Exploring the health and ocular hazards of gadget usage in optometry students after COVID-19 lockdown: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged screen time and abnormal postures can cause backache, neck pain, headache, and finger pain. Studies have shown that excessive usage of gadgets has increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, causing health and ocular hazards. This study used qualitative research methods to understand the health and ocular effects of gadget usage following the COVID-19 postlockdown in optometry students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative study using a semi-structured face-to-face interview was conducted for undergraduate and postgraduate students in different optometry institutes who underwent at least 3 months of online teaching learning during the pandemic after obtaining informed consent. The interviews were conducted online; the sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Thematic analyses were conducted to understand the challenges faced. RESULTS: Twenty participants were interviewed, of which 70% (n = 14) were females. Thematic analysis identified seven major themes: gadget usage (frequency of usage, type of device, and time spent), challenges during online classes (comprehension, distraction, and network issues), ocular effects (asthenopic symptoms and ocular symptoms), health effects (musculoskeletal disorders), ways to relieve symptoms, recreational activities (breaks and entertainment), and environment and ergonomics (posture and study area and preferred lighting). All the participants reported ocular/health-related symptoms, including eye strain, burning sensation, headache, back pain, finger pain, and neck pain post the lockdown period due to prolonged gadget usage and poor ergonomic postures. CONCLUSIONS: Given the significant increase in digital usage following the pandemic, the study's findings are currently relevant. The prolonged usage of gadgets and poor ergonomic postures have led to ocular and musculoskeletal problems among optometry students. To improve gadget usage without any health-related consequences, students should have access to information regarding ergonomics, increasing the blink rate, and taking regular digital breaks.

Exploring the impact of optical corrections on visual functions in myopia control-a scoping review.

PURPOSE: Myopia is controlled optically with peripheral defocus spectacles, multifocal contact lenses, or orthokeratology lenses. However, it is unknown which optical correction will improve visual performance. This scoping review aimed to identify and summarize studies on various visual functions using optical corrections for myopia control. METHODS: To develop the search strategy, population (Myopia), concept (visual performance), and context (unrestricted race/region) were used. PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched using the keywords myopia, contrast sensitivity, high and low contrast visual acuity, stereopsis, and optical correction of myopia control. This scoping review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework registry and followed the framework for scoping review outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: Eight studies (n = 8) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Four were conducted in Europe, two were conducted in China, and one was conducted in Japan and Singapore. Five studies were randomized controlled trials, out of which three used contact lenses and two studies used peripheral defocus spectacles lenses. Studies ranged from one day to 2 years. Three studies that used orthokeratology lenses were prospective study designs. Among the studies that used orthokeratology lenses and contact lenses, two studies measured the contrast sensitivity function with CSV1000 (Vector Vision) under mesopic and photopic conditions, with and without glare. Two studies measured the central and peripheral contrast sensitivity using psychophysics experiments. High and low contrast visual acuity was measured using the Freiburg Vision Test (n = 1) and ETDRS charts (n = 3), and stereopsis was assessed using a random dot stereogram (n = 1). The studies showed a reduction in central and peripheral contrast sensitivity function and low contrast acuity when treated with multifocal contact lenses, orthokeratology lenses, and peripheral defocus lenses compared with single-vision lenses. CONCLUSION: This scoping review found a reduction in central and peripheral contrast sensitivity function, as well as low contrast visual acuity when using various optical corrections for myopia control, while high-contrast visual acuity remained the same. The impact of visual functions may not influence the effectiveness of myopia control. Eye care practitioners should provide awareness to the parent and patient population about the potential visual impact of recent designs for optical corrections of myopia control.

Role of microperimetry in evaluating disease progression in age-related macular degeneration: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: Recent research has found variable evidence on the role of mesopic and dark-adapted scotopic microperimetry assessment in age-related macular degeneration. This scoping review summarises how mesopic and scotopic microperimetry can be used to assess disease progression in age-related macular degeneration and identifies gaps in the literature. METHODS: A population, concept, and context approach was used to develop the search strategy. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were used to conduct the literature search. The key search terms used in the databases were age-related macular degeneration and microperimetry. RESULTS: Twelve studies were eligible and included in the review. All the studies (n = 12) were conducted in European countries [Germany (9), Italy (2), and the United Kingdom (1)]. The mesopic and scotopic sensitivities were measured using the Nidek scotopic microperimeter (MP1-S) (n = 6), scotopic Macular Integrity Assessment device (S-MAIA) (n = 5), and both MP1-s and S MAIA (n = 1). 83.3% (n = 10) studied (cross-sectional design) on mesopic, scotopic microperimetry and found reduced rod (scotopic) photoreceptors sensitivities compared to cone (mesopic) photoreceptors sensitivities in patients with small and reticular pseudodrusen despite having good visual acuity. Only 16.7% (n = 2) of studies followed participants with reticular drusen/large drusen for three years (longitudinal design) and found reduced scotopic over mesopic sensitivity at baseline and localized mesopic with profound scotopic sensitivity loss during follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Scotopic sensitivity is a better functional indicator than mesopic sensitivity to understand early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration progression. The evidence from longitudinal studies is debatable due to the limited stimuli range of existing microperimeters, smaller sample size, and lost follow-ups.

Impact of living with a bilateral central vision loss due to geographic atrophy-qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Geographic atrophy (GA), a type of dry age-related macular degeneration, affects vision as central vision loss (CVL). The challenges faced due to bilateral CVL in activities of daily living and strategies taken to overcome those challenges are not very well understood in the Indian population. This qualitative study aims to understand the impact on everyday life activities and related adaptive and coping strategies in people with long-standing bilateral CVL due to GA in India. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, SETTING AND METHODS: A qualitative study using a semistructured face-to-face interview was conducted on 10 people with bilateral CVL after obtaining written informed consent. The interviews were audio-recorded, and were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was carried out to understand the challenges faced and adaptive methods due to the impact of CVL. RESULTS: Ten participants (50% male) with a median age (IQR) of 72 (70, 74) years were interviewed. All the participants had best-corrected visual acuity of ≤6/60 in the better eye and reported an absolute central scotoma with the home Amsler chart. Qualitative thematic analysis identified four main themes: challenges in everyday living (difficulty in face identification, reading), challenges with lifestyle and socialisation (driving, cooking, reading for a longer duration, watching TV, socially inactive), psychological implications (depression, poor self-esteem, fear due to poor vision) and strategies to overcome the challenges (voice identification, technology support). CONCLUSION: GA has a severe negative impact on the quality of life in people with CVL. Inability to recognise faces was the main reason for dependency on others and being socially disconnected. The findings will help clinicians in providing improved rehabilitative care.

Impact of COVID-19 on Indian optometrists: A student, educator, and practitioner's perspective.

PURPOSE: The optometry profession has experienced massive changes amid lockdown in COVID 19 pandemic. This study gauges the impact of COVID-19 on optometry education and practices in India. METHODS: The impact of COVID-19 among key stakeholders of Indian optometry that included educators, students, and practitioners was surveyed. The content validity of the survey tool was achieved through a focused group discussion with experts. RESULTS: Of the 1408 responses, 118 were educators, 845 were students and 445 were practitioners. Post COVID-19 lock-down, a high percentage of students (96%) and educators (94%) were now using online mode of education to learn and teach. The blended learning methods were reported to be used by 81% of educators. Practical skills were the most difficult to teach by educators and to learn by students. Almost a third of the students were concerned about their internships and job opportunities amid the pandemic. Practitioners felt confident in performing routine eye examinations with personal protective equipment (PPE). Telemedicine was found to be adopted by 55% of the private practitioners and 49% of the eye hospitals. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to reform Indian optometry education through blended learning methods. Optometry practices changed and adapted instantly to the new hygiene norms that have raised the standard of care provided to patients. Telemedicine emerged as a mode of providing care by optometrists. Overall, all key stakeholders of optometry in India were found to have adapted well to the sudden changes due to COVID 19 pandemic.