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Importance: Workforce diversity is integral to optimal function within health care teams. Objective: To analyze gender, race, and ethnicity trends in rank and leadership among US full-time academic ophthalmology faculty and department chairs between 1966 and 2021. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included full-time US academic ophthalmology faculty and department chairs registered in the Association of American Medical Colleges. Study data were analyzed in September 2023. Exposure: Identifying with an underrepresented in medicine (URiM) group. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome measures were demographic (ie, gender, race, and ethnicity) changes among academic faculty and department chairs, assessed in 5-year intervals. The term minoritized race refers to any racial group other than White race. Results: There were 221 academic physicians in 1966 (27 women [12.2%]; 38 minoritized race [17.2%]; 8 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish [3.6%]) and 3158 academic faculty by 2021 (1320 women [41.8%]; 1298 minoritized race [41.1%]; 147 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity [4.7%]). The annual proportional change for women, minoritized race, and Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity was +0.63% per year (95% CI, 0.53%-0.72%), +0.54% per year (95% CI, 0.72%-0.36%), and -0.01% (95% CI, -0.03% to 0%), respectively. Women were underrepresented across academic ranks and increasingly so at higher echelons, ranging from nonprofessor/instructor roles (period-averaged mean difference [PA-MD], 19.88%; 95% CI, 16.82%-22.94%) to professor (PA-MD, 81.33%; 95% CI, 78.80%-83.86%). The corpus of department chairs grew from 77 in 1977 (0 women; 7 minoritized race [9.09%]; 2 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity [2.60%]) to 104 by 2021 (17 women [16.35%]; 22 minoritized race [21.15%]; 4 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity [3.85%]). For department chairs, the annual rate of change in the proportion of women, minoritized race, and Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish ethnicity was +0.32% per year (95% CI, 0.20%-0.44%), +0.34% per year (95% CI, 0.19%-0.49%), and +0.05% per year (95% CI, 0.02%-0.08%), respectively. In both faculty and department chairs, the proportion of URiM groups (American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) grew the least. Intersectionality analysis suggested that men and non-URiM status were associated with greater representation across ophthalmology faculty and department chairs. However, among ophthalmology faculty, URiM women and men did not significantly differ across strata of academic ranks, whereas for department chairs, no difference was observed in representation between URiM men and non-URiM women. Conclusion & Relevance: Results of this cohort study revealed that since 1966, workforce diversity progressed slowly and was limited to lower academic ranks and leadership positions. Intersectionality of URiM status and gender persisted in representation trends. These findings suggest further advocacy and intervention are needed to increase workforce diversity.
Subject(s)
Ethnicity , Faculty, Medical , Leadership , Ophthalmology , Humans , Female , United States , Male , Faculty, Medical/statistics & numerical data , Ethnicity/statistics & numerical data , Racial Groups/statistics & numerical data , Academic Medical Centers , Cultural Diversity , Sex Distribution , Physicians, Women/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of inclusive author submission guidelines across ophthalmology journals. METHODS: Journals were identified from the 2021 Journal Citations Report (Clarivate Analytics). Independent reviewers rated each author submission guideline as "inclusive" for satisfying at-least one of six criteria: i) included examples of gender inclusive language; ii) recommended the use of gender-inclusive language; iii) distinguished between sex and gender; iv) provided educational resources on gender-inclusive language; v) provided a policy permitting name changes (e.g., in case of gender and name transition); and/or vi) provided a statement of commitment to inclusivity. The primary objective was to investigate the proportion of journals with "gender-inclusive" author submission guidelines and the elements of the gender-inclusive content within these guidelines. A secondary objective was to review the association between "gender-inclusivity" in author submission guidelines with publisher, origin country, and journal/source/influence metrics (Clarivate Analytics). RESULTS: Across 94 journals, 29.8% journals were rated as inclusive. Inclusive journals had significantly higher relative impact factor, citations, and article influence scores compared to non-inclusive journals. Of the 29.8% of inclusive journals, the three most common domains were inclusion of an inclusivity statement (71.4% of inclusive journals), distinguishing between sex and gender (67.9%), and provision of additional educational resources on gender reporting for authors (60.7%). CONCLUSION: A minority of ophthalmology journals have gender-inclusive author submission guidelines. Ophthalmology journals should update their submission guidelines to advance gender equity of both authors and study participants and promote the inclusion of gender-diverse communities.
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BACKGROUND: In Canada, there is a recognized underrepresentation of women in the field of surgery. However, the extent to which this trend applies across various surgical specialties is not well delineated. The aim of this study is to identify existing disparities and trends over time to inform the need for future interventions to make the match process more equitable for applicants. METHODS: Data regarding surgical specialty applicants was extracted from the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)'s 2003 to 2022 reports. RESULTS: A total of 9,488 applicants ranked surgical specialties as their first choice from 2003-2022. Increases in the proportion of women applicants comparing periods 2003-2007 to 2018-2022 were significant for cardiac surgery (22% to 43%, p = 0.03), general surgery (46% to 60%, p<0.001), orthopedic surgery (23% to 35%, p<0.001), urology (23% to 38%, p<0.001), and all aggregated surgical specialties ('all surgery') (45% to 55%, p<0.001). An increase in the proportion of women applicants who matched over the same periods was observed for general surgery (+47% to 60%, p<0.001), orthopedic surgery (24% to 35%, p<0.01), urology (21% to 34%, p<0.001), and all surgery (46% to 54%, p<0.001). From 2003-2022, a lower match rate for women compared to men was observed for otolaryngology (0.60 v 0.69, p = 0.008), urology (0.61 v 0.72, p = 0.003), and all surgery (0.71 v 0.73, p = 0.038), while higher match rates were observed for ophthalmology (0.65 v 0.58, p = 0.04). No statistically significant differences in match rate were observed from 2018-2022. CONCLUSIONS: While the proportion of women applicants to surgical specialties in Canada has been increasing, women remain underrepresented in several surgical specialties. This underrepresentation cannot be solely attributed to fewer women applying to these specialties, as women experience lower success rates when matching to specific surgical specialties. Further research is essential to identify and address the underlying causes of these disparities.
Subject(s)
Internship and Residency , Specialties, Surgical , Urology , Male , Humans , Female , Retrospective Studies , Canada , Career Choice , Urology/educationABSTRACT
Background: Applicants to ophthalmology have high rates of going unmatched during the CaRMS process, but how this compares to other competitive or surgical specialties remains unclear. Our research aims to examine this phenomenon by identifying trends and comparing match data with other specialties, to identify disparities that may inform the need for future interventions to improve the match process for applicants. Methods: We used a cross-sectional analysis of data provided by CaRMS on the residency match from 2013 to 2022. Results: We obtained data from 608 ophthalmology, 5,153 surgery, and 3,092 top five (most competitive) specialty first choice applicants from 2013-2022. Ophthalmology applicants were more likely to go unmatched (18.9% [120/608]) than applicants to the top five (11.9% [371/3,092]) and surgical (13.5% [702/5,153]) specialties (p<0.001) and were twice as likely to rank no alternate disciplines (31.8%, p < 0.001) over the study period. In the first iteration, when alternate disciplines were ranked, the match rate to alternate disciplines was highest for ophthalmology applicants (0.41, p < 0.001). The majority (57.8%) of unmatched ophthalmology applicants do not participate in the second iteration. Conclusion: Compared to other competitive specialties, first choice ophthalmology applicants were more likely to go unmatched, rank no alternate disciplines, and choose not to participate in the second iteration. Ophthalmology applicant behaviours should be further studied to help explain these study findings.
Contexte: Les candidats à l'ophtalmologie ont un taux élevé de non-jumelage au cours du processus CaRMS, mais une comparaison avec d'autres spécialités compétitives ou chirurgicales reste à faire. Notre travail a pour but d'examiner ce phénomène en identifiant des tendances et en comparant les données de jumelage avec celles d'autres spécialités, à la recherche de disparités susceptibles d'éclairer le besoin d'interventions futures pour améliorer le processus de jumelage pour les candidats. Méthodes: Nous avons procédé à une analyse transversale des données fournies par CaRMS sur le jumelage des résidents de 2013 à 2022. Résultats: Nous avons obtenu des données sur 608 candidats en ophtalmologie, 5 153 en chirurgie et 3 092 candidats dont le premier choix était l'une des cinq spécialités les plus compétitives de 2013 à 2022. Les candidats en ophtalmologie étaient plus susceptibles de ne pas être jumelés (18,9 % [120/608]) que les candidats aux cinq spécialités les plus compétitives (11,9 % [371/3 092]) et aux spécialités chirurgicales (13,5 % [702/5 153]) (p<0,001), et étaient deux fois plus susceptibles de ne classer aucune autre discipline (31,8 %, p<0,001) au cours de la période d'étude. Lors du premier tour, lorsque des disciplines alternatives ont été classées, le taux de jumelage avec les disciplines alternatives était le plus élevé pour les candidats en ophtalmologie (0,41, p<0,001). La majorité (57,8 %) des candidats non jumelés en ophtalmologie ne participent pas au deuxième tour. Conclusion: Comparativement à d'autres spécialités compétitives, les candidats dont le premier choix étaient l'ophtalmologie étaient plus susceptibles de ne pas être jumelés, de ne pas classer d'autres disciplines et de choisir de ne pas participer au deuxième tour. Les comportements des candidats en ophtalmologie devraient faire l'objet d'études plus approfondies afin d'expliquer nos résultats.
Subject(s)
Internship and Residency , Ophthalmology , Ophthalmology/education , Cross-Sectional Studies , Canada , Career ChoiceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To create a standardized undergraduate medicine ophthalmology curriculum for Canadian medical schools. DESIGN: Two-stage modified Delphi technique. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate ophthalmology leads at all the medical schools in Canada and 6 nonophthalmologist physicians with medical education expertise. METHODS: In stage 1, a preliminary list of curricular objectives was developed using the 2018 Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology's list of curricular objectives as a foundation. Subsequently, an online survey was sent to 24 individuals (18 ophthalmology undergraduate curriculum leads and 6 non-ophthalmology medical educators) at 17 institutions to evaluate the objectives using a 5-point Likert-type scale. In stage 2, the ophthalmology curriculum leads were invited to participate in a virtual meeting during which the list of curricular objectives was discussed and finalized by consensus. RESULTS: In stage 1, a preliminary list of 76 learning objectives organized into 10 overarching topics was developed. A total of 21 survey responses were received (87.5% response rate), allowing for the creation of a revised list. In stage 2, five participants from four schools met, achieving consensus following one round of feedback. The final undergraduate ophthalmology curriculum contained 10 topics and 75 objectives; it covered common presentations of a variety of acute and chronic eye diseases that were felt to be relevant to a wide medical audience. CONCLUSIONS: The consensus obtained on a comprehensive list of undergraduate medicine ophthalmology curricular objectives identified in this study is the first of its kind in Canada. These objectives can be used by medical schools across Canada to standardize undergraduate ophthalmology teaching.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Ophthalmology , Humans , Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods , Ophthalmology/education , Canada , Curriculum , Surveys and Questionnaires , Schools, MedicalABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to analyse emergency ophthalmology referrals to a Canadian tertiary academic centre during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in comparison to prepandemic referrals. DESIGN: This was a retrospective chart review looking at emergency referrals seen by the ophthalmology service between March 18 to April 17, 2020 (representing the COVID-19 period), and March 18 to April 17, 2019 (representing the pre-COVID-19 period). METHODS: Data gathered from referral records included patient demographics, timing and site of referral, and ophthalmic diagnosis. Referrals were categorized as urgent or nonurgent, with urgent indicating the need for ophthalmic assessment within 24 hours. RESULTS: The total number of referrals decreased by 54.2% in the COVID-19 period versus the pre-COVID-19 period. There was a similar bimodal age distribution in both periods, with fewer patients over 65 years of age presenting during the pandemic. Tertiary hospital referrals decreased by 62% in the pandemic period, while nontertiary emergency department referral trends varied and outpatient clinic referrals increased by 16%. Overall, there was a significant shift in the distribution of referral sites (pâ¯=â¯0.04). The proportion of urgent referrals increased by 14% during the pandemic; this was not statistically significant. There was no significant change in the timing of referrals or in the distribution of diagnostic segments. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology referral patterns in a Canadian context. Moving forward, it helps to guide resource allocation and public education on the importance of seeking necessary eye care.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Ophthalmology , Aged , Canada/epidemiology , Humans , Pandemics , Referral and Consultation , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Introduction: Acute vision loss has been previously described as a complication of dental procedures through a variety of mechanisms. The vision loss is typically transient, although permanent loss has been reported. Physicians, including ophthalmologists, typically lack formal education around dental procedures and may be uninformed about the risks to ocular or periocular structures as well as the types of complications that can arise. We aimed to summarize literature describing the various mechanisms by which dental procedures can lead to vision loss in order to equip physicians (primary care, emergency medicine, and ophthalmologists) with a better understanding of the mechanisms by which dental procedures can lead to acute vision loss. Methods: A literature search (1950 to 2020) identified articles discussing acute vision loss as a complication of dental procedures. Results: Dental procedures can result in a variety of ophthalmological conditions through ischemic, infectious, compressive, and anesthetic-related etiologies. Conclusions: While the majority of vision loss is transient and requires little management, there are vision and life-threatening complications that can arise and would require assessment and appropriate treatment.
Subject(s)
Dentistry , Vision Disorders , Humans , Vision Disorders/diagnosis , Vision Disorders/etiologyABSTRACT
The way in which health care is delivered has rapidly changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a rapid increase in virtual delivery of clinical care. As a result, the learning environment (LE) in health professions education, which has traditionally been situated in the bricks-and-mortar clinical context, now also requires attention to the virtual space. As a frequently examined topic in the health professions literature, the LE is a critical component in the development and training of future healthcare professionals. Based on a published conceptual framework for the LE from Gruppen et al. in 2019, a conceptual framework for how the LE can manifest through virtual care space is presented here. The four components of personal, social, organizational, physical/virtual spaces are explored, with a discussion of how they can be integrated into virtual care. The authors provide suggestions that health professions educators can consider when adapting their LE to the virtual environment and highlight aspects of its integration that require further research and investigation.
La prestation des soins de santé a connu un changement fulgurant depuis le début de la pandémie de la COVID-19, notamment en raison de la virtualisation des soins cliniques. Par conséquent, l'environnement d'apprentissage (EA) qui, dans l'enseignement traditionnel des professions de la santé, se situait dans un cadre clinique physique, doit désormais inclure l'espace virtuel. Sujet souvent exploré dans la littérature en sciences de la santé, l'environnement d'apprentissage est un élément essentiel de la formation des futurs professionnels de la santé. Nous proposons un cadre conceptuel, inspiré du cadre de l'EA élaboré par Gruppen et al. en 2019, sur la façon de définir un EA dans l'espace de soins virtuel. Après avoir exploré les quatre dimensions de l'espace, à savoir personnelle, sociale, organisationnelle et physique/virtuelle, les auteurs analysent la façon de les intégrer dans les soins virtuels. Ils formulent des suggestions à l'intention des enseignants des professions de la santé concernant l'adaptation de leur environnement d'apprentissage à l'environnement virtuel, tout en soulignant les aspects d'une telle intégration qui nécessitent des recherches plus approfondies.
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Construct: Authors investigated the perspectives of stakeholders on feasibility elements of workplace-based assessments (WBA) with varying designs. Background: In the transition to competency-based medical education, WBA are taking a more prominent role in assessment programs. However, the increased demand for WBA leads to new challenges for implementing suitable WBA tools with published validity evidence, while also being feasible and useful in practice. Despite the availability of published WBA tools, implementation does not necessarily occur; a more fulsome understanding of the perspectives of stakeholders who are ultimately the end-users of these tools, as well as the system factors that both deter or support their use, could help to explain why evidence-based assessment tools may not be incorporated into residency programs. Approach: We examined the perspectives of two groups of stakeholders, surgical teachers and resident learners, during an assessment intervention that varied the assessment tools while keeping the assessment process constant. We chose diverse exemplars from published assessment tools that each represented a different response format: global rating scales, step-by-step surgical rubrics, and an entrustability scale. The primary purpose was to investigate how stakeholders are impacted by WBA tools with varying response formats to better understand their feasibility for assessment of cataract surgery. Secondarily, we were able to explore the culture of assessment in cataract surgery education including stakeholders' perceptions of WBA unrelated to assessment form design. Semi-structured interviews with teachers and a focus group with the residents enabled discussion of their perspectives on dimensions of the tools such as acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation, and integration. Findings: Three themes summarize teachers' and residents' experiences with the assessment tools: (1) Feedback is the priority; (2) Forms informing coaching; and (3) Forcing the conversation. The tools helped to facilitate the feedback conversation by serving as a reminder to initiate the conversation, a framework to structure the conversation, and a memory aid for providing detailed feedback. Surgical teachers preferred the assessment tool with a design that best aligned with their approach to teaching and how they wanted to provide feedback. Orientation to the tools, combined with established remediation pathways, may help preceptors to better use assessment tools and improve their ability to give critical feedback. Conclusions: Feedback, more so than assessment, dominated the comments provided by both teachers and residents after using the various WBA tools. Our typical assessment design efforts focus on the creation or selection of a robust assessment tool according to good design and measurement principles, but the current findings would encourage us to also prioritize the coaching relationship and include efforts to design WBA tools to function as a mediator to augment teaching, learning, and feedback exchange within that relationship in the workplace.
Subject(s)
Cataract Extraction/standards , Clinical Competence/standards , Competency-Based Education/methods , Education, Medical, Graduate/methods , Ophthalmology/education , Educational Measurement/methods , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Qualitative Research , Workplace/standardsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Clerkship at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Medical School encompasses a variety of models: traditional rotation-based clerkship; distributed rotation-based clerkship at sites across the province; and a longitudinal integrated community clerkship. The purpose of this study was to: (i) Evaluate the undergraduate ophthalmology clerkship experience at UBC to compare outcomes and experiences across the various sites and models; and (ii) Apply educational theories to evaluation outcomes in order to improve curriculum design for clerkship programs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional evaluation of the ophthalmology clerkship program at UBC. METHODS: Using a logic model, we identified inputs, activities, and outputs of the ophthalmology clerkship experience at each site at UBC. Site directors and administrators were contacted for information regarding program curriculum and delivery, and outcomes were described using written exam and clinical assessment scores as well as student and instructor feedback (questionnaires with narrative responses). RESULTS: Site directors and administrators from all clerkship sites participated in the study. Clerkship experiences across all sites (rotation-based and integrated community clerkship) were found to be unique in contexts and clinical activities. There were no significant differences noted between outcomes in the rotation-based sites. CONCLUSION: Clerkship experiences can be delivered in various contexts and through varied clinical settings, yet provide an equivalent student learning experience. As longitudinal and distributed clerkship models gain traction in medical education around the world, there are lessons for undergraduate medical education both in ophthalmology and in other areas.
Subject(s)
Clinical Clerkship/organization & administration , Clinical Competence , Curriculum , Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods , Ophthalmology/education , Program Evaluation , Universities , British Columbia , Cross-Sectional Studies , Educational Measurement , HumansABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the association between open-angle glaucoma and erectile dysfunction (ED), and investigate the correlation in severity between these 2 conditions. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with patient questionnaire and retrospective chart review. A total of 167 male patients over 40 years of age who attended ophthalmology clinic visits in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, participated in the study by providing written consent and responding to the survey. Patients with previous radiation or surgical prostate treatment were excluded, leaving final sample sizes of 61 glaucoma patients and 67 control patients. Presence and severity of ED was determined using a validated patient questionnaire (the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire). Presence of glaucoma was based on previous clinical diagnosis, and severity was graded based on visual field index using a 30-2 visual field test with the SITA Standard protocol. Bivariate analysis examined the presence of ED in glaucoma patients versus controls. Risk factors including dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking were adjusted for using multiple logistic regression. The association between glaucoma and ED severity was assessed with correlation and scatterplot analysis. RESULTS: Glaucoma was found to be a significant risk factor for ED in our population, with an odds ratio of 2.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.15-5.83). Severity of glaucoma and ED were significantly correlated (r=0.365, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that there is a positive association between the presence of ED and the diagnosis of glaucoma and a positive association between the severity of ED and the severity of glaucoma.
Subject(s)
Erectile Dysfunction/diagnosis , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/diagnosis , Intraocular Pressure , Risk Assessment/methods , Adult , Aged , British Columbia/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Erectile Dysfunction/complications , Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/complications , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the association between (1) glaucoma and erectile dysfunction (ED) and (2) topical ß-blocker (BB) use and ED. METHODS: A comprehensive, province-wide database of physician visits and diagnoses and prescription drug dispensing was used to identify cases of ED (1380) and find corresponding controls (13,800). A conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate rate ratios for 2 main exposures: (1) diagnosis of glaucoma and (2) use of a prescription of a topical BB before the index date. A variety of risk factors were adjusted for. RESULTS: Cases were more likely to have coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes. A crude rate ratio of the current diagnosis of ED in a population with at least 2 separate diagnoses of glaucoma was 1.34 and when adjusted for a number of variables (including oral BB use), this ratio was 1.37 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.76]. Use of topical BB in the 30 days before the diagnosis of ED did not have a significant association with a diagnosis of ED, with crude and adjusted rate ratios of 1.05 and 1.10, respectively (95% CI, 0.61-1.99). Topical ocular prostaglandin use was also not associated with ED, with crude and adjusted rate ratios of 0.96 and 0.93, respectively (95% CI, 0.57-1.53). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed an association between ED and glaucoma that cannot be attributed to topical BB use. Given that most cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors were adjusted for, further research in this area will be necessary to elucidate the nature of this association and potential causation.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/drug therapy , Aged , British Columbia/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Databases, Factual , Drug Prescriptions/statistics & numerical data , Erectile Dysfunction/diagnosis , Erectile Dysfunction/physiopathology , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/diagnosis , Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology , Humans , Intraocular Pressure/drug effects , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Pharmacoepidemiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Use of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors has been reported to be a risk factor for development of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in males, based largely on a number of case reports. The objective of our study was to determine whether men who use this class of medications are more likely than a matched control group to develop NAION. METHODS: A pharmacoepidemiological nested case-control study was used to examine the above association in a health claims database of physician diagnoses and prescription medication dispensing. Cases of NAION were matched with corresponding controls and correlated with the use of PDE-5 inhibitors. A conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate rate ratios for development of NAION with use of PDE-5 inhibitors. RESULTS: A total of 1,109 cases of NAION were found and matched to 1,237,290 controls identified within the database. Cases were more likely to have hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular accident in the year preceding their NAION. The adjusted rate ratio for any use of PDE-5 inhibitor in the year before the NAION was 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.28); recent use of a PDE-5 inhibitor in the 30 days before the NAION also had no significant association, with an adjusted rate ratio of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.75-1.23). Results for individual PDE-5 inhibitors did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not suggest any association between having a prescription filled for PDE-5 inhibitor medication and receiving a diagnosis code for NAION. This is consistent with other studies in the literature that have failed to elucidate a plausible mechanism by which these drugs might compromise circulation at the optic nerve head.
Subject(s)
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/chemically induced , Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/epidemiology , Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/adverse effects , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In current literature the association between statin use and cataracts is inconsistent and controversial. We sought to further examine the effect of statin use on the risk of cataract and need for surgical intervention in 2 North American populations. METHODS: This retrospective nested case-control study derived data from the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Health databases from 2000-2007 and the IMS LifeLink database from 2001-2011 to form 2 patient cohorts. The BC cohort was comprised of female and male patients; 162,501 patients were matched with 650,004 control subjects. The IMS LifeLink cohort was comprised of male patients aged 40-85 years; 45,065 patients were matched with 450,650 control subjects. Patients with statin use for > 1 year before the initial ophthalmology visit were identified. Diagnosis and surgical management of cataract were followed. Conditional logistic regression models were used to analyze data. RESULTS: For the BC cohort, the crude rate ratio (RR) for use of any statin was 1.30, and the adjusted RR was 1.27 (95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.30). The adjusted RRs for each individual statin were all statistically significant. For the IMS LifeLink cohort, the crude RR for use of any statin was 1.13, and the adjusted RR was 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.10). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that statin use is significantly associated with cataract requiring surgical intervention. This relationship was consistent in both North American cohorts. Further assessment of this relationship is recommended, especially because of increased statin use and the importance of acceptable vision in old age when cardiovascular disease is common.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Cataract/chemically induced , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Risk Assessment/methods , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Canada/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Cataract/epidemiology , Cohort Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe findings in patients who received dermal fillers and later developed peri-ocular mass lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who presented with peri-ocular masses secondary to dermal filler use. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Three patients with remote filler injection (hyaluronic acid and polyalkylimide), not volunteered on initial history, presented with peri-orbital swelling and/or inflammation that was suspicious in each case for more serious pathology. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for the injecting physician, the ophthalmologist, and the patient to recognize this complication to permit appropriate investigation and management.
Subject(s)
Acrylic Resins/adverse effects , Cosmetic Techniques/adverse effects , Eyelid Diseases/chemically induced , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/chemically induced , Granuloma, Giant Cell/chemically induced , Hyaluronic Acid/adverse effects , Orbital Diseases/chemically induced , Aged, 80 and over , Eyelid Diseases/pathology , Female , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/pathology , Granuloma, Giant Cell/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Orbital Diseases/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Skin Aging/drug effects , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine whether baseline drusen load, as measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT), is a useful predictor of development of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: setting: Academic clinical practice. study population: All patients with non-neovascular AMD and no retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) atrophy at baseline who were seen between 2007 and 2012 in a single academic retina practice. A minimum of 1 year of follow-up was required. observation: Drusen load (area and volume) was assessed using automated SD OCT software algorithms. main outcome measure: RPE atrophy area, assessed using an automated SD OCT software algorithm, and the development of neovascular AMD. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 80 years and a mean follow-up time of 2.8 years. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed an association between drusen area (P = .005) and drusen volume (P = .001) and the development of RPE atrophy. We also found an association between drusen area (P = .001) and drusen volume (P = .001) and the development of neovascular AMD. CONCLUSIONS: Drusen load, as measured using SD OCT, is associated with the development of RPE atrophy and neovascular AMD. SD OCT assessments of drusen load are simple and practical measurements that may be useful in stratifying the risk of developing advanced AMD. These measurements have potential applications in both routine clinical care and clinical trials.
Subject(s)
Geographic Atrophy/diagnosis , Retinal Drusen/diagnosis , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/pathology , Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods , Wet Macular Degeneration/diagnosis , Aged, 80 and over , Atrophy , Cohort Studies , Disease Progression , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy of a trephination procedure for resolution of primary canalicular obstruction or obstruction secondary to failed dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: Retrospective review of patients in a single surgeon's practice who underwent trephination with Crawford tube insertion between 2001 and 2011, with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Indications for surgery included symptomatic patients either with primary canalicular obstruction or secondary obstruction after a failed DCR. RESULTS: Trephination was carried out on 45 eyes of 43 patients; 78% were female, and average age at trephination was 61.0 years (range 32 to 89). Thirty-two eyes had previous DCR (75% endonasal, 25% external); mean interval of trephination after DCR was 1.4 years (range 0.3-9.1). Crawford stent tubes were left in-situ in 2 patients; in the remainder, tubes were removed at a mean interval of 5.6 months (range 0.3-20.6). The vast majority of presenting canalicular obstructions were in the common canalicus (73%). Sixteen eyes (36%) underwent a single trephination, and 29 eyes (64%) required repeat intervention; of these, 16 eyes had DCR (3 endonasal, 13 external) and 13 eyes had either repeat trephination with stenting (10 eyes) or repeat stenting alone (3 eyes). When separated into those with primary versus secondary obstruction, re-operation rate was similar in both groups (63% versus 69%). No patients developed complications after trephination. CONCLUSIONS: Trephination is a simple and effective intervention for canalicular obstruction that allowed 64% of patients, through one or two procedures, to avoid the morbidity of DCR.