No abstract

To study the demographic profile, cause, type and severity of ocular injuries, their complications and final visual outcome following fireworks around the time of Deepawali in India. Case records of patients who presented with firework-related injuries during 2005-2009 at the time of Deepawali were reviewed. Data with respect to demographic profile of patients, cause and time of injury, time of presentation and types of intervention were analyzed. Visual acuity at presentation and final follow-up, anterior and posterior segment findings, and any diagnostic and surgical interventions carried out were noted. One hundred and one patients presented with firework-related ocular injuries, of which 77.5 % were male. The mean age was 17.60 ± 11.9 years, with 54 % being ≤14 years of age. The mean time of presentation was 8.9 h. Seventeen patients had open globe injury (OGI) and 84 had closed globe injury (CGI). Fountains were the most common cause of CGI and bullet bombs were the most common cause of OGI. Mean log MAR visual acuity at presentation was 0.64 and 1.22 and at last follow-up was 0.09 and 0.58 for CGI and OGI, respectively (p < 0.05). Patients with CGI had a better visual outcome. Three patients with OGI developed permanent blindness. Factors associated with poor visual outcome included poor initial visual acuity, OGI, intraocular foreign body (IOFB), retinal detachment and development of endophthalmitis. Firework injuries were seen mostly in males and children. Poor visual outcome was associated with poor initial visual acuity, OGI, IOFB, retinal detachment and development of endophthalmitis, while most patients with CGI regained good vision.

We report a rare association of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with retinitis pigmentosa and note its resolution by intravitreal injection of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bevacizumab. A classic choroidal neovascular membrane was seen in the right eye (RE) of a patient with sector retinitis pigmentosa. Bevacizumab 1.25 mg in 0.05 ml was injected intravitreally. The choroidal neovascular membrane was seen to regress following this single intravitreal bevacizumab injection with formation of a scar. CNV has very rarely been seen in association with retinitis pigmentosa. Anti-VEGF drugs have been shown to have a beneficial role in CNV with other causes; in this case their effectiveness in CNV associated with retinal dystrophies, for example retinitis pigmentosa, has been demonstrated.

There is a need for regular eye donation awareness programs not only in the community but even for the medical and paramedical staff in hospitals and medical colleges. This will ultimately enhance the eye donation program in the country to help cope with the backlog in the long term.

A 58-year-old-man presented with painful rapidly progressive bilateral proptosis with restricted ocular movements of 15 days duration. There was history of significant weight loss in the recent past. Computed tomography scan of the head and orbit revealed bilateral multiple, well-defined, round, soft tissue masses, isointense with muscles in intraconal and extraconal space. Fine needle aspiration cytology and incision biopsy from the lesion, urine for Bence-Jones proteins and immunofixation clinched the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Skeletal survey did not reveal any bony involvement.The diagnosis of multiple myeloma should be kept in mind in cases of bilateral proptosis. Bony involvement is not universal in cases of orbital myeloma. Early diagnosis can be established with extensive biochemical and histopathological investigations and timely treatment is life saving for these patients.