1.
Evaluation of a community-based participatory farmworker eye health intervention in the "black dirt" region of New York state.
Earle-Richardson, G, Wyckoff, L, Carrasquillo, M, Scribani, M, Jenkins, P, May, J
American journal of industrial medicine. 2014;(9):1053-63
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eye irritation is a constant hazard for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, but there are few studies of the problem or how to address it. Researchers evaluated the effect of a community-based participatory eye health intervention on farmworker eye symptoms in the Hudson Valley, NY. METHODS A randomized pre-post intervention with 2, 4-week follow-up periods was implemented with a sample of 97 farmworkers. Five eye symptoms were measured, along with utilization of protective eyewear and eye drops. RESULTS Leading baseline eye symptoms were redness (49%), blurred vision (43%), itching (43%), and eye pain (29%). Significant reductions in eye pain (Pā=ā0.009), and non-significant reductions in redness were observed for the intervention group while controls experienced increases in both. CONCLUSIONS The intervention was effective in significantly reducing eye pain, and to a lesser extent, redness. Future eyewear promotion programs should offer a range of eye wear, tailor offerings to local climate and tasks, evaluate eyewear durability, and include eye drops.
2.
Nasolacrimal duct obstruction as a complication of iodine-131 therapy in patients with thyroid cancer.
Fard-Esfahani, A, Farzanefar, S, Fallahi, B, Beiki, D, Saghari, M, Emami-Ardekani, A, Majdi, M, Eftekhari, M
Nuclear medicine communications. 2012;(10):1077-80
Abstract
PURPOSE There are few studies evaluating the effect of radioioine therapy on the lacrimal drainage system. This study reports on symptomatic and asymptomatic nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) as complications of high-dose radioiodine therapy in these patients. METHODS Eighty-one cases were randomly selected from a population of radioiodine-treated differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients and were enrolled in a historical cohort study. The patients were categorized into four subgroups on the basis of the received cumulative dose of iodine-131 (I-131). In addition, 17 age-matched and sex-matched individuals were selected as the control group. Using dacryoscintigraphy and a clinical datasheet, the patients and controls were evaluated for partial or complete and symptomatic or asymptomatic NLDO. The data on different subgroups of patients were compared with the data of the control group. RESULTS Twenty-nine out of 162 exposed eyes (18%) and three out of 34 control eyes (9%) had evidence of NLDO on scintigraphic images. Among patients treated with less than 11.1 GBq of I-131 (subgroup A), six out of 78 eyes (7.7%) had partial or complete NLDO. This was evident in 23 out of 84 eyes (27.4%) among patients treated with 11.1 GBq or more (subgroup B). The frequency of complete NLDO increases significantly when the cumulative dose of radioiodine exceeds 11.1 GBq (2.9% in the control group, 3.8% in subgroup A, and 23.8% in subgroup B; P=0.006). CONCLUSION NLDO may be considered as a side effect of I-131 therapy, especially with a cumulative dose of 11.1 GBq or more.
3.
The effect of povidone iodine flush versus drops on conjunctival colonization before intravitreal injections.
Safar, A, Dellimore, MC
International ophthalmology. 2007;(5):307-12
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine the most effective method of applying povidone iodine 5% to decrease conjunctival colonization before intravitreal injections. METHODS Twenty-eight patients from two tertiary care centers undergoing intravitreal injection for diffuse diabetic macular edema, exudative age-related macular degeneration, venous occlusive disease, or refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema were prospectively randomized to two study arms. One arm received 2-3 drops of 5% povidone iodine (drops group) and the second received a 10 ml flush of the same solution (flush group). The inferior conjunctival fornix was cultured before and after antiseptic technique was performed in all patients. Three culture media, thioglycollate broth, chocolate agar and blood agar, were used for each sample. RESULTS Each study group had 14 patients. Prior to antisepsis, 22 of the 28 (78.6%) subjects had positive conjunctival cultures. 16 and 14 bacterial organisms were isolated in the first and second groups, respectively. After using 2-3 drops of 5% povidone iodine in the first study arm of patients, three of 16 (18.7% reduction) bacterial organisms were no longer isolated in thioglycollate broth media. With flush irrigation of 10 ml of 5% povidone iodine, seven of 14 (50% reduction) bacterial organisms were no longer isolated (P-value 0.07) in broth media. No difference in reduction of bacterial colonization was found on plated media (chocolate agar and blood agar). CONCLUSIONS Irrigating the conjunctival fornix with 5% povidone iodine results in greater reduction of bacterial colonization compared with drop application of the same solution. Flush irrigation may provide better protection against the risk of endophthalmitis with intravitreal injections.