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Biomedical subjects

Nikhil Pal

Publications and source records attributed to Nikhil Pal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Retinopathy of prematurity screening by non-retinologists.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the screening efficiency of general ophthalmologists (ophthalmic residents) as well as non-ophthalmologists (pediatric residents and nurses posted in neonatal intensive care unit) in screening (ROP) retinopathy of prematurity on the basis of posterior pole vascular changes. METHODS: Prospective consecutive review in a tertiary care hospital setting. Five groups (each comprising of one ophthalmic resident, one pediatric resident and a nurse) examined the posterior pole vessels of 200 eyes of ROP with a direct ophthalmoscope and compared with an ROP specialist using indirect ophthalmoscope. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science), version 10.0 was used for the analysis. RESULTS: Ophthalmic residents findings were: (sensitivity 95.68%, specificity 92.85%, positive predictive value 94.81%, negative predictive value 93.97%; pediatric residents findings were : (sensitivity 92.24%, specificity 88.09%, positive predictive value 91.45%, negative predictive value 89.15%); and nurses, finding were: (sensitivity 88.79%, specificity 85.71%, positive predictive value 89.56%, and negative predictive value 84.70%). The results had no statistically significant difference in diagnostic reliability. Kappa agreement analysis was significant for ophthalmic residents (0.887), pediatric residents (0.805) and nurses (0.744) compared with the ROP specialist. None of the children diagnosed with pre-threshold or threshold ROP was thought to have normal posterior pole vessels by the trainees. CONCLUSIONS: Given adequate training, general ophthalmologists and non-ophthalmologists (pediatricians and nurse practitioners) are independently reliable in detecting posterior pole changes in ROP babies using direct ophthalmoscope and can be provided with a screening protocol.

Female↗
PubMed2006

Modified flexible iris retractor to retract superior iris and support inferior capsule in eyes with iris coloboma and inferior zonular deficiency.

Flexible nylon iris retractors are a useful adjunct to cataract surgery in cases of small pupil and subluxated lenses. A modification is presented of the standard application of iris hooks to retract the superior iris and support the inferior capsule during phacoemulsification in cases of iris coloboma with inferior zonular deficiency. Three iris hooks are applied to retract the iris, and 2 iris hooks are applied to the inferior capsule margin to support the crystalline lens in that quadrant. Clear corneal temporal phacoemulsification is then performed with adequate pupillary diameter and capsular support.

Coloboma↗
PubMed2006

Comparative evaluation of oral fluorescein angiography using the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope and digital fundus camera with intravenous fluorescein angiography using the digital fundus camera.

BACKGROUND: To study the efficacy of oral fluorescein angiography (FA) with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (CSLO). METHODS: Ten patients each of choroidal neovascular membrane, central serous retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy and five normal subjects were evaluated with group 1 - intravenous FA using digital fundus camera (DFC); group 2 - oral FA using DFC; and group 3 - oral FA using CSLO. RESULTS: Third-order branch vessels were identified in 85.7% eyes in group 3 versus 51.4% in group 2 (P = 0.004), image quality was comparable to intravenous FA in 77.1% in group 3 versus 48.5% in group 2 (P = 0.02) and margin delineation was better in 80% eyes in group 3 versus 35% in group 2 (P = 0.01). The foveal avascular zone was clear and intact in 54.2% eyes in group 3 versus 37.1% in group 2 (P = 0.14) and 57.1% in group 1 (P = 0.8). CONCLUSION: Oral FA using CSLO is superior to oral FA using DFC and comparable to intravenous FA using DFC in terms of image quality, branch retinal vessel identification and margin delineation.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Long-term anatomical and visual outcome of vitreous surgery for retinal detachment with choroidal coloboma.

CONTEXT: Vitreous surgery has been advocated as an alternative treatment of selected retinal detachments with choroidal colobomas. AIM: To study the long term anatomical and visual outcome of choroidal coloboma with retinal detachment managed by pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. SETTING AND DESIGN: Retrospective study conducted in a tertiary eye care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty two eyes of 40 patients with retinal detachments related to coloboma of the choroid without any peripheral breaks were analyzed. All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal tamponade using silicone oil. Endolaser was performed along the coloboma border. Silicone oil was removed in 50% of patients. The main outcome measures were retinal reattachment and visual recovery. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science), version 10.0 was used for analysis. RESULTS: The retina in all cases (100%) undergoing vitrectomy were completely reattached intra-operatively. After a mean follow-up of 14 months, 37 (88.1%) eyes had attached retina. The best corrected visual acuity was 10/200 or better in 33 (78.4%) eyes. The best corrected visual acuity improved from a preoperative median of counting fingers (range 20/40 to perception of light) to median best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 (range 20/40 to perception of light) at the end of 6 months. Of the 50% (21) cases that underwent silicone oil removal, two eyes had re-detachment of retina. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy along with silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachment related to choroidal coloboma improves the long-term anatomical and visual outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Iris intraocular foreign bodies: safe and successful removal through limbus.

Metallic iris intra ocular foreign body (IOFBs) with minimal ocular damage pose an interventional challenge. We report safe removal of metallic intraocular foreign bodies embedded on the iris, in three cases by use of intraocular magnets. Two eyes had a clear lens with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20, while the third eye had a BCVA of 20/200 with siderotic cataract. Ultrasound biomicroscopy confirmed the superficial impaction of IOFB into the iris. Foreign bodies were successfully removed via the limbal route with a 20 g intravitreal magnet atraumatically in all 3 cases with preservation of their pre-operative BCVA. Case series highlights the usefulness and safety of intraocular magnet for removal of metallic iris foreign bodies in selected cases. Prior ultrasound biomicroscopy to know the actual depth of penetration of IOFB into the iris and preoperative confirmation of magnetic property of IOFB are essential.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Need for optical and low vision services for children in schools for the blind in North India.

CONTEXT: Children admitted in blind schools need low vision assessment for improving functional vision (useful residual vision). AIM: To ascertain the need for spectacles and magnifiers as low vision devices (LVD) in children with useful residual vision, attending blind schools. SETTING AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted in 13 blind schools in Delhi, North India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of a total of 703 children (less than 16 years of age) examined, 133 (18.91%) with useful residual vision were refracted and analyzed. High addition plus lenses (range 5-30 diopters) were used as spectacle magnifiers for near LVD assessment. "World health organization (WHO)/ prevention of blindness (PBL) eye examination record for children with blindness and low vision", was used to collect data. SPSS (statistical package for the social science), version 10.0 was used for analysis. RESULTS: Based on the vision of 133 children at initial examination, 70.7% children were blind and 12.0% were severely visually impaired (SVI). 20.3% children improved by at least one WHO category of blindness after refraction. With best correction, 50.4% children were still blind and 13.5% were SVI. Visual acuity in the better eye after refraction in 47 children (35.3%), improved with spectacles. Children with aphakia (17), coloboma (5), refractive error (5) and microphthalmos (4) benefited from spectacles. Of 124 children with low vision but having useful residual vision, 51 (41.1%) were able to read N-10 unaided or with distance spectacles and 30 children (22.6%) improved to N-10 with spectacle magnifiers and were prescribed the same. CONCLUSION: Visually impaired children with aphakia and congenital anomalies of the eye benefit from refraction and low vision services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Tractional retinal detachment in Usher syndrome type II.

Retinal detachment is a rare complication in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. A case is reported of tractional retinal detachment in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa and sensorineural hearing loss, which was diagnosed as Usher syndrome type II. Because of the poor visual prognosis, the patient refused surgery in that eye. Tractional retinal detachment should be added to the differential diagnoses of visual loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Audiometry↗
PubMed2005

Functional and anatomic outcome of scleral buckling versus primary vitrectomy in pseudophakic retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To conduct a randomized prospective clinical trial to compare primary vitrectomy without scleral buckling versus conventional scleral buckling surgery in pseudophakic primary retinal detachment (PPRD) in terms of anatomic attachment rate, functional outcome and complications. METHODS: Fifty consecutive eyes of 50 patients with PPRD were randomized into two groups, with 25 patients in each of group 1 (scleral buckling group) and group 2 (pars plana vitrectomy without buckling group) in a hospital setting and followed up at 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS: A primary reattachment rate of 76% (19 retinas) was obtained in group 1, while a reattachment rate of 84% (21 retinas) was achieved in group 2. The final anatomic reattachment rate was 100% in both groups. The causes of failure in group 1 were proliferative vitreoretinopathy in five eyes and open break/missed break in one eye. The causes of failure in group 2 were missed break/open break in three eyes and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in one eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 2 weeks was better in group 1, while the final BCVA at end of 6 months was two lines better in group 2. The mean change in refractive error was -- 1.38 D in group 1 and -- 0.85 D in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Pars plana vitrectomy without buckling provides an effective treatment for PPRD and results in better longterm visual and anatomic outcomes than conventional scleral buckling.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Bilateral serous macular detachment following laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral serous macular detachment following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 33-year-old man presented with sudden decrease of vision in both eyes 4 days following uncomplicated LASIK in both eyes for spherical equivalent of +5.00 diopters sph in the right eye and +7.00 diopters sph in the left eye. Detailed history with ocular and systemic examination, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography were done. Retinal examination had a documentation of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy in the macular region in both eyes pre-LASIK. RESULTS: A diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) was made in both eyes, with multifocal alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium and a pocket of serous retinal fluid in the macular region confirmed on OCT. Late venous phase of fluorescein angiogram demonstrated multiple hyperfluorescent foci of leakage, more in the right eye with areas of retinal pigment epithelium staining. CONCLUSIONS: Preexisting macular pathology, such as retinal pigment epithelium atrophy could be a new contraindication to LASIK for hypermetropia with possible development of CSCR, requiring a careful examination of the fundus pre-LASIK.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ocular growth pattern in cryotherapy- and laser-treated infants with prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To study the ocular growth pattern in cryotherapy- and laser-treated prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its effect on scleral rigidity. METHODS: In a prospective study, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and scleral rigidity were assessed in 12 eyes with no ROP, 12 eyes with spontaneously regressed ROP, 12 eyes with cryotherapy-treated prethreshold ROP, and 14 eyes with diode laser-treated prethreshold ROP at 36 weeks, 40 weeks, and 52 weeks postconceptional age. RESULTS: Cryotherapy- and laser-treated ROP eyes at prethreshold stage exhibited shorter axial lengths and shallower anterior chamber depth compared to eyes with no ROP or spontaneously regressed ROP. Scleral rigidity was not altered in ROP eyes including those that underwent cryotherapy or laser treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Growth of eyes with ROP is arrested including those treated with cryotherapy or laser at prethreshold stage. Cryotherapy or laser treatment has no weakening effect on the scleral coat.

Anterior Chamber↗