Assessment of the Quality, Accountability, and Readability of Online Patient Education Materials for Optic Neuritis.

Most cases of optic neuritis (ON) occur in women and in patients between the ages of 15 and 45 years, which represents a key demographic of individuals who seek health information using the internet. As clinical providers strive to ensure patients have accessible information to understand their condition, assessing the standard of online resources is essential. To assess the quality, content, accountability, and readability of online information for optic neuritis. This cross-sectional study analyzed 11 freely available medical sites with information on optic neuritis and used PubMed as a gold standard for comparison. Twelve questions were composed to include the information most relevant to patients, and each website was independently examined by four neuro-ophthalmologists. Readability was analyzed using an online readability tool. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, four criteria designed to assess the quality of health information further were used to evaluate the accountability of each website. Freely available online information. On average, websites scored 27.98 (SD ± 9.93, 95% CI 24.96-31.00) of 48 potential points (58.3%) for the twelve questions. There were significant differences in the comprehensiveness and accuracy of content across websites (p < .001). The mean reading grade level of websites was 11.90 (SD ± 2.52, 95% CI 8.83-15.25). Zero websites achieved all four JAMA benchmarks. Interobserver reliability was robust between three of four neuro-ophthalmologist (NO) reviewers (ρ = 0.77 between NO3 and NO2, ρ = 0.91 between NO3 and NO1, ρ = 0.74 between NO2 and NO1; all p < .05). The quality of freely available online information detailing optic neuritis varies by source, with significant room for improvement. The material presented is difficult to interpret and exceeds the recommended reading level for health information. Most websites reviewed did not provide comprehensive information regarding non-therapeutic aspects of the disease. Ophthalmology organizations should be encouraged to create content that is more accessible to the general public.

An Update on Dragged-Fovea Diplopia Syndrome.

Dragged-fovea diplopia syndrome (DFDS) is a type of binocular double vision caused by a displacement of the fovea in one or both eyes due to retinal disorders including epiretinal membranes or other maculopathies. DFDS induces diplopia through a mismatch between peripheral motor fusion and central (foveal) fusion. It can be diagnosed by utilizing the Lights on - Lights off test. While there is no cure, there are treatments for DFDS including monocular occlusion or blurring (tape, lenses, IOL), Bangerter filter, and Fresnel prisms. While this syndrome has been identified in the literature by multiple names including central-peripheral Rivalry (CPR)-type diplopia, macular diplopia, and foveal displacement syndrome, this article works to summarize the current known characteristics, diagnostic tests, and treatment for this syndrome.

A narrative review of neuro-ophthalmologic disease in African Americans and Hispanics with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common non-traumatic cause of disability in young people, with vision loss in the disease representing the second largest contributor to disability. In particular, African-American patients with MS are noted to have lower vision than their Caucasian counterparts. In this review, we examine the disparities in eye diseases in the MS population with our gaps in knowledge and discuss the underlying nature of pathological disparities.

Antibody Testing in Atypical Optic Neuritis.

Optic neuritis (ON) is a common manifestation of central nervous system demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The last two decades have seen increasing recognition of atypical optic neuritis syndromes, driven in large part by characterization of demyelinating diseases associated with antibodies to aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). Given their increased importance in the workup of ON, familiarity with serological tests for ON has become essential for ophthalmologists. This review will discuss technological aspects, performance, and clinical implications of serological tests for atypical ON.