Risk factors for hyphema following goniotomy or trabecular bypass stent placement combined with phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To report the rates and risk factors for layered hyphemas after goniotomy (PG) and trabecular bypass stent (PTBS) surgery combined with phacoemulsification. METHODS: Patient data was obtained using a retrospective chart review from adult patients (18 years of age or older) undergoing either PG or PTBS at the West Virginia University Eye Institute between 2013 and 2023. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify significant predictors of layered hyphema on post-operative day one. Predictors evaluated included age, race, glaucoma severity, glaucoma type, surgical time, complex cataract extraction, pre-operative intraocular pressure, post-operative day one intraocular pressure, peri-operative anti-thrombotic therapy (ATT) use, body mass index, and surgery type (i.e., PG or PTBS). RESULTS: Of the 405 eyes from 279 patients included in the study, the overall layered hyphema rate was 10.1% in the whole sample. In multivariate generalized estimating equation model controlling for glaucoma stage and preoperative IOP, only surgery type (PG vs PTBS) predicted post-operative day one hyphema (ß = 2.47, SE = 1.01, p = 0.02). The hyphema rates in the PG group and PTBS groups were 40/316 (12.7%) and 1/89 (1.1%), respectively. Eyes of patients on ATT had a hyphema rate of 16/189 (8.5%) compared to 25/216 (11.6%) in eyes of patients not on ATT. CONCLUSIONS: Performing PG over PTBS was a significant predictor of a post-operative day one layered hyphema. No other systemic or ocular features, including the use of ATT, showed a statistically significant relationship with post-operative hyphemas. KEY MESSAGES: What is Known. • The prevalence of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery has significantly increased in recent years. • Hyphema is a common postoperative complication of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, however risk factors for hyphema in this setting have not been thoroughly evaluated. WHAT IS NEW: • The use of perioperative antithrombotic therapy did not significantly increase the risk for postoperative hyphema following angle based minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. • Hyphema risk was significantly higher in patients undergoing goniotomy combined with phacoemulsification compared to trabecular bypass stent surgery with phacoemulsification.

Combined Rothia dentocariosa and Streptococcus viridans Corneal Ulcer in an Immunocompromised Patient.

Keratitis is a very common condition seen by ophthalmologists. However, many factors can complicate the treatment of this depending on the causative organism and other patient comorbid conditions. The objective of this clinical case report is to highlight the treatment of keratitis caused by Rothia dentocariosa. It also looks at the unique considerations in keratitis presentations for patients immunocompromised by chemotherapy agents. Our patient is a 58 yo female undergoing chemotherapy with folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and panitumumab who presented with several days of a red, painful right eye with mucous discharge. Cultures were positive for Rothia dentocariosa and Streptococcus viridans. The patient ultimately underwent a conjunctival flap procedure as medical therapy with proper oral and topical antibiotics failed to resolve keratitis. This case is unique as previously, only a couple of cases of keratitis caused by Rothia dentocariosa have been reported and none of those patients were immunocompromised nor failed antibiotic therapy.

Reasons for the Underutilization of Generic Drugs by US Ophthalmologists: A Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Cross-sectional survey of 92 board-certified practicing Midwestern ophthalmologists to determine why prescribing habits favor brand-name drugs over generics and to identify approaches for increasing generic drug utilization. METHODS: A survey was sent to members of state ophthalmology societies, private practice groups, and individual ophthalmologists to evaluate basic demographic/practice information, knowledge and opinions on generic drugs, frequency of drug representative visits, understanding of the Food and Drug Administration's process of evaluating generics, knowledge of patients' financial status and preferences, and action items that would increase generic utilization. RESULTS: Three factors increase the likelihood of ophthalmologists switching patients to generic drugs: increased knowledge of (1) generic options, (2) price differences between brand-names and generics, and ((3) patient preference for generics. The following four factors decrease the likelihood of ophthalmologists switching patients to generic drugs: (1) increased disease severity, (2) feeling that patient outcomes may be affected by choice of brand-name versus generic, (3) personal preference for taking a brand-name drug over a generic for their own hypothetical eye disease even if both were free, and (4) increased personal preference for taking a brand-name drug for their hypothetical eye disease. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmologists should continue to update themselves on generic medication options, become familiar with the price difference of generics versus brand-name drugs for commonly prescribed medications, and seek patients' opinions on generics and correct them when possible to increase generic utilization. In addition, studies evaluating the clinical equivalence of generic drugs relative to brand-name drugs should be performed and may help increase generic utilization.

A comparison in precision and accuracy of the conventional syringe to the Suh precision syringe.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy and precision of a conventional intraocular syringe to the Suh precision syringe (SPS), a new injection device designed to decrease operator error and to reduce adverse outcomes by providing a more ergonomic technique for periocular and intraocular injections. METHODS: Participants were instructed to inject a specified quantity of water into a 0.2 mL polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tube and a sheep eye, first with the conventional syringe, and then with the SPS. The degree of needle movement during injection was video recorded and analyzed for forward-retraction movement and variability in movement. The volume of water injected into the PCR tube was also documented. Data was analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: As compared to the conventional syringe, the SPS had significantly less forward-retraction movement when injecting into the sheep eye (P=0.04). Similarly, the forward-retraction movement of the needle when injecting into the PCR tube was less while using the SPS compared with the conventional syringe; however, this was not statistically significant (P=0.09). There was no significant difference in the volume of water expelled from both syringes (P=0.28). CONCLUSION: The SPS demonstrates significant potential to decrease the overall risk involved with injections through reduction of forward-retraction movement during device operation. This new syringe design also provides better control with injection depth and drug injection volume. With its more ergonomic design, the SPS has the potential to decrease risks associated with intraocular injections by improving the accuracy and precision of the injection.

Risk Factors for Poor Surgical Outcome of Pediatric Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there are common factors that may help predict if a child is at a higher risk for surgical failure for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: This retrospective, observational case-control clinical study reviewed patient factors present prior to surgical intervention and their correlation with the necessity of multiple surgeries. A pediatric ophthalmologist identified patients who required surgical correction based on symptom history refractory to conservative management. Patients were grouped by the need for multiple surgical interventions versus single surgery. Patient factors hypothesized to predispose patients to an unsuccessful initial procedure were compared via odds ratio analysis. Patient success was based on symptom resolution 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Patient factors with statistically significant increased odds ratios were trisomy 21, allergic rhinitis/seasonal allergies, history of an upper respiratory tract infection within 1 month, and obstructive sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that patients with trisomy 21 or a history of recent upper respiratory tract infection may be correlated with a higher risk of failure with a probing and irrigation surgery only. Patients with trisomy 21 may benefit from an initial balloon dilation procedure rather than probing and irrigation, due to an increased risk profile. Patients with a recent upper respiratory tract infection may benefit from postponing surgery until symptom treatment or resolution. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(4):261-264.].

Ophthalmologist and Optometrist Glaucoma Prescribing Patterns Based on 2015 Medicare Part D Data.

PURPOSE: To determine differences in prescribing patterns of glaucoma drugs between ophthalmologists and optometrists in terms of (1) the proportions of generics prescribed when brand-name drugs were also available, (2) the relative proportions of drugs prescribed within a drug class, and (3) the relative frequency of all glaucoma drugs prescribed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: All ophthalmologists and optometrists in the United States who prescribed any of the 36 drugs studied through Medicare Part D in 2015. METHODS: Outcome measures were calculated using Excel 2016 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) based on the 2015 Medicare Part D Prescriber data. The total number of drug claims for 36 glaucoma drugs by all ophthalmologists and optometrists through Medicare Part D in 2015 was determined. These data were then used to calculate, for each drug class, the relative proportions of each drug prescribed by ophthalmologists and optometrists in addition to the proportion of claims that were for the generic drug when at least 1 brand-name alternative was available for both professions. RESULTS: The difference between ophthalmologists' and optometrists' proportions of claims that were for generics when at least 1 brand-name drug was available was generally less than 1%, with both professions' patients receiving primarily generic drugs. However, patients of both ophthalmologists and optometrists use relatively low proportions of generic betaxolol, brimonidine, travoprost, and bimatoprost (approximately 46%, 58%, 1%, and 0% of claims were for these generics, respectively, when compared with brand-name drugs for both ophthalmologists and optometrists). Within each drug class, ophthalmologists and optometrists generally chose the same drug. Overall, ophthalmologists prescribed a wider range of drugs, but both ophthalmologists and optometrists prescribed latanoprost most often. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologists and optometrists exhibit similar clinical judgement when choosing a particular drug within a drug class. However, ophthalmologists tend to prescribe more drugs from a wider range of drug classes. Both ophthalmologists and optometrists could prescribe more generic betaxolol, brimonidine, travoprost, and bimatoprost, though generic bimatoprost only became available in 2015.

Syphilis-Related Eye Disease Presenting as Bilateral Papilledema, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Hemorrhage, and Anterior Uveitis in a Penicillin-Allergic Patient.

Purpose. Treponema pallidum is known as the "great masquerader" for its many presentations and ocular findings in patients who are infected and develop secondary and tertiary stage of syphilis. Syphilitic ocular manifestations include uveitis, chorioretinitis, retinitis, vasculitis, vitritis, and panuveitis all with or without decreased visual acuity. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to expedite the progression of syphilis when patients are coinfected, thus compounding the potential ophthalmic presentations. This report summarizes the presentation, management, and clinical course of a patient with known HIV and penicillin allergy that presented with bilateral optic nerve edema, retinal hemorrhages, and iritis without vision loss.