Normal flora /Microbiome of the Eye: 10 Facts
1. Definition of Microbiome Microbiomes are communities of organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) that normally reside on any part of the human body (both external and internal) and are in a symbiotic relationship with the host. The members of the microbiome live in close harmony, sharing food and shelter and offering benefits to each other, e.g. some members give protection by secreting extracellul...Read More
Ocular Oncology Basics: Genetics
Twenty first century has seen a giant leap in the understanding of human genetics. Based on the human genome project humans are supposed to have roughly 20,000 to 25,000 genes. Genes are the fundamental units of heredity. To understand genetics involved in various ocular pathologies a basic understanding is essential. The following discussion will provide an overview of basic concepts in genetics ...Read More
Ten Microbiological Facts on Mucormycosis All Ophthalmologists Should Know
The present overview highlights major microbiological aspects of mucormycosis and attempts to increase the awareness of this ubiquitous group of fungi that are responsible for the difficult-to-manage infections presently being encountered in the setting of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 1. What is Mucormycosis and why is mucormycosis emerging as a serious threat in the present COVID-19 pandemic? M...Read More
Conjunctiva is a fine, translucent mucous membrane that joins and covers the anterior surface of eyeball and posterior side of the eyelids. It covers the posterior surface of the lids and reflects to cover the anterior part of the sclera, then becomes continuous with the corneal epithelium. At the lid margin conjunctiva is continuous with the skin. The name “conjunctiva” has originated from the te...Read More
Introduction The eyeball development begins early in the 4th week of intrauterine life with formation of optic vesicle (a diverticulum) from diencephalon. The structure of eyeball is shown in Figure 1. Various components of eyeball are derived from the following sources: Retina, iris and optic nerves are derived from optic vesicle that arises from neuroectoderm of diencephalon. Lens and corneal ep...Read More
The retina is the innermost of the three coats of the eye. This layer is responsible for converting relevant information from the image of the external environment into neural impulses that are transmitted to the brain. Broadly retina consists of two primary layers: an inner neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). 1 ? Sensory retina develops from the inner layer of the neuroectod...Read More
Cytokines: Made Simple for the Ophthalmologists
In the time of the global pandemic known as COVID- 19, everyone has heard the phrase ‘cytokine storm’ and how it can be a deadly consequence of the SARS- CoV2 virus infection. What are these cytokines though? What do they normally do in our bodies and why are they sometimes so deadly? Little multifunctional molecules The presence of pus-filled exudates, fever, localized swelling, and pain have bee...Read More