Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness towards Corneal Donation in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Corneal transplantation is the mainstay procedure performed for sight restoration in patients with corneal blindness, which can be caused by infection, corneal dystrophy, degenerative disorders such as keratoconus or traumatic causes. Most corneal transplants in Saudi Arabia are performed using imported corneas. Aims: To determine the level of knowledge and awareness and the factors affecting corneal donation in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used targeting the population of Aseer region aged 18 years and above. The data were collected using electronic self-administered questionnaire. The tool covered the participants’ biodemographic data, knowledge related questions and willingness of corneal donation and factors affecting such attitudes. Results: Of the 641 participants, 66.1% were males, 47.6% were in the age group 20 – 30 years and 19.2% claimed to have enough knowledge about corneal donation. The mean knowledge score (SD) was 2.13 (1.757) out of 8. Regarding participants’ attitude, 26.7% were willing to donate their own cornea. The willingness was significantly associated with good level of knowledge (p = 0.008). Females were more inclined to donate their corneas than males (30.9% vs 24.5%, p = 0.025). Conclusion: The study revealed a low level of knowledge of corneal donation in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Approximately one quarter of the participants reported willingness of corneal donation. Lack of knowledge was the main barrier, as it was reported by almost two thirds. Key words: Cornea, Donation, Awareness, Penetrating Keratoplasty, Saudi Arabia

The Size-Weight Illusion is unimpaired in individuals with a history of congenital visual deprivation

Visual deprivation in childhood can lead to lifelong impairments in visual and multisensory processing. Here, the Size-Weight-Illusion was used to test whether visuo-haptic integration recovers after sight restoration. In Experiment 1, congenital (CC: 7 (3F), 8–35 years) and developmental cataract reversal individuals (DC: 9 (2F), 8–37 years), as well as congenitally blind (CB: 2 (1F), 33 and 44 years) and normally sighted individuals (SC: 10 (7F), 19-36 years) perceived larger objects as lighter than smaller objects of the same weight. In Experiment 2, CC (6 (1F), 17–44.7 years) and SC (7 (5F), 21-29 years) individuals performed identically when tested without haptic size cues. Together, this suggested that early visual experience is not necessary to perceive the Size-Weight-Illusion.

Functional ultrasound imaging of the spreading activity following optogenetic stimulation of the rat visual cortex

Optogenetic stimulation of the primary visual cortex (V1) is a promising therapy for sight restoration, but it remains unclear what total cerebral volume is activated after surface stimulation. In this study, we expressed the red-shifted opsin ChrimsonR in excitatory neurons within V1 in rats, and used the fine spatial resolution provided by functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) over the whole depth of the brain to investigate the brain response to focal surface stimulation. We observed optogenetic activation of a high proportion of the volume of V1. Extracellular recordings confirmed the neuronal origin of this activation. Moreover, neuronal responses were even located in deep layers under conditions of low irradiance, spreading to the LGN and V2, consistent with a normal visual information process. This study paves the way for the use of optogenetics for cortical therapies, and highlights the value of coupling fUS with optogenetics.

Eye donation awareness and willingness among patients attending ophthalmology OPD at Goa medical college and hospital

Introduction: Significant cause of corneal blindness in India is due to trauma and corneal ulcers.India needs 2.5lakh donated corneas every year, the country’s eye banks manage to collect onlyabout 44806, out of these only some are utilized for sight restoration as the others do not meet thestandard for transplantation. The present study aimed to evaluate the awareness regarding eyedonation among the patients and their relatives attending the outpatient department (OPD) at GoaMedical College and hospital, giving them the knowledge and thus encouraging them to pledge theireyes for donation, which is the need of the hour. Material and Methods: This study was conductedon 300 patients who attended ophthalmology OPD (outpatient department) at Goa medical collegeand hospital. This is a closed-end type of study wherein the patients who were willing to participatein the study were requested to fill the form and answer 10 questions related to the awareness of eyedonation and willingness to donate eyes. The questionnaire had the first few questions regardingbrief details about each participant followed by 10 questions which had multiple options andparticipants were requested to answer as per their choice. It was a pretested questionnaire thatincluded questions on eye donation awareness, knowledge regarding the subject, and willingness todonate eyes. All participants were well informed about the study type and written informed consentwas taken for the same. No patients were harmed during the study. Results: The results showedthat 252 (84%)among 300 patients were aware of eye donation. Awareness was maximum throughmass media and hospitals. 68% of responders were not aware that there is an eye bank in Goa.79% of responders were not aware that only cornea is removed from the donor’s eye. Only about32% of the patients were willing to donate their eyes.

Determination on the Success of Cataract Surgeries by Using Sight Restoration Rate (SRR)

The prevalence of blindness in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) reaches 1.0% and the ratio of blindness to ophthalmologist reaches 1:8000. This data means NTT is a place which has vision issues. Blindness is caused by cataract. Untreated cataracts can reduce the productivity of patients and his/her caretaker for quite a long time. Cataract surgery will not only cure the patient’s blindness, but it will also improve the local economy if it is sustainable and on time. Lack of human resources, funds, and medical equipment are the major problems for performing cataract surgery in this area. The cataract surgery is performed at Elisabeth Lela Hospital. Visual acuity is performed before the surgery and 21-35 days after the surgery. The last step is calculating the Sight Restoration Rate (SRR) of all patients. Cataract surgery was conducted to 92 eyes. the SRR of all patients is 46.7%. There are four eyes (4.34%) with post-operative visual acuity <3/60.