Past Issues - Vol. 15, No. 1, January – March 2019

Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology

Editorial: Monitoring Outcomes of Cataract Surgery
Ismatullah Chaudhry

A Comparison of Macular Edema Formation in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Phacoemulsification and Extracapsular Cataract Extraction
Faran bin Afzal, Saba Waqar Qureshi, Muhammad Usman Arshad, Hassan Massana, Masud ul Hassan, Muhammad Nawaz Cheema

This descriptive case series compared the frequency of macular edema formation in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery. One of the groups underwent Extra capsular cataract extraction (ECCE) (N=56) while the other underwent phacoemulsification (N=44). Frequency of macular edema between phacoemulsification and ECCE was compared. The study concludes that for diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery, there is no significant difference between phacoemulsification and ECCE in terms of macular edema formation.

Assessment of Binocular Visual Functions in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Simab Kishwar, Afshan Ali, Farah Akhtar

This study was conducted to find the impact of primary open angle glaucoma on the visual functions of the eye. Total 100 patients were included in the cross-sectional study where binocular visual functions of the glaucomatous eyes were compared with those of healthy eyes. Significant association of contrast sensitivity, stereopsis and color vision were found with the cases of primary open angle glaucoma.

Impact of Early Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy on Contrast Sensitivity
Maryam Firdous, Halima Masud, Hina Sharif

This study was conducted to find out the impact of early Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) on contrast sensitivity. All the cases and controls were checked for their contrast sensitivity with Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity test chart, followed by mydriatic fundus examination. Contrast sensitivity in cases was well below that of controls, reason being DR. So, contrast sensitivity testing can be used as a potential screening tool in optometric practice for early Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Microbial Etiology of Neonatal Conjunctivitis in a General Hospital in Saudi Arabia
Ali Faraz, Muhammad Imran Ali, Muhammad Asad Farhan, Salahuddin Balooch

This observational/cross sectional study to determine the microbial etiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in a general hospital in Saudi Arabia. Conjunctival swab specimens were collected from neonates with suspected conjunctival inflammation and sent to the microbiology laboratory. Of the 134 specimens, 81 were positive for microbial growth. The most commonly isolated microorganism were gram negative enterobacteriaceae (n=26,32 %).

Central Corneal Thickness and Pattern Standard Deviation in Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Ahsan Ahmed Zia, Adnan Aslam Saleem, Danish Gani, Yaseen Lodhi, Inayatullah Khan

A total of 97 eyes with POAG were consecutively recruited. Patients were labeled as glaucomatous based on VF and optic nerve head damage. Based on CCT value, the sample was divided in two groups (group 1, ≤ 535 mm, n=49; group 2 ≥ 535 mm, n=48). PSD in group 1 and group 2 was 6.96 ± 1.49 dB and 4.60 ± 1.41 dB respectively. The mean CCT in Group 1 and Group 2 was 509.25 ± 13.05 μm and 571.3 ± 14.82 μm respectively. The difference in PSD between the two groups was statistically significant, p ≤ 0.05.

Dry Eye Disease in Postmenopausal Women
Saima Ayub, Nadia Rashid Khan, Imran Ahmad, Mubashir Rehman

The study reports the frequency of dry eyes in post-menopausal women presenting to tertiary care Hospital in Peshawar. Total of 200 post-menopausal women were included in the study. In all patients Schirmer test was performed using specialised litmus paper strips. Schirmer test result showed the prevalence of dry eyes in 48% of the patients with mild dryness in 24%, moderate in 19.5% and severe dryness in 4.5% of the patients. The study concludes that primary care physicians should recognize symptoms of dry eyes and refer patients to ophthalmologists where applicable for proper management.

Pseudocalcification: A Rare type of Intraocular lens Opacification
Wajid Ali Khan, Saad Alam Khan

A 65-year-old male with psudophakic bullous keratopathy underwent penetrating keratoplasty. After keratoplasty sub optimal improvement was observed in visual status which was attributed to distinctive opacification of the IOL. The opacified IOL was replaced with another IOL which resulted in the significant improvement in visual status.