Effects of Teprotumumab on Eyelid Retraction in Thyroid Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the efficacy of teprotumumab in reducing eyelid retraction in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with active or chronic moderate-to-severe TED who completed at least 4 cycles of teprotumumab. Patients with upper and/or lower eyelid retraction, defined as margin-to-reflex distance (MRD) 1 and/or MRD2 of more than 5 mm, in one or OU were included. The main outcome measure was a change in MRD1 and MRD2 after treatment. Changes in MRD1 and MRD2 were each analyzed for correlation (r) with changes in exophthalmolmetry. Student t test was performed for each comparison, and p values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The study included 91 patients, predominantly female (87%), with an average age of 52.02 ± 14.6 years. The mean baseline proptosis measurement was 21.8 ± 2.9 OD and 21.7 ± 3.3 OS. The average MRD1 was 5.5 ± 1.5 OD and 5.4 ± 1.7 OS, and the average MRD2 was 6.1 ± 1.1 OD and 6.2 ± 1.1 OS. The follow-up duration post-treatment was 37.5 ± 31.7 weeks. At first follow-up post-treatment, the mean change in proptosis, MRD1, and MRD2 were -2.6 ± 2.0 OD, -2.5 ± 2.1 OS, -0.8.5 ± 1.4 OD, -0.8 ± 1.0 OS, and -0.7 ± 0.9 OD, -0.8 ± 1.0 OS, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that proptosis reduction was positively correlated with MRD1 and MRD2 reduction at the first post-treatment follow-up (MRD1: r = 0.23, p value < 0.01; MRD2: r = 0.17, p = 0.03]. CONCLUSION: Teprotumumab treatment improves upper and lower eyelid retraction. The improvement in MRD correlated positively with proptosis reduction, indicating the influence of globe position on eyelid position.

Evaluating the Accuracy of ChatGPT and Google BARD in Fielding Oculoplastic Patient Queries: A Comparative Study on Artificial versus Human Intelligence.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates and compares the accuracy of responses from 2 artificial intelligence platforms to patients' oculoplastics-related questions. METHODS: Questions directed toward oculoplastic surgeons were collected, rephrased, and input independently into ChatGPT-3.5 and BARD chatbots, using the prompt: "As an oculoplastic surgeon, how can I respond to my patient's question?." Responses were independently evaluated by 4 experienced oculoplastic specialists as comprehensive, correct but inadequate, mixed correct and incorrect/outdated data, and completely incorrect. Additionally, the empathy level, length, and automated readability index of the responses were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 112 patient questions underwent evaluation. The rates of comprehensive, correct but inadequate, mixed, and completely incorrect answers for ChatGPT were 71.4%, 12.9%, 10.5%, and 5.1%, respectively, compared with 53.1%, 18.3%, 18.1%, and 10.5%, respectively, for BARD. ChatGPT showed more empathy (48.9%) than BARD (13.2%). All graders found that ChatGPT outperformed BARD in question categories of postoperative healing, medical eye conditions, and medications. Categorizing questions by anatomy, ChatGPT excelled in answering lacrimal questions (83.8%), while BARD performed best in the eyelid group (60.4%). ChatGPT's answers were longer and potentially more challenging to comprehend than BARD's. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the promising role of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots in oculoplastic patient education and support. With continued development, these chatbots may potentially assist physicians and offer patients accurate information, ultimately contributing to improved patient care while alleviating surgeon burnout. However, it is crucial to highlight that artificial intelligence may be good at answering questions, but physician oversight remains essential to ensure the highest standard of care and address complex medical cases.

Dacryops and clinical diagnostic challenges.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to describe the clinical and histopathologic features of different types of dacryops and their clinical diagnostic challenges. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of all surgically excised cases of dacryops in 2 tertiary eye hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: The study included 58 dacryops specimens from 55 patients with an average age of 41.2 years (range, 4-78 years). The most common location was the upper lid (60.3%), whereas the least expected location was the caruncle (6.9%). The most common site of dacryops occurrence was in the accessory lacrimal gland (55.2%), the main lacrimal gland (32.8%), and then ectopic dacryops (12%). All patients presented with lid swelling alone except for 3 patients who experienced secondary mechanical ptosis. On physical examination, conjunctival scarring existed in 4 patients (6.9%). Preoperative diagnosis of dacryops was accurate in 44.8% of the cases. Dacryops of the main lacrimal gland was accurately diagnosed clinically in all cases compared with other locations, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The causes of inaccurate clinical diagnoses were hidrocystoma (26.9%), inclusion cyst (11.5%), and dermoid cyst (7.7%), whereas the remaining cases were diagnosed as cysts without a specific subtype (53.9%). Recurrence of the lesion was observed in 2 cases (3.5%). No clinical or histopathologic factors were associated with a risk of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Dacryops can represent a diagnostic challenge to ophthalmologists. Familiarity with clinical presentations and findings is required to diagnose dacryops outside the main lacrimal gland.

Indications, surgical procedures and outcomes of keratoplasty at a Tertiary University-based hospital: a review of 10 years' experience.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate keratoplasty outcomes in a university-based hospital. METHODS: Medical records of all patients undergoing keratoplasty at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2015, with a minimum follow-up period of three months were reviewed retrospectively. Indications, surgical procedures, complications and outcomes of all surgeries were collected and analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Graft survival and visual acuity. RESULTS: Data were available for 488 grafts in the study period, including 313 optical penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), 42 therapeutic/tectonic PKPs, 72 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, 58 Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty and 3 Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty. A total of 389 (79.7%) grafts survived, whereas 99 (20.3%) grafts failed. The projected 1-year, 3-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates for the entire study group were 85.8%, 74.9% and 71.1%, respectively. Corneal ectasia was the commonest surgical indication accounting for 48% of the cases. The best long-term survival rates were observed in the stromal dystrophy and corneal ectasia groups. The worst survival rates were noticed in the congenital corneal opacities group. Vision improved in in 57.5% of grafted eyes, remained the same in 39.8% and deteriorated in 2.7%. Postoperative complications occurred in 36% of the grafts with rejection being the most common, and its mere occurrence increased the risk of graft failure by 20-fold. CONCLUSION: The outcome of grafting in a university-based hospital can be excellent in low-risk grafts and fair to low in high-risk grafts. Our results are relatively comparable to nationally and internationally reported outcomes.

Acute hydrops as an atypical presentation of primary congenital glaucoma.

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is a disease of childhood characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) that causes stretching of the eye's outer coats, namely sclera and cornea. This results in the elongation of the eyeball and expansion of the horizontal corneal diameter giving the appearance of a buphthalmos eye. Aggressive disease with high IOP readings causes excessive mechanical stretching that may be poorly tolerated by the corneal Descemet's membrane, leading to large breaks in it with subsequent corneal edema due to sudden influx of the aqueous humor into the exposed stroma, resulting in acute corneal hydrops. While acute hydrops is a potential sequel of PCG, it is considered one of its rare presentations. We present two cases who presented to our hospital with acute hydrops secondary to PCG. Both patients were managed surgically where the first patient underwent combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, while the second patient underwent deep sclerectomy with mitomycin C. The surgical procedures effectively controlled the IOP and aided in clearing corneal edema in both patients. Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are of paramount importance to improve visual outcomes, enhance ocular maturation, and prevent potential irreversible vision loss, especially in this young-age group of patients that are prone to amblyopia.

Necrotizing canaliculitis: A case report and review of the literature.

Canaliculitis is defined as infection of the canalicular part of the lacrimal system. Despite usual presenting clinical characteristics such as pouting of the lacrimal punctum, discharge, and redness at the medial canthus area, it is usually misdiagnosed and overlooked. The presence of punctal ulceration and tissue necrosis is an uncommon presentation in these patients. We report a case of a 35-year-old female with a 3-day history of left lower eyelid medial swelling, tenderness, and discharge. She was found to have left lower eyelid diffuse conjunctival injection and swelling involving the lower lacrimal punctum with whitish necrotic tissue. The patient was taken to the minor treatment room and debridement of the necrotic tissue was done and swabs were taken for culture and sensitivity. The punctum was found to be open with deroofing of the proximal canalicular system due to the severe nature of the infection; this was followed by irrigation using moxifloxacin and povidone-iodine. The patient was started on systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotic eye drops, and povidone-iodine sticks to clean the affected area. Few days later, the microbiology results revealed infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the patient was improving gradually until she had complete resolution of the infection.

Corneal elevation indices and pachymetry values of Saudi myopes using scheimpflug imaging.

OBJECTIVES: To report the corneal elevation and thickness values for Saudi myopes and to evaluate the differences between these parameters in subgroups of this target population. Methods: Pentacam corneal topographic maps of the right eyes of patients visiting Al-Hokama Eye Clinic, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a tertiary eye center between January 2009 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed in this cross-sectional study. The patients were grouped into 3 categories based on their spherical readings: mild (-0.25 to -2.75D), moderate (-3.00 to -5.75D), and severe (≥-6.00D). Furthermore, patients with cylindrical readings of ≥-1.00 diopter were categorized as having myopic astigmatism, whereas those with less than -1.00 cylindrical diopter were categorized as having simple myopia. Results: Our sample was comprised of 1,276 patients; 838 (65.7%) had simple myopia and 438 (34.3%) had myopic astigmatism. The values for the whole myopic group were as follows:  anterior corneal elevation (AE) at the apex= 2.60±1.48 (standard deviation), thinnest AE= 2.56±1.68, posterior elevation (PE) at the apex= 3.67±3.58, thinnest PE= 4.92±3.81, central pachymetry= 550.09±34.29, apical pachymetry=550.73±34.64, and thinnest pachymetry= 546.30±34.61. All of the measurements, except the apical PE and thinnest PE, were statistically significant across the simple and myopic astigmatism groups (p less than 0.05). Comparing the mild to moderate myopia groups revealed a significant difference in the apical AE (p=0.037). Moreover, the comparison between the mild and severe myopia groups revealed that the apical PE and the thinnest PE, as well as the central, apical, and thinnest pachymetry values were statistically significantly different (p less than 0.05). Conclusion: The corneal elevation indices and thicknesses specific to the Saudi myopes were found to be comparable to the international databases in terms of the elevation and thickness in some of the parameters.

An unusual case of penetrating eye injury caused by a bird: A case report with review of the pertinent literature.

Penetrating eye injuries caused by bird pecking are uncommon with less than 40 cases reported in the literature. In this article, we present a case of penetrating ocular injury caused by a bird along with pertinent literature review. An otherwise healthy 56-year old man presented to the emergency department complaining of right eye severe pain and decreased vision following trauma caused by a bittern bird. The patient was diagnosed with penetrating ocular injury & he underwent primary repair. On follow up, he was found to have traumatic cataract, which was operated, however, the surgery was complicated with IOL dislocation into the vitreous cavity. The patient was referred to retina service where he underwent pars plana vitrectomy with IOL repositioning in the sulcus. After two months, the patient's uncorrected visual acuity improved from counting fingers at 2 feet to 20/30-2. This case serves as a reminder that bird pecking is one of the causes of penetrating eye trauma.

The impact of surgical training on the practice of recently graduated ophthalmologists at Riyadh's ophthalmology residency program.

PURPOSE: To evaluate how well the training residency program prepared recent graduates to practice comprehensive ophthalmology with special focus on surgical competency. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included Ophthalmologists who graduated from Riyadh ophthalmology residency program between the years 2002-2012. A total of 126 graduates were invited through e-mails and electronic social media platforms to anonymously complete an electronic survey. The survey included questions that aim to assess the surgical competency of graduated ophthalmologists in doing various surgical procedures that were among the requirements of residency training. RESULTS: Ninety participants in the mean age of 38.7 years completed the survey. The majority of respondents (93%) joined fellowship programs and around half of them sub-specialized in anterior segment. More than half (55.6%) of the respondents reported that the acquired surgical skills during residency training were adequate. By the end of the residency period, the respondents' competency in doing extra capsular cataract extraction was better than phacoemulsification while 52% of them reported incompetence in both glaucoma and strabismus surgeries whereas the majority were incompetent in oculoplastics' procedures (e.g. entropion repair). However, the majority felt competent in doing primary repair, minor and laser procedures. Lack of exposure was the major cause of such incompetency. CONCLUSION: This self-reported survey showed that the lack of adequate surgical exposure during residency training was the main reason of incompetency. This resulted in reduction of ophthalmologists' future practice of surgical procedures outside the scope of their sub-specialty. This emphasizes that physicians mainly practice what they surgically acquire during their fellowship training.

Correlation between practice location as a surrogate for UV exposure and practice patterns to prevent corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

BACKGROUND: PRK is a refractive surgery that reshapes the corneal surface by excimer laser photoablation to correct refractive errors. The effect of increased ultraviolet (UV) exposure on promoting post-PRK corneal haze has been reported in the literature; however, information is lacking regarding the effect of ambient UV exposure on physician practice patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ophthalmologists' practice location on their reported practice patterns to prevent post-PRK corneal haze. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted through an online survey sent to ophthalmologists performing PRK. The survey recorded the primary city of practice from which the two independent variables, latitude and average annual sunshine days, were determined. It also measured the frequency of use of postoperative preventive interventions (dependent variables) which are as follows: intraoperative Mitomycin-C, oral vitamin C, sunglasses, topical corticosteroids, topical cyclosporine, oral tetracyclines and amniotic membrane graft. RESULTS: Fifty-one ophthalmologists completed the survey. Practice locations' mean latitude was 36.4 degrees north, and average sunshine days annually accounted for 60% of year days. There was no significant relation between latitude/average annual sunshine days and usual post-PRK prophylactic treatments (P > 0.05). The commonest protective maneuvers were sunglasses (78%), prolonged topical corticosteroids (57%), Mitomycin-C (39%) and oral vitamin C (37%). CONCLUSION: We found no significant difference in ophthalmologists' practice patterns to prevent post-PRK corneal haze in relation to practice location latitude and average sunshine days. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the most widely used postoperative measures to prevent post-PRK haze are sunglasses, Mitomycin-C, topical corticosteroids, and oral Vitamin C.