Effectiveness of the smartphone application in increasing compliance with occlusion therapy in children with amblyopia: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of the Amblyopia Treatment Chulalongkorn University (ATCU) application in improving compliance to occlusion therapy in amblyopic children. Methods: We developed a smartphone application called Amblyopia Treatment Chulalongkorn University (ATCU), which includes education, patching calendar, mini-games, and notifications, offering caregivers a comprehensive tool to enhance amblyopia treatment adherence through informative content, interactive features, and personalized reminders. Children aged 4-12 years with strabismic, anisometropic, deprivation, or mixed-type amblyopia were recruited and randomly assigned to either use ATCU application to facilitate eye patching (group A) or receive standard care (group B). Compliance with eye patching (primary outcome) was measured as a percentage of actual patching hours which were subjectively reported by caregivers, compared to prescribed patching hours, assessed at 1 and 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: Between October 2018 and December 2019, 45 children were enrolled in our study, with all meeting eligibility criteria. One participant was lost to follow-up, and only one child was newly diagnosed with amblyopia, while the others had undergone patching as a prior treatment. At 1-month, compliance was significantly higher in group A (85%) than in group B (64%) [median difference 22% (95% CI, 3 to 48; p = .037)]. At 3-months, the compliance was also higher in group A (80%) than group B (55%), but not significantly [median difference 13% (95% CI, -6 to 30; p = .096)]. BCVA improvement in group A was higher than group B at both follow-up periods [mean difference 0.04 logMAR (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.07; p = .025) at 1-month and 0.04 logMAR (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.08; p = .022) at 3-month follow-up]. Conclusion: The ATCU application significantly improved compliance with occlusion therapy at 1-month. This application may be helpful as an adjunctive tool in the treatment of amblyopia.

Absence of Bilateral Multiple Cyclovertical Muscle Insertions in a Patient With Pfeiffer Syndrome.

The authors present a case of absent multiple extraocular muscle insertions in Pfeiffer syndrome. An 8-year-old girl with Pfeiffer syndrome presented with V-pattern exotropia and left hypertropia. The absence of bilateral superior oblique, bilateral superior rectus, and left inferior rectus muscle insertions was found intraoperatively. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2022;59(2):e17-e19.].

Unilateral recession and resection surgery with adjustable suture in adult sensory exotropia: long-term success and exotropic drift.

We included adult patients (age ≥18 years) with sensory exotropia who underwent unilateral lateral rectus recession with adjustable suture and medial rectus resection with at least 2-year follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative data was collected. Either Krimsky or alternate and prism cover testing was used to measure the angle of deviation depending on patients' fixation ability. Glasses with full refractive correction were worn if they can provide better visual acuity. Exodeviation at near fixation was used in statistical analysis.A total of 38 patients (mean age at surgery 32 ± 13 years) were included. Median preoperative exotropia was 45 PD (IQR 40-55, range 25-70) and median initial postoperative deviation was esotropia 8 PD (IQR 0-11, range from exotropia 8 to esotropia 30). Mean follow-up time was 5 ± 2.5 years (range 2-10). Motor success, defined as a deviation within 10 PD of orthotropia, was found in 50% and 42% of patients at 2-year and last follow-up. Initial postoperative deviation and amount of lateral rectus recession were significantly associated with long-term outcome (p = .006 and 0.029). Patients with initial moderate and minimal overcorrection had higher success rates (67% and 62%) than patients with initial orthotropia or undercorrection (10%) (p = .002). Median overall rate of exotropic drift was 8 PD/year (IQR 6-13, range from esotropic drift 8 to exotropic drift 26). Time to failure in nonsuccess group was 24 months (IQR 21-24, range 2-24).In conclusion, unilateral recession and resection surgery with adjustable suture in adult sensory exotropia achieved 50% success at 2 years. Initial postoperative moderate overcorrection results provide the highest chance for long-term success. The majority of patients developed exotropic drift with time and time to failure was 2 years.

Intraocular pressure elevation associated with blood in Schlemm's canal after strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To report a case of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) associated with blood in Schlemm's canal following strabismus surgery. OBSERVATIONS: A 43-year-old female presented with acquired comitant esotropia. The patient had undergone an uneventful bilateral medial rectus recession and right lateral rectus resection operation under general anesthesia. Routine post-operative follow-up at day 3 detected a marked chemosis at the temporal side of the conjunctiva, an elevated IOP of 30 mmHg, and the presence of blood in Schlemm's canal in the temporal angle of the right eye. Episcleral venous outflow impairment was hypothesized to be the cause of secondary ocular hypertension in this patient. IOP was controlled with anti-glaucoma drops. Conjunctival chemosis, IOP, and blood in Schlemm's canal gradually decreased, and all topical medications were ceased at 11 weeks after the surgery. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: An IOP elevation can be an early complication after strabismus surgery. The presence of blood in Schlemm's canal suggests that the cause is impairment of episcleral venous flow. Although the episode can be transient, this report underlines the importance of IOP examination during the early post-operative period.

Normal Range of Ocular Ductions in Various Age Brackets by Prism Shifting Light-Reflex Test.

PURPOSE: To introduce a new direct measurement method for ocular ductions by shifting light reflex with plastic prism [Prism Shifting Light-Reflex Test (PLR test)]. We used it to establish normative values of ocular ductions in each age bracket defined by decade and to investigate the change of ocular ductions with aging. METHODS: Participants aged 21-80 years old without paralytic or restrictive eye disease were examined. The ocular ductions were measured by PLR test. Normal range of ocular ductions and rate of change with aging were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 123 participants, the mean ± standard deviation of ocular ductions in all age groups were 60 ± 12, 86 ± 9, 102 ± 9, and 123 ± 9 prism diopters for supraduction, adduction, abduction, and infraduction. From regression analysis, the ocular supraduction, adduction, abduction, and infraduction significantly decreased with aging (P < .0001) by the rate of -0.66, -0.33, -0.27, and -0.25% per year. CONCLUSION: PLR test is a new technique for ocular duction measurement. Supraduction had the smallest range of ductions followed by adduction, abduction, and infraduction. Aging has the largest decremental effect on supraduction and the smallest decremental effect on infraduction. The normative values of ocular ductions by age in each decade were established.

Long-term outcome of full tendon vertical rectus transposition with Foster suture in unilateral complete sixth cranial nerve palsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate and long-term motor and sensory outcomes of the full tendon vertical rectus transposition (VRT) with Foster suture for unilateral complete sixth cranial nerve palsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients with unilateral acquired sixth cranial nerve palsy who underwent unilateral full tendon VRT with Foster suture between 2005 and 2016 and had a follow-up of ≥2 years. Data on pre- and postoperative diplopia, face turn, ocular deviation, and limitation of abduction were collected. A successful outcome was defined as a horizontal deviation ≤10 prism diopter (PD) of ortho in a primary position at distance and absence of diplopia. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were included in this study. Median (IQR) preoperative deviation was esotropia 65 (40-130) PD, which improved to 10 (-4 to 45) PD postoperatively. Median (IQR) improvement of esotropia was 54 (30-76) PD (P<0.001). Median (IQR) preoperative limitation of abduction was -15° (-22.5° to 10°; negative value means before reaching midline), which improved to 15° (7.5°-45°) pass midline postoperatively. Median (IQR) improvement of abduction deficit was 26° (15°-35°) (P<0.001). Successful surgical outcomes were obtained in eleven patients (55%). All patients in the non-successful group (n=9, 45%) had residual esotropia. Two of them underwent additional bilateral medial rectus recession. No postoperative vertical deviation or torsional diplopia was observed. CONCLUSION: In our series, the full tendon VRT with Foster suture in unilateral complete sixth cranial nerve palsy resulted in significant improvement of the ocular alignment and range of abduction over the 2-year follow-up period.

Relation between early postoperative deviation and long-term outcome after unilateral lateral rectus recession and medial rectus resection for adult exotropia.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between early postoperative deviation and long-term outcome after unilateral recession and resection surgery for adult exotropia, and to evaluate exotropic shift after surgery. METHODS: This was a retroprospective study involving adult patients with exotropia who underwent unilateral recession and resection surgery and were followed up for at least 2y. The results were evaluated at 2y and the final visit. Factors influencing a successful outcome were analyzed. Early postoperative deviation at 1wk was used to evaluate relationship with long-term outcome. The long-term outcome was classified into 3 groups: successful, acceptable, and poor. Successful outcome was defined as a distance deviation between esodeviation 8 prism diopters (PD) and exodeviation 10 PD. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were enrolled. The mean age at surgery was 26y (range, 15-49y). The median follow-up period was 30mo (range, 24-108mo). Successful outcome was found in 81% of patients at 2y and in 71% at the final visit. Overcorrection at 1wk postoperatively was associated with a successful outcome at 2y. Initial postoperative alignment between orthotropia and esodeviation of 8 PD had the highest chance of a successful outcome (RR=2.2). The mean postoperative exotropic drift was 4.7 PD at the first month and 9.3 PD at 2y. CONCLUSION: Initial postoperative deviation can predict long-term outcome after unilateral recession and resection surgery for adult exotropia. The most desirable outcome at 1wk post-operatively was orthotropia to small esodeviation. Most patients have exotropic drift at a subsequent follow-up, especially in the first month after surgery.

Time of maximum cycloplegia after instillation of cyclopentolate 1% in children with brown irises.

PURPOSE: We aimed to 1) determine the time of maximum cycloplegia after instillation of cyclopentolate 1% in children with brown irises, 2) evaluate the correlation between the pupillary reaction and time of maximum cycloplegia, and 3) identify any side effects of the medication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective analytical study involving children aged 5 to 14 years who were attending refraction clinic. Cyclopentolate 1% was instilled three times at 10-minute intervals. The spherical equivalent, pupillary reaction, and pupillary diameter were recorded before the first drop and nine times after the last drop at 10-minute intervals. Side effects were assessed. Time of maximum cycloplegia was determined from the time point at which the 95% confidence interval of the differences between the mean spherical equivalent at each point and its final value at 110 minutes was reached and remained within the equivalence limit (±0.25 D). RESULTS: Sixty children were enrolled in this study. Their mean age was 9.8 years (range: 5-4 years). Time of maximum cycloplegia was reached at 30 minutes after the first instillation of cyclopentolate. A poor correlation was observed between the pupillary reaction and the time of maximum cycloplegia (r=-0.07). The mean pupillary diameter at 30 minutes was 3.7±1.3 mm, and further dilation occurred thereafter. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: In most children, maximum cycloplegia was reached 30 minutes after the first instillation of cyclopentolate. The absence of a pupillary reaction should not be used as an indicator of maximum cycloplegia.

Outcomes of 3 or 4 Horizontal Muscles Surgery in Large-Angle Exotropia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate motor and sensory outcomes of 3 or 4 horizontal muscles surgery for the treatment of large-angle exotropia and to evaluate factors influencing the success rate and the relationship between initial postoperative and final motor outcomes. DESIGN: A retrospective analytical study. METHODS: Medical records of patients with primary large-angle exotropia [>50 prism diopters (PD)] who had 3 or 4 horizontal muscles surgery were reviewed. Motor outcomes were categorized as successful (esotropia 1-8 PD, orthotropia or exotropia 1-10 PD), acceptable (exotropia 11-20 PD), and poor (esotropia >8 PD or exotropia >20 PD). Results were evaluated only at the last follow-up visit if patients were followed up for less than 2 years. Those who were followed up for more than 2 years were evaluated at both the 2-year and final follow-up visits. Factors influencing the success rate and the relationship between initial postoperative and final motor outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 18 months (range, 3-60 months). The success rate was 69% at the last follow-up and 75% at the follow-up at 2 years, respectively. Stereopsis improved in 43% at the last follow-up and 56% at 2 years. Initial postoperative deviation was found to correlate with the success rate at the last follow-up (P = 0.018). Initial postoperative overcorrection of 8 to 14 PD had the highest possibility of gaining successful final motor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Three or 4 horizontal muscles surgery in large-angle exotropia can achieve successful motor outcomes and improve stereopsis. Surgeons should aim for initial overcorrection in order to maximize long-term success.

Congenital uveal malignant melanoma.

We report the clinical and pathological findings of a rare case of congenital uveal melanoma. A 7-week-old girl presented with history of a black area at the inner corner of her left eye since birth. Examination revealed an enlarged globe with an area of visible uveal pigment nasal to the cornea, an iris mass, and shallow anterior chamber in the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraocular mass. Enucleation was performed when the girl was 2 months of age. Pathologic examination confirmed a malignant melanoma epithelioid cell type with extraocular extension. She was treated with chemotherapy and subtotal exenteration.