INTRODUCTION: Optic atrophy is usually applied to the condition of the disc following degeneration of the optic nerve. The present study was done to explore the epidemiology and causes of optic atrophy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 100 cases of optic atrophy patients with convenience sampling was conducted from 1 July 2012 to 23 September 2012. Clinical history was taken including demography. Visual acuity was taken, pupillary reaction tested and posterior segment examined. Optic atrophy was diagnosed by optic disc examination with slit lamp bio-microscopy with aid of 90D lens. Disc pallor with diminution of vision was used as parameter to diagnose optic atrophy. RESULTS: Out of 100 patients, male were 54%. It was bilateral in 26%. The mean age was 53.6 years (+/-18.11 yrs SD). The highest occurrence was seen in 61-70 yrs age range. Glaucoma was the most common cause of optic atrophy involving 58%. Out of 42% non-glaucomatous optic atrophy, 55% manifested primary optic atrophy, 38% secondary optic atrophy and 7% consecutive optic atrophy. The non-glaucomatous causes were trauma, optic neuritis, central retinal vein occlusion, intracranial space occupying lesions, papilloedema and in nine cases cause was unknown. Socially blind patients comprised of 37%. CONCLUSION: Optic atrophy was nearly equal in occurrence in both male and female and common above 4th decade of life. Glaucoma was commonest cause. Non-glaucomatous optic atrophy was also not uncommon and several causal factors should be considered.Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences (2015) Vol.03 No.02 Issue 10  Page: 26-29

Introduction: There are not many studies of pediatric trauma in Nepal. Therefore, this study was conducted to find out the visual outcome of pediatric traumatic cataract and causes of poor visual acuity. Materials and Methods: In this hospital based prospective study, all children visiting the pediatric department of Lumbini Eye Institute and Research Center with traumatic cataract and visual outcome after surgery from July 2018 to August 2019 were evaluated. A total of 136 children ranging from age (0 months to 15 years) with traumatic cataract were included in the study. Data on age of presentation, sex and diagnosis were collected from clinical charts and analyzed. Results: The study enrolled 136 cases with traumatic cataract. 72.1% male and 27.9% female patients were involved with the average age being 9.46 years (SD 2.95). Final visual acuity was better than 20/60 in 73 percent of the children. Visual acuity was poor in 27 percent of children. In children with poor visual acuity 44 percent of the patients had corneal opacity, 23 percent had retinal detachment and 18 percent had vitreous opacification secondary to trauma. Closed globe injury was seen in 72 percent of children and 28 percent had open globe injury. Conclusion: Male children were more prone to traumatic cataract than female children. Open globe injury with corneal laceration and opacity was the major cause of decreased visual acuity.

Background: Albinism is commonly associated with high refractive errors, but some clinicians are reluctant to prescribe glasses because reduced vision persists due to additional non-refractive visual problems.Aims and Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of glasses in people with oculocutaneous albinism in Nepal.Materials and Methods: People with Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) were prospectively examined through an outreach program of Lumbini Eye Institute, Nepal. Glasses were prescribed to determine the objective improvement in visual acuity (VA) and strabismus. Compliance with spectacles wear was assessed by telephone contact after 3 weeks and categorized as excellent: >75% of awake hours; good: 50–75% of awake hours; fair: 26–50% of awake hours and poor: <25%.Results: Thirty one people (65% male) mean age 18 years (range: 3 to 50) with OCA were examined. Mean refractive correction was –0.40±4.3 diopters spherical equivalents (range: −11.0 to +7.0 D). Mean visual acuity at distance was 0.9±0.28(6/50) corrected and 1.150.31(5/60) uncorrected (P = 0.000) in 62 eyes. Mean neat VA was1.74±0.89M corrected and 2.06±1.20M uncorrected (P = 0.004). Forty eight per cent (15 people) had fusion with or without glasses and one had fusion only with glasses. Compliance was excellent in 52% (16), fair in 26% (8), good in 12% (4), and poor in 10% (3).Conclusion: Providing eye glasses resulted in a clinically and functionally significant improvement in visual acuity and function in people with OCA.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(6) 2017 30-34

Background: Paediatric blindness presents as an enormous problem to developing countries in terms of human morbidity, economic loss and social burden.Aims and Objective: The objective of this study was to observe the visual outcome of congenital and developmental cataract surgery.Materials and Methods: This study was prospective, longitudinal and interventional. The patients aged ≤15 years, diagnosed either congenital or developmental cataract and planned for cataract surgery were enrolled during March 2014 to February 2015 at Lumbini Eye Institute, Nepal. The patients underwent either: a) Lens aspiration + PPC+ Anterior Vitrectomy; b) Lens aspiration + PPC+ Anterior Vitrectomy + PCIOL; c) Lens Aspiration + PCIOL depending upon age of patient. The patients were examined after surgery day 1, day 2, after 2 weeks and after 6 weeks. Glasses were prescribed at 6 weeks from the date of surgery. Occlusion therapy was initiated in cases wherever necessary.Results: A total of 54 eyes of 43 children were included in the study. The sex ratio was 1.26 female per male with mean age of 3 years (SD ± 2.16). In the verbal group, 61.1% (33 eyes) had final visual acuity (6/6-6/18). In the non verbal group, 16.7% (9 eyes) had final visual acuity of good fixation and follow. There was a statistically highly significant improvement in post surgical Best corrected visual acuity (p< 0.001).Conclusion: Good visual outcome after pediatric cataract surgery can be obtained if surgery is performed by skilled surgeon. The awareness of pediatric cataract, early diagnosis and timely intervention to surgical treatment, and postoperative management of residual uncorrected refractive error and amblyopia are important factors for the prevention of childhood blindness from cataract.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.9(2) 2018 36-39

Introduction: Penetrating eye injury is an important cause of visual impairment in pediatric population.Aims and Objectives: To study the epidemiology and visual outcome of penetrating eye injuries in pediatric population presented to Lumbini Eye Institute, the tertiary eye hospital of western Nepal.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Lumbini Eye Institute over a period of one year from June 2014 to May 2015. All patients of penetrating eye injuries up to the age of 15 years were included in the study. The demographics of the patient, cause and duration of injury were recorded. The presenting and final best corrected visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment findings were recorded in specially designed proforma.Results: A total number of 127 children (127 eyes) presented with penetrating eye injuries during a year. The incidence of penetrating eye injury in one year was 127 out of 12927 new patients. Minimum age was 11 months, while the maximum age was 15 years with mean of 7.29 years (SD= ±3.49). Male and female patients were 99 (78%) and 28 (22%) respectively. Involvement of right eye was seen in 69 cases (54.33%) and left eye 58 (45.67%). The most common cause of injury was wooden stick in 55 cases (43.31%) followed by iron wire 12 (9.45%) and the stone 11 (8.66%). Corneal laceration was found in 102 cases (80.31%), scleral laceration in 10 (7.87%) and corneo-scleral laceration in 15 (11.81%). Seventy three percent patients were blind at the time of presentation whereas at discharge 37.63% were blind and 11.43% of patients had visual acuity better than 6/18 at presentation whereas 35.48% had visual acuity better than 6/18 after treatment.Conclusion: Penetrating eye injury is one of the common causes attending Pediatric Ophthalmology Department. Penetrating eye injury is common in male and majority of trauma is caused by wooden stick. The awareness of ocular trauma and its consequences should be increased to reduce incidence of childhood blindness.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(4) 2016 84-87