Anterior chamber cytokine production and postoperative macular edema in patients with diabetes undergoing FLACS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and manual cataract surgery (MCS) on proinflammatory cytokine expression in patients with diabetes vs nondiabetic patients. SETTING: Outpatient surgical center in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Patients with diabetes and nondiabetic patients undergoing noncomplicated MCS or FLACS were assigned into 4 cohorts: MCS nondiabetic (n = 30), FLACS nondiabetic (n = 42), MCS diabetic (n = 40), and FLACS diabetic (n = 40). Aqueous humor inflammatory mediator concentrations were evaluated at MCS onset and after femtosecond laser treatment. The presence of cystoid macular edema, anterior chamber (AC) inflammation, central retinal thickness, macular volume, and retinal microvascular changes (through optical coherence tomography angiography) were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative day 1, week 1, month 1 (POM1), and month 3 (POM3). RESULTS: Patients with diabetes receiving FLACS had a higher concentration of interleukin (IL)-7, IL-13, and interferon-induced protein-10 than MCS diabetic patients; they also demonstrated higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and lower levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and IFN-α2 compared with MCS nondiabetic patients. Macular volume appeared to be significantly higher in MCS diabetic vs MCS non-diabetic patients at POM1 and between FLACS diabetic vs FLACS nondiabetic patients at POM3. There were no other significant differences between the cohorts for any parameter. CONCLUSIONS: FLACS use in patients with diabetes demonstrated some differences in AC cytokine expression compared with non-diabetic FLACS or diabetic patients undergoing MCS; however, there was no increase in clinical inflammatory biomarkers. FLACS seems to be a safe technique to use in patients with diabetes.

Feasibility of an artificial intelligence phone call for postoperative care following cataract surgery in a diverse population: two phase prospective study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) development has led to improvements in many areas of medicine. Canada has workforce pressures in delivering cataract care. A potential solution is using AI technology that can automate care delivery, increase effectiveness and decrease burdens placed on patients and the healthcare system. This study assesses the use of 'Dora', an example of an AI assistant that is able to deliver a regulated autonomous, voice-based, natural-language consultation with patients over the telephone. Dora is used in routine practice in the UK, but this study seeks to assess the safety, usability, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of using the technology in Canada. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a two-phase prospective single-centred trial. An expected 250 patients will be recruited for each phase of the study. For Phase I of the study, Dora will phone patients at postoperative week 1 and for Phase II of the study, Dora will phone patients within 24hours of their cataract surgery and again at postoperative week 1. We will evaluate the agreement between Dora and a supervising clinician regarding the need for further review based on the patients' symptoms. A random sample of patients will undergo the System Usability Scale followed by an extended semi-structured interview. The primary outcome of agreement between Dora and the supervisor will be assessed using the kappa statistic. Qualitative data from the interviews will further gauge patient opinions about Dora's usability, appropriateness and level of satisfaction. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Research Ethics Board William Osler Health System (ID: 22-0044) has approved this study and will be conducted by guidelines of Declaration of Helsinki. Master-linking sheet will contain the patient chart identification (ID), full name, date of birth and study ID. Results will be shared through peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.

Diagnostic utility of point-of-care ultrasound and optical coherence tomography for papilloedema in children: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Papilloedema is an important sign of serious neurological disease, but it can be difficult to detect on funduscopy. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detecting papilloedema in children. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study at a tertiary care paediatric hospital. Patients were eligible for the study if they underwent a lumbar puncture with opening pressure and had high-quality POCUS and OCT imaging. RESULTS: A total of 63 eyes from 32 patients were included in the study, 41 (65%) with papilloedema and 22 (35%) without. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in the optic disc elevation (ODE) (p<0.001) and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) (p<0.001) on POCUS, and in the average retinal nerve fibre layer (rNFL) thickness on OCT (p<0.001). Average rNFL thickness had the highest diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.999 and a 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity for papilloedema (threshold value of ≥108 µm). ODE had an AUC of 0.866 and a 93% sensitivity and 55% specificity (threshold value of ≥0.5 mm). ONSD had an AUC of 0.786 and a 93% sensitivity and 45% specificity (threshold value of ≥5.5 mm). CONCLUSION: Both OCT and POCUS are potentially useful tools to help diagnose papilloedema in children. Larger studies are needed to further define the role and accuracy of POCUS and OCT in assessing papilloedema in children.

Comparison of pain perception in patients undergoing manual cataract surgery versus refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To assess pain perception in patients undergoing manual cataract surgery versus femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and pain perception of patients receiving anaesthesia at 2 different time points during the FLACS procedure. We also aimed to assess the factors affecting pain perception in these different study groups. DESIGN: Prospective cohort comparison of patient-selected surgical approach. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery at an ambulatory surgical centre in Ontario. METHODS: Patients were assigned to 3 groups: a manual cataract surgery cohort (n = 30) and 2 FLACS cohorts, those who received neurolept anaesthesia just prior to draping for phacoemulsification (FLACS standard cohort; n = 38) and those who received neurolept anaesthesia prior to the femtosecond laser part of the procedure (FLACS early cohort; n = 35). Outcome metrics included pain scores on the visual analogue scale on postoperative day 0 and at postoperative week 1. Secondary outcome measures included anxiety scores, surgeon or anaesthesiologist patient cooperation scores, ocular metrics, and perioperative systemic vitals. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in pain perception on postoperative day 0 and at postoperative week 1 among the manual cataract surgery and FLACS standard cohorts (p = 0.94 and p = 0.72, respectively) or FLACS early and FLACS standard cohorts (p = 0.76 and p = 0.67, respectively). Patients had higher pain scores during second-eye procedures than first-eye procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery technique or timing of anaesthesia for FLACS procedures does not affect pain perception postoperatively. Second-eye procedures are associated with higher pain scores than first-eye procedures.

Visual outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension in children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical characteristics and long-term visual outcomes in a cohort of children with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). DESIGN: Retrospective, observational cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive children who met the diagnostic criteria for definite IIH at a tertiary care pediatric hospital between 2009 and 2020. METHODS: The charts of pediatric patients with IIH were reviewed. The main outcome measure was long-term visual impairment, with an analysis of clinical features by age and risk factors for a poor visual outcome. RESULTS: There were 110 children (75 females) with IIH. At presentation, younger children with IIH were less likely to present with headaches (p = 0.01) and more likely to be asymptomatic (p = 0.03). There was a strong association with female sex (p < 0.001) and higher body mass index (p < 0.001) in adolescents in comparison to younger children. Of the 90 patients with long-term visual outcome data, only 8 (9%) had evidence of mild visual impairment (1 loss of visual acuity, 7 loss of visual field) with no cases of severe visual impairment. On risk factor analysis, the only variable associated with a poor visual outcome was greater severity of papilledema at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series of pediatric IIH, the long-term visual outcomes were favourable, with evidence of mild visual impairment in less than 10% of patients.

Comparison of Barrett Toric Calculations Using Measured and Predicted Posterior Corneal Astigmatism in Cataract Surgery Patients.

Aim: To compare residual astigmatism prediction errors across Barrett toric calculations using predicted posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) and PCA measured using the IOL Master 700 with total keratometry (IOLM). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken on patients with corneal astigmatism and no other ocular comorbidities that underwent uneventful refractive femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with toric IOL implantation between May 2019 and November 2019. Toric calculations were performed using the Barrett toric calculator and the following values: predicted PCA with anterior corneal measurements from Pentacam, IOLM standard keratometry (SK), OPD scan, and median measurements from these devices; predicted PCA with IOLM total keratometry (TK); and measured PCA with IOLM SK or IOLM TK. Residual astigmatism prediction error was calculated for each device and method of calculation at postoperative month 1 and 3 using the astigmatism double angle plot tool. Results: A total of 24 eyes, 10 with-the-rule (WTR), 10 against-the-rule (ATR) and 4 oblique astigmatism, from 24 patients were included in this study. PCA ranged from 0.00 to 0.67 D with a mean of 0.24 ± 0.15 D in all eyes. PCA was significantly greater in WTR eyes (0.32 D) compared to ATR eyes (0.16 D; p < 0.05). In ATR eyes, calculations made using IOLM SK and measured PCA had significantly lower total corneal astigmatism and toric IOL cylinder power compared to calculations made using Pentacam and IOLM TK (p < 0.05). No significant difference in mean absolute or centroid residual astigmatism prediction error was observed across devices or calculation methods. The percentage of eyes with absolute astigmatism prediction errors ≤0.5 D was not significantly different across groups. Conclusion: Barrett toric calculations using predicted PCA and PCA measured using IOLM produced comparable residual astigmatism prediction errors. The incorporation of median measurements did not significantly impact calculation accuracy.

Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Drops for Evaporative Dry Eye Disease from Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) drops for evaporative dry eye (EDE) disease from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: This is a retrospective, consecutive case series of 20 eyes of 10 patients with EDE from MGD treated with PRP drops from November 2020 to November 2021 at a single outpatient clinic in Ontario, Canada. PRP drops were prepared from whole blood using a two-step centrifugation method. Patients were instructed to instill these drops six times daily for 4 weeks. The Canadian Dry Eye Assessment (CDEA) questionnaire score, patient subjective assessment (PSA) score, first and average non-invasive break-up times (f/a NIBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), bulbar redness (BR), and meibograph grade (MG) were measured before and after the treatment course. Results: Significant improvements in dry eye symptoms and tear film parameters were observed. Dry eye symptoms significantly improved as per the CDEA (mean difference (MD) = -5.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [-7.9, -3.1], p<0.001) and PSA (MD = -2.6, 95% CI = [-3.9, -1.2], p<0.001). There were significant improvements in tear film parameters including fNIBUT (MD = 3.85s, 95% CI = [1.2, 6.8], p=0.006), aNIBUT (MD = -6.81s, 95% CI = [5.7, 11.1], p<0.001) and TMH (MD = 0.08, 95% CI = [0.003, 0.2], p=0.045). There was an improvement in conjunctival injection as measured by BR (MD = -0.36, 95% CI = [-0.4, -0.15], p=0.373). Five eyes experienced a one-grade improvement in MG (p=0.453), and none experienced worsening in MG with treatment. No temporary or permanent adverse effects were noted. Conclusion: Four weeks of PRP therapy resulted in significant functional improvements in dry eye symptoms and tear film quality and quantity. Improvements in conjunctival injection and microstructural improvements in meibomian glands were also observed in some eyes. Overall, PRP is a promising treatment option for patients with EDE from MGD refractory to conventional treatments.

University of Toronto's redesigned ophthalmology curriculum and eye dissection lab.

OBJECTIVE: To present a multifaceted approach to ophthalmology undergraduate medical education and to assess the efficacy of an eye dissection laboratory in enhancing medical student learning. DESIGN: Curriculum review, validation, and student feedback evaluations. PARTICIPANTS: Year 2 medical students enrolled in the University of Toronto's Doctor of Medicine Program. METHODS: Student feedback evaluations were compiled from the University of Toronto undergraduate medical education student surveys before 2012-2016 and following introduction of the redesigned foundations ophthalmology curriculum at the University of Toronto (2017-2018). Students who participated in the Eye Dissection Lab as part of the newly designed curriculum completed the pre- and postsession satisfaction and overall interest in ophthalmology questionnaires and a knowledge-based test. RESULTS: Analysis of 1640 student evaluations demonstrated an increase in ophthalmology curriculum rating following the launch of the foundations ophthalmology curriculum (p = 0.015). Among the 335 students who completed the eye dissection lab, there was a significant increase in the average scores for the satisfaction questionnaire, knowledge-based test, and level of interest in the field of ophthalmology from before and after the session, with improvements in scores noted in 91%, 42%, and 36% of the educational parameters of the participants, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The newly designed foundations ophthalmology curriculum and the eye dissection lab at the University of Toronto serve as effective means for enhancing ophthalmology teaching in medical schools across Canada.

Utility of spectral domain OCT in differentiating optic disc drusen from papilledema in children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in differentiating optic disc drusen (ODD) from papilledema in children. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children with high-quality OCT imaging of ODD or papilledema. METHODS: Quantitative OCT parameters and qualitative OCT features were compared for diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: There were 41 eyes with ODD and 21 eyes with papilledema. Both the quantitative and qualitative OCT parameters showed highly statistically significant differences between ODD and papilledema (p ≤ 0.01 for all). For quantitative parameters (Bruch's membrane opening and retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses), the area under the curve from the receiver operator curves ranged from 0.81 to 0.90. For qualitative parameters, the sensitivity for ODD ranged from 27% to 100% and specificity ranged from 67% to 100%. The presence of at least 1 of 3 qualitative OCT parameters (hyporeflective boot-shaped area, isolated/clustered hyperreflective bands, or signal-poor regions in the core) had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 100% for ODD. CONCLUSIONS: Both quantitative and qualitative OCT parameters differed significantly between ODD and papilledema in this cohort of children. A combination of several qualitative OCT features had high sensitivity for ODD while effectively ruling out papilledema.

Safety and Efficacy of BroadBand Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Dry Eye Disease with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: BroadBand light intense pulsed light (BBL-IPL) therapy has shown to reduce hordeolum and blepharitis frequency. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BBL-IPL therapy in patients with dry eye disease (DED) from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: This is a retrospective, consecutive case series of 48 patients with DED from MGD who underwent BBL-IPL therapy from October 2016 to January 2019 at a single, outpatient clinic in Ontario, Canada. Clinical outcomes included first and average non-invasive keratograph tear break-up times (NIKBUT), bulbar redness (BR) scores, tear meniscus heights (TMH), visual acuity (VA) and meibograph grades. Patient-reported outcomes included the Canadian dry eye assessment (CDEA) questionnaire and patient subjective assessment (PSA) scores. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after completion of 4 monthly BBL-IPL sessions. RESULTS: The mean severity of dry eye symptoms as measured by the CDEA and PSA decreased significantly from 19.78 ± 9.62 to 12.08 ± 7.40 (p<0.001) and from 7.65 ± 1.74 to 4.77 ± 2.03 (p<0.001), respectively. Twenty-five percent of patients reported no dry eye symptoms after treatment. The meibograph grade improved significantly in both eyes (p<0.001). Approximately 71.0% and 80.1% of patients had an improved meibograph grade in the right and left eye, respectively. Near-significant improvements were observed for BR scores and VA. There was also a trend towards improved first/average NIKBUT and TMH scores. No adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION: BBL-IPL appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality in improving dry eye symptoms and meibomian gland function in patients with DED from MGD.

Multicentre study on factors affecting the gynaecologic oncology career choice of canadian residents in obstetrics and gynaecology.

INTRODUCTION: The provision of optimal care for women with gynaecologic cancer may be threatened due to the changing demographics of patients and the projected increasing shortage of gynaecologic oncologists in Canada. We evaluated the career plans of Canadian residents in obstetrics and gynaecology to determine the proportion of residents currently considering a career in gynaecologic oncology (GO) and to explore factors that may affect their career decisions. METHODS: Following institutional ethics approval, all residents at 13 participating Canadian obstetrics and gynaecology residency training programs were contacted by email to complete a 20-item confidential questionnaire examining career plans. Quantitative data were analyzed using SAS v9.1. Qualitative data were coded by theme and grouped into various domains. RESULTS: Of 293 residents, 105 (36%) participated. More than half of these were considering at least one obstetrics and gynaecology subspecialty, but 53% indicated that their most appealing career path was general obstetrics and gynaecology. Although 50% of residents had ever considered a career in GO, only 17% were considering a GO career at the time of the survey. When rated as positive influences, medical school exposure, resident exposure, role models within GO, colleagues, other health care professionals, "my individual life circumstances," "my personal attributes," the clinical, research, and educational components of GO, the GO patient population, and relation with gynaecologic oncologists and other specialists were significant predictors of current GO interest. Themes that emerged from qualitative analysis revealed that the clinical, professional, and research domains were predominant influences among residents currently considering a career in GO. CONCLUSIONS: GO is an infrequent career choice for Canadian residents in obstetrics and gynaecology, and a number of factors significantly affect GO career decisions. Modifying factors such as educational experiences, work environment, and current practice models may lead to improved recruitment to the subspecialty, which is crucial for meeting the future needs of women with gynaecologic malignancies in Canada.

The risk of a serious etiology in pediatric Horner syndrome: indications for a workup and which investigations to perform.

PURPOSE: To report the risk of a serious etiology in a cohort of children with Horner syndrome without a known cause at presentation. METHODS: The medical records of children (<18 years of age) with Horner syndrome of unknown etiology at presentation who underwent a workup at a single tertiary-care pediatric hospital over a 20-year period were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients with Horner syndrome were included. Median age at diagnosis was 12 months (range, 1 month to 17 years). A serious etiology was discovered in 7 (15%): neuroblastoma in 5, nasopharyngeal carcinoma in 1, and desmoid tumor in 1. Other causes were congenital/idiopathic (27 [56%]), acquired/idiopathic (10 [21%]), and likely birth trauma (4 [8%]). In 3 patients with a serious etiology, there were significant clinical manifestations of the pathology in addition to Horner syndrome. In the other 4 cases with a serious etiology (all neuroblastoma), the patients presented with Horner syndrome in isolation, and the tumor was discovered during a routine workup. All 5 neuroblastoma cases presented before 5 years of age; urine catecholamines were elevated in 4 of the 5. Imaging revealed mass lesions in the neck or upper chest in all 7 cases with a serious etiology. CONCLUSIONS: In children presenting with Horner syndrome of unknown cause, there is a small but nontrivial risk of a serious underlying etiology. When a young child presents with Horner syndrome in isolation, urine catecholamine testing and imaging of the oculosympathetic pathway are recommended to rule out neuroblastoma.

Astigmatic Outcomes of Single, Non-Paired Intrastromal Limbal Relaxing Incisions During Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery Based on a Custom Nomogram.

PURPOSE: To determine astigmatic changes of intrastromal limbal-relaxing incisions (LRIs) performed during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing FLACS with adjunctive astigmatism management with intrastromal LRIs were included. All eyes had preoperative corneal cylinder (Kcyl) ≥0.20 D on ocular biometry. An intrastromal LRI nomogram of single, non-paired LRIs placed at the 9 mm optical zone was used. Keratometry was measured preoperatively, and postoperatively at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months (POM3). Alpins astigmatism analysis was used to calculate target-induced astigmatism (TIA, equivalent to preoperative Kcyl), surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), difference vectors (DV), and correction indices (CI). Secondary analysis included multivariable binary logistic regression to determine clinical factors associated with corrections >125% (CI > 1.25). RESULTS: A total of 154 eyes (125 patients) were studied. Mean preoperative Kcyl was 0.87±0.42 D (SD), which did not significantly differ from POM3 Kcyl (0.87±0.51 D, p=0.470). Only the against-the-rule (ATR) subgroup demonstrated a small but significant reduction in Kcyl from preoperative (0.96±0.51D) to POM3 (0.89±0.55D, p=0.032). Sixteen eyes (10.4%) had Kcyl ≤0.5 D preoperatively, compared to 46 eyes (29.9%) at POM3 (p<0.0001). Mean SIA was 0.80±0.52 D. Mean DV was 0.85±0.47. Mean CI was 0.79. Fifty-one eyes (33%) had astigmatism correction >125%. On multivariable regression analysis, ATR astigmatism class (p=0.026) and lower arc lengths (30º) (p=0.005) were associated with correction >125%. Lower preoperative corneal astigmatism was inversely correlated with CI (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although intrastromal LRIs can be conveniently performed during FLACS and appear safe, only patients with ATR astigmatism demonstrated a significant reduction in corneal astigmatism 3-months postoperatively under the current nomogram. Areas for future refinements to the nomogram were identified.

Visual outcomes after treatment in pediatric patients with Coats' disease.

OBJECTIVE: To report visual outcomes for children with Coats' disease after treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients with Coats' disease treated between 2000 and 2018 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. METHODS: Review of medical records. The primary outcome was visual acuity at final follow-up. Anatomical outcomes, retreatment, and risk factors for a poor outcome were also assessed. RESULTS: There were 30 patients with Coats' disease. All cases were unilateral, and 28 (93%) were male. At presentation, 14 (47%) had stage 2 disease (retinal exudates) and 16 (53%) had stage 3 disease (subtotal or total exudative retinal detachment). All patients underwent laser photocoagulation and (or) cryopexy as primary treatment, combined with antivascular endothelial growth factor injection in 7 patients, posterior sclerotomy in 5 patients, and pars plana vitrectomy in 1 patient. Retreatment was required in 16 (53%) patients. After a median follow-up of 3.8 years, visual acuity was 20/50 or better in 6 patients (20%), 20/60 to 20/150 in 3 (10%), 20/200 to counting fingers in 8 (23%), and hand motion or worse in 14 (47%). Greater severity of disease at presentation was significantly associated with a poor visual outcome (p = 0.0001). In terms of complications, 7 (23%) eyes developed cataracts and 2 (7%) progressed to phthisis bulbi, but no patients required enucleation. CONCLUSIONS: The visual prognosis for children with Coats' disease remains poor, particularly in patients with more severe disease at presentation. The risk of severe complications and enucleation is low after treatment.

Long-term visual and anatomic outcomes following early surgery for persistent fetal vasculature: a single-center, 20-year review.

BACKGROUND: Persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) is a spectrum of congenital anomalies caused by complete or partial failure of the ocular fetal vasculature to regress. We report the visual and anatomic outcomes in a large cohort of patients who underwent early surgery for PFV. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent lensectomy and anterior or core vitrectomy for unilateral PFV without primary intraocular lens implantation through limbal or pars plana/plicata approach. Inclusion criteria were surgery prior to 7 months of age, with at least 12 months of follow-up. Eyes with severe posterior segment involvement and retinal detachment deemed beyond repair were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age at surgery was 2.1 ± 1.5 months. Mean follow-up was 6.7 ± 4.2 years. At final follow-up, 19 eyes (33%) had visual acuity better than 1.0 logMAR. Thirty-three eyes (57%) developed 1 or more postoperative adverse events: glaucoma in 21 (36%) and retinal detachment in 11 (19%), 8 of which occurred in eyes that had pars plana or pars plicata incisions (P = 0.002). In patients with limbal incisions, 17 of 40 (43%) achieved a visual acuity better than 1.0 logMAR, compared with 2 of 18 patients (11%) with a pars plana/pars plicata incision (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In our study cohort, early surgery for PFV achieved functional visual acuity in about one-third of patients. Limbal approach to surgery may result in better visual acuity and anatomic results.

Breaking down barriers to communicating complex retinoblastoma information: can graphics be the solution?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of a graphical timeline summarizing bilateral retinoblastoma disease and treatment outcomes on parents' understanding of complex medical information. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children with retinoblastoma who were being actively managed at The Hospital for Sick Children were recruited. Forty-five parents from 42 families participated. METHODS: After a standardized presentation on retinoblastoma and visual tool named Disease-Specific electronic Patient Illustrated Clinical Timeline (DePICT), parents completed a 19-item questionnaire designed to assess their understanding of treatment choices for 2 eyes in bilateral retinoblastoma as communicated using DePICT. SPSS was used to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: Forty-five parents from 42 families participated (65% female). Median age of participants was 34 years. Median level of participant education was completion of college/trade school. The median level of annual income was $40,000 to $70,000 CDN. Median time since diagnosis of retinoblastoma in their child was 13.5 months. Twenty-three (51%) participants were parents of children with unilateral retinoblastoma, and 22 (49%) were parents of children with bilateral retinoblastoma. Median number of correct answers was 15 of 19, and mean score was 77%. Normal distribution of scores was noted. English as a first language was significantly associated with score (p = 0.01). No significant association was observed between other variables and score in all analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study builds on the validation of DePICT by demonstrating that parents can achieve good comprehension even when considering choices for treatment for 2 eyes with bilateral retinoblastoma. Clinical application of this tool can enhance the consent process.