Immunoglobulin G4-related lacrimal sac dacryocystocele: A novel case report.

PURPOSE: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease is a systemic fibroinflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) can manifest in multiple ways, but lacrimal sac involvement is rare. We present the first case in Chinese population of lacrimal sac IgG4-ROD. OBSERVATIONS: Lacrimal sac IgG4-ROD is rare, and only 9 cases were reported in literature. Despite reported cases in Asian population, mainly in Japan, there was none from the Chinese population or South Asia. Our index case is a 67-year-old Chinese male, who presented with a left insidious nasolacrimal duct swelling mimicking dacryocystocele. Lacrimal sac IgG4-ROD was diagnosed with radiological, serological, pathological and immunohistochemical evidence. The under-reporting of this disease entity may suggest a benign course of such. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This is the first reported case of biopsy proven lacrimal sac definite IgG4-ROD in Chinese patient on English literature. With the limited cases reported in literature, the pathology of Immunoglobulin G4 immune process in lacrimal sac demands further investigation.

Impact of virtual reality simulation on learning barriers of phacoemulsification perceived by residents.

OBJECTIVE: To identify residents' perceived barriers to learning phacoemulsification surgical procedures and to evaluate whether virtual reality simulation training changed these perceptions. DESIGN: The ophthalmology residents undertook a simulation phacoemulsification course and proficiency assessment on the Eyesi system using the previously validated training modules of intracapsular navigation, anti-tremor, capsulorrhexis, and cracking/chopping. A cross-sectional, multicenter survey on the perceived difficulties in performing phacoemulsification tasks on patients, based on the validated International Council of Ophthalmology's Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric (ICO-OSCAR), using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = least and 5 = most difficulty), was conducted among residents with or without prior simulation training. Mann-Whitney U tests were carried out to compare the mean scores, and multivariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of lower scores with the following potential predictors: 1) higher level trainee, 2) can complete phacoemulsification most of the time (>90%) without supervisor's intervention, and 3) prior simulation training. SETTING: The study was conducted in ophthalmology residency training programs in five regional hospitals in Hong Kong. RESULTS: Of the 22 residents, 19 responded (86.3%), of which 13 (68.4%) had completed simulation training. Nucleus cracking/chopping was ranked highest in difficulty by all respondents followed by capsulorrhexis completion and nucleus rotation/manipulation. Respondents with prior simulation training had significantly lower difficulty scores on these three tasks (nucleus cracking/chopping 3.85 vs 4.75, P = 0.03; capsulorrhexis completion 3.31 vs 4.40, P = 0.02; and nucleus rotation/manipulation 3.00 vs 4.75, P = 0.01). In multivariate analyses, simulation training was significantly associated with lower difficulty scores on these three tasks. CONCLUSION: Residents who had completed Eyesi simulation training had higher confidence in performing the most difficult tasks perceived during phacoemulsification.

Aesthetic assessment in periciliary "v-incision" versus conventional external dacryocystorhinostomy in Asians.

PURPOSE: To determine the functional and aesthetic outcomes of periciliary "v-incision" external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and to compare with conventional approach. METHOD: Charts review of consecutive cases of "v-incision" (VDCR) or conventional DCR performed in a single institute, between January 2007 and March 2014. All procedures were performed or supervised by a single surgeon. Two periciliary incisions were made near the skin-mucosal junction at the upper and lower eyelid margins medial to the punctum joining at the medial canthal angle to form a "v" shape. Subcutaneous dissection was carried out inferomedially to reach the anterior lacrimal crest. DCR was then performed in the usual manner. Functional success was defined as no persistent or recurrent epiphora and patency on irrigation of the lacrimal drainage system at least 6 months post-surgery. A cross-sectional aesthetic survey was conducted by asking the patients to rate their scar appearance satisfaction on a visual analogue scale (VAS). External photographs were graded by two independent, masked physicians using VAS as well as the Stony Brook scar evaluation scale (SBSES). RESULTS: Sixty-one patients with median age of 64 years met the inclusion criteria, with median follow-up duration of 28 months. Thirty-eight eyes underwent VDCR, and 23 had conventional DCR. The functional success rate for VDCR was 83.3, 95 % confidence intervals (95%CI) [lower 0.68, upper 0.92] and for conventional DCR was 73.9 %, 95%CI [lower 0.54, upper 0.87]; without statistically significant difference (p = 0.38). VDCR patients rated higher aesthetic outcome on VAS (mean scores 95.5 ± 16.8 vs 82.9 ± 25.1, p = 0.03). On the SBSES, both observers gave higher aesthetic scores to the VDCR group (observer #1 4.6 ± 1.1 and #2 4.7 ± 1.2, p < 0.01) than conventional DCR (observer #1 3.1 ± 2.8 and #2 2.8 ± 2.1, p < 0.01). More patients reported that they could wear spectacles within 1 week post-VDCR (44.7 vs 4.3 %, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: "V-incision" external DCR has a similar functional success rate to that of the conventional approach and has superior aesthetic outcomes as reported by surgeons and patients. However, a higher proportion of trainees under supervision performed conventional DCR, and it is uncertain whether the outcomes were also influenced by the level of surgeon's expertise.