Simulation-based training for intraoperative posterior capsule rupture management: an analysis of nontechnical skills development and the relationship between technical and nontechnical skills.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse development of individual nontechnical skills (NTS) domains after undertaking a previously developed simulation-based training model and analyse the relationship between technical skills (TS) and NTS in ophthalmic surgery. METHODS: The simulation-based training model involved a cataract surgery case complicated by intraoperative posterior capsule rupture. Cataract surgeons underwent the simulation twice, separated by a training intervention. Two blinded independent experts assessed participants' NTS using HUFOES, NOn-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS), and the OSATS global rating scale for TS. Paired t-tests assessed differences in individual NTS domains, with p < 0.05 indicating significance. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to assess the correlation between scores from each scoring system. RESULTS: All NTS domains within HUFOES and NOTSS demonstrated statistically significant improvements secondary to the training intervention. Positive correlations were demonstrated between HUFOES and OSATS scores in the pre- and post-training simulations, r = 0.870 (p < 0.001) and r = 0.861 (p < 0.001), respectively. Positive correlations were also demonstrated between NOTSS and OSATS scores in pre- and post-training simulations, r = 0.849 (p < 0.001) and r = 0.757 (p = 0.001), respectively. Positive correlations were demonstrated between HUFOES and NOTSS scores; r = 0.979 (p < 0.001) (n = 17) and r = 0.959 (p < 0.001) for pre- and post-training simulations, respectively. CONCLUSION: All NTS domains contained within HUFOES and NOTSS demonstrated significant increases following the completion of the simulation-based training model. Positive correlations exist between an ophthalmic surgeon's TS and NTS. This is the first study to report these findings within ophthalmic surgery.

Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy-Review.

The type and nature of refractive surgery procedures has greatly increased over the past few decades, allowing for almost all patient populations to be treated to extremely high satisfaction. Conventional photorefractive keratectomy involves the removal of the corneal epithelium through mechanical debridement or dilute alcohol instillation. An improvement to this method utilises laser epithelial removal in a single-step process termed transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (transPRK). We explore the history of transPRK from its early adoption as a two-step process, identify different transPRK platforms from major manufacturers, and describe the role of transPRK in the refractive surgery armamentarium. This is a narrative review of the literature. This review finds that TransPRK is a safe and effective procedure that works across a variety of patient populations. Though often not seen as a primary treatment option when compared to other corneal-based procedures that offer a faster and more comfortable recovery, there are many scenarios in which these procedures are not possible. These include, but are not limited to, cases of corneal instability, previous refractive surgery, or transplant where higher-order aberrations can impair vision in a manner not amenable to spectacle or contact lens correction. We discuss refinements to the procedure that would help improve outcomes, including optimising patient discomfort after surgery as well as reducing corneal haze and refractive regression.

Visual outcomes and patient satisfaction after bilateral implantation of an enhanced monofocal intraocular lens: a single-masked prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the visual outcomes of an enhanced monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) with two different monofocal IOLs. SETTING: Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. DESIGN: Prospective, single-center, single-masked, randomized controlled clinical study. METHODS: The study included patients undergoing phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. Patients were consecutively randomized by block randomization and assigned in a 1:1:1 allocation ratio to three study arms to bilaterally receive Tecnis Eyhance™ (model ICB00) or Tecnis® monofocal 1-piece (model PCB00) or Clareon® monofocal (model CNA0T0), respectively. Monocular and binocular (both corrected and uncorrected) visual acuities for far, intermediate and near were registered and compared among groups at 3 months. To track changes in patient quality of life, the Catquest-9SF questionnaire was administered to each patient before and after cataract extraction. RESULTS: Ninety patients (30 for each group) were enrolled. At 3 months follow-up, statistically significant differences for intermediate visual acuities were found between the three groups. Nonstatistically significant differences were observed for distance visual acuities and the changes in Catquest-9SF scores. CONCLUSION: Tecnis Eyhance™ provided better results in intermediate visual outcomes without adverse effects on patients' quality of life.

Toric Intraocular Lens versus Peripheral Corneal Relaxing Incisions for Astigmatism between 0.75 and 2.5 Diopters: 5-Years Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To compare 5-year outcomes of toric intraocular lens (tIOL) or peripheral corneal relaxing incision (PCRI) for correction of keratometric astigmatism (KA) between 0.75 and 2.5 diopters (D). METHODS: Setting: University Hospital. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Eighty eyes (80 participants) received either tIOL or PCRI. Patients were assessed preoperatively, 1-month, 1, and 5 years. Primary outcomes were uncorrected (UDVA) and best-corrected distance logMAR visual acuity (CDVA). Secondary outcomes were a manifest refractive sphere, refractive astigmatism (Ra), spherical equivalent (SEQ), KA & mean keratometry (KM), and Quality-of-Life Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) scores. RESULTS: There was no difference between the two groups in UDVA, CDVA, refractive sphere, KM, RA, and SEQ. KA reduced after 1 month in the PCRI group and remained stable until 5 years. From 1 to 5 years, the number of eyes with distance emmetropia (within ±0.13D) changed from 59% (20/34 eyes) to 32% (6/19 eyes) for tIOLs and from 43% (15/36 eyes) to 20% (4/21 eyes) for PCRIs with 32% (6/19 eyes) and 20% (4/21 eyes) showing >0.5D change in SEQ at 5-years respectively. Compared to 1-year, Ra significantly increased at 5 years in both groups with no difference between the groups. Mean overall QIRC scores were not different between the groups (tIOL: 49.88 ± 7.47; PCRI: 52.09 ± 7.02; p = .18). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no difference between the overall visual and vision-related quality of life outcomes between tIOLs and PCRIs, an increase in refractive astigmatism and reduction in distance emmetropia with time was noted in both groups.

Development of a Web-Based Algorithm for Understanding the Intraocular Lens-Based Surgery in Stable and Progressing Keratoconus for Non-Specialist Ophthalmologists.

PURPOSE: To propose an algorithm to facilitate lens-based surgery in keratoconus. METHODS: A literature review was performed to prepare a software algorithm based on cone location, stability, best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity (BSCVA) level and whether there is a clear or cataractous lens. The software usability was assessed through a 10-question questionnaire and two hypothetical keratoconus case histories (moderately simple and moderately complex) given to 15 trainees. The usability questionnaires were graded on a Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) and two case histories (1 = very difficult to 7 = very easy). RESULTS: The algorithm can be found at https://www.sussexeyelaserclinic.co.uk/keratoconus/. Thirteen trainees completed the questionnaire. 91.9% would frequently use it; for 100%, it was easy to use independently without technical support; for 63.7%, it was strongly integrated; for 100%, it was consistent; 100% thought that most people would learn to use it quickly, 91.9% found the system not cumbersome to use, felt very confident to use it and need not learn a lot to use it. The first case was found easy by 63.7% and the second by 45%. CONCLUSION: We present an algorithm as a guide for lens-based surgery in stable and progressing keratoconus, which is classified based on cone location. This algorithm will help trainee and "non-specialist" ophthalmic surgeons understand the pre-operative planning for the surgery and referral to the "specialist" corneal surgeon, considering factors such as progression, BSCVA, keratometry, topography and apex location of the cone in keratoconus patients.

Factors influencing aqueous flare after cataract surgery and its evaluation with laser flare photometry.

Despite the refinement of modern cataract surgery, postoperative inflammation still constitutes a substantial amount of visual morbidity worldwide. A surrogate for intraocular inflammation and blood-aqueous barrier breakdown can be objectively quantified by Laser flare photometry (LFP). This review outlines the utility of LFP in assessing the assessment of post-cataract surgery inflammation. It highlights the impact of preoperative pathological states such as uveitis and diabetes, intraoperative techniques, including efficient phacoemulsification and direct comparisons between postoperative anti-inflammatory regimes. There is a large interobserver variation in the subjective flare measurement after cataract surgery and the continued use of LFP amongst other objective, noninvasive measurements of intraocular inflammation, particularly in the further development of cataract surgery, is recommended.

Incidence and factors for pseudoaccommodation after monofocal lens implantation: the Monofocal Extended Range of Vision study.

PURPOSE: To screen patients with a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) for incidence of unaided 20/40 and 0.3 LogMAR for distance and near (pseudoaccommodation) and to find factors for pseudoaccommodation. SETTINGS: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: This was a single-eye study ( ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT04011696). At 3 to 9 months, refraction, uncorrected and corrected distance and uncorrected near visual acuity (logMAR), spherical equivalent (SEQ), mesopic pupil size (PS), total eye spherical (Z 40 ), vertical coma (Z 3-1 ) aberrations, reading speed and smallest print size were assessed. Refractive astigmatism (RA) was classified as against-the-rule, with-the-rule, oblique and no astigmatism. Data on preoperative axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were collected. RESULTS: 29 patients (9.6%, 95% CI, 6.5-13.5) had pseudoaccommodation. In cases vs controls, median SEQ, PS, total Z 40 , Z 3-1 , reading speed, smallest print size, preoperative ACD, preoperative AL were: -0.39 vs 0.0 diopters; 3.62 vs 4.10 mm; 0.01 vs 0.02 µm; 0.018 vs 0.022 µm; 106 vs 133 words per minute; 0.30 vs 0.50 logMAR; 2.94 vs 3.13 mm, 23.4 vs 23.7 mm, respectively. RA was not different between the groups. Univariate analysis revealed preoperative ACD (odds ratio [OR], 0.38, 95% CI, 0.16-0.94, P = .04), SEQ (OR, 0.61, 95% CI, 0.42-0.88, P = .01), total Z 40 (OR, 0.0003, 95% CI, 0.00-0.39, P = .03) and PS (OR, 0.39, 95% CI, 0.22-0.69, P < .041) to be significant. Whereas multivariable logistic regression identified: preoperative AL (OR, 0.62, 95% CI, 0.42-0.91, P = .02), SEQ (OR, 0.49, 95% CI, 0.31-0.78, P = .01), Z 40 (OR, 0.00, 95% CI, 0.0-0.01, P = .01) and PS (OR, 0.41, 95% CI, 0.23-0.75, P = .01) to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of low myopic SEQ, lower Z 40 , shorter preoperative AL, and smaller PS increases the chances of pseudoaccommodation.

Recommendation for Presbyopia-Correcting Intraocular Lenses: A Delphi Consensus Statement by the ESASO Study Group.

PURPOSE: To establish consensus among experts in lens and refractive surgery to guide general ophthalmologists on issues related to presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (IOLs). DESIGN: A modified Delphi method to reach a consensus among experts. METHODS: A steering committee formulated 105 relevant items grouped into four sections (preoperative considerations, IOL selection, intraoperative considerations, and postoperative considerations). The consensus was defined as ≥ 70% of experts agreeing with the evaluation of a statement. RESULTS: Ten experts participated and completed all rounds of questionnaires (100% response rate). Of 68 items considered in the preoperative considerations, consensus was achieved in 48 (70.6%). There was a lack of consensus over IOL selection, the experts only agreed on the importance of the patient's habits for the optical IOL design selection. Of the 14 considerations related to intraoperative issues, the experts reached a consensus on 10 (71.4%). The postoperative considerations section reached the highest consensus in 10 items of 13 (76.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Key recommendations for a diffractive multifocal IOL were a potential postoperative visual acuity > 0.5, a keratometry between 40-45 diopters, a pupil >2.8 mm under photopic conditions and <6.0 mm under scotopic conditions, a root mean square of higher order corneal aberrations <0.5 µm for 6-mm pupil size, while monofocal or non-diffractive IOLs should be considered for patients with coexisting eye disorders. A lack of agreement was found in the issues related to the IOL selection.

Clinical Outcomes of Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty without Routine Prophylactic Peripheral Iridotomy.

Objectives: To analyze the outcomes and complications of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) performed without prophylactic peripheral iridotomy (PI). Methods: Design: Retrospective study. SETTING: Institutional, tertiary care eye hospital. STUDY POPULATION: All patients who underwent DMEK or DMEK combined with phacoemulsification (DMEK triple) for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, using a standardized protocol between August 2016 and July 2021, were included. Previous glaucoma surgery, laser PI, aphakia, or complicated pseudophakia were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes: Incidence of pupillary block (PB). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Graft detachment (GD), rebubbling rates, uncorrected (UCDVA) and best corrected logMAR distance visual acuity (BCDVA), and endothelial cell loss (ECL) at six months. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and stepwise backward regression analysis. Results: 104 eyes of 72 patients were included. Four eyes (3.8%) developed PB; in two of these cases, standard protocol was not followed. Overall minor GD occurred in 43.2% (n = 45); significant GD was present only in 7 eyes (6.6%). Overall slit lamp rebubbling rate was 30% (n = 35), though only four patients were rebubbled in theatre (3.8%). PB, GD, and rebubbling rates did not vary with the surgeon, surgery, or tamponade (air or SF6 gas). UCDVA, BCDVA, and ECL at 6 months were 0.29 ± 0.31, 0.20 ± 0.28, and 40.46 ± 20.36%, respectively. Conclusions: Compared to previously reported outcomes of DMEK with PI, our results of PI less DMEK using a standardized protocol have a similar incidence of pupillary block, graft detachment, and rebubbling, with comparable visual acuity and endothelial cell loss.

Outcomes of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty performed in combination with, before, or after cataract surgery in Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy: A review of the literature and meta-analysis.

This review aimed to compare the outcomes of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in combination with (category 1), before (category 2), or after cataract surgery (category 3) in patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FED). Primary outcome was gain in best-corrected log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (BCVA). Secondary outcomes were graft detachment, rebubbling rates, rejection, failure, and endothelial cell loss (ECL). In category 1, 2, and 3, 12 studies (N = 1932) were included (five in category 1 [n = 696], one in category 2 [n = 286], and two in category 3 [n = 950], and the remaining four compared between two of the three categories). At 6 months, the gain in BCVA was 0.34 ± 0.04, 0.25 ± 0.03, and 0.38 ± 0.03 logMAR in category 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The difference was significant between categories 1 and 2 (Chi2 = 11.47, P < 0.01) and categories 2 and 3 (Chi2 = 35.53, P < 0.01). At 12 months, the gain in BCVA was 0.52 ± 0.05 and 0.38 ± 0.06 logMAR in categories 1 & 3 (Chi2 = 14.04, P < 0.01). The rebubbling rates were 15%, 4%, and 10% (P < 0.01) and the graft detachment rates were 31%, 8%, and 13% (P < 0.01) in categories 1, 2, and 3, respectively. However, graft rejection, survival rates, and ECL at 12 months were not different between categories 1 and 3. There is low certainty evidence that gain in BCVA in category 1 was comparable to category 3 at 6 months; however, it was significantly better with category 3 at 12 months. Although rebubbling and graft detachment rates were highest in category 1, there was no significant difference in graft rejection, survival rates, and ECL. Further high-quality studies are likely to change the effect estimate and have an impact on the confidence of the estimate.

Three-year multinational clinical study on an aspheric hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To present the results of a study investigating the 3-year effectiveness and safety of the Clareon single-piece intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: 19 multinational sites. DESIGN: Prospective multicenter single-arm study. METHODS: Patients were bilaterally implanted with Clareon IOLs. Assessments included uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, tilt, decentration, applanation tonometry, and fundus examination, including glistenings and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) evaluation. The primary outcomes for effectiveness and safety were evaluated at 1 year and compared with ISO historical safety and performance endpoint (SPE) rates. Patients were followed for up to 3 years after implantation. RESULTS: 424 eyes of 215 patients were implanted (n = 215 first eye, n = 209 second eye), and 183 patients completed the trial at 3 years (with 364 binocular and 1 monocular patient). At 1 year, the cumulative and persistent adverse event rates were below SPE targets, and 99.5% of eyes achieved a monocular CDVA of ≤0.3 logMAR (vs the SPE target of 92.5%). At 3 years, the mean monocular CDVA was -0.032, with 93.4% (341/365) of eyes achieving a CDVA of 0.1 logMAR or better, 100% of eyes presented with grade 0 glistenings ≤25 MV/mm 2 , and 92.9% of eyes (394/424) had either no PCO or clinically nonsignificant PCO. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the long-term safety and effectiveness of the Clareon IOL. The visual outcomes were excellent and stable over the 3-year study period, PCO rates were very low, and 100% of IOLs had grade 0 glistenings.

Full-Thickness Compressive Corneal Sutures with Removal of Anterior Chamber Air Bubble in the Management of Acute Corneal Hydrops.

Acute hydrops is a rare complication of corneal ectatic disease, which occurs secondary to Descemet membrane break. Spontaneous resolution of this condition is associated with longstanding ocular discomfort and corneal scar. Intracameral gas/air injection with or without corneal suturing, anterior segment ocular coherence tomography (ASOCT)-guided drainage of intrastromal fluid, and penetrating keratoplasty are some of the described surgical interventions to manage this condition. The purpose of our study was to assess the effect of full-thickness corneal suturing as a solo treatment in the management of acute hydrops. A total of five patients with acute hydrops received full-thickness corneal sutures perpendicular to their Descemet break. A complete resolution of symptoms and corneal oedema was observed between 8 to 14 days post-operation with no complications. This technique is simple, safe, and effective in the management of acute hydrops and saves patients from a corneal transplant in an inflamed eye.