BackgroundThe Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) was implemented with the aim of completing the baseline map of trachoma globally. Over 2.6 million people were examined in 1,546 districts across 29 countries between December 2012 and January 2016. The aim of the analysis was to estimate the unit cost and to identify the key cost drivers of trachoma prevalence surveys conducted as part of GTMP.Methodology and principal findingsIn-country and global support costs were obtained using GTMP financial records. In-country expenditure was analysed for 1,164 districts across 17 countries. The mean survey cost was $13,113 per district [median: $11,675; IQR = $8,365-$14,618], $17,566 per evaluation unit [median: $15,839; IQR = $10,773-$19,915], $692 per cluster [median: $625; IQR = $452-$847] and $6.0 per person screened [median: $4.9; IQR = $3.7-$7.9]. Survey unit costs varied substantially across settings, and were driven by parameters such as geographic location, demographic characteristics, seasonal effects, and local operational constraints. Analysis by activities showed that fieldwork constituted the largest share of in-country survey costs (74%), followed by training of survey teams (11%). The main drivers of in-country survey costs were personnel (49%) and transportation (44%). Global support expenditure for all surveyed districts amounted to $5.1m, which included grant management, epidemiological support, and data stewardship.ConclusionThis study provides the most extensive analysis of the cost of conducting trachoma prevalence surveys to date. The findings can aid planning and budgeting for future trachoma surveys required to measure the impact of trachoma elimination activities. Furthermore, the results of this study can also be used as a cost basis for other disease mapping programmes, where disease or context-specific survey cost data are not available.

BackgroundTrichiasis is present when one or more eyelashes touches the eye. Uncorrected, it can cause blindness. Accurate estimates of numbers affected, and their geographical distribution, help guide resource allocation.MethodsWe obtained district-level trichiasis prevalence estimates in adults for 44 endemic and previously-endemic countries. We used (1) the most recent data for a district, if more than one estimate was available; (2) age- and sex-standardized corrections of historic estimates, where raw data were available; (3) historic estimates adjusted using a mean adjustment factor for districts where raw data were unavailable; and (4) expert assessment of available data for districts for which no prevalence estimates were available.FindingsInternally age- and sex-standardized data represented 1,355 districts and contributed 662 thousand cases (95% confidence interval [CI] 324 thousand–1.1 million) to the global total. Age- and sex-standardized district-level prevalence estimates differed from raw estimates by a mean factor of 0.45 (range 0.03–2.28). Previously non- stratified estimates for 398 districts, adjusted by ×0.45, contributed a further 411 thousand cases (95% CI 283–557 thousand). Eight countries retained previous estimates, contributing 848 thousand cases (95% CI 225 thousand-1.7 million). New expert assessments in 14 countries contributed 862 thousand cases (95% CI 228 thousand–1.7 million). The global trichiasis burden in 2016 was 2.8 million cases (95% CI 1.1–5.2 million).InterpretationThe 2016 estimate is lower than previous estimates, probably due to more and better data; scale-up of trichiasis management services; and reductions in incidence due to lower active trachoma prevalence.

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Purpose: Previous phases of trachoma mapping in Pakistan completed baseline surveys in 38 districts. To help guide national trachoma elimination planning, we set out to estimate trachoma prevalence in 43 suspected-endemic evaluation units (EUs) of 15 further districts. Methods: We planned a population-based trachoma prevalence survey in each EU. Two-stage cluster sampling was employed, using the systems and approaches of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project. In each EU, residents aged ≥1 year living in 30 households in each of 26 villages were invited to be examined by trained, certified trachoma graders. Questionnaires and direct observation were used to evaluate household-level access to water and sanitation. Results: One EU was not completed due to insecurity. Of the remaining 42, three EUs had trichiasis prevalence estimates in ≥15-year-olds ≥0.2%, and six (different) EUs had prevalence estimates of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in 1-9-year-olds ≥5%; each EU requires trichiasis and TF prevalence estimates below these thresholds to achieve elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. All six EUs with TF prevalences ≥5% were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Household-level access to improved sanitation ranged by EU from 6% to 100%. Household-level access to an improved source of water for face and hand washing ranged by EU from 37% to 100%. Conclusion: Trachoma was a public health problem in 21% (9/42) of the EUs. Because the current outbreak of extremely drug-resistant typhoid in Pakistan limits domestic use of azithromycin mass drug administration, other interventions against active trachoma should be considered here. ARTICLE HISTORY

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A study was conducted to see the association of retinoblastoma with age, bilaterism, Tumor size, site, grades, involvement of anterior chamber, iris, ciliary body, choroid, sclera and optic nerve, and extraocular extension. This was a retrospective descriptive analytical study. The records of the Institute of Ophthalmology, King Edward Medical University/Mayo hospital, Lahore: Pakistan January 2006-Dec 2011 was analyzed. Five years biopsies (June 2006 to June 2012) of the retinoblastoma, from the Pathology department, was retrieved to see optic nerve involvement in all the retrieved specimens. The mean age was 3.54 ± 1.686 years. There were 15 cases of bilateral retinoblastoma and 37 cases with unilateral neoplasms. The age range of bilateral tumors was 2 - 6 years while the range in unilateral tumor was 1 - 10 years male to female ratio was 1:1.5. Among 52 cases, 37 (71.2%) patients were unilateral retinoblastoma and 15 (28.28%) patients were with bilateral disease. On radiological examination of patients suffering from retinoblastoma by B-Scan (Ultrasound), there were 33 (63.5%) cases with exophytic presentation while 18 (34.6%) cases showed endophytic morphology. On clinical examinations, 28 patients presented with proptosis of (it was the most common presenting sign in our patients, accounting for about 53.8% of cases), 20 cases presented with leucocoria eye with strabismus. 29/52 patients showed involvement with optic nerve, 17 were from 1 - 3 years age and 12 were from 4 - 6 years. Statistically there was no difference in the involvement of optic nerve, disc involvement and extra ocular extension with the age of patients (p = 0.217). There was also no statistical difference seen in age and gender for but a strong association was seen with patient’s presentation, symptoms and size of the tumors and anterior chamber, iris, ciliary body, choroid, sclera and optic nerve, and extra ocular extension. We concluded that a positive association was seen with tumor size and tumor extension (optic nerve, and extraocular extension). No Association was seen with age, gender and laterality of the tumors.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety profile of combined phacoemulsification with 23G pars plana vitrectomy when compared to pars plana vitrectomy alone in phakic patients.Methods:This study was performed at Al-Ehsan Eye Hospital (tertiary care eye hospital in Lahore, Pakistan) from January 2016 to August 2016. A total of 40 eyes in two equal groups of 20 eyes each, were enrolled in this prospective study. Group-A underwent combined phaco-vitrectomy, whereas Group-B underwent vitrectomy only for various vitreoretinal pathologies. We evaluated the safety of combined surgery, intra-operative and postoperative complications and short term surgical outcome.Results:The most common reason for vitreoretinal intervention was rhegmatogenous retinal detachment followed by vitreous haemorrhage in combined study population. There was statistically significant difference in best corrected visual acuity pre-operatively and post operatively within the groups and between the groups. The most significant immediate post operative observation in Group-A was enhanced anterior chamber inflammation as compared to Group-B, whereas most signification observation in Group-B was development of visually significant cataract (35%) at 6 months follow-up. There was no other significant sequel or complication difference between both groups.Conclusions:Combined phaco-vitrectomy is a safe and effective procedure with minimum complication profile and it avoids the need of subsequent cataract surgery.

Purpose:To evaluate the outcome of scleral buckling surgery using a wide angle non-contact viewing system and chandelier endoillumination for per-operative fundus visualization in patients with non-complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.Materials and Methods:This was a prospective, interventional study carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital Lahore over a period of six months. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was employed. Fifteen eyes of fifteen pati-ents underwent modified scleral buckling procedure for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using a 25G Awh Chandelier (inserted into the sclera through the pars plana) and wide angle viewing system to view the fundus intraoperatively instead of the conventional Indirect Ophthalmoscope.Results:The mean age of the patients in this study group was 41.9 12.4 years. Out of fifteen patients, 13 had flat retinas postoperatively. Two patients had to undergo pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade due to development of retinal detachment secon-dary to PVR.Conclusion:Modified scleral buckling with the con-current use of a chandelier light and wide angle viewing system provides an easier and more convenient means of visualizing the fundus under panoramic viewing conditions intraoperatively.Key Words:Wide angle viewing system. Retinal detachment. Scleral buckling. Endoillumination.