Comparison of Cardiovascular Risk and Events among Spanish Patients with and without Ocular Pseudoexfoliation.

The purpose of this study was to calculate and compare individual cardiovascular risk (CVR) and the development of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with and without ocular pseudoexfoliation (PEX). A cohort study was carried out to compare two groups of patients who underwent cataract surgery: patients with (n = 99) and without PEX (n = 239). The CVR factors were recorded for all the subjects, and CVR was calculated for each individual using ERICE risk assessment charts. After a six-year follow-up, the cardiovascular events and mortality rates were compared between the two groups. The mean CVR was 36.41% in the PEX group and 33.72% in the non-PEX group (p = 0.13). High blood pressure was detected in significantly more PEX patients (71.4%) than non-PEX patients (58.6%, p = 0.035), yet no differences were found in the other CVR factors. The prevalence of cardiovascular events in the PEX and non-PEX patients was 17.1% and 12.5%, respectively (p = 0.26), with 5% of patients in the PEX group and 5% in the non-PEX group suffering an acute coronary event (p = 0.9). Moreover, 12% of the PEX patients and 7.5% of the non-PEX patients experienced a stroke (p = 0.17), and the six-year mortality rate was 29.3% in the PEX group and 25.9% in the non-PEX group (p = 0.52). PEX was associated with high blood pressure in our cohort of patients, although cardiovascular risk was not shown to be higher in this group. In addition, patients with PEX did not experience more cardiovascular events or have a higher mortality rate than patients without PEX during the period studied.

Recommendations for ophthalmologic practice during the easing of COVID-19 control measures.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper provides recommendations for medical eye care during the easing of control measures after lockdown. The guidelines presented are based on a literature review and consensus among all Spanish Ophthalmology Societies regarding protection measures recommended for the ophthalmologic care of patients with or without confirmed COVID-19 in outpatient, inpatient, emergency and surgery settings. We recommend that all measures be adapted to the circumstances and availability of personal protective equipment at each centre and also highlight the need to periodically update recommendations as we may need to readopt more restrictive measures depending on the local epidemiology of the virus. These guidelines are designed to avoid the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among both patients and healthcare staff as we gradually return to normal medical practice, to prevent postoperative complications and try to reduce possible deficiencies in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the ophthalmic diseases. With this update (5th ) the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology is placed as one of the major ophthalmology societies providing periodic and systematized recommendations for ophthalmic care during the COVID-19 pandemic.