Viral Conjunctivitis Rates Unchanged Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Ophthalmology Clinic.

Background: Millions of acute conjunctivitis cases occur in the United States annually. The impact of COVID-19 mitigation practices on viral conjunctivitis incidence within ophthalmology clinics has not been reported. We hypothesized that viral conjunctivitis rates would decrease with implementation of such practices. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single academic center's ophthalmology clinics. Electronic health record data was queried using ICD-10 diagnostic codes to include 649 patients aged 2-97 with viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis diagnosed either before (6/1/2018-5/1/2019) or during (6/1/2020-5/1/2021) COVID-19 precautions. Conjunctivitis rates per ophthalmology clinic visit were compared using rate-ratio analysis. Logistic regression evaluated the effects of age, sex, and race among those with conjunctivitis. Results: A total of 66,027 ophthalmology clinic visits occurred during the study period. Viral conjunctivitis rates per visit did not significantly change after enacting COVID-19 mitigation strategies, but allergic conjunctivitis rates significantly increased (viral: RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.31, p=0.408; allergic: RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.03, p<0.001). When controlling for time, younger age (≤ median age 55) (p=0.005) and Caucasian race (p=0.009) were associated with higher viral conjunctivitis frequency. Conclusion: Contrary to trends reported in emergency departments, viral conjunctivitis rates within an ophthalmology clinic did not significantly change after COVID-19 mitigation strategies, though allergic conjunctivitis rates increased. Patients' avoidance of emergency departments during the pandemic may have contributed. Further investigation is required to explore variation in ophthalmology patient populations and needs based on care setting.

A retrospective review included 649 patients with viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis diagnosed at a single center's ophthalmology clinics before (6/1/2018­5/1/2019) or during (6/1/2020­5/1/2021) COVID-19 precautions. Contrary to emergency department experiences, viral conjunctivitis rates did not significantly change after COVID-19 precautions. However, allergic conjunctivitis rates significantly increased. Conjunctivitis presentation in ophthalmology clinics differed from that reported in emergency departments, warranting further evaluation of variation in patient needs by setting.

Predictors of Ophthalmology Resident Performance From Medical Student Application Materials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether elements in ophthalmology residency applications are predictors of future resident performance. DESIGN: This multi-institutional, cross-sectional, observational study retrospectively reviewed the residency application materials of ophthalmology residents who graduated from residency from 2006 through 2018. Resident performance was scored by 2 faculty reviewers in 4 domains (clinical, surgical, academic, and global performance). Correlation between specific elements of the residency application and resident performance was assessed by Spearman correlation coefficients (univariate) and linear regression (multivariate) for continuous variables and logistic regression (multivariate) for categorical variables. SETTING: Seven ophthalmology residency programs in the US. PARTICIPANTS: Ophthalmology residents who graduated from their residency program. RESULTS: High-performing residents were a diverse group, in terms of sex, ethnicity, visa status, and educational background. Residents with United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores higher than the national average for that year had significantly higher scores in all 4 performance domains than those who scored at or below the mean (all domains P < 0.05). Residents who had honors in at least 4 core clerkships and who were members of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society also had higher scores in all 4 performance domains (all domains P ≤ 0.04). Step 1 score (ρ=0.26, P < 0.001) and the difference between Step 1 score and the national average for that year (ρ=0.19, P = 0.009) positively correlated with total resident performance scores. Residents who passed the American Board of Ophthalmology Written Qualifying Examination or Oral Examination on their first attempt had significantly higher Step 1/2 scores (P ≤ 0.005), Ophthalmology Knowledge Assessment Program scores (P = 0.001), and resident performance scores (P ≤ 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this new landscape of increasing numbers of applicants to residency programs and changing of the Step 1 score to pass/fail, our findings may help guide selection committees as they holistically review applicants to select exceptional future residents in ophthalmology.

Yoga-induced uveitis glaucoma hyphema syndrome.

A 74-year-old pseudophakic white woman with pseudoexfoliation syndrome presented with right eye pain and photophobia and was found to have pseudophacodenesis with recurrent episodes of anterior uveitis, microhyphema, and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). All episodes occurred after yoga sessions with intensive facedown postures. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) performed in supine and prone positions demonstrated significant change in the lens-bag complex position, with lens-iris touch. The patient underwent intraocular lens (IOL) explantation, anterior vitrectomy, and flanged intrascleral haptic-fixated IOL placement via double-needle technique, with resolution of all symptoms.

Gender Differences in Case Volume Among Ophthalmology Residents.

IMPORTANCE: Although almost equal numbers of male and female medical students enter into ophthalmology residency programs, whether they have similar surgical experiences during training is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine differences for cataract surgery and total procedural volume between male and female residents during ophthalmology residency. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective, longitudinal analysis of resident case logs from 24 US ophthalmology residency programs spanned July 2005 to June 2017. A total of 1271 residents were included. Data were analyzed from August 12, 2017, through April 4, 2018. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Variables analyzed included mean volumes of cataract surgery and total procedures, resident gender, and maternity or paternity leave status. RESULTS: Among the 1271 residents included in the analysis (815 men [64.1%]), being female was associated with performing fewer cataract operations and total procedures. Male residents performed a mean (SD) of 176.7 (66.2) cataract operations, and female residents performed a mean (SD) of 161.7 (56.2) (mean difference, -15.0 [95% CI, -22.2 to -7.8]; P < .001); men performed a mean (SD) of 509.4 (208.6) total procedures and women performed a mean (SD) of 451.3 (158.8) (mean difference, -58.1 [95% CI, -80.2 to -36.0]; P < .001). Eighty-five of 815 male residents (10.4%) and 71 of 456 female residents (15.6%) took parental leave. Male residents who took paternity leave performed a mean of 27.5 (95% CI, 13.3 to 41.6; P < .001) more cataract operations compared with men who did not take leave, but female residents who took maternity leave performed similar numbers of operations as women who did not take leave (mean difference, -2.0 [95% CI, -18.0 to 14.0]; P = .81). From 2005 to 2017, each additional year was associated with a 5.5 (95% CI, 4.4 to 6.7; P < .001) increase in cataract volume and 24.4 (95% CI, 20.9 to 27.8; P < .001) increase in total procedural volume. This increase was not different between genders for cataract procedure volume (ß = -1.6 [95% CI, -3.7 to 0.4]; P = .11) but was different for total procedural volume such that the increase in total procedural volume over time for men was greater than that for women (ß = -8.0 [95% CI, -14.0 to -2.1]; P = .008). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Female residents performed 7.8 to 22.2 fewer cataract operations and 36.0 to 80.2 fewer total procedures compared with their male counterparts from 2005 to 2017, a finding that warrants further exploration to ensure that residents have equivalent surgical training experiences during residency regardless of gender. However, this study included a limited number of programs (24 of 119 [20.2%]). Future research including all ophthalmology residency programs may minimize the selection bias issues present in this study.

Congenital esotropia and the risk of mental illness by early adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether children with congenital esotropia (CET) are more likely than controls to develop mental illness by early adulthood. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based cohort. PARTICIPANTS: Children (aged <19 years) diagnosed with CET while residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1, 1965, to December 31, 1994, and their 1-to-1 non-strabismic birth- and gender-matched controls. METHODS: The medical records of patients with esotropia and their controls were retrospectively reviewed for the subsequent development of psychiatric disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The development of mental illness and associated comorbidities among patients with CET and their controls. RESULTS: A mental health disorder was diagnosed in 42 (33%) of the 127 patients with CET followed to a mean age of 20.4 years compared with 16% of controls (P = 0.002). Congenital esotropia increased the odds of developing a psychiatric illness 2.6 times (confidence interval, 1.5-4.8) compared with controls. The number of mental health diagnoses (P = 0.019) and the use of psychotropic medications (P = 0.015) were significantly more common among esotropic patients compared with non-strabismic controls. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital esotropia, similar to those with intermittent exotropia or convergence insufficiency, increases the odds of developing mental illness by early adulthood 2.6 times compared with controls. The cause of this association does not seem to be associated with premature birth. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Nutritional supplementation and age-related macular degeneration.

The prevalence of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is increasing as the population of elderly in the United States grows. Currently the pathogenesis is not fully understood, however oxidative injury is felt to play a significant role. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) established that a supplemental combination of dietary antioxidants of zinc, ß-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E slowed progression of AMD. Recently lutein, zeaxanthin, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids have also been reported to decrease AMD progression, while vitamin E and ß-carotene where found to increase the risk of late AMD. AREDS2 is currently underway, further examining the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, and the original AREDS formulation. While awaiting the results of AREDS2, it is important to understand the evidence currently available, so that physicians can safely advise patients today. This review examines the most current literature available exploring nutritional supplementation in age-related macular degeneration.