The aim of our study is to measure the concentration of lead, zinc, magnesium and manganese, toxic/transition metals in human lens. The analyzed samples were categorized according to their personal habits (smoking, food, drinking and medical history). Demographic and laboratory characteristics of patients, the patients were twenty six males and twenty females. The comparison of trace elements between patients and control revealed significant increase of lead and manganese levels in patients and significant decrease of magnesium while there was few significant difference in zinc concentration among them.

This study designed to determine the surgical outcome of transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy for the treatment of blocked lacrimal pathway. This is a prospective study of 36 patients admitted in Basrah General Hospital from March 2008 to May 2010. The age of the patients was in range from 6 to 60yrs. Forty five (31.25%) were males and 99(68.75%) were females. All of these cases were unilateral. Thirty three (93.05%) of the total patients were operated general local anesthesia and the rest 3 (6.94%) were under local anesthesia. The overall success rate was 62.5% in non-intubated patients and 93.75% with intubation. It is concluded that Diode Laser Transcanalicular dacryocystorhinostomy is still a new surgical procedure for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and need further refinement of the surgical procedure and studies for evaluation of effectiveness and success.

Background. Currently, diabetic retinopathy (DR) has a wide recognition as a neurovascular rather than a microvascular diabetic complication with an increasing need for enhanced detection approaches. Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEPs) test, as an objective electrophysiological measure of the optic nerve and retinal function, can be of great value in the detection of diabetic retinal changes. Objectives. The use of two sizes of checkerboard PRVEPs testing to detect any neurological changes in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without a clinically detected DR. Also, to compare the results according to the candidate age, duration, and glycemic status of T2DM. Methods. This study included 50 candidates as group A with T2DM and did not have a clinically detected DR and 50 candidates as group B with T2DM and had a clinically detected early DR and 50 candidates as controls who were neither diabetic nor had any other medical or ophthalmic condition that might affect PRVEPs test results. The PRVEPs were recorded in the consultant unit of ophthalmology in Almawani Teaching Hospital. Monocular PRVEPs testing of both eyes was done by using large (60 min) and small (15 min) checks to measure N75 latency and P100 latency and amplitude. Results. There was a statistically significant P100 latency delay and P100 amplitude reduction in both groups A and B in comparison with the controls. The difference between groups A and B was also significant. In both test results of groups A and B, the proportions of abnormal P100 latency were higher than those of P100 amplitude with a higher abnormal proportions in 15 min test. Conclusions. The PRVEP test detected neurological changes, mainly as conductive alterations affecting mostly the foveal region prior to any overt DR clinical changes, and these alterations were heightened by the presence of DR clinical changes.

This study aimed to report the clinical outcome of intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). The study enrolled 20 eyes of 19 patients with persistent diabetic macular edema. Full ocular examination including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), tonometry, retinal examination with +90D lens and average foveal retinal thickness using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) were monitored before and then weekly for up to four weeks after the injection. All eyes received intravitreal triamcinolone acetinide (IVTA) (4 mg/0.1 ml) under topical anesthesia with Proparacaine 0.5% eye drops. BCVA at one week improved by two lines or more in six eyes (30%) and in nine eyes (45%) at four weeks. However, no significant improvement in mean BCVA from baseline was observed at one week (p>0.05) and four weeks (p>0.05). Mean retinal thickness (RT) were 411±179µm at baseline, 349±102µm at one week after the injection (p<0.05), and 380±102µm at four weeks (p>0.05), and 380±159µm at four weeks (p>0.05). One week after the injection, significant regression of macular edema was seen. However recurrence occurred at four weeks. No significant complications such as visual loss, endophthalmitis, significant raise in intraocular pressure or systemic complications developed. In conclusion, no significant changes in BCVA, IOP and RT were observed in the short-term observation after the IVTA. These findings need a larger sample size and a longer term observation to monitor the potential systemic and ocular side effects in Iraqi patients.

Background: Small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a relatively novel refractive procedure introduced to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism using femtosecond technology.Aim: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the predictability, efficacy and safety of SMILE surgery.Setting: The study took place in Alyamama Vision Refractive Center, Baghdad, Iraq.Methods: In this prospective, non-randomised, single-centre clinical study, all patients with myopia or myopic astigmatism underwent the SMILE procedure performed by one surgeon (H.S.S.) with a targeted post-operative refraction of 0 to −0.5 dioptres (D). The procedure was performed using the VisuMax femtosecond platform. Post-operative data, including slit-lamp examination and measurements of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), objective and subjective refraction, and intraocular pressure (IOP), were recorded.Results: A total of 141 eyes of 76 patients (51 females and 25 males) were included in the study. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) (−4.37 D ± 1.65 D) ranged from −2.0 D to −10.25 D after 2 years of follow-up, and the mean post-operative SE (−0.06 D ± 0.18 D) ranged from −0.75 D to 0.63 D. A UCVA of 20/40 or better was noted in 98% of the eyes at the 2-year follow-up. Most of the surgical complications, which were seen in 30 eyes, did not result in permanent visual loss. Corneal abrasion was the most common surgical complication, constituting 10.6% of all complications, followed by adherence of the lenticule to the cap (3.5%).Conclusion: The SMILE procedure is effective with high safety and efficacy, and its complication rate will probably decrease with improvement in the surgeon experience level and refinement of the laser parameters.