Assessment of a Tele-education System to Enhance Retinopathy of Prematurity Training by International Ophthalmologists-in-Training in Mexico.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a tele-education system developed to improve diagnostic competency in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by ophthalmologists-in-training in Mexico. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-eight ophthalmology residents and fellows from a training program in Mexico consented to participate. Twenty-nine of 58 trainees (50%) were randomized to the educational intervention (pretest, ROP tutorial, ROP educational chapters, and posttest), and 29 of 58 trainees (50%) were randomized to a control group (pretest and posttest only). METHODS: A secure web-based educational system was created using clinical cases (20 pretest, 20 posttest, and 25 training chapter-based) developed from a repository of over 2500 unique image sets of ROP. For each image set used, a reference standard ROP diagnosis was established by combining the clinical diagnosis by indirect ophthalmoscope examination and image-based diagnosis by multiple experts. Trainees were presented with image-based clinical cases of ROP during a pretest, posttest, and training chapters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The accuracy of ROP diagnosis (e.g., plus disease, zone, stage, category) was determined using sensitivity and specificity calculations from the pretest and posttest results of the educational intervention group versus control group. The unweighted kappa statistic was used to analyze the intragrader agreement for ROP diagnosis by the ophthalmologists-in-training during the pretest and posttest for both groups. RESULTS: Trainees completing the tele-education system had statistically significant improvements (P < 0.01) in the accuracy of ROP diagnosis for plus disease, zone, stage, category, and aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP). Compared with the control group, trainees who completed the ROP tele-education system performed better on the posttest for accurately diagnosing plus disease (67% vs. 48%; P = 0.04) and the presence of ROP (96% vs. 91%; P < 0.01). The specificity for diagnosing AP-ROP (94% vs. 78%; P < 0.01), type 2 ROP or worse (92% vs. 84%; P = 0.04), and ROP requiring treatment (89% vs. 79%; P < 0.01) was better for the trainees completing the tele-education system compared with the control group. Intragrader agreement improved for identification of plus disease, zone, stage, and category of ROP after completion of the educational intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A tele-education system for ROP education was effective in improving the diagnostic accuracy of ROP by ophthalmologists-in-training in Mexico. This system has the potential to increase competency in ROP diagnosis and management for ophthalmologists-in-training from middle-income nations.

Prevalence of Dome-Shaped Macula and Tilted Disc Syndrome in High Myopia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Dome-shaped macula (DSM) and tilted disc syndrome (TDS) are two macular abnormalities that may occur in eyes with high myopia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of both entities in our population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective and observational study. Optical coherence tomography of the macula was performed in eyes with high myopia (spherical equivalent [SE] of -8D or greater) to assess the prevalence of DSM and TDS. RESULTS: Sixty-eight eyes were included. Three eyes (4.41%) had DSM and 8 (11.76%) eyes had TDS. The most common macular anomaly was posterior staphyloma (PS) (12 [17.65%]). From the eyes with DSM (n = 3), only two presented PS. An older age and a higher SE were predisposing factors for PS (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A lower prevalence of DSM and a higher prevalence of TDS was observed in our population compared to those reported in literature. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:568-572.].

[Extension of TORCH spectrum in ophthalmology: congenital Zika, case report]. / Ampliación del espectro TORCH en oftalmología: Zika congénito, reporte de un caso.

BACKGROUND: Zika is a flavivirus that can be transmitted transplacentally. Eye abnormalities have been reported in 70% of Zika cases, and 41.7% of them can occur in the absence of microcephaly. The most common ocular abnormalities are macular atrophy, optic atrophy and chorioretinal coloboma. The objective was to report the case of eye disorders associated with Zika, acquired transplacentally, despite negative results for TORCH, and serology and PCR analyses for Zika. CLINICAL CASE: 9-month-old female patient, born in Chiapas, Mexico, brought to an ophthalmologic evaluation because she did not follow objects. As family background patient's mother had Zika, confirmed serologically at 9 weeks gestation. Physical examination revealed microcephaly, redundant skin on neck, joint stiffness and delayed psychomotor development. Ophthalmological examination revealed in right eye atrophy of the optic nerve, and left eye with exotropia, macular scar and optic nerve aplasia. TORCH profile and serology and PCR for Zika were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the negative serology for Zika, given the history of pregnancy and the pre and post-natal clinical manifestations, diagnosis of embryopathy secondary to Zika infection with optic nerve aplasia, chorioretinal atrophy, macular scar, microcephaly and global neurodevelopmental delay was made.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el Zika es un flavivirus que puede ser transmitido de forma transplacentaria. Las anomalías oculares han sido reportadas en un 70% de los casos y se ha visto que 41.7% de ellas pueden ocurrir en ausencia de microcefalia. Las alteraciones oculares más comunes son: atrofia macular, atrofia óptica y coloboma coriorretiniano. El objetivo de este estudio fue reportar un caso de alteraciones oculares asociadas a Zika, adquirido de forma transplacentaria, a pesar de los resultados negativos para el perfil TORCH y Zika de los análisis de serología y PCR. CASO CLÍNICO: paciente femenina de nueve meses de edad, originaria de Chiapas, México, traída a revisión oftalmológica porque no seguía objetos. Como antecedentes, la paciente tenía madre con diagnóstico de Zika confirmado serológicamente a las nueve semanas de gestación. A la exploración física se encontró microcefalia, piel redundante en cuello, rigidez articular y retraso en el desarrollo psicomotor. A la exploración oftalmológica fueron evidentes atrofia del nervio óptico de ojo derecho, ojo izquierdo con exotropía, cicatriz macular y aplasia del nervio óptico. Tanto el perfil TORCH como la serología y la PCR para Zika fueron negativos. CONCLUSIONES: a pesar de la serología negativa para Zika, dados los antecedentes de la gestación y las manifestaciones clínicas pre y postnatales se integró el diagnóstico de embriopatía secundaria a infección por Zika con aplasia del nervio óptico, atrofia coriorretiniana, cicatriz macular, microcefalia y retraso global del neurodesarrollo.