Patients with ocular infections are at increased risk of vision impairment and may require immediate medical care to preserve their vision. Management of ocular bacterial infections has evolved in recent years and includes a pragmatic selection of broad-spectrum antibiotics based on the causative bacteria. Nevertheless, the treatment of bacterial ocular infections is increasingly becoming a challenge, as the causative bacterium acquires resistance to antibiotics through intrinsic and acquired methods. From an Indian perspective, along with the challenges of antibiotic resistance, there are other factors such as lack of knowledge on epidemiology, and lack of data on local susceptibility patterns of ocular pathogens that have significant impact on the management of ocular infections. This narrative review summarizes the available knowledge on prescribing antibiotics for five common ocular infections in India. It further highlights the significance of the understanding of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns across India as a cornerstone to promote rational use of ocular antibiotics. This review indicates that large-scale antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies can facilitate the synchronization of ophthalmic antimicrobial prescription policies with local antibiotic resistance patterns. Further, establishment of an antimicrobial stewardship program in ophthalmology can potentially increase the efficacy of diagnostic tools, and implement earlier adoption of effective antibiotics. Overall, this review provides consolidated information and key considerations for treatment decision-making of common ocular infections in India.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its risk factors among diabetic patients in rural and urban West Bengal (WB).
Methods:
Patients were screened in the physician's clinic by a team of ophthalmologist, optometrist and counsellor. Demographic details, diabetic control, compliance to eye checkup, awareness regarding diabetic blindness, and visual acuity were recorded using a questionnaire. DR was graded both by indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photo taken with a portable fundus camera.
Results:
A total of 1553 subjects were screened over 39 camps across 14 districts of WB over 17 months. The prevalence of DR was 21.51%, with a significant difference between rural (26.55%) and urban (13.89%) areas (
P
< 0.01). No significant difference with gender was seen (
P
= 0.99). Presence and grade of DR were related to age, loss of vision, diabetic age, diabetic control, awareness of diabetic blindness and last eye checkup.
Conclusion:
This study provides the first major prevalence data from WB, and gives valuable insight regarding modifiable risk factors for DR. It is also the first DR study in India to be conducted in the physician's clinic. The study results emphasise the need to “fix the missing link” between ophthalmologists and treating physicians to win the battle against DR.
An 84-year-old gentleman underwent uneventful femtolaser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) with an arcuate keratotomy (AK) in the left eye. On the 18th post-operative day, a corneal infiltrate developed involving the AK. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the organism isolated on culture. The infiltrate resolved with topical fortified vancomycin and amikacin eyedrops, and the patient regained a visual acuity of 6/6 after 12 weeks. This is the first case from south-east Asia reported in the literature of an infective infiltrate along a femtosecond laser AK. We propose strict peri-operative recommendations to be followed to prevent and treat such infections.
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