Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis: Confocal Microscopy Features of Delayed-Onset Disease.

Objective: Diffuse lamellar keratitis is a fairly uncommon complication of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) that usually occurs within 1 week of surgery. It is described as an inflammatory reaction in the lamellar interface characterized by a diffuse, white granular lamellar keratitis. Progression of the keratitis can result in scarring and significant visual loss.

Late-onset capsular block syndrome: unusually delayed presentation.

Capsular block syndrome (CBS) has been known to occur as a rare complication of cataract surgery with continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and a posterior-chamber lens implant. Typically, it presents with reduced vision in the early postoperative period and is characterised by a forward displacement of the posterior-chamber intra-ocular lens and an accumulation of intra-capsular opaque material. Management of CBS is usually by Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.

Acute fractures of the scaphoid bone: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The scaphoid fractures account for 50%-80% of all carpal bone fractures in young individuals. Non-union of the fracture occurs in approximately 5%-10% of undisplaced scaphoid fractures. Current management varies significantly among different places and surgeons.

The relationship of Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) to Thinnest Central Cornea (TCC) in healthy adults.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to precisely quantify the relationship between the central corneal points, namely the pupillary centre and the thinnest point in the central cornea, in terms of their thickness and location in healthy adults.

Methods: 120 eyes of 60 healthy adult volunteers underwent pachymetry with a Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam). The thickness at the pupillary centre (Central Corneal Thickness, CCT) and the thickness at the Thinnest Central Corneal (TCC) point were measured.

A case of lower lid ulcer secondary to reverse migration of silicone punctal plug.

Silicone punctal plugs are effective and relatively safe method of managing keratoconjunctivitis sicca. We present a case where a silicone punctal plug migrated to cause aseptic necrosis of the surrounding tissue leading to a lid ulcer.

Quality analysis of patient information about knee arthroscopy on the World Wide Web.

Purpose: This study was designed to ascertain the quality of patient information available on the World Wide Web on the topic of knee arthroscopy.

Methods: For the purpose of quality analysis, we used a pool of 232 search results obtained from 7 different search engines. We used a modified assessment questionnaire to assess the quality of these Web sites.

Critical analysis of outcome measures used in the assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Clinicians and researchers are confounded by the various outcome measures used for the assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In this study, we critically analysed the conceptual framework, validity, reliability, responsiveness and appropriateness of some of the commonly used CTS outcome measures. Initially, we conducted an extensive literature search to identify all of the outcome measures used in the assessment of CTS patients, which revealed six different carpal tunnel outcome measures [Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ), Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM), clinical rating scale (Historical-Objective (Hi-Ob) scale) and Upper Extremity Functional Scale (UEFS)].

The role of nurse practitioners in a primary care eye clinic.

This paper reports on a study conducted to audit the practice of nurse practitioners in a primary care eye clinic at St Paul's Eye Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK. The clinic deals with ophthalmic accidents and emergencies and routine referral patients from general practitioners. This was a prospective study of the case notes of 250 consecutive patients who attended the clinic without prior appointment.

Stabilisation of diabetic retinopathy following simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant.

Background/aims: Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) has become an important option in selected IDDM patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Successful SPK transplants are associated with long term normoglycaemic control and improved quality of life. However, debate still continues on the benefit to patients in terms of stabilisation or amelioration of diabetic retinopathy.

Measurement of axial length in the calculation of intraocular lens power.

Purpose: Accurate measurement of ocular axial length is essential for accurate intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation. Although it is common practice to average several axial length measurements to improve accuracy, it has been suggested that a single high-quality A-scan ultrasonographic measurement is adequately accurate owing to the high test-retest reliability of A-scan biometry. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of a single high-quality A-scan measurement with that of the average of three acceptable measurements in the calculation of IOL power.

Comparison of 18% ethanol and mechanical debridement for epithelial removal before photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: To assess the safety of alcohol compared to mechanical debridement for epithelial removal prior to photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods: Forty-one second eyes of 41 patients underwent epithelial removal using alcohol prior to PRK with a Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser. The results were compared with the results of the 41 first eyes of the same patients that had mechanical debridement.

A study on the usefulness of counter immuno-electrophoresis for the detection of Salmonella typhi antigen in the sera of suspected cases of enteric fever.

Counter immuno-electrophoresis (CIE) was used to detect the presence of Salmonella typhi antigen and antibodies in the sera of 123 suspected cases of enteric fever. Of these, 68 had been incompletely treated with various antibiotics before establishing the diagnosis. The sera of 31 (25%) of the 123 cases showed the presence of S.