Microbial keratitis in Southern Malawi: a microbiological pilot study.

Objective: Microbial keratitis (MK) is a significant cause of blindness in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the feasibility of using a novel corneal impression membrane (CIM) for obtaining and processing samples by culture, PCR and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in patients presenting with suspected MK in Malawi.

Methods And Analysis: Samples were collected from patients presenting with suspected MK using a 12 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene CIM disc.

Potential new fluoroquinolone treatments for suspected bacterial keratitis.

Topical fluoroquinolones (FQs) are an established treatment for suspected microbial keratitis. An increased FQ resistance in some classes of bacterial pathogens is a concern. Some recently developed FQs have an extended spectrum of activity, making them a suitable alternative for topical ophthalmic use.

Bacterial keratitis: identifying the areas of clinical uncertainty.

Bacterial keratitis is a common corneal infection that is treated with topical antimicrobials. By the time of presentation there may already be severe visual loss from corneal ulceration and opacity, which may persist despite treatment. There are significant differences in the associated risk factors and the bacterial isolates between high income and low- or middle-income countries, so that general management guidelines may not be appropriate.

An Evaluation of a Simplified Impression Membrane Sampling Method for the Diagnosis of Microbial Keratitis.

The purpose of this study was to compare bacterial isolation rate using a corneal impression membrane (CIM) and a sharp instrument for obtaining corneal samples from patients with suspected microbial keratitis (MK). Data was retrospectively collected for all patients that had corneal samples taken for presumed MK between May 2014 and May 2020. Prior to May 2017 samples were collected by scraping the edges of the ulcer with a blade.

Long-term outcomes of viscocanalostomy and phaco-viscocanalostomy in patients with narrow angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To assess the outcomes of viscocanalostomy and phaco-viscocanalostomy in patients with narrow angle glaucoma at a single tertiary eye centre.

Method: All patients undergoing viscocanalostomy for narrow angle glaucoma between June 2010 and June 2017 with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were included. Data was analysed from a prospectively maintained surgical outcome database.

Standard automated perimetry using size III and size V stimuli in advanced stage glaucoma: an observational cross-sectional comparative study.

Objectives: In this study, we sought to evaluate the extent of further visual field that could be assessed when using stimulus size V in standard automated perimetry compared with size III in advanced stage glaucoma and whether cut-off values could be determined for when to switch from size III to size V.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Single-centre outpatient eye clinic in India (New Delhi).

Deep sclerectomy and trabeculectomy augmented with Mitomycin C: 2-year post-operative outcomes.

Purpose: Two-year post-operative outcomes of both deep sclerectomy (DS) and trabeculectomy surgery (Trab) augmented with Mitomycin C (MMC) at a single tertiary eye centre.

Methods: Retrospective review of DS + MMC and trabeculectomy + MMC at a single centre between February 2015 and March 2018. Patients with a minimum of 12-month follow-up were included.

Keratitis: Incidence, Pathophysiology, Risk Factors and Novel Strategies for Treatment.

Bacterial keratitis is a devastating condition that can rapidly progress to serious complications if not treated promptly. Certain causative microorganisms such as and are notorious for their resistance to antibiotics. Resistant bacterial keratitis results in poorer outcomes such as scarring and the need for surgical intervention.

16S Ribosomal RNA PCR Versus Conventional Diagnostic Culture in the Investigation of Suspected Bacterial Keratitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare conventional diagnostic culture (CDC) to 16S ribosomal RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for diagnosing bacterial keratitis.

Methods: Samples collected from 100 consecutive patients presenting to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital with bacterial keratitis were processed using CDC and 16S PCR analysis.

Results: The overall detection rate using both methods was 36%.

Recurrent microbial keratitis and endogenous site Staphylococcus aureus colonisation.

This study investigated Staphylococcus aureus carriage in patients with microbial keratitis (MK). 215 patients with MK, 60 healthy controls and 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were included. Corneal scrapes were collected from patients with MK.

Octopus 900 Automated Kinetic Perimetry versus Standard Automated Static Perimetry in Glaucoma Practice.

: The presence of central visual field loss does not infer the extent of peripheral visual field loss. In advanced stage glaucoma, we evaluated whether automated kinetic perimetry provided additional visual field information to that of central static perimetry. : We undertook a prospective cross-sectional study of advanced-stage glaucoma defined as stages 3-4.

Use of a corneal impression membrane and PCR for the detection of herpes simplex virus type-1.

. To investigate the use of a corneal impression membrane (CIM) for the detection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in suspected herpes simplex keratitis (HSK)..

Metagenomics in ophthalmology: current findings and future prospectives.

Less than 1% of all microorganisms of the available environmental microbiota can be cultured with the currently available techniques. Metagenomics is a new methodology of high-throughput DNA sequencing, able to provide taxonomic and functional profiles of microbial communities without the necessity to culture microbes in the laboratory. Metagenomics opens to a 'hypothesis-free' approach, giving important details for future research and treatment of ocular diseases in ophthalmology, such as ocular infection and ocular surface diseases.

Effect of storage time and temperature on the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acanthamoeba and Herpes Simplex Virus from corneal impression membranes.

The effect of storage time and temperature on the recovery of pathogen DNA from polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) was investigated. PTFE impression membranes were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) or Acanthamoeba and stored at -70 °C, -20 °C, +4 °C or +35 °C. PCR was performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7 and months 1, 3 and 10 post-inoculation.