Current Issue : October - December Volume : 2011 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 6 Articles
This study discusses the computation and comparison of the dose distribution around various Gold plaque ophthalmic applicators using Monte Carlo method. The dosimetry of ophthalmic plaques of sizes 12 and 14 mm diameter designed to hold either Ir-192 or I-125 is computed using Monte Carlo code, MCNP. The sources of different configurations are introduced in plaque and the Monte Carlo computed dosimetry is compared with the reported experimental values for two different radioisotopes such as Ir-192 and I-125. Study indicates that suitable source and plaque dimension may be selected depending on the size of the tumor. From this study, it is concluded that for small tumors of sizes less than 1 cm, I-125 may be preferred and for tumors of sizes greater than 1 cm Ir-192 may be used...
Introduction \nRetinitis pigmentosa is clinically characterized by loss of predominantly rod photoreceptor function as well as loss of peripheral vision. The classic clinical triad is considered to be the presence of bone spicule pigmentation in the peripheral retina, arteriolar attenuation, and waxy disc pallor. Cataracts, most commonly of the posterior subcapsular type, are often found in all forms of retinitis pigmentosa. Ectopia lentis and lens dislocation are known risk factors for those with retinitis pigmentosa, presumably secondary to zonular fiber weakness and vitreous degeneration. The post-operative complication of lens dislocation following cataract extraction in patients with retinitis pigmentosa has also been documented.\n \nCase presentation\n We report a case of severe capsular bag contraction with intraocular lens subluxation following cataract extraction in a 58-year-old Hispanic woman with retinitis pigmentosa.\n \nConclusion \nPatients with retinitis pigmentosa undergoing cataract surgery should be notified of this potentially late complication of surgery....
Introduction: Tamoxifen retinopathy is usually diagnosed on fundoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Microcystoid maculopathy associated with tamoxifen was reported previously using a research-grade high resolution Fourierdomain optical coherence tomography (Fd-OCT) in a patient with vision loss unexplained on fundoscopy, fluorescein angiography and Stratus OCT. This report describes two new cases of microcystoid maculopathy diagnosed using commercially available Fd-OCT in patients who have been previously treated with tamoxifen.\n\nCase presentation: Two patients had visual complaints which started while on tamoxifen but persisted or worsened after stopping tamoxifen at least two years earlier. Both patients had normal or near normal visual acuity and fundoscopy. Fluorescein angiography was normal in all but one eye which showed foveal hyperfluorescence. No angiographic cystoid macular edema was noted. Commercially available Fd-OCT (RTVue and Cirrus) showed microcystoid changes in the central macula with patches of loss of photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment junction (IS-OS) near the fovea in all four eyes. The eye with foveal hyperfluorescence on fluorescein angiography had foveal detachment on Fd-OCT in addition which resolved spontaneously on follow-up Fd-OCT nine months later. The microcystoid changes and IS-OS loss persisted on follow-up Fd-OCT.\n\nConclusion: Maculopathy associated with prior tamoxifen use may be detected using commercial Fd-OCT though not evident on fundoscopy or fluorescein angiography. Maculopathy may persist over 2 years after stopping tamoxifen....
Introduction: Surgical fires are rare in ophthalmic surgery. Occurrence poses disastrous risks on the eye and the patient. Mascara can play a role in the occurrence of flash fires in the vicinity of surgical fields by acting as a fuel source.\n\nPurpose: We report a case of thermal burn of eye lashes, eyelid skin and eye brow hair in a patient who was wearing mascara while cautery was applied to her eyelid lesion after excision.\n\nResults: Mascara had caused a spark fire when applying cautery after eyelid lesion excision in a young patient.\n\nConclusion: Surgeons as well as the entire ophthalmic care team should be aware of this incident to try to minimize the risk of thermal injury by working in a make-up free ophthalmic field....
Background \nDiabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with microvascular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR is one of the main causes of visual loss in individuals aged 20-64 years old. This study aims to investigate the independent associations between the stage of DR and a variety of possible risk factors, including years since DM diagnosis, HbA1c levels, the coexistence of hypertension, age and gender.\n \nFindings \n120 patients were recruited in the Department of Internal Medicine, Veroia General Hospital, Veroia, Greece, and the DR stage was defined by an ophthalmologist. Afterwards, the DR association with the aforementioned factors was examined. Univariate and multivariate analysis (multivariate ordinal logistic regression) was performed. At the univariate analysis, there was a positive association between DR severity and age (Spearman's rho = 0.4869, p < 0.0001), years since DM diagnosis (Spearman's rho = 0.6877, p < 0.0001), HbA1c levels (Spearman's rho = 0.6315, p < 0.0001), history of hypertension (2.47 �± 1.37 vs. 0.50 �± 0.80 for patients without hypertension; p < 0.0001) and male sex (2.56 �± 1.41 vs. 2.05 �± 1.45 for female patients; p = 0.045, MWW). All these factors, except for age, retained their statistical significance at the multivariate ordinal logistic model.\n \nConclusions \nYears since DM diagnosis, hypertension, HbA1c levels and male sex are independently associated with severe DR. The effect of age seems to reflect a confounding association....
Background\nThe objective of this study was to ascertain the scoring and assess the psychometric properties of the Eye-Drop Satisfaction Questionnaire (EDSQ), a 43-item Patient-Reported Outcome instrument developed to assess patients' satisfaction and compliance with glaucoma treatment.\n\nMethods\nThe EDSQ was administered during an observational, retrospective study to 184 French patients treated for glaucoma. The hypothesized structure, including six dimensions (patient-clinician relationship; patient experience; patient-treatment interaction; apprehension; patient knowledge; travel), was tested by assessing the internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and construct-related validity (item convergent and discriminant validity). As unsatisfactory results were demonstrated, another structure was defined using a principal component analysis (PCA) combined with content of items. Psychometric properties of this new structure were assessed. Scores were compared between low, moderate and high compliance profile groups defined using data collected with the Travalert electronic device.\n\nResults\nAnalyses were performed with the 169 patients who completed at least half of the EDSQ items. The hypothesized structure showed a Cronbach's alpha lower than 0.70 for four dimensions out of six and an overall poor construct-related validity (range of item-scale correlations: 0.00-0.68). The new structure obtained with the PCA included six dimensions: concern about treatment (five items); concern about disease (two items); satisfaction with patient-clinician relationship (five items); positive beliefs (three items); treatment convenience (three items); and self-declared compliance (three items). A score ranging from 0 to 100 was calculated for each dimension, with higher scores indicating more of the attribute referred to in the dimension. Internal consistency reliability was good (Cronbach's alpha greater than 0.70 for five dimensions). The structure offered good construct-related validity (range of item-scale correlations: 0.36-0.82). Ceiling effects of 21% and 49%, were observed for the satisfaction with patient-clinician relationship and self-declared compliance scores. Patients in low compliance profile group reported the lowest score for the satisfaction with patient-clinician relationship, positive beliefs, treatment convenience and self-declared compliance dimensions, and the highest score for the concern about treatment dimension.\n\nConclusions\nThe scoring of the EDSQ was developed and the questionnaire proved to have satisfactory psychometric properties. EDSQ scores showed a promising relationship to compliance profiles. The EDSQ could be used in future studies.\n \n\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
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