Variability of ophthalmology residents' perception toward different major training programs in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: The constant demand for ophthalmologists has nationally resulted in creating more programs in different regions of the kingdom. We have previously reported the overall residents' satisfaction with the current local ophthalmology curriculum and the competency of the ophthalmic training (clinical and surgical) in our local programs in Saudi Arabia compared to international standards. In this study, we aim at comparing the major local training programs and analyze the differences among them aiming at improving our training.

Incidence of posterior capsule opacification following phacoemulsification in patients with uveitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in patients with inactive uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification with acrylic hydrophobic intraocular lens.

Methods: Thus was a retrospective review of 25 consecutive patients (31 eyes) with uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification. A group of 100 patients (140 eyes) without uveitis served as historical controls.

Hydroxychloroquine dosing and toxicity: A real-world experience in Saudi Arabia of 63 patients.

Purpose: To assess the ocular toxicity in patients on high doses of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) per weight, as per the latest American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) screening guidelines for HCQ toxicity.

Methods: This is a multi-center study looking at consecutive patients attending the ophthalmology clinics at a tertiary hospital and a private clinic in Saudi Arabia. A data collection sheet was used to collect patient's information regarding the dose per body weight, duration of HCQ use and any risk factors associated with the use of the medication as per the latest AAO guidelines for HCQ screening.

The Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) Consensus (CON) Group Meeting Proceedings.

An international, expert led consensus initiative was set up by the Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) group to develop systematic, evidence, and experience-based recommendations for the treatment of ocular TB using a modified Delphi technique process. In the first round of Delphi, the group identified clinical scenarios pertinent to ocular TB based on five clinical phenotypes (anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, choroiditis, retinal vasculitis, and panuveitis). Using an interactive online questionnaires, guided by background knowledge from published literature, 486 consensus statements for initiating ATT were generated and deliberated amongst 81 global uveitis experts.

Aqueous penetration of topical tacrolimus.

Purpose: To evaluate the penetration of topical tacrolimus 0.05% into the aqueous humor.

Observations: A total of four patients scheduled for routine cataract surgery were included prospectively.

Topical Tacrolimus in Thygeson Superficial Punctate Keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.02% eye drops in the treatment of patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis.

Methods: Ten consecutive patients with Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis were included retrospectively.

Standardization of Nomenclature for Ocular Tuberculosis - Results of Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) Workshop.

: To standardize a nomenclature system for defining clinical phenotypes, and outcome measures for reporting clinical and research data in patients with ocular tuberculosis (OTB).: Uveitis experts initially administered and further deliberated the survey in an open meeting to determine and propose the preferred nomenclature for terms related to the OTB, terms describing the clinical phenotypes and treatment and reporting outcomes.: The group of experts reached a consensus on terming uveitis attributable to tuberculosis (TB) as tubercular uveitis.

Assessment of Ophthalmology Residency Programs in Saudi Arabia: A Trainee-Based Survey.

Purpose: To assess the satisfaction and competency of Saudi ophthalmology residents and compare their performance against International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) standards.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey of senior ophthalmology residents (postgraduate years [PGY] 3-4) and recent graduates (from 2010 to 2015) assessed various aspects of training. The questionnaire was sent to the participants and was divided into 3 main domains: demographics, training program evaluation, and preparedness for board exams and clinical practice.

Initial misdiagnosis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Purpose: To report the initial misdiagnosis of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods: The medical records of 76 consecutive patients diagnosed with VKH disease were reviewed retrospectively at The Eye Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients were referred to The Eye Center from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

Topical tacrolimus in anterior segment inflammatory disorders.

Immune mediated inflammatory anterior segment diseases are variable and their management requires intense immunosuppression. Treatment with topical steroids is associated with serious ocular side effects. In order to overcome the potentially blinding complications of topical steroids, immunomodulatory drugs are being used more frequently.

Intravitreal Antiangiogenic Therapy of Uveitic Macular Edema: A Review.

Uveitic (or inflammatory) macular edema (UME) is one of the most common cause of visual impairment in patients with uveitis and the most frequent structural complication of uveitis. The use of antiangiogenic agents in the management of macular edema due to inflammation is a fairly new approach. It is not entirely clear if these agents should be used as an adjunct to anti-inflammatory therapy or if they can be used as stand-alone agents in edema due to infections where immunosuppressive therapy could be detrimental to the resolution of infection.

Topical tacrolimus solution in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome-1-associated keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of topical tacrloimus eye drops in the treatment of keratitis associated with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS)-1.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 10 patients with APS-1. The patients were treated with topical tacrolimus 0.

Efficacy of topical cysteamine in nephropathic cystinosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of topical cysteamine 0.55% eye drops in the treatment of corneal cystine crystal deposits in patients with nephropathic cystinosis.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with nephropathic cystinosis were prospectively included in the study.

Selective and complementary use of Optical Coherence Tomography and Fluorescein Angiography in retinal practice.

The current field of posterior pole and retinal imaging of the human eye has expanded into detailed analyses of the macula, retinal periphery, individual retinal layers, vitreoretinal interface, imaging of the choroid and the optic nerve head. The challenge in retinal imaging is the enduring pursuit of deeper penetration into tissues, increased resolution to the cellular level, and interpretation of observations. How much deeper can we go and with what resolution and reproducibility? These are fundamental questions for experts in search of novel imaging modalities.

Ocular findings in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease. Ocular complications occur in up to one-third of patients with SLE. The ocular findings may represent the initial manifestation of the disease and may lead to severe ocular morbidity and loss of vision.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose topical tacrolimus in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical low-dose tacrolimus (0.01%) solution in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 62 consecutive patients with VKC refractory to conventional treatment were included retrospectively.

Associations of Systemic Diseases with Intermediate Uveitis.

Purpose: To determine the associations of systemic diseases with intermediate uveitis.

Methods: The medical records of 50 consecutive cases with intermediate uveitis referred to The Eye Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed. Age- and sex-matched patients without uveitis served as controls.

Polymerase chain reaction in unilateral cases of presumed viral anterior uveitis.

Background And Objectives: Anterior uveitis is the most common form of intraocular inflammation. The main aim of this study was to determine the viral etiology in patients with unilateral cases of anterior uveitis.

Patients And Methods: A total of 12 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of idiopathic unilateral anterior uveitis were included prospectively.

Clinical manifestations and outcome of tuberculous sclerokeratitis.

Aim: To study the clinical manifestations and outcome of patients with tuberculous sclerokeratitis treated with antituberculous therapy without concomitant use of systemic steroids.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of eight consecutive patients with tuberculous sclerokeratitis. Patients were treated unsuccessfully with topical and/or systemic steroids.

Isolated Optic Disc Tuberculosis.

We present a healthy male subject who developed progressive visual loss in the left eye initially diagnosed as optic neuritis. Upon suspicion of infectious etiology, testing was positive for tuberculosis. There were no signs or symptoms of active systemic tuberculosis infection.

Optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of scleritis and episcleritis.

Purpose: To describe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in eyes with active anterior scleritis and compare the findings to those with episcleritis and normal controls.

Design: Prospective evaluation of a diagnostic test.

Methods: We included a total of 30 eyes of 30 patients with unilateral anterior scleral or episcleral inflammation.

Eye and Periocular Skin Involvement in Herpes Zoster Infection.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is a clinical manifestation of the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and is more common in people with diminished cell-mediated immunity. Lesions and pain correspond to the affected dermatomes, mostly in first or second trigeminal branch and progress from maculae, papules to vesicles and form pustules, and crusts. Complications are cutaneous, visceral, neurological, ocular, but the most debilitating is post-herpetic neuralgia.