Displaying all 11 publications

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  1. Ramakrishnan, G., Che Hamzah, J., Sharanjeet-Kaur S.
    Medicine & Health, 2019;14(2):17-29.
    MyJurnal
    Glaucoma is a group of neurodegenerative disease linked with imbalance in the aqueous humor flow due to resistance in the aqueous drainage system. This increases the intraocular pressure (IOP), which causes damage to the optic nerve head and leads to irreversible blindness. As IOP is the only treatable risk factor for glaucoma, its 24 hours biorhythm need to be understood before managing it. Monitoring IOP is a critically important part in the management of glaucoma. Various approach and technology have been initiated and on-going for a frequent, round-the-clock IOP measurement to determine the IOP peaks and fluctuations. We review the current innovative approach and its importance as well as discussing the shortcomings of each method to obtain the 24 hour IOP profile.
  2. Yahya AN, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Akhir SM
    PMID: 31783494 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234730
    Uncorrected refractive error, especially myopia, in young children can cause permanent visual impairment in later life. However, data on the normative development of refractive error in this age group is limited, especially in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of refractive error in a sample of infants and young children between the ages of 6 to 36 months in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Cycloplegic retinoscopy was conducted on both eyes of 151 children of mean age 18.09 ± 7.95 months. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error for the right and left eyes was +0.85 ± 0.97D and +0.86 ± 0.98D, respectively. The highest prevalence of refractive error was astigmatism (26%), followed by hyperopia (12.7%), myopia (1.3%) and anisometropia (0.7%). There was a reduction of hyperopic refractive error with increasing age. Myopia was seen to emerge at age 24 months. In conclusion, the prevalence of astigmatism and hyperopia in infants and young children was high, but that of myopia and anisometropia was low. There was a significant reduction in hyperopic refractive error towards emmetropia with increasing age. It is recommended that vision screening be conducted early to correct significant refractive error that may cause disruption to clear vision.
  3. Yong PT, Arif N, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Hairol MI
    PMID: 33105550 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217701
    Many East Asians apply double eyelid tape to create the double eyelid effect temporarily as a means of increasing their beauty. This study evaluated the effects of four-week wear of double eyelid tape on anterior ocular health in young adult women with single eyelids. Twenty-nine participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The participants' anterior ocular health was examined including blinking characteristics (blink pattern and blink rate), ocular surface health (presence of corneal abrasion, corneal staining, conjunctival staining, corneal curvatures, meibomian gland dysfunction), tear break up time, intraocular pressure, and subjective comfort level. Participants were required to apply the double eyelid tape for at least eight hours a day and five days a week for four weeks. The parameters were re-measured at the end of each week. There was a significant increase in conjunctival staining, corneal staining, and meibomian gland dysfunction, with a significant reduction in tear break-up time and intraocular pressure. By week 3, all participants had incomplete blinks. There was no significant change in symptoms and subjective comfort level reported. Therefore, patients and eye care practitioners should be aware of the potential implications of double eyelid tape wear on ocular health, with no significant change in subjective comfort.
  4. Wong BS, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Ngah NF, Sawri RR
    PMID: 32369922 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17093154
    Hyperreflective dots (HRD) are activated retinal microglial cells induced by retinal inflammation in diabetic patients. This study was conducted to compare the HRD count of normal and diabetic subjects; to determine the correlation between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and HRD count; to determine HbA1c cut-off levels for the appearance of HRD in diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among normal and diabetic patients. Fundus photos, SD-OCT images and HbA1c levels were taken. A total of 25 normal subjects, 32 diabetics without retinopathy and 26 mild-to-moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) diabetics were recruited. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean count of HRD among the normal group, the diabetic without retinopathy group and the mild-to-moderate NPRD group. The mean HRD count in the inner retina layer was significantly higher compared to the outer retina layer. There was a significant linear relationship between the HbA1c levels and HRD count. Using the receiver operating curve, the HbA1c level of 5.4% was chosen as the cut-off point for the appearance of HRD. The positive linear correlation between the HbA1c levels and the appearance of HRD may indicate that hyperglycemia could activate retina microglial cells in diabetic patients.
  5. Ghoshal R, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Mohamad Fadzil N, Mutalib HA, Ghosh S, Ngah NF, et al.
    PMID: 32887214 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176379
    In early and intermediate age related macular degeneration (ARMD), visual acuity alone has failed to explain the complete variation of vision. The aim of the present study was to determine correlation between different visual functions and retinal morphology in eyes with early and intermediate ARMD. In this single center cross sectional study, patients diagnosed as early or intermediate ARMD in at least one eye were recruited. Visual functions measured were best- corrected distance visual acuity (DVA), near vision acuity (NVA), reading speed (RS), and contrast sensitivity (CS). Parameters such as thickness (RT) and volume (RV) of the retina, outer retinal layer thickness (ORLT) and volume (ORLV), outer nuclear layer thickness (ONLT) and volume (ONLV), retinal pigment epithelium layer-Bruch's membrane complex thickness (RPET) and volume (RPEV) were assessed employing semi-auto segmentation method of Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT). Twenty-six eyes were evaluated. DVA, CS, and RS showed significantly good correlation with RPET, ONLT, and ONLV, whereas NVA showed good correlation with ONLV and RPET. The present study concluded that RS, CS, NVA, and DVA represent the morphological alteration in early stages and should be tested in clinical settings. ONLT, ONLV, and RPET morphological parameters can be employed as important biomarkers in diagnosis of early to intermediate ARMD.
  6. Ghoshal R, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Fadzil NM, Ghosh S, Ngah NF, Aziz RAA
    PMID: 32887213 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176378
    Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), a subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, requires repeated treatment. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate and compare vision-targeted quality of life (QOL) at baseline and after 6 months of treatment in patients with PCV. Naive PCV patients were recruited. Visual functions assessed were distance visual acuity (DVA), near visual acuity (NVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), reading speed (RS), and QOL at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Thirty patients (average age of 67.62 ± 8.05 years) revealed mean DVA and NVA improvements of 0.24 logMAR and 0.30 logMAR, respectively. Mean CS and RS improved by 0.39 log contrast and 25.58 words per minute, respectively. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI-VFQ-25) composite score significantly increased from a baseline of 66.73 ± 13.74 to 73.54 ± 14.26. Twenty-eight of the patients showed overall improvement in QOL score by 5 units or more or remained stable. Subscales of NEI-VFQ-25 significantly improved, with general vision, mental health, and role difficulties improving by 10 or more units. The present pilot study reports a significant improvement of QOL in PCV patients after 6 months of treatment, with mental health, role difficulties, social functioning, and distance vision activities being the most improved subscales.
  7. Ghoshal R, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Fadzil NM, Ghosh S, Ngah NF, Aziz RABA
    PMID: 33806713 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052581
    The objective of this study was to compare visual parameters and retinal layers' morphology pre-treatment (baseline) and 6 months post-treatment in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) eyes. A single centre, longitudinal, prospective study was conducted at a public tertiary hospital of Malaysia. Visual parameters including distance and near visual acuity (DVA and NVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), reading speed (RS), and different qualitative and quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters were evaluated pre- and 6 months post-treatment. Thirty-three naïve PCV eyes of 32 patients (mean age of 67.62 years) were evaluated pre- and post-treatment of intravitreal ranibizumab with and without photodynamic therapy. After treatment, sub retinal fluid decreased from 27 eyes (84.35%) at baseline to 7 eyes (21.88%) at 6 months while pigment epithelium detachment decreased from 32 eyes (100%) at base line to 15 eyes (46.87%) at 6 months. Mean pre-treatment quantitative morphological OCT retinal parameters including thickness and volume of central sub field, center thickness, center minimum, and maximum thickness reduced significantly. Similarly, all visual parameters including DVA, NVA, CS, and RS showed statistically significant improvement. While 89% of the eyes showed improvement in CS, 78%, 71%, and 65% of the eyes showed improvement in NVA, RS, and DVA, respectively. Thus, CS was the most treatment responsive visual parameter.
  8. Hairol MI, Nordin N, P'ng J, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Narayanasamy S, Mohd-Ali M, et al.
    PLoS One, 2021;16(3):e0246846.
    PMID: 33657109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246846
    Visual-motor integration (VMI) is related to children's academic performance and school readiness. VMI scores measured using the Beery-Bucktenicka Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery-VMI) can differ due to differences in cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. This study compared the VMI scores of Malaysian preschoolers with the corresponding US norms and determined the association between their VMI scores and socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 435 preschoolers (mean age: 5.95±0.47 years; age range: 5.08-6.83 years) from randomly selected public and private preschools. VMI scores were measured using Beery-VMI in the preschools' classrooms. Information on the socioeconomic characteristics of the preschoolers was obtained using a parent-report questionnaire. One sample t-test was used to compare their VMI scores with the corresponding US norms. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on the preschoolers' VMI scores. Overall, Malaysian preschoolers' VMI performance was similar to the US standardized norms (p>0.05). Children from low-income families were twice likely to obtain lower than average VMI scores than those from higher-income families (OR = 2.47, 95%CI 1.05, 5.86). Children enrolled at public preschools were more likely to obtain a lower than average VMI score than those who enrolled at private preschools (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.12, 6.06). Children who started preschool at the age of six were more likely to obtain lower than average VMI scores than those who started at an earlier age (OR = 4.66, 95%CI 1.97, 11.04). Low maternal education level was also associated with lower than average VMI score (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.12, 6.06). Malaysian preschoolers' Beery-VMI performance compared well to their US counterparts. Some socioeconomic factors were associated with reduced VMI scores. Those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to have reduced VMI performance, potentially adversely affecting their school readiness, cognitive performance, and future academic achievements.
  9. Ghoshal R, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Fadzil NM, Ghosh S, Ngah N, Aziz RAA
    PMID: 34070071 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105378
    Although optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters have assisted in the diagnosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), its potential to evaluate treatment outcomes has not been established. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate baseline OCT parameters that may influence treatment outcome in PCV eyes with combination therapy. In this single-centered, prospective study, patients were recruited with at least one treatment-naïve PCV eye and treated with combination therapy of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and photodynamic therapy. Best-corrected distance and near visual acuity (DVA and NVA), and contrast sensitivity (CS) were recorded at baseline and six months after treatment. OCT parameters were determined. Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients aged between 51 to 83 years were evaluated. In eyes that had disrupted external limiting membrane (ELM), photoreceptors inner and outer segment (IS-OS) junction at 1000 micron of fovea at baseline showed low mean visual functions after 6 months of treatment. Eyes with foveal sub-retinal fluid (SRF) and polyp at central 1000 micron of fovea at baseline showed significantly worse DVA and CS after six months. Thus, the presence of foveal SRF, foveal polyp, disrupted ELM, and IS-OS junction at baseline significantly influenced the six months' visual outcome in PCV eyes treated with combination therapy.
  10. Abd Rahman MH, Amirtharatnam P, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Narayanasamy S, Mohd Rasdi HF, Catherine Bastion ML
    Int J Ophthalmol, 2023;16(4):589-600.
    PMID: 37077492 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2023.04.13
    AIM: To develop and validate a questionnaire to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who have undergone intravitreal injection treatment.

    METHODS: This study was conducted among patients diagnosed with AMD in Kuala Lumpur. The generation of the instrument included four phases which included item and domains development, content, face validity and exploratory factor analysis. Content validity and modified Kappa was used for validation of knowledge domain. Exploratory factor analysis was used for validation of both attitude and practice domains. Face validity was conducted in 12 patients, content validity was ascertained in 120 patients and test-retest reliability was determined in 39 patients with AMD.

    RESULTS: Content validity index (CVI) and modified kappa showed excellent values for most items in the knowledge domain with CVI for item (I-CVI) values between 0.78-1.0 and Kappa values of >0.74. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) sampling adequacy showed acceptable scores of 0.70 and 0.75 for both attitude and practice domains respectively and Bartlett's Test of sphericity were significant (χ2 =0.00, P<0.001). Factor analysis resulted in five factors with thirty items for attitude domain and four factors with twenty items for practice domain. The Cronbach's alpha showed acceptable values for all items in knowledge, attitude and practice domain with values >0.70 and good test-retest reliability. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 93 items from four sections consisting of demographic details, knowledge, attitude and practice.

    CONCLUSION: The findings of this validation and reliability study show that the developed questionnaire has a satisfactory psychometric property for measuring KAP of patients diagnosed with AMD undergoing intravitreal injection treatment.

  11. Hairol MI, Ahmad S, Sharanjeet-Kaur S, Hum Wee L, Abdullah F, Ahmad M
    PLoS One, 2021;16(11):e0259782.
    PMID: 34752486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259782
    Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the mental health complications that may arise following childbirth. This cross-sectional study explores the association between socioeconomic factors and PPD literacy with PPD incidence in 350 participants (mean age: 30.58±4.72 years) at one to six months postpartum, who attended the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic from May to October 2020. PPD incidence and literacy were assessed using the validated Malay versions of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Postpartum Depression Literacy Scale (PoDLiS), respectively. The participants' socioeconomic characteristics were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square tests were performed to determine the association between these factors and PPD incidence. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratios (OR). The incidence of postpartum depressive symptoms was 14.29%. Those with low household income were twice likely to have PPD symptoms (OR:2.58, 95% CI:1.23-5.19; p = 0.01) than those with higher incomes. Unemployment (i.e., participants who were housewives/homemakers) was associated with higher PPD incidence (Χ2(2, 350) = 6.97, p = 0.03), but it was not a significant PPD predictor. In conclusion, PPD incidence in the sample of Kuala Lumpur postpartum mothers is significantly associated with low household income. Other socioeconomic characteristics, including PPD literacy, were not significant predictors of PPD incidence.
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