Timing of Switching to Steroid Implants in Cases of Recalcitrant Diabetic Macular Edema Not Responding to Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Therapy: A Real-World Study.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the timing of the steroid switch on both visual and anatomical outcomes in diabetic macular edema (DME) eyes that have shown an inadequate response to multiple intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. In the treatment of DME, anti-VEGF injections are typically the initial course of action. However, in cases where DME persists despite anti-VEGF treatment, intravitreal dexamethasone implants (Ozurdex, Allergan Inc.

Uncommon fundus presentation of Koolen-De Vries Syndrome in a young boy.

Introduction: Koleen-De Vries syndrome (KDVS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by typical facial features, intellectual disability, cardiac and renal diseases, and ophthalmic manifestations. The syndrome is known to be caused by a microdeletion in the 17q21.31 region, involving multiple genes, including the KANSL1 gene.

Case of Pierson syndrome presented with hyphema,vitrous haemorrhage and subsequent neovascular glaucoma.

Background: Pierson syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that causes congenital nephrotic syndrome, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and several ocular signs. The Pierson syndrome is caused by a mutation of the LAMB2 gene, that encodes laminin beta 2, which is expressed in the glomerular basement membrane, in neuromuscular junctions, and within ocular structures. First described by Pierson et al.

Risk factors associated with sickle cell retinopathy: findings from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) is one of the most important ocular manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD). This study aims to assess the prevalence of SCR in SCD, identify risk factors for its development and progression to proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSCR), and evaluate the potential implications of these results on clinical practice.

Methods: This research is a secondary analysis of patients diagnosed with SCD from the epidemiological, multicenter Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD).

Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Interventions and Medical Practices in Pediatric Otolaryngology: A Narrative Review.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major public health challenge. All types of elective and semi-urgent medical care and procedures have been discontinued during the pandemic to maintain the capacity to care for patients with this disease. The pandemic has had a significant impact on almost every medical field, including pediatric otolaryngology.

Mycophenolate versus Methotrexate in Non-infectious Ocular Inflammatory Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus methotrexate (MTX) in non-infectious ocular inflammatory disease (NIOID).

Methods: The study was performed as per the PRISMA Guidelines. A search identified all studies comparing MMF versus MTX in NIOID.

Giant cell-rich solitary fibrous tumour of the lacrimal gland with prominent angiomatoid cystic changes and an underlying NAB2ex3-STAT6ex18 fusion.

Giant cell-rich solitary fibrous tumour (GCR-SFT) is a rare variant of SFT with a predilection for the orbital region. Despite its hypervascularity, extensive angiomatoid cystic changes are unusual in GCR-SFT and may pose a diagnostic challenge. A 47-year-old man presented with a right eye proptosis and a protruding tumour of several years' duration with recently accelerated tumour growth.

Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst healthcare workers in a COVID-19 designated hospital.

Background: Understanding the risk factors responsible for the increased infection among HCWs can mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 among HCWs and patients alike. The aim of this study is to evaluate factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare Workers.

Methods: Healthcare workers and hospital administrators were asked to participate in this cross-sectional survey study that was conducted in Jaber Al Ahmad Hospital (JAH) between August to October 2020.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Comorbidities of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk Among a Working Population in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects a considerable proportion of adults globally and is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. Given the lack of epidemiologic data on the burden of OSA in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate its prevalence, associated risk factors, and comorbid conditions among a working population in Kuwait. This was a cross-sectional study of a sample of working adults ( = 651) from public institutions in Kuwait.

Demographics, Clinical Characteristics, and Management of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Kuwait: A Single-Center Experience.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) affects predominantly obese females during their reproductive age period. The demographics of this condition has not been studied in Kuwait before. To determine the demographics, clinical features, risk factors, and treatment modalities of IIH in the main neurology tertiary referral hospital in Kuwait and to compare our data with literature.

Nontraumatic Orbital Subperiosteal Hematoma in a Case of Bernard-Soulier Syndrome With Bilateral Pansinusitis.

Orbital subperiosteal hemorrhages are usually due to trauma. However, nontraumatic subperiosteal hemorrhages have also been rarely reported. Here, the authors present a 13-year-old boy with Bernard-Soulier syndrome who presented with right orbital subperiosteal hemorrhage causing optic neuropathy which was surgically drained with full visual recovery.

Risk of relapses during pregnancy among multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Relapse rate in women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is reduced during pregnancy especially in the third trimester according to the previous studies.

Objectives: To measure the annual relapse rate (ARR) in women with MS during pregnancy.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using prospectively collected data from two MS registries in Kuwait and Lebanon.

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis continues to increase in Kuwait.

Background: The national MS registry was established in 2010 to assess the change in epidemiological status. The last reported data of the prevalence and incidence in Kuwait was in 2013.

Objectives: To update the prevalence and incidence rates of MS among Kuwaiti nationals.

Registered blindness in Kuwait - 15 years of dynamic changes.

Purpose: Incidence rate of registered blindness and low vision (IR) among the Kuwaitis from 2005 to 2014 and longitudinal changes since 2000.

Methods: Data of newly certified Kuwaitis with best-corrected visual acuity 0.1 or less or visual field constriction to 20 ° or less in their better eye, aggregated in intervals from 2005 to 2009 and 2010 to 2014 and presented as IR per 100 000 person years of observation by age, gender, severity and leading cause.

Relapse occurrence in women with multiple sclerosis during pregnancy in the new treatment era.

Objective: To determine the rate of relapse occurrence during pregnancy and postpartum.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study using the national multiple sclerosis (MS) registry, pregnant women with relapsing MS were identified. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), including washout periods, were collected.

Effectiveness and Safety of Dimethyl Fumarate Treatment in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Real-World Evidence.

Introduction: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been recently approved as a disease-modifying therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Post-marketing studies are important to confirm what was established in clinical trials.

Objective: To evaluate effectiveness and safety of DMF and to measure the occurrence of lymphopenia in a cohort of MS patients in a clinical setting.

Pars plana vitrectomy versus three intravitreal injections of bevacizumab for nontractional diabetic macular edema. A prospective, randomized comparative study.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) with three, monthly, intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections for refractory diabetic macular edema.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, comparative, interventional study. Forty-four patients were enrolled and randomized in two groups.

The outcome of the Ahmad Glaucoma Valve implantation for refractory glaucoma in Kuwait.

Aim: To assess the outcomes and incidence of postoperative complications of Ahmad Glaucoma Valve implant in eyes with complicated glaucoma performed in Kuwait.

Method: This is a retrospective study done at the Al-Bahar Eye Center in Kuwait. Charts of all patients who underwent Ahmad Glaucoma Valve implant at the Al-Bahar Ophthalmic Center in Kuwait between 2006 and 2009 were reviewed.

Orbital rosai-dorfman disease in a five-year-old boy.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is characterized by histiocytic proliferation and massive cervical lymphadenopathy, although some patients have extra-nodal involvement. We report a case of extranodal RDD in a five-year-old child, initially misdiagnosed as orbital inflammatory disease and treated with oral steroids. A subsequent orbital biopsy three years later confirmed the diagnosis of Rosai Dorfman disease.

The outcome of congenital cataract surgery in Kuwait.

Aim: Congenital cataract is the most common cause of treatable blindness in children and the outcome of congenital cataract surgery has not been studied in Kuwait, so the purpose of this study is to evaluate the visual outcome and the postoperative complications.

Methods: Medical records of children who underwent congenital cataract surgery between September 2000 and December 2008 at Al-Bahar Eye Center, Ministry of Health of Kuwait were retrospectively reviewed. In 100 eyes that fill the inclusion criteria visual acuity and postoperative complications were recorded.

Extended internal limiting membrane peeling in the management of unusually large macular holes.

This study was conducted to determine the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of internal limiting membrane peeling in the management of large macular moles. Two patients whose eyes had macular holes measuring 1,147 and 773 microns in diameter, respectively, were treated by pars plana vitrectomy with extended internal limiting membrane peeling and the injection of long-acting gas. Preoperative and postoperative assessment of the macular holes was done by optical coherence tomography.

Cataract surgery assisted by anterior endoscopy.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopy-assisted phacoemulsification, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and anterior segment manoeuvres like synechiotomy where conventional surgery through a microscope view was not possible due to corneal opacification.

Methods: This is a prospective, non-comparative, case report series of nine consecutive patients who underwent endoscopy-assisted anterior segment surgery in Al Bahar Eye Center in Kuwait. A fused fibre-optic type of endoscope was used to aid in performing phacoemulsification, to identify the position of haptics of IOL and synechiotomy.