Accuracy and Utility of Internet Image Search as a Learning Tool for Retinal Pathology.

Purpose Ophthalmology residency training heavily relies on visual and pattern recognition-based learning. In parallel with traditional reference texts, online internet search via Google Image Search (GIS) is commonly used and offers an accessible fund of reference images for ophthalmology trainees seeking rapid exposure to images of retinal pathology. However, the accuracy and quality of this tool within this context is unknown. We aim to evaluate the accuracy and quality of GIS images of selected retinal pathologies. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed of GIS of 15 common and 15 rare retinal diseases drawn from the American Academy of Ophthalmology residency textbook series. A total of 300 evaluable image results were assessed for accuracy of images and image source accountability in consultation with a vitreoretinal surgeon. Results A total of 377 images were reviewed with 77 excluded prior to final analysis. A total of 288 (96%) search results accurately portrayed the retinal disease being searched, whereas 12 (4%) were of an erroneous diagnosis. More images of common retinal diseases were from patient education Web sites than were images of rare diseases ( p < 0.01). Significantly more images of rare retinal diseases were found in peer-reviewed sources ( p = 0.01). Conclusions GIS search results yielded a modest level of accuracy for the purposes of ophthalmic education. Despite the ease and rapidity of accessing multimodal retinal imaging examples, this tool may best be suited as a supplementary resource for learning among residents due to limited accuracy, lack of sufficient supporting information, and the source Web site's focus on patient education.

Outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy following ocular trauma at varying surgical time points.

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) following ocular trauma is an ongoing debate. Early vitrectomy post-trauma enables the rapid assessment of retinal disease by removing the scaffold that fosters proliferative vitreoretinopathy. On the other hand, late vitrectomy is less challenging as there is a lower risk of bleeding and posterior vitreous detachment induction is easier. The purpose of this work is to report the functional and anatomical outcomes following ocular traumatic injuries in a United States-based cohort, emphasizing the time of intervention. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of 110 patients with traumatic ocular injuries who underwent PPV between 2008 to 2020. Patients were grouped into four timing categories: same day (0 days), early (1-7 days), delayed (8-14 days), and late (> 14 days). Multivariable regression models controlling for confounding were implemented to assess the impact of vitrectomy timing on anatomical and functional outcomes. Visual acuity (VA) at baseline and after surgery, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and enucleation for each vitrectomy timing category were recorded. RESULTS: Patient demographics and severity of ocular trauma were comparable across timing categories. Final VA in LogMAR was found to have a stepwise worsening as the time of ocular trauma to vitrectomy was increased (p < 0.05). For every one-step increase in the vitrectomy timing category, there was an adjusted 0.24 (CI 0.04-0.44) increase in final VA. No patient in the same day vitrectomy group had an enucleation or PVR, while patients who had late vitrectomies had the largest number of both enucleations and PVR (44.4% and 52.0%, respectively). In adjusted analysis, there was 3.11 increased odds (CI 1.03-9.42) of developing PVR for a one-step increase in vitrectomy timing (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy on the same day of injury has the best final VA, and the lowest incidence rates of PVR and enucleation in comparison to other timing categories, regardless of etiology.

Influence of stereotactic imaging on operative time in deep brain stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Various techniques are used across institutions for implantation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) leads. The most used techniques for each step include preoperative MRI fused to in-frame CT, intraoperative fluoroscopy, and postoperative CT, but postimplantation MRI also is used, as it was at our center. We present the quality assurance study performed at our institution after a change from postimplantation MRI performed across the hospital to postimplantation in room CT. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 123 patients who underwent bilateral DBS leads placement without same-day generator placement that was performed. The patients were divided by the type of postoperative imaging that was obtained. Patients were excluded if a unilateral lead placement was performed, if the case was a revision of an existing lead or deviated from the normal protocol. Operative room times and procedure times for each group were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank sums test (WRST) to determine any significant differences between groups. RESULTS: Postoperative MRI was performed for 82 patients, while postoperative CT was performed for 41 patients. A WRST showed a significant reduction in both operative room time (209 min to 170 min, P < 0.0001) and procedure time (140 min to 126 min, P = 0.0019). CONCLUSION: In-room CT allowed for a significant reduction in operative room time. Lower operative room time has been associated with increased patient comfort, and decreased cost. CT did not alter the revision rate for procedures. The significant reduction in procedure time may be attributed to increased team familiarity with procedure over time.

Intraoperative Complications and Visual Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Diabetes Mellitus: A Multicenter Database Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcome and the rate of intraoperative complications in eyes of diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing phacoemulsification over 15 years. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical cohort study. METHODS: Data of 179,159 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification at 8 centers were classified based on the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. Visual acuity (VA) was defined as the best value of uncorrected or corrected distance measure available. For the VA analysis, eyes with co-pathologies or combined surgical procedures were further excluded, leaving a subset of 90,729 eyes. Main outcome measures were logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) VA at 4-12 weeks postoperatively, and rate of intraoperative complications. RESULTS: Cataract surgery in eyes of diabetic patients was associated with an improvement in mean VA of 0.48 logMAR (5 Snellen lines). Mean postoperative VA was slightly worse in diabetic compared to nondiabetic group (logMAR 0.23 vs 0.13; Snellen 20/30 vs 20/25; P < .0001) and the proportions of eyes achieving a visual gain of ≥3 Snellen lines (≥0.3 logMAR) was lower in the diabetic group (56.6% vs 63.5%; P < .0001). There was a linear relationship between diabetic retinopathy severity and worse postoperative visual acuity (ß coefficient 0.098 to 0.288; P < .0001). We observed higher rates of posterior capsule rupture (2.3% vs 1.6%; P < .001) and dropped nuclear fragments (0.3% vs 0.2%; P < .001) in the diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative VA negatively correlated with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy severity. Eyes of diabetic subjects had higher risks of posterior capsule rupture.