Visual Outcomes and Risk of Endophthalmitis in Open Globe Injuries without Intraocular Foreign Bodies with Delayed Repair.

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the rate of endophthalmitis and visual outcomes in cases of open globe injuries (OGIs) without intraocular foreign bodies repaired within and greater than 24 hours from the time of injury. DESIGN: A retrospective review of 2002 cases of OGIs presenting to a single institution. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with OGIs were admitted and managed according to a standardized protocol. METHODS: The impact of timing of repair was assessed among those undergoing OGI repair within (i) 24 hours, (ii) 25 to 36 hours, and (iii) greater than 36 hours from the time of injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of endophthalmitis and postoperative visual acuity of logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 1.3, logMAR 1.0, and logMAR 0.3 at 180 days and 1 year after open globe repair. RESULTS: A total of 1382 patients with OGIs met our inclusion criteria, of whom 75% were male with an average age of 41 years. Maximal zone of injury was zone I for 420 patients, zone II for 488 patients, and zone III for 474 patients. A total of 84% of all OGIs underwent repair within 24 hours from the time of injury, 9% from 25 to 36 hours, and 7% greater than 36 hours. Average preoperative visual acuity was hand motion. Risk factors associated with repair performed greater than 36 hours from the time of injury included female sex (P = 0.042). Endophthalmitis was associated with time to repair greater than 36 hours (P = 0.049) but not with 25 to 36 hours or zone of injury (P = 0.111). Time to repair had no significant impact on visual acuity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although repair of OGIs within 24 hours is the current standard of care, this study found no statistically significant difference in rates of endophthalmitis or visual outcomes in eyes undergoing repair within 24 hours of injury compared with repair extending to 25 to 36 hours. Endophthalmitis rates did increase after 36 hours. We recommend urgent repair of OGIs, but in certain circumstances, it may be reasonable to delay repair beyond 24 hours to optimize operating conditions. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Implementation of anterior segment ophthalmic telemedicine.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The growing push to integrate telemedicine into ophthalmic practices requires physicians to have a thorough understanding of ophthalmic telemedicine's applications, limitations, and recent advances in order to provide well tolerated and appropriate clinical care. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in the use of ophthalmic telemedicine for anterior segment eye examinations. RECENT FINDINGS: Virtual care for anterior segment evaluation relies on appropriate technology, novel workflows, and appropriate clinical case selection. Recent advances, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted the utility of home-based assessments for visual acuity, external evaluation, tonometry, and refraction. Additionally, innovative workflows incorporating office-based testing into virtual care, termed 'hybrid telemedicine', enable high-quality ophthalmic testing to inform clinical decision-making. SUMMARY: Novel digital tools and workflows enable high-quality anterior segment evaluation and management for select ophthalmic concerns. This review highlights the clinical tools and workflows necessary to enable anterior segment telehealth.

A Novel Ophthalmic Telemedicine Program for Follow-Up of Minor Ophthalmic Emergencies.

Background: Near-term follow-up for minor ophthalmic emergencies is important to ensure positive patient outcomes but can impose logistical challenges for patients and ophthalmology practices. While ophthalmic telemedicine has been used for screening and triage, its feasibility and safety for follow-up care for minor ophthalmic emergencies have not been reported. The objective of this study was to report initial results of a novel virtual emergency department (ED) follow-up clinic. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients discharged from the ophthalmic ED who required near-term follow-up and carried diagnoses suitable for virtual evaluation, between December 6, 2021, and June 26, 2022, at a single tertiary eye care center. Main outcome measures included missed appointment rate, time interval between ED encounter and virtual follow-up, clinical diagnoses, and referrals after telemedicine follow-up (including for urgent ambulatory and ED evaluation). Results: A total of 145 virtual visits were scheduled with 99 (68.3%) completed appointments, yielding a no-show rate of 31.7%. Of the completed visits, the mean time interval between ED evaluation and virtual follow-up was 8.3 days (standard deviation ±3.9). Eighty-four (84.9%) visits were video-based and 15 (15.1%) were audio-only. Seventy-nine (94%) had at least one aspect of the ophthalmic examination documented. The most common diagnoses were chalazion (18), conjunctivitis (13), corneal abrasion (12), and encounter after corneal foreign body removal (7). After virtual follow-up, 23 patients (23.2%) had subsequent referrals, and no patients re-presented to the ophthalmic ED. Conclusions: Ophthalmic telemedicine may be a safe and feasible modality for providing timely post-acute near-term follow-up care for patients with appropriate ophthalmic diagnoses.

Outcomes of Zone 3 Open Globe Injuries by Wound Extent: Subcategorization of Zone 3 Injuries Segregates Visual and Anatomic Outcomes.

PURPOSE: Open globe injuries (OGIs) are categorized by zone, with zone 3 (Z3) comprising wounds > 5 mm beyond the limbus. Outcomes of Z3 OGIs are highly heterogeneous. Open globe injuries with far posterior Z3 (pZ3) wounds were hypothesized to have worse visual and anatomic outcomes. DESIGN: Single-center retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 258 eyes with Z3 OGIs. METHODS: A retrospective review of Z3 OGIs treated at a tertiary center over 12 years. Wounds ≥ 10 mm posterior to the limbus were defined as pZ3. Outcomes were compared between pZ3 and anterior Z3 (aZ3) eyes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity on a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) scale. Secondary outcomes included anatomic outcomes, development of retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and the number of secondary surgeries. RESULTS: A total of 258 Z3 OGI eyes with > 30 days follow-up were assessed; 161 (62%) were pZ3. At 3-month follow-up, pZ3 OGIs were more likely to exhibit no light perception (pZ3: 38%; aZ3: 17%; P < 0.003), lack count fingers vision (pZ3: 72%; aZ3: 43%; P < 0.002), and fail to read a letter on the eye chart (pZ3: 83%; aZ3: 64%; P < 0.001). The visual acuity distribution at 3 months was significantly worse for pZ3 compared with aZ3 injuries (P < 0.004). Similar results were found at final follow-up. Multiple linear regression showed that pZ3 location was independently associated with worse visual acuity (ß = 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.50, P < 0.006) in addition to presenting acuity, age, vitreous hemorrhage, uveal prolapse, and afferent pupillary defect. Far posterior wounds injuries were more likely to develop retinal detachments (pZ3: 87%; aZ3: 71%; P < 0.01) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (pZ3 66%; aZ3 47%; P < 0.03). Patients with pZ3 OGIs were significantly more likely to reach poor anatomic outcome (phthisis, enucleation, need for keratoprosthesis) compared with patients with aZ3 OGI (pZ3: 56%; aZ3: 40%; P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior OGI extension independently portends worse visual and anatomic outcomes. The effect on visual outcome was durable and clinically relevant compared with established predictors of OGI outcomes. Application of these findings improves the prognostic precision and will guide future research efforts to optimize surgical decision-making in severe OGI cases. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Private Equity in Ophthalmology and Optometry: Analysis of Acquisitions from 2012 through 2019 in the United States.

PURPOSE: To identify temporal and geographic trends in private equity (PE)-backed acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using private equity acquisition and investment data from January 1, 2012, through October 20, 2019. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 228 PE acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States between 2012 and 2019. METHODS: Acquisition and financial investment data were compiled from 6 financial databases, 4 industry news outlets, and publicly available press releases from PE firms or platform companies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Yearly trends in ophthalmology and optometry acquisitions, including number of total acquisitions, clinical locations, and providers of acquired practices as well as subsequent sales, median holding period, geographic footprint, and financing status of each platform company. RESULTS: A total of 228 practices associated with 1466 clinical locations and 2146 ophthalmologists or optometrists were acquired by 29 PE-backed platform companies. Of these acquisitions, 127, 9, and 92 were comprehensive or multispecialty, retina, and optometry practices, respectively. Acquisitions increased rapidly between 2012 and 2019: 42 practices were acquired between 2012 and 2016 compared to 186 from 2017 through 2019. Financing rounds of platform companies paralleled temporal acquisition trends. Three platform companies, comprising 60% of platforms formed before 2016, were subsequently sold or recapitalized to new PE investors by the end of this study period with a median holding period of 3.5 years. In terms of geographic distribution, acquisitions occurred in 40 states with most PE firms developing multistate platform companies. New York and California were the 2 states with the greatest number of PE acquisitions with 22 and 19, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Private equity-backed acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices have increased rapidly since 2012, with some platform companies having already been sold or recapitalized to new investors. Additionally, private equity-backed platform companies have developed both regionally focused and multistate models of add-on acquisitions. Future research should assess the impact of PE investment on patient, provider, and practice metrics, including health outcomes, expenditures, procedural volume, and staff employment.

Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion with Dilated Eye Examinations among the United States Population with Diabetes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between Medicaid expansion and diabetic dilated eye examinations. DESIGN: A retrospective difference in differences (DiD) analysis using individual-level survey response data from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 52 392 survey responses from 50 states and the District of Columbia between 2009 and 2017. Responders were adults aged 18 to 64 years reporting a previous diagnosis of diabetes and a household income below 138% of the US federal poverty line (FPL). METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were used to identify survey responders who were asked about the presence of dilated eye examinations from years before and after Medicaid expansion implementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The DiD in proportion of dilated eye examinations among diabetic persons aged 18 to 64 years with household incomes below 138% of the FPL between states that did and did not implement Medicaid expansion. RESULTS: Implementation of Medicaid expansion policies was associated with a 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.8 to 6.4; P = 0.61), 6.3% (95% CI, 1.3-11.3; P = 0.016), 4.1% (95% CI, -0.8 to 9.0; P = 0.11), and 2.3% (95% CI, -1.6 to 6.2; P = 0.23) increase in the proportion of diabetic persons aged 18 to 64 years with incomes below 138% of the FPL receiving a dilated eye examination within the past year due to Medicaid expansion 1, 2, 3, and 4 cumulative years after expansion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid expansion policies were significantly associated with an increase in dilated eye examination rates within the first 2 years after implementation. However, this increase did not persist beyond this period, with nonsignificant increases 3 and 4 cumulative years after implementation. Healthcare policymakers should be aware that additional measures beyond expanding insurance coverage may be necessary to increase and sustain the rate of dilated eye examinations among diabetic populations.

Bilateral multiple evanescent white dot syndrome.

PURPOSE: To present a single case of bilateral multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). METHODS: A single case with three months of follow-up using imaging studies including fundus color photography (FP), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), en face SD-OCT and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is presented. RESULTS: The patient presented with bilateral MEWDS, ultimately with complete resolution of symptoms. FP revealed foveal granularity and white punctate deep retinal spots, FA found early wreath-like hyperfluorescence, while ICGA showed hypofluorescent dots and spots in the early and late stages. FAF showed areas of hyperautofluorescence. SD-OCT revealed disruption of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) and accumulation of hyperreflective material of variable size and shape. En face SD-OCT demonstrated hyporeflective areas corresponding to areas of EZ disruption as well as hyperreflective dots in the outer nuclear layer. OCTA showed areas of photoreceptor slab black-out corresponding to areas of EZ disruption and light areas of flow void or flow disturbance in the choriocapillaris slab. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents an unusual case of bilateral MEWDS with complete resolution within three months.

Review of Management and Outcomes of Delayed Repair Open Globe Injuries.

The standard of care for open globe injuries is prompt surgical closure, as delay in repair is a reported risk factor for post-traumatic endophthalmitis and is associated with worse visual outcomes. This article serves as a review of the current management and outcomes of open globe injuries repaired greater than 24 hours from the time of injury, specifically evaluating the rates of endophthalmitis in cases with and without intraocular foreign bodies, visual outcomes and rates of primary enucleation or evisceration.

Physician-to-Physician eConsultations to Ophthalmologists at an Academic Medical Center.

Purpose: Physician-to-physician electronic consultation (eConsults) are used across specialties; however, their effectiveness in ophthalmology has not been reported. This study evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of a physician-to-physician ophthalmology eConsult program, assessed the timeliness of in-person evaluation, and characterized the clinical questions of non-ophthalmology providers. Methods: Retrospective review of patients for whom an ophthalmology eConsult was placed to Massachusetts Eye and Ear from February 2019-August 2021. The eConsults were reviewed to identify submission-to-response time, primary diagnoses by eConsultant, and referral outcomes. The eConsults were categorized based on clinical question, urgency, and ophthalmic condition addressed. Demographic data on patients and referring providers were collected. Results: One hundred ophthalmology eConsults were placed, and 100% were responded to by an ophthalmologist. An average of 1.6 ± 1.9 days elapsed from the time of eConsult to completion. Of the 30 patients who presented for in-person evaluation at an ophthalmology clinic, diagnostic concordance between eConsultant and in-person ophthalmologist was observed in 93% of cases (n = 28 of 30). An average of 28.9 ± 27.4 days from eConsult response to in-person follow-up was observed. The most common clinical inquiries were about appropriate triage/referral (24.4%), management (22%), and diagnosis (19.7%). All eConsults were non-urgent. The most common ophthalmic condition addressed was chalazia/hordeola (14%). Only 5% of patients presented to an emergency department for the same ophthalmic concern addressed by eConsult. Conclusions: Ophthalmology eConsults provide timely access to nonurgent ocular diagnosis, triage, and management and in our study seem to provide high rates of diagnostic accuracy for nonurgent ophthalmic conditions. Translational Relevance: Using ophthalmic eConsults can facilitate timely access to specialty care and reduce patient and provider burden.

Recovery of Vision in Open Globe Injury Patients with Initial No Light Perception Vision.

PURPOSE: To identify clinical characteristics of injured eyes associated with visual recovery in patients with open globe injuries (OGIs) and presenting with no light perception (NLP) vision. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SUBJECTS: All patients presenting to Massachusetts Eye and Ear with OGI and NLP vision from January 1999 to March 2022. METHODS: Manual data extraction to collect patient demographic characteristics, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics of OGI injury, laceration versus rupture, history of intraocular surgery, time from injury to repair, timing of vitrectomy, lensectomy, choroidal drainage, and silicone oil placement, visual acuity (VA) at last follow-up, and subsequent B-scan ultrasound findings of retinal detachment, choroidal hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage, and disorganized intraocular contents. Patients with >1 week of follow-up and a documented VA at most recent follow-up were included. Exclusion criteria included age <10 years. Multivariable regression was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity recovery defined as light perception or better in patients with OGI and initial NLP vision. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven eyes with NLP vision after OGI were included. Twenty-five (17%) eyes regained vision at last follow-up. The majority of patients recovered light perception vision (n = 15, 60%) followed by 20/500 or better (n = 5, 20%), hand motions (n = 3, 12%), and counting fingers (n = 2, 8%). Most injuries were zone III (n = 102, 69%) and presented with rupture (n = 127, 86%). The mean time from OGI to surgical repair was 0.85 ± 1.7 days. B-scan was obtained in 104 (71%) cases. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 9 eyes (6%) with NLP at time of vitrectomy. Disorganized intraocular contents on B-scan (odd ratio, 0.170; 95% confidence interval, 0.042-0.681; P = 0.012) was the only clinical variable significantly associated with visual recovery, corresponding to a lack of visual improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of vision in OGI with NLP vision at presentation cannot be predicted based on presenting clinical features. B-scan findings of disorganized intraocular contents after initial OGI repair was the only factor negatively associated with vision recovery in this patient population. Therefore, all eyes presenting with an OGI and NLP vision should undergo primary repair in hopes of subsequent visual recovery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

A multi-center analysis of visual outcomes following open globe injury.

The purpose of this study was to examine how demographics, etiology, and clinical examination findings are related to visual outcomes in subjects with open globe injury (OGI) across a large and generalizable sample. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using data collected from the electronic medical records of four tertiary university centers for subjects with OGI presenting from 2018 to 2021. Demographic information, injury mechanisms, clinical exam findings, visual acuity (VA) at presentation and most recent follow-up were recorded. In subjects with bilateral OGIs, only right eyes were included. A modified ocular trauma score (OTS) using presenting VA, the presence of perforating injury, OGI, and afferent pupillary defect was calculated. The risk of subjects' demographic characteristics, ocular trauma etiology, clinical findings and modified OTS on the presence of monocular blindness at follow-up were assessed using univariable and multivariable regression models. 1426 eyes were identified. The mean age was 48.3 years (SD: ± 22.4 years) and the majority of subjects were men (N = 1069, 75.0%). Univariable analysis demonstrated that subjects of Black race were 66% (OR: 1.66 [1.25-2.20]; P < 0.001) more likely to have monocular blindness relative to White race at follow-up. OTS Class 1 was the strongest predictor of blindness (OR: 38.35 [21.33-68.93]; P < 0.001). Based on multivariable analysis, lower OTS category (OTS Class 1 OR: 23.88 [16.44-45.85]; P < 0.001) moderately predicted visual outcomes (R2 = 0.275, P < 0.001). OGI has many risks of poor visual outcome across patient groups that vary by demographic category, mechanism of injury, and clinical presentation. Our findings validate that a modified OTS remains a strong predictor of visual prognosis following OGI in a large and generalizable sample.

Pediatric eye injuries presenting to United States emergency departments: 2001-2007.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of pediatric eye injuries is not well-documented. This study describes the characteristics of non-fatal eye injuries in pediatric patients (<18 years of age) presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) from 2001 to 2007 to perform a descriptive analysis of eye injury case information for patients <18 years of age, including demographic variables, locales, diagnoses, causes, and hospital disposition. RESULTS: In 2001-2007, an estimated 1,048,500 (95% confidence interval [CI] 878,198-1,218,801) ED visits for eye injury occurred among children less than 18 years of age, representing a rate of 14.31 per 1,000 children. Males accounted for 61.75% (CI 541,971-752,839) of visits. The rate of eye injury was highest in the 15-17 year old age group (18.74 per 1,000 children; CI 199,224-267,132). The most common diagnosis was contusion/abrasion (53.68%; CI 468,035-657,638). The most frequent cause of eye injury was being struck by or against an object (56.63%; CI 491,760-695,758). The majority of injuries occurred at home (65.84%; CI 382,443-588,416) and took place during the spring and summer (39.26%; CI 343,535-479,888). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the risk for pediatric eye injuries is highest for adolescents 15-17 years of age and at home. Further research is needed to determine risk and protective factors associated with injuries in this age group and location to design appropriate prevention strategies.

Traumatic rupture of the inferior rectus muscle: case report and review of the literature.

Traumatic inferior rectus muscle rupture secondary to blunt injury in the absence of associated orbital or ocular fractures or injury is rarely encountered, and there are limited published reports on subsequent surgical repair. We present the case of a 74-year-old man with complete inferior rectus transection following a fall with facial strike. A computed tomography scan of the face was unremarkable. Surgical exploration and repair of the muscle was performed by hooking the inferior oblique muscle to identify the inferior rectus muscle. Subsequent strabismus surgery was performed for residual binocular diplopia, resulting in excellent anatomic and visual outcomes and postoperative ocular alignment.

Dedicated Chalazion Clinic as a Tool for Early Surgical Education in Ophthalmology Residency.

Objective Ophthalmology residency programs aim to improve resident surgical teaching through increased surgical exposure over a 4-year period. Resident-centric surgical clinics across various surgical specialties have been established to help develop surgical autonomy and experience. We present the first demonstration of a resident-centric chalazion incision and drainage clinic (chalazion clinic) in an ophthalmology residency with the goal of increasing early surgical exposure to residents. Design The chalazion clinic was founded in July 2019. It is a once weekly procedure clinic conducted by an ophthalmology resident and supervised by an ophthalmology attending. Patients with chalazia were referred directly to this clinic for evaluation and management, rather than the oculoplastics clinic as they were in the past. Retrospective review of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case logs of all residents per academic year before and after establishment of the chalazion clinic was performed in order to assess the impact on residents' chalazion procedures numbers per academic year. Setting The study involved a single academic ophthalmology department. Participants Ophthalmology residents of all years were present. Results A resident of any year performed an average of 3.0 chalazion procedures per year in the 2018 to 2019 academic year, 3.8 in 2019 to 2020, and 8.4 in the 2020 to 2021, which represents a 180% increase in procedure numbers per resident. Among post-graduate-year 2s (PGY)2s, the average number of chalazion procedures increased from 2.1 procedure per year to 22.3 per year (961.9% increase). Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a dedicated resident-centric chalazion clinic in an ophthalmology residency program. PGY2s demonstrated the largest increase in procedural numbers. While chalazion incision and drainage is a minor procedure, increased exposure to surgical procedures early in training could help improve residents' skills and confidence. This clinic provides a proof of concept of a dedicated minor procedure clinic for ophthalmology residents to increase early procedural volume.

Open Globe Injuries From Garage Door Springs.

We describe seven patients who were attempting to repair their garage door when a spring dislodged at high velocity, resulting in open globe injury. All patients were seen at Massachusetts Eye and Ear between the years 2008 and 2023. Their final visual acuities ranged from 20/125 to no light perception. Open globe injury appears to be a risk of attempts to repair a garage door by people who are inexperienced in doing so. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:666-669.].

Effect of time to operative repair within twenty-four hours on visual acuity outcomes for open globe injuries.

PURPOSE: Convention is to perform open globe injury (OGI) repair within 24 h to minimize risk of endophthalmitis. However, there are limited data assessing how time to operative repair (OR) within 24 h impacts postoperative visual acuity (VA). METHODS: Manual retrospective chart review of 633 eyes at Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE) with a diagnosis of OGI between 2012 and 2022. Inclusion criteria were primary repair ≤ 24 h after injury and ≥1 month follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted with postoperative VA as primary outcome. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 489 (77.3%) were male and 496 (78.4%) were white. Demographics of OGI wounds included 320 (50.6%) rupture and 313 (49.4%) laceration; 126 (19.9%) with rAPD, 189 (29.9%) zone 3 injuries, 449 (71.2%) uveal prolapse, and 110 (17.4%) intraocular foreign body. Final postoperative LogMAR VAs consisted of 31% with a VA < 1.7, 9% with a VA of 1.9, 18% with a VA of 2.3, 27% with a VA of 2.7, and 11% with a VA of 3.0. Multivariate analysis showed no significant correlation between time to OR and postoperative VA (p = 0.800) [95%CI: -0.01,0.01]. Older age (p < 0.001) [95%CI: 0.00,0.01], worse presenting VA (p < 0.001) [95%CI: 0.17,0.32], rAPD (p < 0.001) [95%CI: 0.65,1.0], mechanism of rupture (p < 0.001) [95%CI: 0.19,0.54], higher zone of injury (p < 0.001) [95%CI: 0.25,0.45], and uveal prolapse (p = 0.003) [95%CI: 0.09,0.42] were significantly associated with worse final VA. CONCLUSIONS: Time to repair of OGIs within 24 h does not influence final VA. Optimization of surgical and patient factors may contribute more significantly to final VA than prioritizing more rapid time to OR.

Effectiveness of a telemedicine program for triage and diagnosis of emergent ophthalmic conditions.

BACKGROUND: To study the utility of a teleophthalmology program to diagnose and triage common ophthalmic complaints presenting to an ophthalmic emergency room. METHODS: Prospective, observational study of 258 eyes of 129 patients presenting to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Emergency Ward (MEE EW) who completed a questionnaire to gather chief complaint (CC), history of present illness, and medical history. Anterior and posterior segment photographs were collected via iPhone 5 C camera and a Canon non-mydriatic fundus camera, respectively. Ophthalmic vital signs were collected. All information was reviewed remotely by three ophthalmologists; a diagnosis and urgency designation were recorded. The remote assessment was compared to gold standard in-person assessment. RESULTS: The 129 recruited patients collectively contributed 220 visual complaints, of which 121 (55%) were from females with mean age 56.5 years (range 24-89). Sensitivities and specificities for telemedical triage were as follows: eye pain (n = 56; sensitivity: 0.58, CI [0.41, 0.74]; specificity: 0.91, CI [0.80, 1]), eye redness (n = 54; 0.68, CI [0.50, 0.86]; 0.93, CI [0.84, 1]), blurry vision (n = 68; 0.73, CI [0.60, 0.86]; 0.91, CI [0.80, 1]), and eyelid complaints (n = 42; 0.67, CI [0.43, 0.91]; 0.96, CI [0.89, 1]). The remote diagnostic accuracies, as stratified by CC, were eye pain (27/56; 48.21%), eye redness: (32/54; 59.26%), blurry vision: (30/68; 44.11%), eyelid (24/42; 57.14%). CONCLUSIONS: Telemedical examination of emergent ophthalmic complaints consisting of a patient questionnaire, anterior segment and fundus photos, and ophthalmic vital signs, may be useful to reliably triage eye disease based on presenting complaint.