Pediatric Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Attributed to a Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

This report presents a rare case of a central retinal artery occlusion in an eight-year-old girl attributed to an undiagnosed patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Despite intensive treatment, the patient's eyesight failed to improve. Cases of central retinal artery occlusion may occur in patients with undiagnosed, small PDA, with only symptomatic treatment being available.

No End in Sight; Assessing the Impact of Internet Gaming Disorder on Digital Eye Strain Symptoms and Academic Success.

BACKGROUND: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been associated with symptoms of Digital Eye Strain (DES) and poor academic performance among adolescent students. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a student's achievement of a specific academic goal within a short period of time can be directly predicted by symptoms of IGD and DES. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey of 140 high school graduates who received an examination of visual acuity as a pre-requisite for entering the written admission examinations of law enforcement and military academies. The students completed the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire (DESQ) and the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) and stated their own evaluation of their chances for success. They were contacted following their admission examinations, and their success or failure to be admitted was recorded. RESULTS: The students with IGD symptomatology were more likely to present with symptoms of DES. They were also more pessimistic about their chances of success in the subsequent written admission examinations; none succeeded, while the rest of the students recorded an expected rate of success. A combination of IGD and complaints related to the prolonged fixation of the upper body in a specific viewing position was the best predictor variable set for future success in admission examinations. CONCLUSIONS: IGD is associated with a failure to achieve academic success. Combining a factor for physical discomfort during prolonged sessions of gaming with the typical criteria for IGD may expand the predictive validity of the construct of gaming disorder.

Spotlight on Digital Eye Strain.

Digital Eye Strain (DES) is a clinical syndrome manifested with visual disturbances and/or ophthalmic dysfunction related to the usage of screen-enabled digital equipment. This term is gradually replacing the older term computer vision syndrome (CVS) that focused on the same symptoms found on personal computer users. DES is encountered more frequently during the past years due to the explosive increase in the usage of digital devices and subsequent increase in time in front of any screens. It presents with a series of atypical symptoms and signs stemming from asthenopia, dry eye syndrome, preexisting untreated vision issues and poor screen ergonomics. This review summarizes research data to date to determine whether the concept of DES has been conclusively defined and demarcated as a separate entity and if sufficient guidance is offered on professionals and the lay public. The maturity of the field, grouping of symptoms, examination techniques, treatment and prevention modalities are summarily presented.

Validation of the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire and pilot application to online gaming addicts.

INTRODUCTION: 'Digital eye strain' (DES) is a clinical syndrome with eyesight symptoms related to continuous engagement in front of a screen-enabled digital device. With use of these devices constantly on the rise, the related symptoms have become prominent, even in younger ages. This study describes the process of validating the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire (DESQ), a thirteen-item self-report scale in a yes-no format designed to offer a measure of complaints related to digital eye strain syndrome (DES). METHODS: The validation process included 150 outpatients with no long-standing eye disease who were examined for various eye complaints and 50 outpatients who were diagnosed with gaming addiction according to WHO ICD-11 clinical criteria. All participants filled in a demographics questionnaire, the DESQ, the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q) and the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-9 (PIUQ-9). RESULTS: Principal component analysis of categorical variables confirmed the proposed three-factor DES structure with a total of 61.02% of explained variance and Cronbach's alpha equal to.94. Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing the results of the DESQ to the CVS-Q while convergent validity was assessed by examining correlations of the DESQ with results from the PIUQ-9 questionnaire. In all cases the DESQ demonstrated excellent reliability and validity. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the DESQ questionnaire can be employed to reliably measure the symptomatology of digital eye strain in clinical populations who present either with eye issues or with excessive use of the gaming and screen-enabled devices in general.

Patient Adherence to Glaucoma Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction In medicine, patient adherence refers to the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice, and it most commonly pertains to medication or drug compliance. Patient adherence to glaucoma treatment has been a frequent and serious issue that is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that are associated with adherence to glaucoma treatment among patients during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 100 consecutive glaucoma outpatients who were interviewed based on the modified version (ARMS2-COVID) of the original Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale 2 (ARMS2) that examined adherence to medication. Length of treatment and disease onset along with basic demographic details (gender, age, socioeconomic status, and educational levels) of the patients were also recorded. Results The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally impacted patients of older age (p=0.033) and lower educational levels (p<0.001) with regard to their ability to follow their treatment plan regardless of the duration of previous treatment. Conclusions Based on our findings, in order to ensure higher levels of patient adherence among patients of older age with limited education, more planning will be required, aided by appropriate educational interventions and proactive patient follow-ups.