The Association of Race, Ethnicity, and Insurance Status with the Visual Acuity of Retinoblastoma Survivors in the IRIS® Registry.

PURPOSE: To identify sociodemographic factors associated with the visual outcomes of retinoblastoma survivors. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using a US-based clinical data registry. All individuals < 18 years of age with a history of retinoblastoma in the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS®) Registry (1/1/2013-12/31/2020). The primary outcome was visual acuity below the threshold for legal blindness (20/200 or worse) in at least one eye. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between visual outcomes and age, sex, laterality, race, ethnicity, type of insurance, and geographic location. RESULTS: This analysis included 1545 children with a history of retinoblastoma. The median length of follow-up was 4.1 years (IQR, 2.2-5.9 years) and the median age at most recent clinical visit was 12 years (IQR, 8-16 years). Retinoblastoma was unilateral in 54% of cases. Poor vision in at least one eye was identified in 78% of all children and poor vision in both eyes in 17% of those with bilateral disease. Poor visual outcomes were associated with unilateral diagnosis (OR, 1.55; 95% CI,1.13-2.12; p = .007), Black race (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.19-3.47; p = .010), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.16-2.37; p = .006), and non-private insurance (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.02-2.10; p = .037). CONCLUSIONS: Poor visual outcomes appear to be more common among Black, Hispanic, and publicly insured children with a history of retinoblastoma, raising concerns regarding healthcare inequities. Primary care physicians should ensure that young children receive red reflex testing during routine visits and consider retinoblastoma in the differential diagnosis of abnormal eye exams.

Recovery of Vision in Open Globe Injury Patients with Initial No Light Perception Vision.

PURPOSE: To identify clinical characteristics of injured eyes associated with visual recovery in patients with open globe injuries (OGIs) and presenting with no light perception (NLP) vision. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SUBJECTS: All patients presenting to Massachusetts Eye and Ear with OGI and NLP vision from January 1999 to March 2022. METHODS: Manual data extraction to collect patient demographic characteristics, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics of OGI injury, laceration versus rupture, history of intraocular surgery, time from injury to repair, timing of vitrectomy, lensectomy, choroidal drainage, and silicone oil placement, visual acuity (VA) at last follow-up, and subsequent B-scan ultrasound findings of retinal detachment, choroidal hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage, and disorganized intraocular contents. Patients with >1 week of follow-up and a documented VA at most recent follow-up were included. Exclusion criteria included age <10 years. Multivariable regression was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity recovery defined as light perception or better in patients with OGI and initial NLP vision. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven eyes with NLP vision after OGI were included. Twenty-five (17%) eyes regained vision at last follow-up. The majority of patients recovered light perception vision (n = 15, 60%) followed by 20/500 or better (n = 5, 20%), hand motions (n = 3, 12%), and counting fingers (n = 2, 8%). Most injuries were zone III (n = 102, 69%) and presented with rupture (n = 127, 86%). The mean time from OGI to surgical repair was 0.85 ± 1.7 days. B-scan was obtained in 104 (71%) cases. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 9 eyes (6%) with NLP at time of vitrectomy. Disorganized intraocular contents on B-scan (odd ratio, 0.170; 95% confidence interval, 0.042-0.681; P = 0.012) was the only clinical variable significantly associated with visual recovery, corresponding to a lack of visual improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of vision in OGI with NLP vision at presentation cannot be predicted based on presenting clinical features. B-scan findings of disorganized intraocular contents after initial OGI repair was the only factor negatively associated with vision recovery in this patient population. Therefore, all eyes presenting with an OGI and NLP vision should undergo primary repair in hopes of subsequent visual recovery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Epidemiology of Orbital Inflammatory Disease: An AAO IRIS Registry Study.

PURPOSE: The current study queries the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) registry for data on the epidemiology, work-up, and management patterns of autoimmune orbital inflammation. METHODS: Analysis and description of patient data from the IRIS registry between 2013 and 2019 reviewing patients with autoimmune or idiopathic orbital inflammation with filters based on International Classification of Disease (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patients with thyroid eye disease, orbital cellulitis, and orbital abscess were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic descriptions included gender, age, geographic region, and treatment. Sub-analysis was performed by assessing rates of imaging, biopsy, lab work-up, and diagnostic categories. RESULTS: In a final cohort of 20,584 patients, the mean age of onset of orbital inflammation was 51.7 years; 67% female; and 63% Caucasian, 21% unknown, 12% Black, 2.6% Asian, and 1.5% other. Only 49 had imaging, 78 had laboratory work-up, and 1,411 had biopsy codes. Treatment results showed 166 patients receiving antibiotics, 224 patients receiving steroids, and 35 patients receiving both. CONCLUSIONS: This study assessed the epidemiology, diagnostic patterns, and treatment patterns for orbital inflammation through the AAO IRIS registry. Practise patterns suggest a relatively low overall rate of imaging and laboratory studies compared to biopsies, although this certainly under-represents the actual number of imaging and laboratory studies and exemplifies the inherent imprecision of using a large database. However, the methodology of this study provides a framework of approaching the IRIS registry for oculoplastic research.

Effectiveness of Angle-Based Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery after Laser Trabeculoplasty: An Analysis of the IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight).

OBJECTIVE: Angle-based minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (ab-MIGS) has grown substantially, although long-term efficacy is poorly understood. We analyze ab-MIGS effectiveness with and without preceding laser trabeculoplasty (LTP). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Eyes undergoing ab-MIGS (Canaloplasty, Goniotomy, Trabectome, and iStent) with and without prior laser trabeculoplasty (< 2 years preceding MIGS) were identified in the IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) 2013 to 2018. METHODS: Propensity score matching (PSM) was undertaken to define the following 4 cohorts: (1) standalone ab-MIGS, no prior LTP vs. (2) standalone ab-MIGS, with prior LTP; and (3) ab-MIGS + phacoemulsification, no prior LTP vs. (4) ab-MIGS + phacoemulsification, with prior LTP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Failure was defined as subsequent glaucoma reoperation after ab-MIGS (either MIGS or traditional glaucoma surgery). Time-to-event outcome and incidence rates were calculated using survival analysis, and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were generated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Medication data were not available for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 164 965 unique MIGS procedures were performed, from 2013 to 2018. After PSM, we identified 954 eyes undergoing standalone ab-MIGS and 7522 undergoing ab-MIGS + phacoemulsification. For eyes undergoing standalone ab-MIGS, those with prior LTP (n = 477) were more likely to undergo reoperation vs. those without LTP (n = 477) at 6 and 12 months. In multivariable models, those with prior LTP were more likely to undergo reoperation over the 36-month period vs. those without prior LTP (aHR, 1.53; CI, 1.15-2.04; P = 0.004). For eyes undergoing ab-MIGS + phacoemulsification, those with prior LTP (n = 3761) were more likely to undergo reoperation vs. those without LTP (n = 3761) at 12, 24, and 36 months. In multivariable models, those with prior LTP were more likely to undergo reoperation over the 36-month period vs. those without prior LTP (aHR, 1.53 CI, 1.15-2.04; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Prior LTP may be associated with a higher chance of subsequent glaucoma surgery following ab-MIGS, either with or without concurrent phacoemulsification. These findings have important implications for understanding who may benefit most from ab-MIGS, and for guiding patient and surgeon treatment expectations. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Racial Disparities in Glaucoma Vision Outcomes and Eye Care Utilization: An IRIS Registry Analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate racial disparities in vision outcomes and eye care utilization among glaucoma patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: In this population-based IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) study, we included patients with minimum one diagnosis code for glaucoma at least 6 months prior to January 1, 2015 and at least one eye exam, visual field (VF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), or eye-related inpatient or emergency department (ED) code in 2015. Multivariable logistic and negative binomial regression models were used to assess vision and utilization outcomes, respectively, across race and ethnicity from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2020. Vision outcomes included cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) progression > 0.80, poor vision (visual acuity 20/200 or worse), low vision codes, and need for glaucoma filtering surgery. Utilization outcomes included outpatient eye exams, OCTs, VFs, inpatient/ED encounters, and lasers/surgeries. RESULTS: Among 996,297 patients, 73% were non-Hispanic White, 15% non-Hispanic Black, 9% Hispanic, 3% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 0.3% Native American/Alaska Native. Compared to White eyes, Black and Hispanic eyes had higher adjusted odds of CDR progression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-1.17; OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.22-1.34), poor vision (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.22-1.29; OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.22-1.31), glaucoma filtering surgery (rate ratio (RR) = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.42-1.51; RR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.09-1.18). Hispanic eyes also had increased odds of low vision diagnoses (Hispanic OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.07-1.30). Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to have eye exams (RR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.94-0.95; RR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.99-0.99) and OCTs (RR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.85-0.86; RR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96-0.98), yet Black patients had higher odds of inpatient/ED encounters (RR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.37-1.96) compared to White patients. Native American patients were more likely to have poor vision (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.01-1.36) and less likely to have outpatient visits (RR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.86-0.91), OCTs (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.82-0.89), visual fields (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.88-0.94) or lasers/surgeries (RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79-0.96) compared to White patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found that significant disparities in US eye care exist with Black, Hispanic, and Native American patients having worse vision outcomes and less disease monitoring. Glaucoma may be undertreated in these racial and ethnic minority groups, increasing risk for glaucoma-related vision loss.

The Incidence of Strabismus After Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty in the United States.

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of strabismus after upper and lower blepharoplasty in the United States. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adults (age ≥18 years) in the IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) who underwent blepharoplasty between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was the Kaplan-Meier estimated cumulative incidence of strabismus diagnosis and surgery within 3 years of blepharoplasty. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine the association of blepharoplasty type with strabismus diagnosis and surgery, adjusting for patient age, sex, and geographic region. RESULTS: Blepharoplasty was performed in 368,623 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 69 [63-75] years, and 69% female). Compared with those undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty, patients treated with lower eyelid blepharoplasty were slightly younger (median age, 66 vs. 69 years; p < 0.001) and more likely to be female (71% vs. 69%; p < 0.001). There was a greater 3-year incidence of strabismus diagnosis (2.0% vs. 1.5%; p < 0.001) and a greater 3-year incidence of strabismus surgery (0.15% vs. 0.06%; p = 0.003) for individuals undergoing lower vs. upper blepharoplasty. After adjusting for age, sex, and geographic region, lower blepharoplasty was associated with a higher 3-year risk of strabismus diagnosis (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.23-1.81; p < 0.001) and surgery (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.27-5.03; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: This registry-based analysis found that individuals undergoing lower eyelid blepharoplasty were at higher risk of strabismus compared with those undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Using large databases to understand the incidence of complications of frequently performed procedures may improve ophthalmologists' ability to provide data-driven counseling on surgical risks prior to intervention.

Fellow Eyes Conversion Rates in Patients With Unilateral Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Academy IRIS® Registry Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine conversion rates from non-exudative to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the fellow eye of patients with unilateral exudative AMD using the Academy IRIS® Registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective, cohort analysis from 2016 to 2019. Patient and disease characteristics including initial AMD stage were collected. Cox proportional-hazard (PH) and logistic regression modeling were performed. RESULTS: The risk of conversion was lower for men relative to women and for Asians and Blacks relative to Whites. Compared to never-smokers, active smokers were at increased risk of conversion, and compared to initially early non-exudative AMD eyes, intermediate and advanced non-exudative AMD eyes had higher rates of conversion. Compared to active choroidal neovascularization eyes, eyes with inactive choroidal neovascularization and inactive scars had lower rates of fellow eye conversion. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort analysis of unilateral exudative AMD patients, women, Whites, and active smokers had higher rates of non-exudative to exudative AMD conversion in the fellow eye. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:220-226.].

The epidemiology of pediatric dry eye disease in the United States: An IRIS® registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) analysis.

PURPOSE: Dry-eye disease (DED) is a chronic progressive ocular surface disorder with limited studies in the pediatric population. The Academy of Ophthalmology's IRIS® Registry was leveraged to investigate the prevalence of DED in the pediatric population (PDED, patients <18 years old) and the demographic differences of DED between pediatric and adult patients (ADED). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Patients with DED between January 1st, 2013 and December 31st, 2019 (N = 4,795,979) were included. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-squared tests and two-sample proportions tests were conducted to compare key demographic distributions between the ADED and PDED cohorts. RESULTS: The average age at onset for ADED patients was 61.06 (±14.75) years and for PDED patients was 12.51 (±3.86). The overall tests for independence and the individual tests of proportions of each category were statistically significant for all demographic characteristics (p < 0.001). Characteristics with the largest discrepancies between patients of PDED and the IRIS Registry pediatric patient pool (PIRIS) included female sex (58.08 % vs. 50.60 %), male sex (41.58 % vs. 48.78 %) and Asian race (6.02 % vs. 3.11 %) respectively. Within the PDED cohort, females were at higher risk of PDED (58 % vs. 42 %). PDED was more prevalent in children with refractive errors (76 %) and eyelid/conjunctival disorders (41 %). Characteristics with the largest discrepancies between PDED and ADED patients included female sex (58.08 % vs. 68.12 %), male sex (41.58 % vs. 31.55 %) and Caucasian race (50.24 % vs. 67.06 %) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in the PDED cohort are demonstrated in this study. PDED was more prevalent in the female sex and Caucasian race compared to PIRIS and was more commonly associated with refractive errors and eyelid/conjunctival disorders.

Factors associated with the use of botulinum toxin injections for adult strabismus in the IRIS Registry.

This cross-sectional study used data from a large nationwide registry to describe the factors associated with use of botulinum toxin injections for adults with strabismus in the United States. Botulinum toxin injections were performed on 3.1% of adults undergoing an intervention for strabismus between 2013 and 2020. Adults treated with botulinum toxin injections were more likely to be older and female. Compared to non-Hispanic White patients, non-Hispanic Black patients were three times less likely to receive treatment with botulinum toxin after adjusting for age, sex, geographic region, and type of insurance. Efforts to understand the factors contributing to disparities in the use of botulinum toxin for strabismus may lead to opportunities for more equitable access to this intervention.

The Epidemiology and Risk Factors for the Progression of Sympathetic Ophthalmia in the United States: An IRIS Registry Analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) and define the risk factors for its incidence following trauma and ophthalmic procedures. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients in the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy) IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) who were (n=1523) or were not diagnosed with SO following a documented procedure or trauma between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2019. METHODS: Multiple demographic and clinical factors were collected, descriptive statistics and prevalence were calculated, and multivariate linear regression models were fit to the data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of SO, demographic and clinical characteristics, and beta coefficient (ß) estimates of demographic and clinical characteristics impacting time to SO onset after procedure (Procedure Only cohort) or trauma (Trauma cohort). RESULTS: Of 65,348,409 distinct IRIS Registry patients, 1523 (0.0023%) were diagnosed with SO between 2013 and 2019, and also had a documented preceding trauma or procedure. Of these, 927 (60.87%) were female, 1336 (87.72%) belonged to the Procedure Only cohort, and 187 (12.28%) belonged to the Trauma cohort. The prevalence of SO after trauma was 0.0207%, whereas after procedures it was 0.0124%. The highest risk of procedure-related SO was seen in patients with history of "other anterior segment" (0.122%) followed by glaucoma (0.066%) procedures, whereas the lowest prevalence was noted with cataract surgeries (0.011%). The average time to onset of SO across both cohorts combined was 527.44 (±715.60) days, with statistically significant differences between the 2 cohorts (P < .001). On average, the time to onset from inciting event to SO was shorter with increasing age, by 9.02 (95% CI: -11.96, -6.08) days for every 1-year increase. CONCLUSIONS: SO following trauma and ophthalmic procedure is potentially rarer than previously reported, as measured in this large ophthalmic medical record database. Female sex may be a risk factor for SO. Older age may be a risk factor for quicker onset. These findings can guide clinical decision-making and management.

Risk Factors for Glaucoma Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention following Pediatric Cataract Surgery in the IRIS® Registry.

PURPOSE: To compare demographic and clinical factors associated with glaucoma following cataract surgery (GFCS) and glaucoma surgery rates between infants, toddlers, and older children using a large, ophthalmic registry. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients in the IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) who underwent cataract surgery at ≤ 17 years old and between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020. METHODS: Glaucoma diagnosis and procedural codes were extracted from the electronic health records of practices participating in the IRIS Registry. Children with glaucoma diagnosis or surgery before cataract removal were excluded. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to determine the cumulative probability of GFCS diagnosis and glaucoma surgery after cataract surgery. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with GFCS and glaucoma surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative probability of glaucoma diagnosis and surgical intervention within 5 years after cataract surgery. RESULTS: The study included 6658 children (median age, 10.0 years; 46.2% female). The 5-year cumulative probability of GFCS was 7.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.1%-8.1%) and glaucoma surgery was 2.6% (95% CI, 1.9%-3.2%). The 5-year cumulative probability of GFCS for children aged < 1 year was 22.3% (95% CI, 15.7%-28.4%). Risk factors for GFCS included aphakia (hazard ratio [HR], 2.63; 95% CI, 1.96-3.57), unilateral cataract (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12-1.96), and Black race (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.12-2.32). The most common surgery was glaucoma drainage device insertion (32.6%), followed by angle surgery (23.3%), cyclophotocoagulation (15.1%), and trabeculectomy (5.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma following cataract surgery diagnosis in children in the IRIS Registry was associated with young age, aphakia, unilateral cataract, and Black race. Glaucoma drainage device surgery was the preferred surgical treatment, consistent with the World Glaucoma Association 2013 consensus recommendations for GFCS management. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Surgical Approach and Reoperation Risk in Intermittent Exotropia in the IRIS Registry.

Importance: There is no consensus on the optimal surgical treatment for children with intermittent exotropia (IXT). Objective: To compare the 5-year reoperation rates for children with IXT treated with horizontal muscle strabismus surgery using bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLR) vs unilateral lateral rectus recession with medial rectus resection (RR). Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study examined data obtained from the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry on 7482 children (age, <18 years) with IXT who underwent horizontal eye muscle strabismus surgery between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017. Children undergoing initial surgeries involving 3 or more horizontal muscles, vertical muscles, or reoperations were excluded. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the adjusted cumulative incidence of repeat horizontal muscle surgery within 5 years after the initial surgery. Reoperation risk was analyzed using adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) derived from multivariable Cox regression models, adjusting for individual demographic and surgical factors (age, sex, race and ethnicity, US Census region, and surgeon subspecialty). Data were analyzed between January 16 and September 20, 2023. Results: The study included 7482 children (median [IQR] age at initial surgery, 6 [4-9] years; 3945 females [53%]) with IXT treated with horizontal muscle strabismus surgery. Bilateral lateral rectus recession was performed more frequently than RR (85.3% vs 14.7%, P < .001), especially in younger children (rates of BLR vs RR by age: age 0 to ≤4 years, 88.4% vs 11.6%; age 5 to ≤11 years, 84.7% vs 15.3%; age 12 to ≤17 years, 78.1% vs 21.9%; P < 0.001). After data adjustment, the 5-year cumulative incidence of reoperation was 21.3% (95% CI, 20.1%-22.5%). The adjusted 5-year cumulative incidence of reoperation was higher for BLR than for RR (22.2% vs 17.2%; difference, 4.9%; 95% CI, 1.9%-8.0%). Unilateral lateral rectus recession with medial rectus resection was associated with a lower 5-year reoperation risk compared with BLR (AHR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.93). Younger age at time of initial surgery was associated with a higher reoperation risk (AHR per 1-year decrease, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.07-1.11) after adjusting for all other covariates. Conclusions and Relevance: In this nationwide registry, approximately 1 in 5 children with IXT underwent reoperation within 5 years after the initial surgery. Children treated with RR were less likely to require a reoperation within 5 years compared with those treated with BLR. Further efforts to identify modifiable risk factors for reoperation are needed to reduce the surgical burden and improve outcomes for children with IXT.

Evaluating Visual Acuity in the American Academy of Ophthalmology IRIS® Registry.

Objective: To describe visual acuity data representation in the American Academy of Ophthalmology Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry and present a data-cleaning strategy. Design: Reliability and validity study. Participants: Patients with visual acuity records from 2018 in the IRIS Registry. Methods: Visual acuity measurements and metadata were identified and characterized from 2018 IRIS Registry records. Metadata, including laterality, assessment method (distance, near, and unspecified), correction (corrected, uncorrected, and unspecified), and flags for refraction or pinhole assessment were compared between Rome (frozen April 20, 2020) and Chicago (frozen December 24, 2021) versions. We developed a data-cleaning strategy to infer patients' corrected distance visual acuity in their better-seeing eye. Main Outcome Measures: Visual acuity data characteristics in the IRIS Registry. Results: The IRIS Registry Chicago data set contains 168 920 049 visual acuity records among 23 001 531 unique patients and 49 968 974 unique patient visit dates in 2018. Visual acuity records were associated with refraction in 5.3% of cases, and with pinhole in 11.0%. Mean (standard deviation) of all measurements was 0.26 (0.41) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), with a range of - 0.3 to 4.0 A plurality of visual acuity records were labeled corrected (corrected visual acuity [CVA], 39.1%), followed by unspecified (37.6%) and uncorrected (uncorrected visual acuity [UCVA], 23.4%). Corrected visual acuity measurements were paradoxically worse than same day UCVA 15% of the time. In aggregate, mean and median values were similar for CVA and unspecified visual acuity. Most visual acuity measurements were at distance (59.8%, vs. 32.1% unspecified and 8.2% near). Rome contained more duplicate visual acuity records than Chicago (10.8% vs. 1.4%). Near visual acuity was classified with Jaeger notation and (in Chicago only) also assigned logMAR values by Verana Health. LogMAR values for hand motion and light perception visual acuity were lower in Chicago than in Rome. The impact of data entry errors or outliers on analyses may be reduced by filtering and averaging visual acuity per eye over time. Conclusions: The IRIS Registry includes similar visual acuity metadata in Rome and Chicago. Although fewer duplicate records were found in Chicago, both versions include duplicate and atypical measurements (i.e., CVA worse than UCVA on the same day). Analyses may benefit from using algorithms to filter outliers and average visual acuity measurements over time. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Perspectives of Resident and Attending Ophthalmologists on Common Ethical Dilemmas in Research.

Purpose To assess how resident and attending ophthalmologists perceive and evaluate ethically controversial scenarios regarding mentorship, authorship, and ethics compliance that may occur during research involving residents. Methods An online survey was developed and contained 14 controversial vignettes based on common research scenarios that can occur when conducting research with trainees. The scenarios were designed to capture issues regarding three themes: mentorship, authorship, and compliance with ethical guidelines. Resident and attending ophthalmologists at eight military and civilian academic residency programs in the United States were invited to participate. Respondents used a Likert scale to assess the ethicality of the situations in addition to self-reported demographic characteristics. Results The response rate was 35.6% (77/216), consisting of 37.7% ( n = 29) residents and 62.3% ( n = 48) attendings. More attending ophthalmologists responded than residents ( p = 0.004). Many respondents identified controversies around compliance (67.3%) and authorship (57.1%) as unethical, whereas situations regarding mentorship were largely viewed as neutral to ethical (68.0%). Responses to two scenarios, one regarding mentorship and one regarding authorship, significantly differed between residents and attendings ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.022, respectively). Conclusion Academic ophthalmologists' perceptions of the ethicality of common research scenarios varied. There is a need for more prescriptive guidelines for authorship and mentorship ethics at all training levels to ensure consistency, fairness, and integrity of research.

The Transition to Ophthalmology Residency: A National Survey of the Combined Ophthalmology PGY-1 Program.

Background In 2017, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education announced all ophthalmology residency programs would provide a combined transitional or joint preliminary program for first postgraduate year (PGY-1) residents, with mandatory implementation by 2023. Purpose This study aimed to survey ophthalmology residency program directors, postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2) ophthalmology residents who were a part of the first, official combined ophthalmology PGY-1 year, and postgraduate year 3 (PGY-3) residents who were a PGY-1 resident the year prior to integration to evaluate characteristics and perspectives on the combined ophthalmology PGY-1 year. Methods A national, internet survey-based study approved by the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) was disseminated to the AUPO listserv of program directors (PDs) and PGY-2 and PGY-3 ophthalmology residents from July to August 2022 and then again April to June 2023. Results Twenty-six PDs completed the survey (response rate 20.3% out of 128 PDs). Forty-one PGY-2 ophthalmology residents who underwent the combined ophthalmology PGY-1 year and 33 PGY-3 ophthalmology residents also completed the survey. Most PGY-1 curricula focused on exposure to comprehensive ophthalmology and provided indirect ophthalmoscope, slit lamp, and refraction skills training to residents. Early exposure to fundamentals and clinical workflows were commonly cited benefits to the integration. When PDs were surveyed about how well-prepared PGY-1 residents who went through the combined year are for the PGY-2 relative to the prior year's class, 16 (61.5%) responded "better prepared." PGY-2 residents also reported a relatively higher level of clinical preparedness and familiarity with ophthalmology co-residents than PGY-3 residents. Several areas of improvement cited by both PDs and residents were identified including a dedicated didactic curriculum and more time in ophthalmology during the PGY-1 year. Conclusions We found an overall net benefit from the integration of the combined ophthalmology PGY-1 year. Benefits include early exposure to clinical skills and knowledge specific to ophthalmology, leading to increased confidence and preparedness for the rigorous transition to ophthalmology residency. We also identified many areas for improvement to optimize the PGY-1 year including a formal curriculum and additional time in ophthalmology. Programs should work closely with their residents, faculty, and non-ophthalmology PDs to refine the PGY-1 for the benefit of future ophthalmologists.

United States Population Disparities in Ophthalmic Care: Blindness and Visual Impairment in the IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight).

PURPOSE: To evaluate associations of patient characteristics with United States eye care use and likelihood of blindness. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (19 546 016) with 2018 visual acuity (VA) records in the American Academy of Ophthalmology's IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight). METHODS: Legal blindness (20/200 or worse) and visual impairment (VI; worse than 20/40) were identified from corrected distance acuity in the better-seeing eye and stratified by patient characteristics. Multivariable logistic regressions evaluated associations with blindness and VI. Blindness was mapped by state and compared with population characteristics. Eye care use was analyzed by comparing population demographics with United States Census estimates and proportional demographic representation among blind patients versus a nationally representative US population sample (National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey [NHANES]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and odds ratios for VI and blindness; proportional representation in the IRIS® Registry, Census, and NHANES by patient demographics. RESULTS: Visual impairment was present in 6.98% (n = 1 364 935) and blindness in 0.98% (n = 190 817) of IRIS patients. Adjusted odds of blindness were highest among patients ≥ 85 years old (odds ratio [OR], 11.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.33-13.59 vs. those 0-17 years old). Blindness also was associated positively with rural location and Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance vs. commercial insurance. Hispanic (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.46-1.74) and Black (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.63-1.84) patients showed a higher odds of blindness versus White non-Hispanic patients. Proportional representation in IRIS Registry relative to the Census was higher for White than Hispanic (2- to 4-fold) or Black (11%-85%) patients (P < 0.001). Blindness overall was less prevalent in NHANES than IRIS Registry; however, prevalence in adults aged 60+ was lowest among Black participants in the NHANES (0.54%) and second highest among comparable Black adults in IRIS (1.57%). CONCLUSIONS: Legal blindness from low VA was present in 0.98% of IRIS patients and associated with rural location, public or no insurance, and older age. Compared with US Census estimates, minorities may be underrepresented among ophthalmology patients, and compared with NHANES population estimates, Black individuals may be overrepresented among blind IRIS Registry patients. These findings provide a snapshot of US ophthalmic care and highlight the need for initiatives to address disparities in use and blindness. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Patient and Visit Characteristics Associated With Otolaryngology Telemedicine Care.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians are increasingly adopting telemedicine in an effort to expand patient access and efficiently deliver care. The degree of health disparities among patients receiving otolaryngologic telemedical care is unclear. AIMS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study to explore disparities in telemedicine delivery. METHODS: We evaluated otolaryngology clinical visits from January 2019 to November 2022. We obtained patient demographics and visit characteristics (e.g., subspecialty, telemedicine vs in-person). Our primary outcome was demographic characteristics of otolaryngology patients who received telemedicine vs in-person care during the study timeframe. RESULTS: A total of 231,384 otolaryngology clinical visits were reviewed, of which 26,895 (11.6%) were telemedicine visits. Rhinology (36.5%) and facial plastics (28.4%) subspecialties performed the most telemedicine visits. On multivariate analysis, individuals who identified as Asian, non-English speaking, and with Medicare insurance were statistically significantly less likely to use telemedicine than in-person services. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that expanding telemedicine care may not improve access for all populations, and socioeconomic factors are important considerations to ensure patients are receiving equally accessible care. Futures studies are warranted to understand how these disparities may impact health outcomes and patient satisfaction with care.