Evaluating Turkish Readability and Quality of Strabismus-Related Websites.

Background This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the readability of strabismus-related websites and the quality of their content. Methodology This cross-sectional study evaluated the websites on strabismus disease using Atesman and Bezirci-Yilmaz's readability formulas, which have been scientifically verified to be effective for Turkish people. The study picked texts from the first 50 websites that appeared on the screen after typing "strabismus treatment" into the Google search engine based on their Turkish reading level and information reliability. In this study, 41 of the first 50 websites were reviewed. Furthermore, two separate senior ophthalmologists evaluated the JAMA and DISCERN indexes, as well as the credibility of the content on these sites. Results The Bezirci-Yilmaz readability index indicated that the websites were readable for individuals with an average education level of 10.5 ± 2.3 years. The websites scored an average of 55.2 ± 7.9 on the Atesman readability formula, indicating that they were readable for students in the 11-12th grade. The websites had an average JAMA score of 0.8 ± 0.7 points and a DISCERN score of 34.2 ± 8.6 points, indicating low-quality content. Conclusions The readability of websites providing information regarding strabismus was significantly higher than Turkey's average educational level. Websites should not only be designed to be easy to read so that strabismus patients may learn about their condition but should also provide higher-quality strabismus content.

Long-term Outcomes of Submacular Perfluorocarbon Liquid Removal with Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling and Transretinal Aspiration.

BACKGROUND: An important complication associated with perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) use during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is its retention in the submacular area. The aim of this study was to present the long-term outcomes of the surgical method used in this study to remove submacular PFCL and to shed light on the advantages and disadvantages compared to other methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, single-center, observational study. Patients who underwent surgical intervention due to submacular PFCL were included in this study. The surgical procedural includes internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, transretinal aspiration of submacular PCFL with a 25/27-gauge soft-tipped cannula, then perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade, and facedown positioning for 5 days. The long-term anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated with an ophthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT). OUTCOMES: A total of 15 patients with submacular PFCL were included in this study, and the mean age of the patients was 64.33 ± 10.36 years (47 - 83). The localization of submacular PFCL was subfoveal in nine patients (60.00%), non-subfoveal in four patients (26.67%), and both subfoveal and non-subfoveal in two patients (13.33%). The mean time of submacular PFCL diagnosis was 4.86 ± 1.02 weeks (2 - 8) and the mean time of the surgery was 9.80 ± 1.17 weeks (8 - 14). Complete removal of submacular PFCL was achieved in all cases (100%) and no significant treatment-associated complications were observed. The mean follow-up time was 37.60 ± 14.00 months (18 - 60) and the best-corrected visual acuity was significantly improved (p = 0.001). At the end of the follow-up time, prominent ellipsoid zone disruption was observed in six patients (40.00%), while in nine patients (60.00%), there was no prominent ellipsoid zone disruption. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical procedural for submacular PFCL removal is a reasonable option and improves visual acuity in the long term without any significant treatment-associated complications.

Treatment of neovascular age related macular degeneration during COVID-19 pandemic: The short term consequences of unintended lapses.

AIM: To investigate the short-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic related unintended treatment lapses on neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 140 patients who had at least one anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection for nAMD within 12 months before COVID-19 pandemic and who had at least 3 months of unintended lapse for control visits during pandemic were recruited and underwent a detailed opthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography imaging. RESULTS: Of these 140 eyes, 113 (80.7%) were active with presence of either intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid and necessitated intravitreal anti-VEGF injections; and 20 (14.3%) of them complicated with subretinal hemorrhage. The mean interval of clinical visits and intravitreal antiVEGF injections were found to be prolonged during COVID-19 pandemics, which demonstrates a statistically significant lapse for both (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003 consecutively). The decreased visual acuity due to lapse was positively correlated with number of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at last 6 months before COVID-19 pandemic (r = 0.217, p = 0.010) and central subfoveal thickness at first post-COVID-19 visit (r = 0.175, p = 0.038); and negatively correlated with follow-up duration (r = -0.231, p = 0.006) and number of control visits (r = -0.243, p = 0.004). Fifteen (16.9%) of the 89 patients who had drusen in the fellow eye before COVID-19 pandemic evolved to nAMD with an accompanying subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid. CONCLUSION: Unintended lapses during COVID-19 pandemic resulted with poor functional and structural outcomes for nAMD patients, especially for those at the beginning of the treatment period and who still have an unstable clinical course.