Background. A corneal ulcer is a major cause of monocular blindness in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Its etiology varies based on its geographical location and climatic conditions. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to assess the clinical and microbiological profile of suspected bacterial and fungal corneal ulcers at the Tertiary Eye Care and Training Centre at Gondar University. Methods. A cross-sectional hospital-based study of corneal ulcer cases was performed from February to October 2019. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Corneal scrapings were used to classify bacterial and fungal pathogens. The specimens were inoculated on BHI media and sub-cultured on culture media for the separate cultivation of bacteria and fungi. Biochemical tests have been carried out to classify bacteria. Following CLSI, the antimicrobial resistance pattern of bacterial isolates was carried out. Wet mounting, Lactophenol cotton blue staining, and colony characteristics on SDA were used to classify fungal species. The data were analyzed with version 20 of the SPSS. Results. A total of 30 suspected bacterial and fungal keratitis patients have been enrolled in this study. The visual acuity presented in 90% of the affected eyes was in the category of blindness (<3/60). In 71% of the cases, clinically presumed risk factors were identified. Trauma was the most common risk factor found in 46% of cases, followed by keratitis exposure (13%). Of the corneal scrape tests, 76.6% were positive for bacteria and fungi. Fungi were identified in 53.3% of corneal ulcers followed by 33.3% of bacterial growth. The commonest fungi and bacteria isolated were Aspergillus species (69%) and S. aureus, respectively. The prevalence of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 2 (40%). The identified Pseudomonas species were susceptible to Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin but resistant to Ceftriaxone. Conclusion. The primary microbial agents for corneal ulcers were fungi, and trauma was the most significant risk factor associated with corneal ulcers. To avoid chronic ocular morbidity and blindness, early identification of the etiologic agent and the provision of adequate management are recommended.

Background. For so long, corneal diseases have been known as one of the leading causes to blindness in the global. is blindness might be due to failure to accept the corneal transplantation.erefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and the root challenges for corneal transplantation acceptance at the University of Gondar tertiary eye care and training center, Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who had an indication for corneal transplantation at the University of Gondar tertiary eye care and training center since January 1, 2017, up to October 30, 2018. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data and entered into Epi-Info 7 software and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Simple logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of corneal transplantation acceptance. Associations between outcome and exposure variables were expressed by the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p value <0.05. Result. A total of 116 patients with a mean age of 51 (±21) years participated in the study. e overall acceptance level of corneal transplantation was only 38.8% (95% CI: 29.93, 47.66). Patients with poor knowledge [AOR � 2.41; 95% CI: 1.90, 6.48] and an unfavorable attitude [AOR � 6.33; 95% CI: 2.42, 16.54] were significantly associated with the acceptance of corneal transplantation. Conclusion. e study revealed that the corneal transplantation acceptance level was very low. Hence, the government and other concerned stakeholders should give due emphasis to the awareness creation and behavior change communication strategies to increase the acceptance level of corneal transplantation.

Background: Head injuries rank high among morbidities due to trauma. Computerized tomography is an important modality in the investigation of these cases. However, there is no literature on the importance of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of head injury in Ethiopia. This study therefore is aimed to document the computerized tomographic features of patients with head injury managed at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study involving 96 patients with head injury who had CT scan of the head in the UOG hospital over a 12-month period. Results: Most of the patients were male (74%).  Majority (58%) were in the age range of 20 to 40 years with a mean age of 31yrs. The most common abnormal findings were skull fracture (52%) and intracerebral hemorrhage and contusions (51%). It is followed by subdural hemorrhage (33%) soft tissue swelling 32% and epidural hemorrhage 10%. Conclusion:  Skull fracture and intra cerebral hemorrhage were the most common abnormal findings. This study has demonstrated the importance of CT scan in the evaluation of head injury by giving visibility of intracranial post traumatic injuries in a high proportion of patients which would be difficult to reach in to diagnosis clinically or using skull radiography alone. This obviously will have a significant role in improving patient management. Taking this in to account expansion of CT scan service for moderate to severe head injury patients is recommended in Ethiopia. 

Background: Precise measurement of the radius of curvature [K (mm)] and axial length (AL) of the eye are vital for a good outcome of a cataract extraction surgery. Average values of these dimensions of the optical components depend on race, age and gender. Although there are a number of studies that describe these mean parameters in the Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian populations, there has been little attention given to the African population. Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the biometric parameters of patients who had cataract surgery at University of Gondar (UoG), Tertiary eye care and training centre. Materials and methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was done on patients who visited UoG Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center for cataract extraction surgery. Righton retinomax K plus 3 autorefractor,(Hutama Medical, Indonesia) and Pac Scan 300A contact A scan ultrasound, (Sonomed Escalon, NY, USA) were used to measure K (mm) and AL and calculate intraocular lens (IOL) power, respectively. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, then entered to SPSS version 25 statistical software and analyzed. Result: A total of 838 eyes (433 right eyes and 405 left eyes) of 486 of patients were included in this study. The mean age was 62.5 (SD12.88) years. The mean K1 and K2 were 7.75 (SD0.38) mm and 7.48 (SD 0.33) mm, respectively. The mean average of K1 and K2 (AVK) was 7.61 (SD0.33) mm. The mean AL measured was 23.06 (SD 1.05) mm and the mean Intraocular Lens (IOL) power calculated was 21.12 (SD 2.95) D. Significant difference in mean AVK and mean AL of the eye exists between male and female patients, p value =0.000. Conclusion: This study provides the mean values of radius of curvature of cornea, axial length of the eye and IOL power of patients who were about to undergo cataract extraction surgery at the study center. Male patients had steeper corneas and longer axial lengths than females. But age had a variable effect on both AVK and AL.