perforated Pseudomonas corneal ulcer) progressively worsened despite maximum medical therapy and had to undergo evisceration. Conclusions: This procedure makes use of easily available autologous Tenons tissue in patients with corneal perforations too large to be managed with cyanoacrylate glue alone, to preserve eyeball morphology. A corneal transplant can then be done when the cornea has healed.

Pars-plana fluid aspiration for positive vitreous cavity pressure in anterior segment surgeries

Positive vitreous pressure due to misdirection of aqueous or choroidal effusion leads to shallowing of the anterior chamber (AC) before or during anterior segment surgeries. This shallow AC if not addressed makes surgery difficult and increases the risk of surgical complications. Methods to prevent and manage this condition described in literature are not without problems. We describe a minimally invasive technique of passing a 30G needle through the pars-plana to aspirate misdirected fluid from vitreous cavity either as a prophylaxis just before surgery or during it, thereby decreasing positive vitreous pressure. This technique, used in 12 eyes, seems to be effective in patients with angle-closure glaucoma, malignant glaucoma, and per-operative sudden increase in vitreous pressure during surgery. Small-incision surgeries are ideally suited for this procedure. This minimally invasive technique is simple to perform and complications are unlikely to be more than what is seen with intravitreal injections.

Successful surgical management of bilateral epiretinal membrane in a child with only café-au-lait spots

A 6-year-old boy diagnosed as anisometropic amblyopia, with only café-au-lait spots and a family history of neurofibromatosis, presented with decrease in vision in the both eyes. Dilated fundus examination showed epiretinal membrane in both eyes over the macula. He underwent successful surgical management of the epiretinal membrane.