The Use of Oral Midazolam to Facilitate the Ophthalmic Examination of Children with Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Ophthalmic examinations of developmentally delayed/autistic children are challenging. Oral midazolam may be a viable alternative to general anaesthesia for this indication. Single-centre retrospective cohort study (January 2018-March 2020). Oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg, max 15 mg). Metrics included: patient demographics, examination completion rate, duration of stay and adverse events. 50 oral midazolam examinations were performed (45 patients). Mean age was 79.12 months. All had developmental delay (66.67% autism). Time to ophthalmic examination was 60.31 minutes. Eye examination was successfully completed in 98%. No adverse events were reported. Mean stay was 3.35 hours. Oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg, max 15 mg) is associated with safe, successful completion of ophthalmic examinations in children previously unexaminable in clinic.

A modified developmental care bundle reduces pain and stress in preterm infants undergoing examinations for retinopathy of prematurity: A randomised controlled trial.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the comparative efficacy of developmental care versus standard care for reducing pain and stress in preterm infants during examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). BACKGROUND: ROP examinations are routinely performed in neonatal intensive care units to detect these lesions. Pain scores recorded during and after eye examinations have revealed physiological and behavioural manifestations of pain and stress. DESIGN: A randomised crossover trial was conducted. METHODS: Fourteen preterm infants were evaluated. The modified developmental care bundle included environmental modifications, positioning and containment, oxygen supplementation, interaction and approach and cue-based individual care, which were applied before, during and after the ROP examination. The primary outcomes were obtained from pain and stress scores using the premature infant pain profile-revised (PIPP-R) and a behavioural evaluation. The secondary outcomes were recovery time to the baseline of the vital signs and oxygen saturation. RESULTS: Statistical significances were found in the care type comparison (p = 0.013), time comparison (p < 0.001) and type-by-time interaction (p = 0.005) in the PIPP-R, and also in the care type comparison (p < 0.001), time comparison (p < 0.001) and type-by-time interaction (p = 0.001) in the behavioural evaluation scores using a generalised estimating equation (GEE) analysis. Recovery time for the developmental care (N = 13, mean = 8.6 ± 11.5 min, 95% CI = 1.68-15.57) was significantly shorter than for the standard care (N = 11, mean = 25.5 ± 20.8 min, 95% CI = 11.45-39.46), which was found to be statistically significant according to the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (N = 11, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A bundled developmental care intervention significantly reduced pain and stress responses and the time needed for infants to recover their physiological status following the procedure. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Since the results show the benefits of developmental care in an ROP examination, it can be the practical evidence basis by which to develop a standard of procedure or guideline for clinical practice.

[Classical Medical Mistakes - Lack of Appreciation of Psychological Components]. / Klassische ärztliche Fehlleistungen ­ die Verkennung psychologischer Komponenten.

Detailed evidence for psychogenic effects after an accident: evidence from 3 expert reports.

Comparación de dos test psicofísicos de sensibilidad al contraste en un entorno clínico / Comparison of two contrast sensitivity tests in a clinical setup / Comparaison de deux tests psychophysiques de sensibilité au contraste en clinique / Comparação de dois testes psicofísicos de sensibilidade ao contraste em um ambiente clínico

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el desempeño de dos test psicofísicos de sensibilidad al contraste, uno basado en un sistema informatizado – FVC 100 – y otro en láminas impresas – VCTS 6500, ambos empleando la discriminación de redes sinusoidales en condiciones de adaptación fotópica. Fueron medidos 45 ojos de 23 personas con edades entre 28 y 70 años. Los sujetos fueron reclutados en un Servicio de Oftalmología al cual concurrieron tanto por consulta como por control. A partir de tomar el criterio clínico como referencia, los resultados muestran que, de los 23 sujetos, en 16 casos ambos sistemas detectaron correctamente su estado visual, en cinco casos (10 ojos) sólo el FVC 100 consiguió hacerlo, mientras que en dos casos este sistema no detectó el problema visual y sí lo hizo el VCTS 6500. Considerando los datos obtenidos se aprecia un mejor desempeño del test informatizado, destacándose la necesidad de continuar trabajando para conseguir un atlas con información de la función de sensibilidad al contraste que considere las diferentes patologías visuales(AU)

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of two psychophysical contrast sensitivity tests, one based on a computerized system – FVC 100 – and the other based on printed charts – VCTS 6500, both using the discrimination of sinusoidal grating orientation under photopic adaptation. Altogether, 45 eyes of 23 people with ages ranging from 28 to 70 years were tested in this study. Subjects were recruited in an Ophthalmological Service to which they went looking for medical supervision or consult. Taking the clinical criterion as a reference, the results show that of the 23 subjects, both systems correctly identify 16 cases, in five cases (10 eyes) only the FVC 100 performed well, whereas in two cases this system did not detect the visual problem and the VCTS 6500 did. Considering the obtained data, a better performance of the computerized system can be observed, pointing out the need to keep working in order to obtain a contrast sensitivity atlas which takes into account the different visual pathologies(AU)

L'objectif de cette étude était de comparer les performances de deux tests psychophysiques de la sensibilité au contraste, l'un basé sur l'ordinateur – FVC 100 – et un autre imprimé feuilles – VCTS 6500. Avec les deux systèmes est évaluée discrimination des réseaux sinusoïdaux dans des conditions d'adaptation photopique. Ont été mesurées 45 yeux de 23 personnes âgées entre 28 et 70. Les sujets ont été recrutés dans un service d'ophtalmologie. Ce service a été suivi par la consultation et de contrôle. Après avoir fait référence au critère clinique, les résultats montrent que, parmi les 23 sujets, dans 16 cas, les deux systèmes correctement identifié état visuel. Dans cinq cas (10 yeux) FVC100 seulement réussi à le faire, tandis que dans deux cas, ce système n'a pas détecté les problèmes visuels. Toutefois, s'il est détecté VCTS6500 le problème dans ces deux derniers cas. Considérant les résultats obtenus avec les deux systèmes, vous pouvez voir une meilleure performance du test informatisé par rapport à celui basé sur des feuilles imprimées. Il souligne la nécessité de continuer à travailler vers un atlas des informations sur la fonction de sensibilité au contraste qui tient compte des différentes pathologies visuelles(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o desempenho de dois testes psicofísicos de sensibilidade ao contraste, um baseado num sistema informatizado – FVC 100 – e um outro em lâminas impressas –VCTS 6500, ambos empregando a discriminação de grades sinusoidais em condições fotópicas de adaptação. Foram avaliados 45 olhos de 23 pessoas com idades entre 28 e 70 anos. Os sujeitos foram recrutados num Serviço de Oftalmologia onde compareceram tanto para consulta como para controle. Tomando o critério clínico como referência, os resultados mostram que, dos 23 sujeitos, em 16 casos ambos sistemas detectaram corretamente seu estado visual, em cinco casos (10 olhos) só o FVC 100 conseguiu fazê-lo, contudo em um dos casos este sistema não detectou o problema visual e sim o VCTS. Considerando os dados obtidos, aprecia-se um melhor desempenho do teste informatizado, evidenciando-se a necessidade de continuar trabalhando para conseguir um atlas com informação da função de sensibilidade ao contraste que considere as diferentes patologias visuais(AU)

Attitudes towards diagnostic tests and therapies for dry eye disease.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to survey the attitudes of optometrists and ophthalmologists, located in a number of different countries, towards diagnostic tests and therapies for dry eye disease. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was used to survey attitudes using forced-choice questions and Likert scales. RESULTS: Sixty-one respondents (23 ophthalmologists and 38 optometrists) reported a wide range of patient dry eye symptoms. A large variation in use of diagnostic tests was noted. Patient symptoms and fluorescein staining were reported to be significantly more valuable and more frequently performed than any other test. Artificial tear supplements and improved lid hygiene were the preferred therapeutic options selected by the entire group. The results demonstrated a wide variation in attitudes in relation to satisfaction with the range of available diagnostic and therapeutic options. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the interest for the issue of dry eye is relatively limited amongst eye professionals, as demonstrated by the poor participation in the questionnaire.

Can oral sucrose reduce the pain and distress associated with screening for retinopathy of prematurity?

OBJECTIVE: Infants undergoing eye exams to screen for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) demonstrate physiologic and behavioral manifestations of pain and distress. Oral sucrose has analgesic properties that might reduce these effects. AIM: To determine the efficacy of oral sucrose in reducing the pain/distress of eye exams for ROP. METHODS: A total of 32 infants about to undergo ROP screening exams received either oral sucrose [S] (N=16) or sterile water [C] (N=16) in a randomized, prospective and blinded fashion. Outcome measures included HR, RR, O(2) saturation, BP, pain (premature infant pain profile) and percent of time spent crying during the eye exam. RESULTS: The groups were similar in GA (weeks) (28+/-1.6), BW (kg) (1.04+/-0.26), postnatal age (days) 50.8+/-20.3, and study weight (kg) 1.88+/-0.40). Both groups demonstrated significant increases in HR, BP, and pain score in response to the exam. Infants in both groups spent the majority of time actively crying during the exam ([S] 53+/-35% vs [C] 63+/-31%. Infants receiving [S] showed a small but significant drop in O(2) saturation. No significant differences were seen between groups in physiologic or behavioral responses to the eye exam. CONCLUSION: Oral [S] was not effective in reducing pain/distress from the ROP screening exam. Alternative strategies should be considered to achieve adequate pain relief.

Evaluating anxiety in patients attending optometric practice.

Although anxiety is a well-established obstacle to the delivery of effective health care, there have been no attempts to measure it in the optometric consulting room. In this paper, we introduce physiological and psychological techniques that may be used to evaluate anxiety and arousal in the consulting room and present data from a small group of patients attending for a routine eye examination. Specifically, arousal was assessed before, during, and after the examination by measuring skin conductance in five patients. Anxiety was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Our data confirm the ability of these techniques to quantify arousal and anxiety in the optometric consulting room and reveal a previously unknown but important facet of the eye examination. We conclude that these techniques are suitable for use in further experimental work and may be used to identify factors capable of reducing anxiety in the optometric consulting room.