Mechanical, optical, chemical, and biological evaluations of fish scale-derived scaffold for corneal replacements: A systematic review.

Corneal blindness is commonly treated through corneal replacement with allogeneic corneal donors, which may face shortage. Regarding this issue, xenogeneic alternatives are explored. Fish scale-derived scaffolds (FSSs) are among the alternatives due to the lower risk of infection and abundant sources of raw materials. Unfortunately, the information about mechanical, optical, chemical, and biological performances of FSSs for corneal replacements is still scattered, as well as about the fabrication techniques. This study aims to gather scattered pieces of information about the mentioned performances and fabrication techniques of FSSs for corneal replacements. Sorted from four scientific databases and using the PRISMA checklist, eleven relevant articles are collected. FSSs are commonly fabricated using decellularization and decalcification processes, generating FSSs with parallel multilayers or crossed fibers with topographic microchannels. In the collected studies, similar mechanical properties of FSSs to native tissues are discovered, as well as good transparency, light remittance, but poorer refractive indexes than native tissues. Biological evaluations mostly discuss histology, cell proliferations, and immune responses on FSSs, while only a few studies examine the vascularization. No studies completed comprehensive evaluations on the four properties. The current progress of FSS developments demonstrates the potential of FSS use for corneal replacements.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice pattern towards diabetic retinopathy screening among general practitioners in primary health centres in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an emerging cause of visual impairment and blindness and is often detected in the irreversible stage. General practitioners (GPs) play an essential role in the prevention of DR through diabetes control, early detection of retinal changes, and timely referral to ophthalmologists. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards DR screening among GPs in the district primary health centres (PHCs) in Jakarta, Indonesia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2021 and February 2022 in 17 randomly selected district PHCs. A validated online questionnaire was then distributed. Good knowledge was defined when the correct response rate was > 75%, positive attitude was indicated when desired attitudes were found in more than half of the items (> 50%), and good practice was defined when more than half of the practice items (> 50%) were performed. RESULTS: A total of 92 GPs, with a response rate of 60.1%, completed the questionnaire. Seventy-nine respondents (85.9%) were female with a median (range) age of 32 (24-58) years. Among the respondents, 82 (89.1%) had good knowledge and all showed positive attitude on DR screening. However, only four (4.3%) demonstrated good practices. We found a weak positive correlation (rs = 0.298, p = 0.004) between attitude and practices. CONCLUSION: GPs in Jakarta showed good knowledge and positive attitude on DR screening. However, they did not show good practice. There was a positive correlation between attitude and practice.

Coats disease in adolescence and adulthood with preserved vision after laser photocoagulation monotherapy: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: This case report describes two rare cases of Coats disease in nonjuvenile patients with preserved vision. CASE PRESENTATION: Two otherwise healthy Asian males aged 15 and 29 years old presented with unilateral gradual blurred vision and scotoma, respectively. Visual acuity was 6/6 (0 logMAR) with no other abnormalities observed in the anterior segment of the eyes. Both posterior segment examinations and fluorescein angiography revealed retinal telangiectatic vessels, exudation, and hemorrhage. Additionally, optical coherence tomography of the first patient showed subfoveal fluid. Both patients were diagnosed with stage 2 Coats disease. Laser photocoagulation was performed on both patients. The first patient showed initial good response to therapy with resolution of the subfoveal fluid; however, he developed cataract and underwent cataract surgery after 3 years. In the second case, although the exudates and hemorrhage still persisted, the macula was spared and the patient did not have visual complaints. No adverse events were reported, and final visual acuity of both patients remained 6/6. CONCLUSIONS: Coats disease in adolescence and adulthood may present with good vision. In mild and moderate cases of Coats disease, laser photocoagulation monotherapy may help preserve vision. Nevertheless, as recurrences and complications may still occur later in life, lifelong monitoring is recommended.

Optical coherence tomography in diagnosing polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Looking into the future: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is an exudative maculopathy with features similar to wet age macular degeneration. The incidence of PCV is known to be higher in the Asian population compared to Caucasians. Imaging modality is needed to make the diagnosis of PCV. Although Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) is still the gold standard, it is not routinely performed in vitreoretinal practice. Thus another imaging modality is currently a popular research area. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has emerged as a new imaging modality mostly available in clinics. Some studies have reported the sensitivity and specificity of SD-OCT in diagnosing PCV with different results and thresholds. METHODS: Relevant studies from PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched. In random effect models using STATA 14 software, a meta-analysis was performed to determine the pooled diagnostic accuracy. QUADAS 2 was used to evaluate the risk of bias of each study by Revman 5.4 software. RESULTS: Seven eligible studies which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. A total of 911 eyes were included to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of SD-OCT. As a result, the pooled sensitivity was 0.91 (95% CI 0.87-0.93), specificity 0.88 (95% 0.83-0.92), positive likelihood ratio 8, negative likelihood ratio 11, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve 0.95 (95% CI 0.93-0.97), and diagnostic odds ratio 71.81 (95% CI 38.89-132.74). CONCLUSION: SD-OCT provided a high diagnostic value for detecting PCV. Sharply peaked pigment epithelial detachment (PED), notched PED, bubble sign, multiple PED, and double-layer sign were the most common features found in PCV.

Global Ophthalmology Practice Patterns during COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown.

AIM: To assess the impact of practice patterns amongst global ophthalmologists during severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS Cov2) causing Corona virus disease (COVID-19) and understand the various modifications made to address emergency surgeries and practice needs. METHODS: An online survey was sent to practicing ophthalmologists around the world through email, Whatsapp™ ListServ17.0™ (for pediatric ophthalmologists), WeChat™ (China) and ophthalmology associations (Indonesia, Philippines, Ireland). All queries were collected and categorized. Responses to the queries were given according to the recommendations by the Ophthalmology association. Practices ability to deal with the COVID were also classified according to country and type of access to PPE. Statistical analyses of the association between these data and queries, where appropriate were carried out. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred sixteen ophthalmologists were invited to participate in a survey between April 10th and April 30th, 2020 of which 1207 responded, which is a response rate of approximately 63%. The majority of respondents were from India, Indonesia, China, Singapore and the USA. Our study indicates a precipitous drop in surgical procedures with 46% (n = 538) ophthalmologists ceased to operate on their patients and almost 40% (n = 486) were doing less than 25% of their original number of surgeries. The intent to resume elective surgeries was a consideration in 41% (n = 495) after an evaluation of the situation and in consultation with professional bodies. More than 2/3 of the respondents (n = 703) made it a priority to use and mandate their patients to practice physical distancing, wearing masks, and hand dis-infection for protection to limit the spread of infection. CONCLUSION: This global survey provides a real-world assessment of diverse practices that were in various forms of "shut down mode" and circumstances with varying capabilities to deal with COVID. It is unprecedented that the collective wisdom for a curtailment of practice has had an enormous immediate and far reaching implications on the livelihoods of ophthalmologists, their staff, and their families. Nevertheless, ophthalmologists and their staff remain resilient and have adapted to these changes pragmatically.

The estimated healthcare cost of diabetic retinopathy in Indonesia and its projection for 2025.

PURPOSE: To estimate the total healthcare cost associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes in Indonesia and its projection for 2025. METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness model was constructed from previous population-based DR study. Projection for 2025 was derived from estimated diabetes population in 2025. Direct treatment costs of DR were estimated from the perspective of healthcare. Patient perspective costs were obtained from thorough interview including only transportation cost and lost of working days related to treatment. We developed four cost-of-illness models according to DR severity level, DR without necessary treatment, needing laser treatment, laser +intravitreal (IVT) injection and laser + IVT +vitrectomy. All costs were estimated in 2017 US$. RESULTS: The healthcare costs of DR in Indonesia were estimated to be $2.4 billion in 2017 and $8.9 billion in 2025. The total cost in 2017 consisted of the cost for no DR and mild-moderate non-proliferative DR (NPDR) requiring eye screening ($25.9 million), severe NPDR or proliferative DR (PDR) requiring laser treatment ($0.25 billion), severe NPDR or PDR requiring both laser and IVT injection ($1.75 billion) and advance level of PDR requiring vitrectomy ($0.44 billion). CONCLUSIONS: The estimated healthcare cost of DR in Indonesia in 2017 was considerably high, nearly 2% of the 2017 national state budget, and projected to increase significantly to more than threefold in 2025. The highest cost may incur for DR requiring both laser and IVT injection. Therefore, public health intervention to delay or prevent severe DR may substantially reduce the healthcare cost of DR in Indonesia.