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Purpose: The second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic triggered a mucormycosis epidemic in India. Diabetes mellitus and dysregulated immune response were contributors, and rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) was the most common presentation. It is however not known whether bio-chemical parameters at presentation correlate with stage of ROCM or final outcome in terms of vision or mortality. Methods: This retrospective, hospital-based study included all in-patients of mucormycosis with ophthalmic manifestations at presentation admitted during June 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021. It aimed to evaluate the association between severity of infection, serum levels of HbA1c, ferritin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and D-dimer levels at presentation and outcome. Results: There were altogether 47 eligible cases having a mean age of 48.8 ± 10.9 years with a male:female ratio of 2.6:1; forty-two (89.4%) had pre-existing diabetes, and five (10.6%) had steroid-induced hyperglycemia. The mean HbA1c among diabetics was 9.7 ± 2.1. HbA1c and serum CRP showed an increase over subsequent stages, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.31). IL-6 values for all stages were similar (P = 0.97). Only serum ferritin levels showed a statistically significant increase over stages (P = 0.04). IL-6 was significantly lower (P = 0.03) in patients who survived, whereas CRP levels were significantly lower in patients who had final visual acuity (VA) better than only perception of light (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is a significant association of ROCM. Serum ferritin levels at presentation best correlate with extent of the disease. CRP levels are best to prognosticate cases that will have sufficient VA to carry on activities of daily living, whereas IL-6 levels are best associated with survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: There is a global need for quality eye banking practices and sensitization of primary care physicians toward corneal donation. Aims: To evaluate performance of a recently established eye bank (EB) and quality of corneas obtained, and identify areas of improvement during procurement and utilization of donor corneas. Settings and Design: This retrospective observational study is based on records of corneas collected through hospital cornea retrieval programme (HRCP) in the EB of a tertiary care institution during the first 2 years of its establishment. Methods and Material: Data on demographic characteristics of donors, death-preservation interval, specular microscopy parameters of corneas, indications for utilization, and reasons for non-utilization of corneas were collected. Statistical Analysis Used: Means, standard deviation, range, frequencies, and proportions were analyzed. Spearman's correlation coefficient and Kruskal--Wallis test were applied taking P < 0.05 as significant. Results: The EB retrieved 54 corneas from 27 donors with mean age 42.3 ± 24.2 years. All tissues were preserved in Cornisol®. Majority (50%) of transplantable tissues had an endothelial cell density (ECD) between 2,000 and 2,500 cells/mm2. ECD decreased significantly with increasing age (Spearman's ρ -0.747, P < 0.001; Kruskal--Wallis P < 0.001). Overall utilization rate of tissues was 87.04% (47/54), and utilizable corneas (50/54, 92.6%) were mainly used for optical purposes (34/50, 68%). Conclusions: Successful HCRP of the recently established EB has shown considerable promise in terms of quality and utilisation of corneas. There is need for active involvement of primary care physicians in contributing to increasing voluntary eye donation through awareness, advocacy, and social mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular trauma to anterior segment as an important cause of preventable morbidity to vision is commonly encountered in this tertiary care centre and requires a targeted approach for preventing visual impairment and loss to the population at large. To find out sociodemographic and clinical pattern of anterior segment involvement in patients of trauma to the eye, a retrospective study was carried out in 380 eyes of 354 patients in Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, RIMS, Ranchi during the period July, 2005 to June 2007. Demographic profile, nature of injury and visual acuity were studied from the records. More than 3/4 ths of patients were male, nearly 46.9% of them in the age group of 21-40 years, blunt injury accounted for 62.4% of cases and right eye affected in 260 cases (68.4%). Cornea bore the brunt most often (56.6%) and most common visual acuity at presentation was less than 6/60 to perception of light (41.8%).