Role of epigenetics in corneal health and disease.

Epigenetics plays a vital role in corneal health and diseases. Epigenetic changes regulate the expression of genes by altering the accessibility of chromatin via histone modifications, DNA methylation and miRNAs without altering DNA sequence. Ocular trauma and infections are common causes of corneal damage, vision impairment, and mono/bilateral blindness worldwide.

Choroidal thickness in thyroid eye disease and its correlation with disease activity.

Context: This study adds to the existing body of literature on the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters in active thyroid eye disease (TED) among the Indian population.

Purpose: Comparison of choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in active and inactive TED.

Settings And Design: An observational, cross-sectional analytical study conducted at a tertiary eye care hospital in North India that included patients with active and inactive TED.

A unique case of bilateral nanophthalmos and pigmentary retinal abnormality with unilateral angle closure glaucoma and optic disc pit.

Background: Microophthalmos or 'dwarf eye' is characterized by an axial length 2 standard deviation less than age-matched controls. It is classified into nanophthalmos, relative anterior microphthalmos, and posterior microphthalmos based on the anterior segment: posterior segment ratio. Nanophthalmos can occur in association with optic disc drusen, foveoschisis, and retinitis pigmentosa, as an autosomal recessive syndrome linked to mutations in the MFRP gene.

An innovative approach of bioremediation in enzymatic degradation of xenobiotics.

Worldwide, environmental pollution due to a complex mixture of xenobiotics has become a serious concern. Several xenobiotic compounds cause environmental contamination due to their severe toxicity, prolonged exposure, and limited biodegradability. From the past few decades, microbial-assisted degradation (bioremediation) of xenobiotic pollutants has evolved as the most effective, eco-friendly, and valuable approach.

Bilateral multiple iridociliary cysts causing secondary pigment dispersion.

Primary epithelial iris cysts are benign innocuous lesions, which are mostly bilateral and asymptomatic in nature. They can lead to creeping angle closure, when the angle progressively narrows due to age-associated changes. This photoessay, herewith, signifies the dual importance of identifying minute bumpy elevations in the iris by a thorough slit lamp examination as well as the use of ultrasound biomicroscopy in patients presenting with creeping angle closure, frequently misdiagnosed in the primary angle closure disease spectrum.

Systemic immunosuppressive therapies for uveitis in developing countries.

There are multiple approaches to inhibit inflammatory molecules and pathways in noninfectious uveitis. The cornerstone of local and systemic anti-inflammatory treatment is corticosteroid therapy. Corticosteroids remain the most potent and efficacious drugs for treating intraocular inflammation.

Extra-large V pattern in exotropia: a rare case and its management.

V pattern arises when the eyes diverge more in up-gaze, as compared to down-gaze, leading to vertical gaze incomitance of a horizontal strabismus. In most cases, the magnitude of V pattern is small to moderate, and a single surgical procedure for the same is enough to correct it. We describe a rare case where an extra-large V pattern (>60 Prism Dioptres (PD)) was present along with large exotropia (70 PD).

Accuracy of noncycloplegic refraction performed at school screening camps.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare noncycloplegic refraction performed in school camp with that performed in eye clinic in children aged 6-16 years.

Methods: A prospective study of children with unaided vision <0.2 LogMAR who underwent noncycloplegic retinoscopy (NCR) and subjective refraction (SR) in camp and subsequently in eye clinic between February and March 2017 was performed.

Managing multiple caterpillar hair in the eye.

Ophthalmia nodosa with vitreoretinal involvement is rare and may cause permanent loss of eye due to persistent inflammation of the eye. A young female patient having multiple caterpillar hair in the eye including cornea, anterior chamber, sclera, and pars plana presented with recurrent vitritis and pars planitis. Ultrasound biomicroscopy played a vital role and helped in localizing the hair embedded in the pars plana region which were managed by pars plana vitrectomy leading to complete recovery.

Appraising the spectrum of firework trauma and the related laws during Diwali in North India.

Purpose: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of ocular injuries resulting from the use of firecrackers during the Diwali festival in all age groups.

Materials And Methods: A single-center, retrospective, hospital-based case series presenting with ocular trauma consequent to fireworks usage in a tertiary eye care center in North India during the 5 days of Diwali festival from 2011 to 2015 was conducted.

Results: A total of 53 eyes of 45 patients were included in the study, out of which the vast majority (39/87%) were males.