Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the analysis of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal (NP) samples of cornea donors dying because of causes unrelated to severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cornea donors dying from causes other than SARS-CoV-2 between August 2020 and December 2020 was performed. Informed consent was obtained from the next of kin of the deceased for RT-PCR testing from NP swabs. Rapid antigen testing from all the deceased was performed before in situ cornea excision. In addition, NP samples in viral transport media for RT-PCR were also collected for SARS-CoV-2 analysis. Corneas were released from the eye bank only after a negative RT-PCR report. Result: One hundred eighteen corneas from 59 donors were obtained by the eye bank. Eleven donors (18.64%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR testing. Six of these 11 donors had a Ct value of E gene less than 25. Conclusions: NP samples of cornea donors dying due to causes other than coronavirus disease-19 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR. This implicates that donors could be having asymptomatic/undetected coronavirus disease infection. We recommend adding the routine testing of NP samples of all cornea donors in the eye banking protocol in this ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Aim: To study the role of omega fatty acids as an adjuvant therapy in treatment of amblyopia. Methods: This prospective, randomized, interventional study included thirty two patients aged 5-12 years of age with unilateral amblyopia or bilateral amblyopia. One group (A) of sixteen patients were prescribed occlusion therapy and the other group (B) received 1000 mg per day of omega fatty acids along with occlusion for a period of three months. Follow-up assessments included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (both distance and near) and stereoacuity measurements at 1 week and end of three months. Results: The mean age of the patients was 8.68 ± 1.55 years. The mean baseline visual acuity for distance was 0.85 ± 0.071 Log MAR equivalent for Group A and 0.81 ± 0.073 Log MAR eq for Group B. At the end of therapy, the mean visual acuity was 0.48 ± 0.91 Log MAR eq and 0.40 ± 0.20 Log MAR equivalent for Group A and B respectively. There was statistically significant improvement in vision within Group A (p value-0.0008) and Group B (p value-0.0001). When both groups were compared, the results were insignificant (p value-0.373). Conclusion: Omega fatty acids improve visual acuity in patients with amblyopia and maintain improved visual acuity but there is no additional benefit when compared to patching alone. This study encourages further research on this subject.
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