Biratnagar Eye Hospital Research Articles

Epidemiology and etiological diagnosis of infective keratitis in eastern region of Nepal.

Objective : This study aimed to determine the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors predisposing to corneal ulceration in patients presenting to Biratnagar Eye Hospital (Nepal). Methods : All patients presenting to Biratnagar Eye Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2011 with corneal ulceration were retrospectively reviewed. Sociodemographic data and information pertaining to risk factors were recorded, all patients were examined and corneal scrapping and cultures were carried out. Results : Over one year period 1644 patients with corneal ulcer were evaluated, out of which 76.6% of patients were in the age range of 30 to 69 years and 65% of patients had presenting visual acuity < 3/60. Ocular trauma was the most common cause of keratitis accounting for 60.3% of corneal ulcer and majority of the patients (40%) presented after 2 weeks of symptoms. Among corneal scraping positive cases 1150 (70%) showed fungus, 73 (4.4%) showed bacteria and 20 (1.2%) showed both bacterial and fungus. Conclusion: Corneal ulcer continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in this region. Lack of awareness about gravity of this disease, financial constraints and geographic barriers remain the major reasons for delay in seeking proper medical help.

Characteristic of low vision patients attending an eye hospital in eastern region of Nepal

Low vision is an important public health problem. To study the profile of low vision patients in a hospital of Nepal. Information related to the patients' profile, visual status, ocular disease and, low vision devices prescribed were obtained retrospectively from the records of 1,860 visually- impaired patients, regardless of the cause, presenting to the low vision department of the Biratnagar Eye Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal, over a period of four years. These patients, after a comprehensive ocular examination, underwent low vision examination by an ophthalmologist and a low vision specialist. Of 1,860 patients, males comprised 1298 (70 %), while 562 (30 %) patients were female. Six hundred and one (32.3%) patients were of less than 20 years while 398(21.4%) were more than 60 years of age. Agriculture (500, 27 %), household work (341, 18 %) and students (308, 17 %) were the common occupations. Retinal diseases were the commonest cause of low vision. They were: macular disorders 408 (22 %), retinitis pigmentosa 226 (12.1 %) and other retinal causes 361 (19.4 %) (diabetic retinopathy, choroidal coloboma, post laser for retinal vasculitis and central retinal/branch retinal vein occlusion, healed macular chorioretinal scar secondary to retinochroiditis and choroiditis). Refractive error 215 (11.5 %), amblyopia 49 (2.6 %), optic atrophy 144 (7.8 %) and microphthalmos 105 (5.6 %) were the other causes. Uncorrected distance visual acuity was between 6/24 and 6/60 in 509 (27.4 %) and between 5/60 and PL in 1,327 (71.3 %) patients. Similarly, near visual acuity with vision better than 2.50 M (N 20) and worse than 2.50 M (N20) was present in 643(34.5%) and 1,217(65.5%) patients. About 67% and 54.5% of the patients had some improvement in their distance and near visual acuity with glasses and low vision aids. Distance spectacles 909 (49 %), near spectacles 106 (5.7 %), hand held magnifiers 78 (4 %) and telescopes 18 (1 %) were the optical devices prescribed. The prevalence of low vision is common among the people of the younger and older age groups. Retinal diseases are common among the causes for low vision. Adequate prescription and availability of low vision devices can improve the visual acuity.

Ear diseases pattern and hearing impairment in the Eastern Nepal- A study in a combined eye and ear set up

Background: This is a prevalence study of ear diseases and hearing impairment done in acombined eye and ear set up of Biratnagar Eye Hospital. This study was conducted in theSunsari and Morang districts of Nepal. Its aim is to fi nd out the ear disease and hearingimpairment prevalent in the community.Materials and Methods: A total of 2259 people who visited eyecamps were screened for ear diseases. Patients were examined by the eye and ear assistantsunder supervision of otolaryngologist. A head mirror, an otoscope, an aural syringe, kidneytrays and light source and a set of tuning forks (512 and 256 Hz) were used to assessthe ear diseases and hearing loss.Results: A total of 1094 patients presented with eardiseases. Males were more than females [608(55.42%) vs. 486(44.57%)]. Children up toand below 15 years were 386 (35.28%). The frequency of ear diseases were as follows:Impacted wax- 319 (29.15%), chronic suppurative otitis media mucosal type - 307(28.06%),otomycosis - 66 (6.03%), furunculosis/otitis externa - 46 (4.29%), Acute suppurative otitismedia - 46 (4.2%), tubal catarrhal - 34(3.1%), otitis media with effusion - 24 (2.19%),perichondritis - 21(1.91%), Unsafe otitis media - 14(1.27%), Foreign body in theear - 4 (0.36%) cases, Postraumatic perforation of tympanic membrane - 2 (0.18%), deafand mute - 12 (1.09%). presbyacusis and other sensorineural hearing loss- 199(18.19%).The point prevalence of otitis media was 17.3% (391) people. Hearing impairment was64.99 %(635 out of 977 patients above 5 years).Conclusion: Ear diseases and hearingimpairment are very common in Sunsari and Morang districts of Nepal demanding immediatetreatment.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i5.11621 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(5) 2015 51-55