Volume I, Issue 6

January 2010

MEACO E-Newsletter

This electronic newsletter serves as a monthly update on the developments in the field of ophthalmology, issues related to prevention of blindness and new trends in clinical studies in the Middle East and Africa. 

MEACO Head Office: P.O.Box 7947, Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 1 466 1085 - Fax: +966 1 466 1049 - info@meaco.org

The 3^rd MEACO Leadership Development Program in Cairo, Egypt, Dec 14-16, 2009

The 3^rd Leadership Development Program (LDP) was successfully held in Cairo, from 14 to 16 December 2009. It was hosted in the World Health Organization (WHO) for the third time in its Mediterranean Office in Egypt. Twenty candidates from UAE, Bahrain, Iran, South Africa, Lebanon, Palestine, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, KSA, Oman, Egypt, and Kuwait participated. Speakers and facilitators were from Australia, UAE, and the American University in Cairo.

The theme of this 2009 program was "Authentic Leadership - When Physicians Lead". At the end of the program, future leaders were requested to implement and work on a project that should be directed towards improving ophthalmology services in his/her own national, international or subspecialty society.

To view the photos of the events & other information, please visit our website at:
www.meaco.org/page.php?mdid=20

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Riboflavin-ultraviolet a corneal cross-linking for keratoconus

To evaluate the safety, efficacy of riboflavin-ultraviolet A irradiation (UVA) corneal cross-linking and present refractive changes induced by the treatment in cases of keratoconus. The study includes 15 eyes of 9 patients with keratoconus with an average keratometric (K) reading less than 54 D and minimal corneal thickness greater than 420 microns. The corneal epithelium was removed manually within the central 8.5 mm diameter area and the cornea was soaked with riboflavin eye drops (0.1% in 20% dextran t-500) for 30 minutes followed by exposure to UVA radiation (365 nm, 3 mW/cm 2 ) for 30 minutes. During the follow-up period, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, slit lamp examination and topographic changes were recorded at the first week, first month, 3 and 6 months. There was statistically significant improvement of UCVA from a preoperative mean of 0.11 ± 0.07 (range 0.05-0.3) to a postoperative mean of 0.15 ± 0.06 (range 0.1-0.3) (P < 0.05). None of the eyes lost lines of preoperative UCVA but 1 eye lost 1 line of preoperative BSCVA. The preoperative mean K of 49.97 ± 2.81 D (range 47.20-51.75) changed to 48.34 ± 2.64 D (range 45.75-50.40). This decrease in K readings was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All eyes developed minimal faint stromal haze that cleared in 14 eyes within 1 month. In only 1 eye, this resulted in a very faint corneal scar. Other sight threatening complications were not encountered in this series. Progression of the original disease was not seen in any of the treated eyes within 6 months of follow-up. Riboflavin-UVA corneal cross-linking is a safe and promising method for keratoconus. Larger studies with longer follow up are recommended.

El-Raggal TM. Riboflavin-ultraviolet a corneal cross-linking for keratoconus. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol 2009;16:256-9

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Efficacy of limbal-conjunctival autograft surgery with stem cells in pterygium treatment

To determine the efficacy of limbal-conjunctival autograft surgery with stem cells in the management of primary and recurrent pterygium and determine the best corrected visual acuity after surgery. Surgical excision of pterygium and limbal-conjunctival transplantation with stem cells was of 40 eyes (of 31 patients) with pterygium. Thirty one cases were primary and nine cases were recurrent pterygia. Graft margins were secured to the recipient site while stem cells aspect was sutured to the limbus. After one year of follow-up, 37 of 40 eyes were free of recurrence. One of the three recurrent cases was aggressive (recurrence occurred two months after surgery) and the other two showed 2 mm corneal extension at 12 months follow-up. In 24 patients, out of 40, best corrected visual acuity improved more than two lines. Limbal-conjunctival autograft surgery, including stem cells, appears to be an effective surgical technique in preventing pterygium recurrence and it can also help in improving the best corrected visual acuity

Abdalla WM. Efficacy of limbal-conjunctival autograft surgery with stem cells in pterygium treatment. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol 2009;16:260-2

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Middle East Africa Council Of Ophthalmology (MEACO)