<ns3:p>Purpose To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacy attendants in management microbial keratitis. Methods This mixed-methods study was conducted selected pharmacies drug shops located Mbarara City between March May 2022. We administered questionnaires assessing attitudes, practices (KAP) related to keratitis (MK) 140 (PAs) pharmacies. also 40 in-depth interviews (IDI) three focus group discussions (FGD) with discuss practices, challenges, opportunities improve MK....

Background: Keratoconus has a global prevalence of 0.2 to 4790 per 100 000 persons and there is currently no published report about its incidence, or the role optometrists in management Uganda. This study looked at diagnosis, referral patients with keratoconus Uganda.Aim: To determine knowledge, experiences practices Uganda.Setting: was conducted Uganda.Methods: Fifteen who had practiced for least one year were recruited into study, which accordance International Conference on Harmonisation...

<ns3:p>Introduction Fungal corneal infection (fungal keratitis [FK]) poses significant treatment challenges. The efficacy of current topical antifungals is inconsistent and often limited, especially in low middle-income countries where the majority FK cases occur. Topical natamycin 5% primary many countries, however, a substantial proportion develop progressive disease, even with intensive treatment. Given limitations existing antifungal treatments, there need for alternative strategies to...

Cataracts account for 40% of cases blindness globally, with surgery the only treatment.To determine whether adding simulation-based cataract surgical training to conventional results in improved acquisition skills among trainees.A multicenter, investigator-masked, parallel-group, randomized clinical educational-intervention trial was conducted at 5 university hospital institutions Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe from October 1, 2017, September 30, 2019, a follow-up 15 months. Fifty-two...

Fungal corneal infection (keratitis) is a common clinical problem in South Asia. However, it often challenging to distinguish this from other aetiologies, such as bacteria or acanthamoeba. In prospective study, we investigated and epidemiological features that can predict the microbial aetiology of keratitis Nepal. We recruited patients presenting with tertiary eye hospital lowland eastern Nepal between June 2019 November 2020. A structured assessment, including demographics, history, signs,...

Purpose: To describe the care seeking journey and causes of delay among patients with Microbial Keratitis in Uganda. Methods: A prospective cohort presenting microbial keratitis at two main eye units Southern Uganda (2016-2018). We collected information on demographics, home address, clinical history, presentation pathway including, order facilities where went to seek care, treatment advice, cost use Traditional Eye Medicine. Presentation time was noted. compared "direct" presenters versus...

Introduction Fungal infections of the cornea, fungal keratitis (FK), are challenging to treat. Current topical antifungals not always effective and often unavailable, particularly in low-income middle-income countries where most cases occur. Topical natamycin 5% is usually first-line treatment, however, even when treated intensively, may progress perforation eye around a quarter cases. Alternative antifungal medications needed treat this blinding disease. Chlorhexidine an antiseptic agent...

PurposeTo investigate if topical chlorhexidine 0.2%, which is low cost and easy to formulate, noninferior natamycin 5% for the treatment of filamentous fungal keratitis.DesignRandomized controlled, single-masked, noninferiority clinical trial.ParticipantsAdults attending a tertiary-level ophthalmic hospital in Nepal with infection confirmed on smear or confocal microscopy.MethodsParticipants were randomly allocated receive 0.2% 5%. Primary analysis (intention-to-treat) was by linear...

Clinically diagnosing fungal keratitis (FK) is challenging; diagnosis can be assisted by investigations including in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), smear microscopy, and culture. The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity detecting using IVCM, culture a setting with high prevalence FK. In cross-sectional nested within prospective cohort study, consecutive microbial (MK) patients attending tertiary-referral eye hospital south-eastern Nepal between June 2019 November 2020 were...

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of Microbial Keratitis (MK) in Uganda.Methods: We prospectively recruited patients presenting with MK at two main eye units Southern Uganda between December 2016 and March 2018. collected information on clinical history presentation, microbiology 3-month outcomes. Poor vision was defined as < 6/60).Results: 313 individuals were enrolled. Median age 47 years (range 18–96) 174 (56%) male. presentation time 17 days from onset (IQR 8–32). Trauma reported by...

Background Microbial keratitis (MK) is a frequent cause of sight loss in sub-Saharan Africa. However, no studies have formally measured its impact on quality life (QoL) this context. Methods As part nested case–control design for risk factors MK, we recruited patients presenting with MK at two eye units Southern Uganda between December 2016 and March 2018 unaffected individuals, individually matched sex, age location. QoL was using WHO Health-Related Vision-Related tools (at presentation 3...

Background/Aim Glaucoma accounts for 8% of global blindness and surgery remains an important treatment. We aimed to determine the impact adding simulation-based surgical education glaucoma. Methods designed a randomised controlled, parallel-group trial. Those assessing outcomes were masked group assignment. Fifty-one trainee ophthalmologists from six university training institutions in sub-Saharan Africa enrolled by inclusion criteria having performed no trabeculectomies randomised. control...

The aim of this study was to describe the health-seeking journey for patients with microbial keratitis (MK) in Nepal and identify factors associated delay.Prospective cohort where MK attending a large, tertiary-referral eye hospital south-eastern between June 2019 November 2020 were recruited. We collected demographic details, clinical history, examination findings. Care-seeking details captured including places attended, number journeys, time from symptom onset, costs. compared "direct"...

Purpose: Microbial keratitis (MK), is a frequent cause of sight loss worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors MK Uganda.Methods: Using nested case control, we recruited healthy community controls for patients presenting with at two main eye units Southern Uganda between December 2016 March 2018. Controls were individually matched age, gender village cases on 1:1 ratio. We collected information demographics, occupation, HIV...

<ns4:p><ns4:bold>Background:</ns4:bold>There are 2.7 ophthalmologists per million population in sub-Saharan Africa, and a need to train more. We sought analyse current surgical training practice experience of inform planning Eastern, Central Southern Africa.</ns4:p><ns4:p><ns4:bold>Methods:</ns4:bold>This was cross-sectional survey. Potential participants included all trainee recent graduate the African region. A link web-based questionnaire sent heads eye departments programme directors...

Fungal keratitis is a major ophthalmic public health problem, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The options for treating fungal are limited. Our study aimed to describe the outcomes of using chlorhexidine 0.2% eye-drops as additional treatment management patients with recalcitrant keratitis.

To determine the outcome of Intravitreal Avastin (IVA) injections in patients with Macular Oedema (MO) Uganda.We prospectively recruited presenting MO at Department Ophthalmology Mbarara University Science and Technology Southern Uganda from November 2018 to April 2019. We treated them intravitreal injection Bevacizumab (Avastin®) followed up for three consecutive months after initial injection. collected information on baseline clinical presentation 3 month outcomes. performed a Student's...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol prepare buffered chlorhexidine (CHX) eye drops (0.2% w/v) in the United Kingdom that can be reproduced at production facility Uganda. Buffered CHX prevent degradation and improve ocular tolerability during treatment fungal keratitis. Methods: amber glass containers were prepared using sodium acetate buffer pH 5.90 6.75. Two commercial solutions water used as controls. Eye stored 40°C (70% humidity, 21 months) ambient temperature...

<ns4:p><ns4:bold>Background</ns4:bold>: Traditional eye medicine (TEM) is frequently used to treat microbial keratitis (MK) in many parts of Africa. Few reports have suggested that this associated with a worse outcome. We undertook large prospective study determine how TEM use impacts presentation and outcome MK explore reasons why people for treatment Uganda.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Methods</ns4:bold>: In mixed method cohort study, we enrolled patients presenting at the two main units...

Simulation-based surgical education (SBSE) can positively impact trainee competence. However, a detailed qualitative study of the role simulation in ophthalmic has not previously been conducted.To explore experiences ophthalmologists and surgeon educators' use simulation, perceived challenges training.A multi-center, multi-country was conducted between October 2017 August 2020. Trainee from six training centers sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe South Africa)...

A 35-year-old male presented with Candida keratitis in the left eye. He was HIV positive a CD4 of 352 cells/µL. The eye quickly deteriorated, despite intensive antifungal treatment and eviscerated. Five months later, he re-presented his right focal source infection suspected urine culture identified spp, being asymptomatic for genitourinary candidiasis. subsequently treated good outcome (max. 75 words)

<ns5:p><ns5:bold>Background</ns5:bold>: Microbial keratitis (MK) frequently leads to sight-loss, especially when the infection is severe and/or appropriate treatment delayed. The primary health system as an entry point plays a central role in facilitating and directing patient access care. purpose of this study was describe capacity centres Uganda managing MK.</ns5:p><ns5:p> <ns5:bold>Methods</ns5:bold>: We carried out rigorous assessment mid-cadre training schools South Western Uganda....