Risk Factors Associated with Unexpected Refractive Outcomes in Uveitic Cataract Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Assess refractive outcomes following uveitic cataract surgery and identify factors associated with deviations from the target refractive goal. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective chart review was performed for 216 subjects with uveitis undergoing cataract surgery. Prediction error was calculated and tested for association with demographic and clinical characteristics using single variable and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: 39.8% of eyes deviated from the intended refractive target by at least 0.5 diopters (D). The mean prediction error was 0.56 ± 0.67 D. Younger age (p = 0.042), preoperative inflammatory corneal findings (keratic precipitates and/or band keratopathy) (p = 0.0004), and poorer postoperative visual acuity (p = 0.0054) were associated with a deviation from the intended refractive target by at least 1 D. CONCLUSIONS: A higher percentage of eyes undergoing uveitic cataract surgery deviated from the intended refractive target when compared to reported refractive outcomes in normal subjects. Younger age, preoperative inflammatory corneal sequelae, and poorer postoperative visual acuity were associated with this outcome.

Ocular Emergencies During the Coronavirus Disease 'Safer at Home Order' in Wisconsin.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus pandemic created large shifts in utilization of hospital resources, patient presentations, and delivery of medical care. OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study evaluated the ocular emergencies at a tertiary-care academic hospital in Wisconsin during the COVID-19-related "Safer at Home" order. METHODS: Ophthalmology consultations performed March 23 through May 26, 2020, were compared to the same time period in the 4 preceding years and the subsequent year. Billing codes were obtained to evaluate the diagnoses and procedures performed during this time frame. RESULTS: In 2020, 155 consultations were performed (42 emergency department, 113 inpatient), compared to a mean of 214 over the 5 other study years. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of total consultations in 2020 was 0.72 (P ≤ 0.001) compared to previous years. Significantly fewer emergency department consultations were performed (IRR 0.62, P ≤ 0.001), while inpatient consultations were similar (IRR 0.88, P = 0.119). The most common diagnosis across all study years was fracture of the skull/orbit with injury to the eye/orbit. In 2020, 13% of consultations led to a procedure, compared to a total of 16% in the other years (IRR 0.59, P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a 28% reduction in ophthalmology consultations at a major university hospital in Wisconsin during the COVID-19-related "Safer at Home" order, though the number of consultations leading to surgery were stable. This suggests that while patients with less acute needs may have deferred care, those requiring urgent surgery still presented to the emergency department. These data may help hospitals appropriately allocate eye care resources during future public health emergencies.