From this study we determined the most important prognostic factor in zone III open globe injuries is the presenting acuity. Other prognostic factors associated with a poor final outcome are eyelid injury, iris deformity, lens damage, ocular hypotonia, coexisting injuries and low ocular trauma score (< or =2). Posterior open eye injuries were most commonly owing to metal entering the eyes of young men.

No abstract

Anemia due to iron deficiency is the most prevalent form of micronutrient malnutrition in the world, however, the causal relationship between anemia and infection remains unclear. We examined prospectively, the association between anemia and infection among Bedouin infants. We recruited 293 families and newborns from the Bedouin population, which is ongoing major lifestyle changes, during the periods of 1989-1992 and 1994-1997 and followed them to age 18 months. The number of diarrhea and respiratory disease episodes as well as total days of diarrhea were ascertained weekly. Hemoglobin levels were obtained at age 6 months. Additional data on feeding practices, environmental, household and demographic characteristics were obtained throughout the 18 months. Diarrhea before 6 months of age was found to be a risk factor for diarrhea after that age. After controlling for early morbidity < 6 months, anemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) at 6 months was an independent risk factor for diarrhea and respiratory illness from 7 to 18 months of age. This associations remained significant even after controlling, in addition, for environmental and socio-economic factors. In the multivariable models, anemia at age 6 months increased the risk for diarrhea after that age by 2.9-fold (95% confidence interval 1.6 - 5.3; p = 0.001) and that of respiratory disease by 2-fold (1.1 - 3.7; p = 0.03). Our findings suggest that anemia may increase the rates of infections in toddlers. The possibility that reducing anemia in infants may be a preventive measure to lower disease burden from infectious disease in this and other vulnerable populations should be tested in further studies.

Our data provide additional evidence that childhood-onset Type I diabetes carries an increased mortality risk when compared with the mortality risk of the non-diabetic population.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) increase soon after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) treatments in the anterior segment has been reported. To evaluate this complication in a large sample of patients, we conducted a retrospective study of all Nd:YAG treatments during three years. Three hundred forty capsulotomies and 212 iridotomies were performed with the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. An IOP elevation of 10 mm Hg or more within two hours of laser surgery was seen in 15 eyes (4.4%) that had a capsulotomy but in 45 eyes (21.2%) that had an iridotomy. In 13 of the 15 eyes in which the IOP increased after capsulotomy, additional risk factors (glaucoma, high myopia, aphakia) were found. Our results indicate that posterior capsulotomy with the Nd:YAG laser in otherwise healthy, pseudophakic eyes is usually not accompanied by immediate IOP elevation. Elevation can be predicted by risk factors and therefore anticipated in a small group of vulnerable patients.

Objectives To report central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements on patients requesting refractive surgery and to search for possible associations between CCT and patient's origin, age, sex, and preoperative data. Patients of North African origin were significantly older than patients of other origins (P ¼ 0.028). No differences were found when comparing for sex, intraocular pressure, refractive status, and keratometry. When multivariate analysis was performed patient's origin was the only independently associated factor associated with CCT. Conclusions This is the first work in reporting lower CCT in people of North African origin examined in a refractive surgery centre. Studies from similar populations are needed to confirm our results.

No abstract

Short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab is well tolerated and associated with improvement in VA, decreased CRT, and decreased lesion size in most patients. The most important predictors of final VA outcomes were baseline VA and no previous PDT treatment. Further evaluation of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of subfoveal neovascular AMD is warranted.