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Background: In July 2023, an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis swept across India. A knowledge of clinical features and outcome of treatment helps in the management of future outbreaks. AIM: The aim of this study was to report the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome in patients affected during the outbreak of viral conjunctivitis. Setting and Design: This was a multicentric retrospective case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study reviewed the medical records of all consecutive patients diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis between July 1, 2023, and August 10, 2023, in five centers across India. Results: Of the 793 patients, 525 (66.2%) were male and 268 (33.8%) were female, with a mean age of 34.1 ± 19.0 years. The mean symptom duration was 2.6 ± 2.1 days with bilateral disease in 591 (74.5%) patients. The common ocular signs were conjunctival congestion (793, 100%), lid edema (479, 60.4%), follicles (607, 76.5%), and conjunctival hemorrhages (339, 42.7%). Artificial tears were used in 730 (92.1%) patients, antibiotic eye drops in 661 (83.4%) patients, and steroid eye drops in 428 (54.0%). The time to resolution was the least in patients who had been treated with only artificial tears (4.61 ± 2.24 days) and was maximum in patients who had been treated with topical steroids (6.5 ± 2.51 days), and the difference was significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence of conjunctival hemorrhages indicated acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Although many patients were treated with topical antibiotics, it was unnecessary, as the shortest resolution time was found in patients who had been received supportive therapy with artificial tear eye drops and not topical antibiotics or steroids.

Background: Although studies compare the accuracy of spot photoscreeners, few evaluate photoscreeners in community settings. To our knowledge, all studies from India have been purely hospital based, particularly in children under 5 years. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of using a commercially available photoscreener for pediatric vision screening in a community setting. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted from December 2018 to February 2019 in a north-eastern district of Delhi. Methods: The automated Spot™ Vision Screener was used to screen the vision of preschoolers. A result displayed as “complete eye exam recommended” on the photoscreener was considered as screening positive and the child was referred to the pediatric ophthalmology unit of a tertiary eyecare institution, as per predefined international guidelines. Statistical Analysis: Referral rate and positive predictive value (PPV) of using the photoscreener were considered as primary outcome measures. Results: A total of 1205 children were screened using a photo-screener. Almost 16.4% of them were identified and referred a significantly higher referral rate than that in the historic control (2.7%, P < 0.001). Nearly 51.5% of the referred children reported to the unit. The PPV of pediatric eye screening done in a community setting by the photoscreener for refractive error (RE) was 81.4%. Fifty-nine percent of the children detected with REs were found to be at risk of amblyopia. Mean spherical equivalent, sphere, and cylinder of final glass prescription were significantly different from that of photoscreener refraction. Conclusion: Photoscreener improves the referral rate and has a high PPV. It could be a standard tool to screen preschoolers in community settings.

Aims: This study analyzes the prevalence and types of refractive errors among truck drivers, as well as their uptake of glasses. Subjects and Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of data collected between July 2017 and June 2018, through eye camps held across the national capital region. An optometrist conducted a comprehensive eye examination. Refractive error was defined as myopia (spherical equivalent of at least −0.5 diopter [D]), hyperopia (spherical equivalent of at least +0.5 D), or astigmatism (only cylinder of 0.5 D or more). Drivers requiring spectacles to read at a normal distance (35–40 cm) were categorized as having presbyopia. Those needing both distance and near vision correction were analyzed separately. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed for the prevalence of refractive errors and its types. Spectacles uptake and its association with age categories, number of affected eyes, type and severity of refractive errors were analyzed. Statistical analysis was carried out using R software version 3.1.1 and Excel 2013. Results: Refractive error (including presbyopia) was over 26% in the 4059 truck drivers screened. 8.8% needed distance correction, 24.3% needed near correction and 6.6% needed both, at least in one eye. Uptake was only 47% among those prescribed glasses and was higher among drivers requiring only near correction. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of eye examination among truckers. There is a need to increase the uptake of spectacles by increasing awareness and developing better models of spectacle delivery.