"Peek-a-boo" Sign in Pediatric Cataract Surgery.

The authors demonstrate a "peek-a-boo" sign for intra-operative evaluation of the posterior pole of the fundus during pediatric cataract surgery. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2022;59(5):e54.].

Virtual bedside clinics in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus - An innovation in education and learning.

We piloted an innovation in teaching by conducting live virtual bedside clinics and evaluated the effectiveness compared to conventional bedside clinics. The purpose is to report the methodology and survey results of this innovation in teaching. A virtual bedside clinic was set up utilizing multiple audio-visual aids at a tertiary eye care facility. The bedside clinic was conducted and streamed live to pre-registered participants across the globe using the Zoom platform. The online survey was conducted comparing its effectiveness with conventional bedside clinics. A total of five sessions were conducted. A total of 2058 participants registered (411/session), of which 938 (45.57%) attended (187/session). A total of 287 participants (30.6%) responded to the survey. The respondents included ophthalmology residents (43.4%), fellows (19%), sub-specialty ophthalmologists (15.4%), general ophthalmologists (12%), and optometrists (9%). More than 95% of the respondents felt that these clinics were equally effective/better in imparting the following: physical examination 97%, clinical knowledge 99.3%, clinical reasoning 98.3%, procedural skills 95%, and communication skills 96.5%. Respondents suggested that these clinics were better/equally effective in the following techniques: general examination (96%), ocular motility (93.3%), nystagmus evaluation (93.3%), and anterior (80%) and posterior segment examination (73.3%). The hybrid mode presentation (97.3%) and discussion with the panel (100%) were reported to be equally effective/much better. Live virtual bedside clinics are a novel and effective way of continuing quality teaching and impactful learning. Most of the bedside manners, procedural skills, and examination techniques can be effectively taught through this virtual platform with a scope to improve anterior and posterior segment examination skills.

Newer insights into the clinical profile of posterior lenticonus in children and its surgical, visual, refractive outcomes.

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical profile of patients with posterior lenticonus and their surgical, visual, and refractive outcomes. RESULTS: Retrospective interventional case series of 84 eyes of 63 patients with posterior lenticonus. The incidence of posterior lenticonus was 3.98% during a study period of 5 years. One-third of cases had bilateral posterior lenticonus. The mean age was 4.78 ± 4.28 years (unilateral cases were significantly older than bilateral, P = 0.0001). Males were 54%. Mean axial length and keratometry were 21.49 mm and 44.88 D, respectively. Eyes with the bilateral disease were significantly shorter (axial length, P = 0.0012) and smaller (horizontal corneal diameter, P < 0.0001) compared to those with unilateral disease. While 88% were pseudophakic; 12% were aphakic. The posterior capsular defect was noted intraoperatively in 44%. Sixty-eight percent of eyes had a pre-operative diagnosis of posterior lenticonus, 32% were diagnosed intraoperatively. The mean follow-up period was 1.3 years. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6 months was fair to poor in two-third of patients (median 20/100). The mean ± SD visual acuity (LogMAR) and spherical equivalence for unilateral and bilateral cases were 0.70 ± 0.27, 0.67 ± 0.26D (p = 0.57) and 2.04 ± 2.74, 5.15 ± 3.73D (p = 0.0001), respectively. Visual outcomes were better in children who are aged 2 years or more (P = 0.0056). Eight percent needed a second surgery. CONCLUSION: We report a higher prevalence of bilateral posterior lenticonus in this cohort. The clinical profile of bilateral disease differs from unilateral disease. The diagnosis is not always clinical. In the bag, intra-ocular lens (IOL) implantation is possible in the majority. The visual outcomes remain fair to poor, possibly due to late presentation and the presence of dense refractory amblyopia. SYNOPSIS: The manuscript consists of the largest series of posterior lenticonus to date. It provides the prevalence of posterior lenticonus along with characteristics difference between unilateral and bilateral cases of posterior lenticonus. Newer insights in terms of diagnostics, pre-operative pick-up rate, how to improve, visual and refractive outcomes of unilateral and bilateral cases are described.

Pivoting to teleconsultation for paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus: Our experience during COVID-19 times.

PURPOSE: The objective is to analyse and report the data of teleconsultations provided to paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus patients during COVID-19 times and to elaborate our experience for guiding future teleconsultation practices to General, paediatric Ophthalmologists and Strabismologists. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical record data of teleconsultations provided in the department of Strabismus, Paediatric and Neuro-ophthalmology was done. Patients with optic nerve related disorders were excluded. Study period was one month. Statistical analysis of collected data was done using Microsoft excel. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients were provided teleconsultations (an average of seven teleconsultations/day). The final analysis included 161 patients after excluding optic nerve related disorders. The median age was seven years. We had a near equal gender distribution (53% males and 47% females) of whom a third were new cases. Video calling was used in 14%, review of clinical photos shared was used in 53%. Rest of the 33% were given telephonic advice. Allergic conjunctivitis (14%), pseudophakia (9%), strabismus (12%), status post strabismus surgery (8%), cranial nerve palsies (11%) were common diagnoses. 19% (n = 30) were advised/needed visit in emergency services on same or next day. CONCLUSION: Our experience of teleconsultation during COVID-19 times for paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus patients was very encouraging. Pivoting teleconsultation platform can provide primary eye care to most of the patients and work as essential forward triage for rest. As we continue to further explore the currently available avenues in multimedia such as video conferencing and web/mobile based applications, we believe that tele-ophthalmology platform can provide a reliable service in patient care.

Older Drivers and Glaucoma in India: Driving Habits and Crash Risks.

PRéCIS:: In India, older drivers with glaucoma show greater driving difficulty but are not involved in higher number of on-road accidents. To achieve balance between safety aspects and independence for drivers with glaucoma is important. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze driving habits of patients with glaucoma and to compare their driving behavior, driving difficulties, and accident rates with nonglaucoma controls. PATIENTS: Patients with glaucoma aged older than 40 years were recruited. Subjects with best-corrected visual acuity ≤6/24 in the better-seeing eye and those having primary eye disorder other than glaucoma were excluded. Age-matched nonglaucoma controls were recruited. Subjects with clinically significant cataract and/or with best-corrected visual acuity ≤6/24 in both eyes were excluded. All cases and controls were legally licensed to drive. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, Driving Habits Questionnaire was used. Collected data were statistically analyzed using SAS, version 9.2 (GLM procedure), and IBM SPSS, version 22. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: All controls and 84% (n=84/100) of cases were current drivers. Among them, 16% (n=16/100) cases had stopped driving, of which 31.25% (n=5/16) had stopped because of self-reported ocular causes. Cases drove lesser number of days per week (P=0.001) and had more driving dependence on other drivers (44%, n=37/84) compared with controls. Glaucoma was significantly associated with driving difficulty in the rain, in rush-hour traffic, and at night. Comparing driving difficulty scores and visual field index within glaucoma group showed statistical significance [F(1,82)=22.12, P<0.001]. Composite scores of driving difficulty (P<0.001) and driving space (P=0.003) between the 2 groups showed strong statistical significance. Controls had higher number of self-reported accidents (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with glaucoma show greater driving difficulty, self-regulate their driving behavior, and restrict their driving. Older patients with glaucoma in India are not involved in higher rates of on-road crash risks compared with nonglaucoma drivers.

Renewal of driving license in India and glaucoma: A study of prevalent practice and its lacunae.

PURPOSE: Glaucoma affects different aspects of vision including visual field. This prospective observational study aims to collect details of driving license (DL) renewal procedure (in an urban metro in India) among patients with diagnosed glaucoma and the method of reporting of vision-related requirements during renewal. METHODS: One-hundred patients with diagnosed glaucoma above 40 years, having valid DL (with at least one renewal cycle), were included. Patients with other ocular comorbidities were excluded. Driving Habits Questionnaire and a questionnaire about license renewal were administered. Driving eligibility was compared to international guidelines. RESULTS: Study population included patients with 69% early, 29% moderate, and 2% advanced glaucoma. Sixteen percent of patients had stopped driving. Legal license renewal procedure was bypassed by 45%. Form-1 was not submitted by 43% and 49% did not submit Form-1A at the time of renewal. Only 7.01% mentioned about glaucoma in the self-declaration form. None were asked about their visual field during renewal. Among 61 patients who submitted a medical certificate, the undersigning doctor was an ophthalmologist in only six patients. Thirty percent patients with valid Indian DL would not have satisfied International College of Ophthalmologists guidelines. Driving difficulties were experienced by 44%, more so in advanced glaucoma (F (1, 82) = 22.12, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Vision-related testing at the time of renewal of DL is inadequate in India. Chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma are commonly not self-declared or detected at pre-renewal testing. Clear-cut guidelines about visual requirements and implementation are required to prevent road traffic events because of vision-related errors.