ISSN 0886-3067

Volume No 35 Issue No 4

Frequency of Ocular Diseases in the Prisoners of District Jail Lahore

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of 0.3% Acetylcysteine eye drops for the resolution of symptoms and signs of filamentary keratitis. Study design: Quasi experimental study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at a tertiary care centre (Envision, Squint & Oculoplastics Centre, Lahore) from April 2016 to October 2018. Material and Methods: Fifty two consecutive cases (104 eyes) with mild to severe filamentary keratitis, from 9-72 years (mean 49 ± 8.6) were included. Cases with active ocular surface infection, uveitis, recent ocular surgery (< 1 month) and pregnant/lactating patients were excluded. All cases were prescribed lubricants, anti-inflammatory therapy (Tacrolimus skin cream 0.03%) and tetracycline eye ointment for meibomian gland disease (MGD). Alternate cases were divided into two equal groups of 26 cases; Group A received Acetylcysteine eye drops 0.3%, four times daily, Group B cases received placebo eye drops (distilled water in a bottle). Clinical symptoms on ocular surface disease index (OSDI), corneal filaments, corneal fluorescein staining, Tear Film BUT and Schirmer’s test were recorded at the beginning of the study and every two weeks, for the next 12 weeks.