Predictive Factors for Biopsy-Negative Giant Cell Arteritis and Alternative Diagnoses in a Neuro-Ophthalmology Context.

Giant cell arteritis is a challenging diagnosis for patients given the high prevalence of negative temporal artery biopsies (TAB). Despite the lack of histopathological evidence of giant cell arteritis in the TAB, patients can still have TAB-negative giant cell arteritis. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the predictors for TAB-negative giant cell arteritis and the alternative diagnosis of biopsy-negative patients without a giant cell arteritis diagnosis. A retrospective electronic database review of all TABs performed at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from February 2015 to May 2020. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictive factors for a diagnosis of TAB-negative giant cell arteritis. In all cases, a clinical diagnosis of TAB-negative giant cell arteritis was determined by a neuro-ophthalmologist. Alternative diagnoses for negative TABs were identified and explored. A total of 368 TABs were analysed with 287 (78%) negative for histopathological evidence of GCA. Twenty-seven (9.4%) patients were diagnosed and treated as TAB-negative giant cell arteritis. The clinical predictors of a TAB-negative giant cell arteritis diagnosis were the presence of jaw claudication (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.10-6.98) and CRP (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03). Alternative diagnoses included non-specific headache, non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, retinal vessel occlusions, and ocular nerve palsies. Predictive factors for a diagnosis of TAB-negative giant cell arteritis were jaw claudication and an elevated CRP. Several alternative diagnoses can be considered for patients with a negative TAB in a neuro-ophthalmology context.

Developing a Quality Assurance Framework for Neuro-Ophthalmology Using a Multisite Data Registry.

BACKGROUND: Quality assurance (QA) in neuro-ophthalmology (NOPH) is often lacking. We aimed to assess the quality of referral assessment and time to consult for common neuro-ophthalmological conditions by implementing a quality-assurance registry, NODE (Neuro-ophthalmology Database), in a tertiary neuro-ophthalmology clinic. Australian standardized triage categories, namely, P1 (consult ≤30 days), P2 (consult ≤30-60 days), and P3 (consult ≤60-90 days), were developed and validated for neuro-ophthalmological conditions. METHODS: We collected data from NODE on 676 patients at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne and developed a consensus on the assignation of NOPH conditions to triage categories using a modified Delphi approach. A panel of 7 experienced neuro-ophthalmologists scored conditions and assignation to triage categories. Consensus was considered when ≥75% of the panel strongly agreed or agreed. We analyzed the mean days from referral to triage and from triage to the initial consultation and compared that with the developed triage category standard. RESULTS: Most patients presenting to the service were female (64%). Common diagnoses were idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) (19%), optic neuropathy (ON) (14%), nonspecific headaches (11%), cranial nerve defects (CND) (8%), and papilledema (7%). Consensus on triage category assignment was reached after 2 rounds of scoring from expert panel members. The mean time from referral to triage was performed in <5 days for all the common diagnosis at the NOPH clinic. The mean days (±SD) from P1 category triage to initial consult for IIH was 15 (±12) days, acute ON 16 (±14) days, CND was 20 (±15) days, and papilledema was 20 (±19) days. The mean days from P2 triage to initial consultant for nonspecific headaches was 22 (±20) days and for EOMD was 48 (±22) days. The mean time (days) from P3 triage to initial consultant for nonocular myasthenia gravis was 38 days (±29) days and for visual snow was 54 (±31) days. CONCLUSIONS: We have established a consensus agreement on triage categories for neuro-ophthalmological conditions, which can be further validated using a larger panel of experts. We established a NOPH registry that will serve as a framework to benchmark quality of care between NOPH services. Data from our NOPH registry demonstrated that most conditions are appropriately triaged and seen.

Orbital Plates and Screws Causing Globe Fixation: A Rare and Delayed Complication of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery.

A 24-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of gradually increasing pain on eye movements, worse on the right. She had a significant background of undergoing intracranial correction of orbital hypertelorism with internal fixation of the lateral orbital rims at the age of 6 years. Imaging was consistent with bilateral metallic foreign bodies from both lateral orbital rims protruding into the globes. The patient underwent removal of bilateral plates and screws, with a significant improvement of symptoms and ocular motility postoperatively. This case demonstrates the need to consider orbital screw/plate migration in the setting of reduced ocular motility and painful eye movements.

A review of m-health in medical imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The increasing capabilities of camera-equipped mobile phones have led to a growing body of evidence regarding their use in medical imaging across a broad range of medical specialties. This article reviews the current evidence for the use of mobile health (m-health) in medical imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a structured review of the published literature regarding m-health in medical imaging using the Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science databases (January 2002-August 2013). The two authors independently extracted data regarding type of specialty, purpose, and study design of publications. RESULTS: In total, 235 articles were identified. The majority of studies were case reports or noncomparative product validation studies. The greatest volume of publications originated in the fields of radiology (21%), dermatology (15%), laboratory techniques (15%), and plastic surgery (12%). Among these studies, m-health was used as diagnostic aids, for patient monitoring, and to improve communication between health practitioners. With the growing use of mobile phones for medical imaging, considerations need to be given to informed consent, privacy, image storage and transfer, and guidelines for healthcare workers and patients. CONCLUSIONS: There are several novel uses of mobile devices for medical imaging that show promise across a variety of areas and subspecialties of healthcare. Currently, studies are mostly exploratory in nature. To validate these devices, studies with higher methodological rigor are required.

Orbital Cellulitis of Odontogenic Origin.

Odontogenic orbital cellulitis, although uncommon, has the potential to cause severe vision loss if unsuspected and untreated. Compared to non-odontogenic bacteriology, odontogenic orbital abscesses typically feature a heavy mixed growth with anaerobic organisms. We review the literature and discuss the case of a 26-year-old male who presented with anaerobic orbital cellulitis for treatment.

iPhone applications for eye care professionals: a review of current capabilities and concerns.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively review and categorize the eye care-related iPhone(®) (Apple(®), Cupertino, CA) applications ("apps") currently available, evaluate qualified professional involvement in app development, and suggest future needs in this emerging area of mobile health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Apple iTunes(®) store was searched for iPhone eye care-themed apps using the general terms "ophthalmology," "ophthalmologist," "optometry," "optometrist," "eye care," and "ocular," in addition to terms based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's common eye conditions. Data collected from each app included publication date, target audience, category of app, estimated number of downloads, average user rating, and documented involvement of qualified professionals. RESULTS: In total, 182 apps were identified. The majority of apps lacked community user ratings and had 3,000 or fewer downloads (84% and 69%, respectively). Consistent with other medical specialties, only 37% of apps had documented qualified professional involvement in their development. When stratified by intended audience, 52% and 44% of apps designed for ophthalmologists and optometrists, respectively, had professional input, compared with 31% for non-eye care clinicians and 21% for the general public. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone apps are likely to become of increasingly greater relevance to the modern eye care professional with tremendous versatility in daily practice. However, despite the rapid emergence of eye care apps, a low level of qualified professional involvement in app development and a lack of peer review after publishing remain. There is a clear need for evidence-based principles and standards of app development to be adopted in this emerging area.

Ocular trauma in badminton: A 5-year review of badminton-related eye injury emergency department presentations.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the nature and severity of badminton-related ocular injuries in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review. A search of the medical records was conducted for patients presenting to the ED at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, with badminton-related eye injuries from June 2018 to May 2023. Data were extracted, focusing on injury mechanism, patient demographics and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 88 patients were included in the study, comprising 64 (73%) men and 24 (27%) women. The mean patient age was 36.13 years. The most common injury was hyphaema (73%), followed by commotio retinae (45%). One patient sustained a penetrating eye injury when a shuttlecock shattered the spectacles he was wearing during play. Medical intervention was required for 90% of patients. The most common interventions were steroid eye drops (80%) and cycloplegic eyedrops (76%). A total of six (7%) patients required surgical management. For those 69 patients followed up at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, 77% of patients had a final best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6 or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Hyphaema, commotio retinae and traumatic uveitis were the most commonly diagnosed injuries. The majority of patients with badminton-related eye injuries required medical treatment, and some necessitated surgical intervention. To mitigate these risks, there is a pressing need to develop an eye safety policy for Australian badminton players, and players should exercise caution when wearing spectacles during play to prevent potential penetrating eye injuries.

Comparison of Photographic Screening Methods for Diabetic Retinopathy - A Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in both developed and developing countries. Although the merits of DR screening are well recognized, significant variations in screening practices including imaging modality still exists. PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the sensitivity and specificity of mydriatic and non-mydriatic photographic screening methods using 7-Field fundus photography or dilated fundus examination (DFE) by an ophthalmologist as reference standard. METHODS: A systematic review using PRISMA Guidelines was conducted by online search of MEDLINE, Web of Science, and other repositories of all available studies from 1990 until 2019. A total of 62 studies were included in the meta-analysis from a total of 406 suitable abstracts screened and 95 articles reviewed in full. Data were collected using a standardized extraction form independently, with all authors masked to others' search results. RESULTS: For the detection of any DR (ADR), sensitivity ranged from 81% with single field to a maximum of 99% for 4-7 fields and wide-angle images. For detection of referable DR (RDR) sensitivity ranged from 76% for single field to 93% for wide-angle photography. Specificity was lowest at 91% for wide-angle images and greatest at 99% for three field photography. Study heterogeneity was noted to be significant, which was partly attributed to the range of DR classification between studies. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of DR screening are positively associated with number of photographic fields. Pooled estimates suggest non-mydriatic two-field photography may be sufficient for screening detection of ADR and RDR.

A 20-year multicentre retrospective review of optic nerve sheath fenestration outcomes.

Background: Optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF) longitudinal outcomes remain unclear and are vital in the assessment of vision failure in patients with raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Furthermore, limited observational data exists regarding its use in other causes of raised ICP. Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of ONSF for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), and other indications. Method: Multicentre study from a tertiary hospital and specialty eye referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia, from July 2000 to December 2020. A total of 116 eyes from 70 patients undergoing ONSF were retrospectively reviewed with patient demographics, surgery indications, visual acuity (VA), visual fields, fundus photos of optic discs, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, average thickness of optic discs on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and complications recorded. Parametric tests were used to compare the treatment groups pre- and post-operatively. Results: A total of 116 eyes from 70 patients underwent ONSF, which involved 92 eyes with IIH, 9 eyes with CVST, and 15 eyes with other aetiologies ('Other'). Post ONSF, there was a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement or stabilisation in 84% of patients in all groups, with 50% achieving a BCVA of 6/6 or better at the final follow-up. RNFL, visual fields, and fundus grades all trended towards improvement, with most improvement noted by day 360. Common complications included transient diplopia (n = 29, 25%) and worsening of visual function requiring further cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures (n = 20, 17%). Complications were most significant in the 'Other' group with 1/3 of eyes requiring further CSF diversion procedures. Conclusion: Our data demonstrates effectiveness in the use of ONSF in papilloedema with visual failure due to IIH or CVST and when other CSF diversion procedures or medical therapies have failed.

Sports-related ocular injuries at a tertiary eye hospital in Australia: A 5-year retrospective descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographics and outcomes of sports-related ocular injuries in an Australian tertiary eye hospital setting. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from 2015 to 2020. Patient demographics, diagnosis and injury causation were recorded from baseline and follow-up. Outcomes included visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular injury diagnosis, investigations and management performed. RESULTS: A total of 1793 individuals (mean age 28.67 ± 15.65 years; 80.42% males and 19.58% females) presented with sports-related ocular trauma. The top three injury-causing sports were soccer (n = 327, 18.24%), Australian rules football (AFL) (n = 306, 17.07%) and basketball (n = 215, 11.99%). The top injury mechanisms were projectile (n = 976, 54.43%) and incidental body contact (n = 506, 28.22%). The most frequent diagnosis was traumatic hyphaema (n = 725). Best documented VA was ≥6/12 at baseline in 84.8% and at follow-up in 95.0% of cases. The greatest risk of globe rupture/penetration was associated with martial arts (odds ratio [OR] 16.22); orbital blow-out fracture with skiing (OR 14.42); and hyphaema with squash (OR 4.18): P < 0.05 for all. Topical steroids were the most common treatment (n = 693, 38.7%). Computed tomography orbits/facial bones were the most common investigation (n = 184, 10.3%). The mean IOP was 16.1 mmHg; 103 (5.7%) cases required topical anti-ocular hypertensives. Twenty-six individuals (1.45%) required surgery with AFL contributing the most surgical cases (n = 5, 19.23%). CONCLUSION: The top three ocular injury causing sports were soccer, AFL and basketball. The most frequent injury was traumatic hyphaema. Projectiles posed the greatest risk.

Effect of virtual reality simulation training on real-life cataract surgery complications: systematic literature review.

Virtual reality simulation (VRS) has become progressively popular as a training tool in ophthalmology. However, debate continues as to whether VRS has resulted in better outcomes for patients after cataract surgery. Accordingly, a qualitative systematic literature review was conducted to identify whether VRS training results in a reduced complication rate after real-life cataract surgery. Included studies measured the effect of VRS on real-life patient outcomes after cataract surgery. Databases searched included MEDLINE (Ovid), The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL. A total of 1917 studies were identified, of which 10 studies were included, spanning from 2011 to 2020. The studies comprised 471 ophthalmological residents, with their complication rates assessed after 30 462 cataract surgery procedures. This systematic literature review indicates that VRS seems to be most helpful in reducing the rate of posterior capsular rupture or errant curvilinear capsulorrhexis and had limited evidence in reducing the rate of other complications.

Jaundice and Haematemesis: An Unusual Presentation of Metastatic Malignant Melanoma.

An 87-year-old male presented with jaundice and haematemesis on a background of recent lethargy and a history of excessive alcohol use. The results of a computed tomography (CT) scan indicated either a cirrhotic liver with regenerative nodules or diffuse malignancy. A gastroscopy revealed an ulcerating gastric tumour. The gastric biopsy confirmed the neoplasm as metastatic malignant melanoma, and the patient passed away on the day of diagnosis from acute hepatic failure. This case is unusual as there was an atypical cause of jaundice and haematemesis, and the diagnosis of melanoma was not established until the day of the patient's death.

Intraocular pressure measurement after corneal transplantation.

Measurement of intraocular pressure is an integral part of a comprehensive ocular examination, especially after a surgical intervention that can affect aqueous humor flow dynamics. Most of the intraocular pressure measurement devices are designed for "normal" corneas and may not be accurate in eyes after corneal transplantation where there is altered corneal morphology. Raised intraocular pressure and glaucoma are known postoperative complications after transplantation, and therefore, accurate intraocular pressure measurement is essential. We review the effect of abnormal corneal curvature, corneal thickness, and different biomechanical properties in the context of corneal transplantation on intraocular pressure measurement using a number of devices.

Attitudes and perceptions of eye care workers and health administrators regarding task sharing in screening and detection for management of diabetic retinopathy in Pakistan.

PURPOSE: The shortage of ophthalmologists in many countries is a major barrier to timely provision of eye care. A team work approach to screen, detect and manage diabetic retinopathy (DR) could achieve greater screening coverage of people with diabetes to prevent vision loss. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions of eye care workers and health administrators regarding task sharing for management of DR. METHODS: Using purposive sampling, 121 eye and health care workers in five selected hospitals in two provinces in Pakistan were recruited. A cross-sectional survey explored the possibility for involvement of optometrists and mid-level eye care workers to share tasks with ophthalmologists for DR management and the potential outcomes of task sharing, through multiple choice and open-ended questions. RESULTS: Ninety-six (79%) participants-doctors (n = 56), optometrists (n = 29) and mid-level eye care workers (n = 11) responded to the survey. All participants supported task sharing in screening and detection for management of DR. There was no significant difference among the groups with respect to their positive attitude towards task sharing (p = 0.22). The majority in each group believed that the task sharing would not degrade the quality of care (p = 0.48). Two potential major outcomes of task sharing in the eye care system included the benefits for people with diabetes and potential DR and the strengthening of the health care system. CONCLUSION: Task sharing among various cadres of eye care workers has the potential to improve screening coverage of people with diabetes to prevent visual loss from DR.

Roles of the eye care workforce for task sharing in management of diabetic retinopathy in Cambodia.

AIM: To identify the current roles of eye and health care workers in eye care delivery and investigate their potential roles in screening and detection for management of diabetic retinopathy (DR) through task sharing. METHODS: Purposive sampling of 24 participants including health administrators, members from non-government organizations and all available eye care workers in Takeo province were recruited. This cross sectional mixed method study comprised a survey and in-depth interviews. Data were collected from medical records at Caritas Takeo Eye Hospital (CTEH) and Kiri Vong District Referral Hospital Vision Centre, and a survey and interviews with participants were done to explore the potential roles for task sharing in DR management. Qualitative data were transcribed into a text program and then entered into N-Vivo (version 10) software for data management and analysis. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2012, a total of 105 178 patients were examined and 14 030 eye surgeries were performed in CTEH by three ophthalmologists supported by ophthalmic nurses in operating and eye examination for patients. Between January 2011 and September 2012, 151 patients (72 males) with retinal pathology including 125 (83%) with DR visited CTEH. In addition 170 patients with diabetes were referred to CTEH for eye examinations from Mo Po Tsyo screening programs for people with diabetes. Factors favouring task sharing included high demand for eye care services and scarcity of ophthalmologists. CONCLUSION: Task sharing and team work for eye care services is functional. Participants favor the potential role of ophthalmic nurses in screening for DR through task sharing.