Cause Of Visual Disability Research Articles

On the issue of the new edition of the international classification of retinopathy of prematurity. Part 2

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of visual disability from early childhood. Foreign researchers and clinicians are focused on studying a new pharmacological method of treatment of active RN using anti-VEGF drugs, which was a reason that prompted updates in the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ICROP) in 2021. The second part of the article presents new terms recommended by the Committee for the ICROP: “regression,” which refers to the involution and resolution of the disease, and “reactivation,” which denotes a recurrence of signs in the acute phase. Notably, the latest edition of the ICROP requires a deep understanding and accurate application by domestic specialists treating ROP. This contributes to the standardization of therapeutic and diagnostic processes, therefore, improving the quality of ROP treatment in Russia.

Reactivation of retinopathy of prematurity after ranibizumab treatment

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most common causes of visual disability in children born prematurely. Intravitreal injection of angiogenesis inhibitors (antivascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] therapy) is considered one of the conservative methods of treating ROP. Aim: This study aimed to present a clinical case of ROP reactivation after intravitreal injection of the antiVEGF drug ranibizumab (Lucentis). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The course of retinopathy in a premature infant with extremely low birth weight was studied. RESULTS: A patient diagnosed with ROP, a posterior aggressive form of both eyes, received intravitreal injections of an angiogenesis inhibitor at 36 postconceptional weeks. During subsequent follow-up, disease progression was noted, which necessitated repeated ranibizumab administrations to both eyes. Over time, tractional retinal detachment developed in the right eye, and the disease progressed more slowly in the left eye. At the age of 1 year, ROP rapidly progressed to stage 4B in the left eye. Lens vitrectomy was performed sequentially on the right and then on the left eye. At the age of 1.5 years, the patient had coarse preretinal adhesions in the posterior pole of both eyes and had no spatial vision, whereas light perception was preserved. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab administration for posteriorly aggressive ROP does not exclude its reactivation both early and late after administrations. Further improvement in treatment methods for ROP is necessary.

Transorbital Alternating Current Stimulation in Glaucoma: State of the Art from Neurophysiological Bases to Clinical Practice

Recovery after visual loss is a key goal of neuroscience and treatments able to improve visual function are still largely lacking. Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of visual disability in the world, is usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but a subset of “normal tension glaucoma” patients develop damage without ever manifesting high IOP. Sometimes, even in patients with good control of IOP, retinal ganglion cell degeneration can progress to forward blindness. Moreover, usually the damage already caused by the disease remains. These considerations underline the need to find new, effective treatments and solutions to add to the standard ones. In this paper, we expose the most important data supporting the use of alternating current stimulation, including the theoretical bases of this approach, in glaucoma.

A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE TYPE AND CAUSE OF BLINDNESS/LOW VISION IN APPLICATIONS FOR BLINDNESS CERTIFICATE PRESENTING IN CHAMBA DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence, causes, and socio-economic impacts of visual impairment in the Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh, India. It seeks to identify the major factors contributing to visual disability and the role of literacy and employment status in influencing the lives of the visually impaired. Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted over a period of one year, enrolling patients from the outpatient department of ophthalmology who were applying for visual disability certification. The study utilized a randomized sampling method and a semi-structured interview along with an examination form for data collection. Ethical approval was obtained, and the study adhered to ICMR and Helsinki Declaration guidelines. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluations, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: Among the 270 participants evaluated, a higher prevalence of visual impairment was observed in males (n=149) compared to females (n=121), particularly within the age group of 21-40 y. The leading causes of visual disability included Corneal Opacity (16.25%), Retinitis Pigmentosa (15.83%), and Congenital Malformation (14.17%). Furthermore, literacy played a crucial role in employment opportunities, with 75.83% of the literate participants being employed, indicating a significant impact on the socio-economic status. Conclusion: The study highlights the multifaceted nature of visual impairment in the Chamba District, emphasizing the need for integrated public health strategies to address the identified challenges. Enhancing preventive measures, improving access to healthcare, and supporting rehabilitation services are essential steps towards mitigating the burden of visual impairment.

Recent Updates on Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery in Posterior Segment Diseases with Emphasis on Diabetic Retinopathy.

In recent years, various conventional formulations have been used for the treatment and/or management of ocular medical conditions. Diabetic retinopathy, a microvascular disease of the retina, remains the leading cause of visual disability in patients with diabetes. Currently, for treating diabetic retinopathy, only intraocular, intravitreal, periocular injections, and laser photocoagulation are widely used. Frequent administration of these drugs by injections may lead to serious complications, including retinal detachment and endophthalmitis. Although conventional ophthalmic formulations like eye drops, ointments, and suspensions are available globally, these formulations fail to achieve optimum drug therapeutic profile due to immediate nasolacrimal drainage, rapid tearing, and systemic tearing toxicity of the drugs. To achieve better therapeutic outcomes with prolonged release of the therapeutic agents, nano-drug delivery materials have been investigated. These nanocarriers include nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), dendrimers, nanofibers, in-situ gel, vesicular carriers, niosomes, and mucoadhesive systems, among others. The nanocarriers carry the potential benefits of site-specific delivery and controlled and sustained drug release profile. In the present article, various nanomaterials explored for treating diabetic retinopathy are reviewed.

Analysis of Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID) Associated Visual Handicap Certificates at a Tertiary Care Center in Northern Maharashtra

Purpose: To analyze blindness certificates to find causes of visual impairment, low vision, and blindness in a tertiary care hospital in northern Maharashtra. Methods: A retrospective study of all visually impaired patients applying for disability certification between January and June 2023 (6 months period) was performed from the medical record. The demographics, aetiologies, grades and classification of visual impairment according to the new guidelines provided in the Gazette of India published in 2018 of the study subjects were analyzed. Results were compared with data from studies on blindness certificates and population-based studies. Results: A total of 771 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 39.42 ± 19 years (range: 1–85 years). Most patients were in the 41–64 years age group (40.98%). Males were involved more commonly (67.70%). According to the grade and percentage of disability, grade II (30%) was most commonly seen in 35.02% of individuals followed by low vision, grade III a–III e, (40%–80%) seen in 27.37% individuals. Blindness, grade IV a–IV b (90%–100%) was seen in 33.46% individuals. Overall, the most common cause of visual impairment among one-eyed, low-vision and blind individuals was phthisis bulbi/hereditary globe condition/coloboma. Among one.eyed and minimal disability individuals, rest common causes included amblyopia, squint and contracted socket post-evisceration. In patients with low vision and blindness, other common causes included retinitis pigmentosa, optic atrophy and pathological myopia. Conclusion: Analysis of blindness certificates provides valuable information regarding different causes of visual disability and provides an insight into the overall trends in visual disability profile and help in rehabilitation.

A case study on Doshantha (Retinitis Pigmentosa) with Ayurvedic management

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of hereditary disorders of the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) which gradually causes night blindness and progressive constriction of the visual field. RP is a leading cause of visual disability, with a worldwide pre-valence of 1:4000. RP typically manifests with night blindness in adolescence, followed by concentric visual field loss, reflecting the principal dysfunction of rod photoreceptors; central vision loss occurs later in life due to cone dysfunction. Symptoms may become manifest during childhood or adulthood, and include poor night vision (nyctalopia) and constriction of peripheral vision (visual field loss).[1] In Ayurveda, the signs and symptoms of this can be compared with the Lakshanas of Doshandha. The present paper discusses a case of retinitis pigmentosa and its Ayurvedic treatment.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Visual Disability Is Associated With Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Korean Nationwide Cohort.

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual disability. AMD shares some risk factors with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous studies examining the association between AMD and the risk of CVD provide conflicting results. Hence, we investigated the association between AMD, visual disability, and the risk of CVD. Methods and Results This is a nationwide cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance System database (2009-2019) on subjects who underwent a national health screening program in 2009. A total of 3 789 963 subjects were categorized by the presence of AMD and visual disability. Visual disability was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of ≤20/100 by validated documentation from a specialist physician. Cox regression hazard model was used to examine the hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD, including myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, after adjusting for potential confounders. During a mean 9.77 years of follow-up, AMD was associated with a 5% higher risk of myocardial infarction (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.05 [95% CI, 1.01-1.10]) butnot associated with increased risk of overall CVD (aHR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.00-1.05]) or ischemic stroke (aHR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.98-1.06]). However, when AMD was accompanied by visual disability, there was increased risk of CVD (aHR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.06-1.29]), myocardial infarction (aHR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.01-1.37]), and ischemic stroke (aHR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.06-1.35]). These trends were more evident in women and subjects with cardiometabolic comorbidities. Conclusions AMD with visual disability, but not all AMD, was associated with an increased risk of CVD. Patients with AMD who have visual disability should be targeted for CVD prevention.

Проникающее ранение роговицы с ущемлением инородного тела в роговице: клинический случай

Injuries of the visual organ in Russia are one of the causes of visual disability and blindness. People of young, able-bodied age are most often affected. Purpose. To present a clinical case of treatment of a patient with a penetrating wound and a foreign body of the cornea. Material and methods. The article considers a real clinical case, starting from the moment of admission of the patient to the ophthalmology department and ending with the results achieved during the treatment. Results. The correct diagnostics and the correctly chosen method of treatment ensure the achievement of the best results. Conclusions. Previously, referral of patients with an eye injury for specialized care is important for achieving the best results during treatment. Keywords: eye injury, penetrating wound of the cornea, foreign body, optical coherence tomography (OCT)

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Novel Therapeutic Targets and Drug Development.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of hereditary diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of retinal photoreceptors leading to progressive visual decline. It is the most common type of inherited retinal dystrophy and has a high burden on both patients and society. This condition causes gradual loss of vision, with its typical manifestations including nyctalopia, concentric visual field loss, and ultimately bilateral central vision loss. It is one of the leading causes of visual disability and blindness in people under 60 years old and affects over 1.5 million people worldwide. There is currently no curative treatment for people with RP, and only a small group of patients with confirmed RPE65 mutations are eligible to receive the only gene therapy on the market: voretigene neparvovec. The current therapeutic armamentarium is limited to retinoids, vitamin A supplements, protection from sunlight, visual aids, and medical and surgical interventions to treat ophthalmic comorbidities, which only aim to slow down the progression of the disease. Considering such a limited therapeutic landscape, there is an urgent need for developing new and individualized therapeutic modalities targeting retinal degeneration. Although the heterogeneity of gene mutations involved in RP makes its target treatment development difficult, recent fundamental studies showed promising progress in elucidation of the photoreceptor degeneration mechanism. The discovery of novel molecule therapeutics that can selectively target specific receptors or specific pathways will serve as a solid foundation for advanced drug development. This article is a review of recent progress in novel treatment of RP focusing on preclinical stage fundamental research on molecular targets, which will serve as a starting point for advanced drug development. We will review the alterations in the molecular pathways involved in the development of RP, mainly those regarding endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptotic pathways, maintenance of the redox balance, and genomic stability. We will then discuss the therapeutic approaches under development, such as gene and cell therapy, as well as the recent literature identifying novel potential drug targets for RP.

A Descriptive Analysis of Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID)-Certified Visually Disabled Patients at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Central India.

Objective In this study, we aimed to examine the demographic characteristics, causes, and severity of visual disability and the reasons for seeking disability certificates among Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID)-certified visually disabled patients at a tertiary eye care center in central India. Materials and methods A retrospective observational analysis of medical records and data from the UDID portal involving 600 visually disabled individuals who were certified between February 2019 to March 2022 was performed.Demographic characteristics, diagnosis of the ocular disease, primary etiology, and percentage and grade of visual disability, as well as the main reasons for seeking a visual disability certificate, were analyzed statistically. Best-corrected visual acuity of less than 6/24 to 3/60 or a visual fieldless than 40 degrees to 10 degrees around the center of fixation or hemianopia involving the macula in the better eye were included in the low-vision category. Best corrected visual acuity of less than 3/60 to "no light perception" or visual field less than 10 degrees around the center of fixation in the better eye were included in the blindness category. Results Out of the total 600 patients, 214 (35.67%)were in the age group of 11-30 years. There were more males (63.67%)than females(36.33%) in the study. Four hundred patients (66.67%) had 100% disability. Retinal diseases (n=229, 48.50%)including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (n=130, 21.67%) were the most common cause of visual disability. Travel concessions and Government allowances were the most common reasons for seeking a disability certificate. Conclusion The study highlights the leading causes of visual disability, and RP was found to be the most common one. Avoidance of consanguineous marriages and genetic counseling should be made mandatory to prevent blindness due to RP.We recommend the widespread institution of eye care facilities, increasing the availability of healthcare facilities to all, and community education to eliminate avoidable blindness. This study provides key data to the Government to implement new policies or changethe existing ones, plan for future strategies, and prioritize the rehabilitation of visually disabled individuals. Government programs to increase awareness among unregistered visually disabled patients regarding the benefits and rehabilitative measures like UDID card and low vision aids is the need of the hour.

Stay-at-home myopia among school children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Uncorrected myopia represents a major cause of visual disability in children, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. However, there is still debate about the effect of e-learning and “stay-at-home” guidelines on the refractive status of school children, especially in the absence of long-term follow-up data. This study aimed to assess the impact of stay-at-home enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia development or progression in students in the Suez Canal Area, Egypt.
 Methods: This longitudinal observational study included 1650 students. All students aged 8–15 years with visual complaints, who had attended routine annual vision checks since 2018, were enrolled and assessed annually for myopia development and progression until 2021. Cycloplegic and noncycloplegic refraction, axial length (AL), corneal curvature, and uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuity were measured. The participants were administered a questionnaire that focused mainly on collecting information on their visual habits.
 Results: Our study included 3,300 eyes of 1,650 school students with myopia during the 4-year study period from 2018 to 2021. The mean cycloplegic spherical equivalents (CSE) were - 1.02, - 1.52, - 2.00, and - 3.50 diopters (D) in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. This myopic shift in CSE over time was significant (P < 0.001). The average keratometric reading (Avg K) increased significantly during the follow-up period (P < 0.001). The Avg K measurements were 42.32, 42.62, 43.02, and 44.19 D in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. The changes in Avg K were significant (P < 0.001). The mean AL measurements were 22.53, 22.59, 22.69, and 22.71 mm in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Although statistically significant (P < 0.001), changes in AL were clinically insignificant throughout the study period. The mean durations spent on electronic devices at home were 2.12, 2.46, 3.10, and 6.00 hours in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. The changes over time were significant (P < 0.001).
 Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, studying at home accelerated the degree of refraction toward myopia in school children in Egypt. Further studies are needed to assess the academic performance of students with progressive myopia.

Patient Acceptability of Home Monitoring for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Reactivation: A Qualitative Study.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a chronic, progressive condition and the commonest cause of visual disability in older adults. This study formed part of a diagnostic test accuracy study to quantify the ability of three index home monitoring (HM) tests (one paper-based and two digital tests) to identify reactivation in nAMD. The aim of this qualitative research was to investigate patients’ or participants’ views about acceptability and explore adherence to weekly HM. Semi-structured interviews were held with 78/297 participants (26%), with close family members (n = 11) and with healthcare professionals involved in training participants in HM procedures (n = 9) (n = 98 in total). A directed thematic analytical approach was applied to the data using a deductive and inductive coding framework informed by theories of technology acceptance. Five themes emerged related to: 1. The role of HM; 2. Suitability of procedures and instruments; 3. Experience of HM; 4. Feasibility of HM in usual practice; and 5. Impediments to patient acceptability of HM. Various factors influenced acceptability including a patient’s understanding about the purpose of monitoring. While initial training and ongoing support were regarded as essential for overcoming unfamiliarity with use of digital technology, patients viewed HM as relatively straightforward and non-burdensome. There is a need for further research about how use of performance feedback, level of support and nature of tailoring might facilitate further the implementation of routinely conducted HM. Home monitoring was acceptable to patients and they recognised its potential to reduce clinic visits during non-active treatment phases. Findings have implications for implementation of digital HM in the care of older people with nAMD and other long-term conditions.

Heteromeric formation with βA3 protects the low thermal stability of βB1-L116P

Background/aimsCongenital cataract is the leading cause of visual disability and blindness in childhood. βB1-crystallin (CRYBB1) comprises about 1/10th of crystallin structural proteins, forming heteromers to maintain lens transparency. We previously...

Study of association of diabetic retinopathy with dyslipidemia in type II diabetes mellitus

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of visual disability in the working-age population of industrialized countries. It is considered the hallmark of generalized microangiopathy occurring in a diabetic patient.
 The aim: association of Diabetic Retinopathy and CSME with mean values of lipids and Association of the pattern of hard exudates in the fundus in patients with Diabetic retinopathy with or without CSME with mean values of lipids.
 Materials and methods: 320 eyes of 160 urban diabetic patients who were seen at the OPD, at Pushpagiri Eye Institute, Secunderabad having diabetic retinopathy were included in the study. Detailed history was taken to note the duration of diabetes, hypertension, history of CAD, CVA, CKD. Patients with duration of diabetes >=5 years were enrolled. Thorough work up was done with slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope and posterior segment was examined to evaluate the stage of diabetic retinopathy and presence or absence of CSME. Patients with DR were investigated for Fasting Lipid Profile and HbA1c.
 Results: a total of 320 eyes of 160 patients were included in the study. In patients with CSME, mean values of Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL, HDL, VLDL were higher in the plaque pattern of hard exudates in the macula compared to Discrete and Circinate. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean values of total cholesterol (p=0.00), triglycerides (p =0.035), ldl(p=0.00) in discrete and plaque patterns. There was slightly higher prevalence of PDR among hypertensives compared to non-hypertensives. There was no significant association between DR stage and hypertension(p=0.628). The correlation between CSME and BCVA could not be determined accurately due to the presence of cataract in most of the patients.
 Conclusion: this study demonstrated that, diabetic retinopathy is not associated with lipid profile whereas there is statistically significant correlation between mean values of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and clinically significant macular edema (CSME)

Long Term Time-Lapse Imaging of Geographic Atrophy: A Pilot Study.

Geographic atrophy (GA), the late stage of age-related macular degeneration, is a major cause of visual disability whose pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Modern fundus imaging and histology revealed the complexity of the cellular changes that accompanies atrophy. Documenting the activity of the disease in the margins of atrophy, where the transition from health to disease occurs, would contribute to a better understanding of the progression of GA. Time-lapse imaging facilitates the identification of structural continuities in changing environments. In this retrospective pilot study, we documented the long-term changes in atrophy margins by time-lapse imaging of infrared scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images in 6 cases of GA covering a mean period of 32.8 months (range, 18–72). The mean interval between imaging sessions was 2.4 months (range, 1.4–3.8). By viewing time-lapse sequences we observed extensive changes in the pattern of marginal hyperreflective spots, which associated fragmentation, increase and/or disappearance. Over the entire span of the follow-up, the most striking changes were those affecting hyperreflective spots closest to margins of atrophy, on the non-atrophic side of the retina; a continuum between the successive positions of some of the hyperreflective spots was detected, both by SLO and OCT. This continuum in their successive positions resulted in a subjective impression of a centrifugal motion of hyperreflective spots ahead of atrophy progression. Such mobilization of hyperreflective spots was detected up to several hundred microns away from atrophic borders. Such process is likely to reflect the inflammatory and degenerative process underlying GA progression and hence deserves further investigations. These results highlight the interest of multimodal time-lapse imaging to document cell-scale dynamics during progression of GA.Clinical Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04128150 and NCT04129021.

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Burden of Disease and Current Unmet Needs.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterised by progressive vision loss, is the leading cause of visual disability and blindness in subjects less than 60 years old. Currently incurable, therapy is aimed at restricting degeneration of vision, treating complications, and helping patients to cope with the psychosocial impact of their disease. Hence, RP is associated with a high burden of disease. This paper describes the current therapeutic landscape for RP and the disease burden for patients, caregivers, and society. A review of available data was conducted in three stages: (1) a literature search of publicly available information on all domains of RP; (2) a systematic literature review using Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and grey literature (GlobalData) on epidemiology and cost of RP; and (3) qualitative research with senior physicians treating RP patients in the EU4 and the UK to validate research findings from secondary sources. RP severely impacts the daily lives of over a million people worldwide. Progressive vision loss significantly affects the ability to perform basic daily tasks, to maintain employment, and maintain independence. Consequently, most patients will experience reduced quality of life, with a greater emotional and psychological impact than other conditions related to vision loss such as diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration. RP is also associated with a high level of carer burden, arising from psychological and financial stress. The therapeutic landscape for RP is limited, with few treatment options and minimal guidance for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients. A curative intervention, voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna®), only exists for 1–6% of patients. Although disease management can be successful in developing coping strategies, most patients live with this chronic, progressive condition without interventions to change the disease course. Innovative new therapies can transform the therapeutic landscape, provided appropriate clinical guidance is forthcoming.

Open label safety and efficacy pilot to study mitigation of equine recurrent uveitis through topical suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 mimetic peptide

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a painful and debilitating autoimmune disease and represents the only spontaneous model of human recurrent uveitis (RU). Despite the efficacy of existing treatments, RU remains a leading cause of visual handicap in horses and humans. Cytokines, which utilize Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) for signaling, drive the inflammatory processes in ERU that promote blindness. Notably, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), which naturally limits the activation of Jak2 through binding interactions, is often deficient in autoimmune disease patients. Significantly, we previously showed that topical administration of a SOCS1 peptide mimic (SOCS1-KIR) mitigated induced rodent uveitis. In this pilot study, we test the potential to translate the therapeutic efficacy observed in experimental rodent uveitis to equine patient disease. Through bioinformatics and peptide binding assays we demonstrate putative binding of the SOCS1-KIR peptide to equine Jak2. We also show that topical, or intravitreal injection of SOCS1-KIR was well tolerated within the equine eye through physical and ophthalmic examinations. Finally, we show that topical SOCS1-KIR administration was associated with significant clinical ERU improvement. Together, these results provide a scientific rationale, and supporting experimental evidence for the therapeutic use of a SOCS1 mimetic peptide in RU.

Awareness of diabetic retinopathy among diabetes mellitus patients visiting a hospital of North India.

Context:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of visual disability leading to irreversible blindness. Awareness of diabetes and its ocular co-morbidities may help in preventing vision loss.Aim:To assess the awareness of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic mellitus patients visiting a hospital in North India.Setting and Design:Cross-sectional study conducted at an outpatient clinic of ophthalmology department of a hospital.Materials and Methods:An interviewer-administered, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to evaluate the awareness of DR for the period from July 2020 to January 2021.Results:A total of 272 patients with diabetes mellitus (44.4% females and 55.5% males) were included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 53.4 ± 10 years. Of the 272 patients, 79% were aware that diabetes can affect the eyes, and 69.5% knew that DR can lead to blindness. Regarding prevention and treatment of DR, 58.1% of patients were aware that good glycemic control prevents DR and 52.6% knew that DR can be treated. Physicians were the main source of information in 47.4% of patients. The participants were not compliant with a routine retinal assessment with only 26.5% of them having previous fundus examination for DR screening.Conclusion:Most of the participants were aware of DR but there existed major deficits in the knowledge and behavior of diabetic patients toward management of DR. There is a need to create awareness about DR and emphasize the importance of retinal screening to reduce visual disability caused by diabetes.

Choroidal Thickness in Correlation with Axial Length and Myopia Degree.

Background: Myopia is a condition in which the visual images come to a focus in front of the retina of the eye. This disease is a major cause of visual disability, which presents in 108 million persons globally. Purpose: This study aims to determine the relationship between the degree of myopia, the axial length, and the choroidal thickness (CT). Methods: This is an observational analytical study that made use of a cross-sectional design. A total of 59 participants with refractive errors underwent treatment at Hasanuddin University Hospital and 116 eyes were measured and analyzed. The choroidal thickness was measured using the Enhance Depth Imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) tool, which is divided into nine observational areas. Furthermore, all data obtained were compared using statistical analysis, such as the one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test (p < 0.05). Results: There was a significant relationship between the choroidal thickness with axial length (p < 0.05) and myopia degrees (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The thickness of the choroid decreases with an increase in the axial length and degree of myopia, which further indicates that the higher the myopia degree, the thinner the choroidal vasculature.