Case Report: Multimodal, Longitudinal Assessment of Retinal Structure and Function following Laser Retinal Injury.

SIGNIFICANCE: This case report demonstrates the use of novel imaging techniques and functional tests to longitudinally evaluate retinal structure and function after laser retinal injury. The structural and functional prognosis could be predicted with clinical findings, high-resolution retinal imaging, and functional testing. PURPOSE: We present a laser retinal injury case in which an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope and adaptive optics-based psychophysics were used to examine and monitor retinal structure and function after accidental exposure to a 1-W infrared laser beam. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old patient was unwittingly exposed to a 1-W, 852-nm continuous-wave laser at work as they noticed a small central blurry spot in the right eye. An initial eye examination was done 1 day after exposure, and the right eye's acuity was 20/25 -2 . Posterior segment evaluation revealed disrupted outer retina near the right eye's fovea. Adaptive optics imaging 2 weeks after the exposure revealed a 0.50 × 0.75° elliptical area with irregular borders and abnormal cone reflectivity just below the fovea. Starting at 1-month follow-up, structural recovery was observed on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Subsequent adaptive optics imaging showed significant recovery of cone reflectivity. Importantly, adaptive optics microperimetry showed measurable detection thresholds at all affected retinal locations at 6 months. By 10 months, all sites exhibited normal sensitivities. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal structure and function from laser injury can be visualized and measured with OCT, adaptive optics imaging, and psychophysics. An intact Bruch's membrane on OCT and measurable retinal sensitivity by adaptive optics microperimetry may serve as good biomarkers for retinal recovery.

Case Series: Unbiased Deep Sequencing Analysis of Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis in an Ambulatory Eye Center in Berkeley, California.

SIGNIFICANCE: Acute infectious conjunctivitis poses significant challenges to eye care providers. It can be highly transmissible, and because etiology is often presumed, correct treatment and management can be difficult. This study uses unbiased deep sequencing to identify causative pathogens of infectious conjunctivitis, potentially allowing for improved approaches to diagnosis and management. PURPOSES: This study aimed to identify associated pathogens of acute infectious conjunctivitis in a single ambulatory eye care center. CASE REPORTS: This study included patients who presented to the University of California Berkeley eye center with signs and symptoms suggestive of infectious conjunctivitis. From December 2021 to July 2021, samples were collected from seven subjects (ages ranging from 18 to 38). Deep sequencing identified associated pathogens in five of seven samples, including human adenovirus D, Haemophilus influenzae , Chlamydia trachomatis , and human coronavirus 229E. CONCLUSIONS: Unbiased deep sequencing identified some unexpected pathogens in subjects with acute infectious conjunctivitis. Human adenovirus D was recovered from only one patient in this series. Although all samples were obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic, only one case of human coronavirus 229E and no SARS-CoV-2 were identified.

Bias Breakers: Continuous Practice for Admissions and Selection Committees.

Introduction: Admissions and selection committees face challenges in identifying and mitigating biases in policies, processes, and discussions. Past bias training has focused on defining bias and presenting the negative impact of bias for committees. Methods: This interactive training used committee comments, reflection, and audience response to enhance the contextual recognition of bias in admissions and selection processes and practices. For each bias type, we presented specific mitigation strategies and examples. The workshop was offered at four medical schools between December 2020 and April 2021. Participants were committee members (n = 126), largely medical school faculty, involved in MD, MD/PhD, and residency program selection at participating schools. A paired pre- and postworkshop assessment was conducted for each session to determine effectiveness of the workshop. Results: Mean scores for each of the postassessment items ranged from 4.0 to 4.2 and were statistically significantly different from the preassessment scores per respective item. The results of a paired two-way t test found that these pre- to postworkshop assessment score increases were statistically significant across all assessment questions (ps < .001). Participants reported in their comments that the workshop was effective in establishing a safe and judgment-free learning environment to explore and identify biases and build skills and confidence for mitigating them. Discussion: Interactive and applied bias training can be an effective strategy to advance committee culture and practice in recognizing and mitigating bias. This workshop provides committees with ongoing tools for equity practice in selection and decision-making.