A potpourri of ocular disorders.

The second 2012 issue of the Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology (MEAJO) contains an assortment of manuscripts that address disorders affecting the anterior and posterior segments of the eye.

Two manuscripts focus on anterior segment disorders in children. The first paper raises concerns regarding the high rate of vitamin A deficiency-related night blindness in Sudanese school children.1 Although the incidence of vitamin A deficiency has been declining worldwide, it remains a public health concern in the developing world.2 A recent study from India also suggested that schoolchildren are vulnerable to this disorder.3 A second paper reports on the presence of thick corneas in Iranian children with congenital glaucoma. Although the central corneal thickness in this cohort was significantly thicker than age-matched controls, the average pachymetry below the 600 μ mark in both treated and control groups.4 This outcome is in contrast to studies of children undergoing cataract surgery where corneal thickness was normal preoperatively5 and increased postoperatively following cataract surgery.6

The current issue also presents a report on the profile of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) in a major tertiary hospital in South India. This study suggests that only a small number of PEX eyes have elevated intraocular pressure or glaucomatous optic neuropathy. This interesting finding must be interpreted within the context of the location where the patients were recruited and the study cohort.7

Another report demonstrates the effectiveness of rescuing a failing filtering bleb using slitlamp-based needling along with mitomycin C as an adjuvant.8 Interestingly, the authors were even able to revive flat blebs and the evidence is similar to a recent article on the same subject.9

A paper by Khandekar10 addresses the alarming issue of diabetes-related eye disease in the Middle East and the increasing rate of visual disability that is expected in the near future. Khandekar10 advises establishment of an organized public health strategy to work to control eye-related diabetes complications in the region.

In summary, the articles in the current issue address ophthalmic problems that face communities in the Middle East, the surrounding regions and globally.