Sjögren's Syndrome Associated Dry Eye: Impact on Daily Living and Adherence to Therapy.

Sjögren's syndrome-related dry eye disease (SS-DED) often involves more severe dry eye symptoms than people with non-SS dry eye disease (DED). This cross-sectional study employed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to understand the experience of people living with SS-DED and to identify factors affecting adherence to DED self-care. Participants reported difficulty with visual tasks such as driving, and diminished enjoyment in daily activities due to DED symptoms. Almost 80% reported being worried about a reduced quality of life due to DED, and over 50% reported fear of blindness. The most common reasons for non-adherence were cost of therapy and forgetting to instill drops. Drop rationing to reduce cost of therapy was endorsed by 83% of respondents. Only 3% of respondents had private insurance for non-prescription agents required to treat DED. A quarter of respondents reported they would not disclose non-adherence to their eye care provider. Multiple regression analysis revealed age was a significant contributor to missing drops. This is the first study to report on the financial burden experienced by SS-DED patients in Canada. This paper identified strategies used by patients to reduce the cost of therapy and its impact on adherence to treatment. Patients may be reluctant to disclose challenges regarding adherence to DED therapy, as well as fears of worsening quality of life.

Visual hallucinations following electroconvulsive therapy for major depressive disorder.

A female geriatric patient with major depressive disorder, current episode severe, received eight right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments over the course of 3 weeks. After her third treatment, she began experiencing brief visual hallucinations, each lasting less than 5 s, consisting of dark to grey coloured, poorly defined geometric shapes and objects. These episodes occurred only during the day with no change in consciousness. With each additional treatment, the episodes increased in frequency, reaching a crescendo of approximately 20 episodes per day. After terminating ECT, the frequency of these episodes decreased and then ceased 6 weeks later. Neuroimaging and ophthalmological investigations discounted a space occupying lesion or vision loss. This case demonstrates a close temporal relationship between ECT and new onset visual hallucinations. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility that elderly depressed patients may develop visual hallucinations during a course of ECT.

Work productivity among Sjögren's Syndrome and non-Sjögren's dry eye patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most common conditions presenting to eye care providers and is increasingly recognized to have poor outcomes on quality of life, activities of daily living, and social and emotional well-being. Here, we aim to understand the association between dry eye symptoms and workplace productivity experienced by patients with non-Sjögren's dry eye and Sjögren's Syndrome. METHODS: MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Healthstar, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to May 2019. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies consisting of 50,446 study participants from 14 countries were included in this systematic review. Among non-Sjögren's dry eye patients, there was significant absenteeism (ES = 0.19; 95% CI: [0.04, 0.35]), presenteeism (ES = 0.25; 95% CI: [0.15. 0.35]), productivity impairment (ES = 0.24; 95% CI: [0.20, 0.27]), activity impairment (ES = 0.30; 95% CI: [0.21, 0.38]), and subjective difficulties at work (ES = 0.58; 95% CI: [0.40, 0.75]). Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome demonstrated significant absenteeism (ES = 0.13, 95% CI: [0.10, 0.17]), presenteeism (ES = 0.28, 95% CI: [0.24, 0.32]), productivity impairment (ES = 0.31, 95% CI: [0.27, 0.35]), and activity impairment (ES = 0.39, 95% CI: [0.32, 0.47]) in the workplace. In addition, patients with Sjögren's Syndrome demonstrated significantly lower employment rate (ES = 0.42, 95% CI: [0.34, 0.50]), decreased number of hours worked (SMD = -0.21, 95% CI: [-0.39, -0.02]), and increased work disability (ES = 0.18; 95% CI: [0.09, 0.27]). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to demonstrate the negative association between DED and several work productivity measures.

Intense pulsed light therapy with meibomian gland expression for dry eye disease.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) with meibomian gland expression (MGX) in treating meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and dry eye symptoms. DESIGN: Systematic review followed by a meta-analysis. METHODS: This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Literature sources included MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and meeting abstracts from Canadian Ophthalmological Society, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, The American Academy of Ophthalmology, and The European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Articles underwent 3 stages of screening before data extraction and meta-analysis. RESULTS: After the initial search, 502 studies were found. Six articles were included for meta-analysis, and data were extracted after 3 stages of screening. Meta-analysis indicated significant increase in tear break-up time (TBUT) post-treatment in the <1-month follow-up (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.29; confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-1.48), up-to-6-month follow-up (SMD = 1.71; CI: 1.46-1.96), and >6-month follow-up (SMD = 2.04; CI: 1.68-2.40) groups. Moreover, meta-analysis suggested a nonsignificant improvement in Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) scores after IPL with MGX at the <1-month follow-up (SMD = -1.35; CI: -1.70 to -1.01), up-to-6-month follow-up (SMD = -1.68; CI: -1.93 to -1.43), and >6-month follow-up (SMD = -2.04; CI: -2.40 to -1.68) groups. Meta-analysis also indicated a nonsignificant improvement in Schirmer's test values at the up-to-2-month follow-up (SMD = -0.27; CI: -0.66 to 0.12), up-to-6-month follow-up (SMD = 0.04; CI: -0.25 to 0.33), and >6-month follow-up (SMD = -0.01; CI: -0.31 to 0.28) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested a significant increase in TBUT and a nonsignificant increase in SPEED and Schirmer's test values at all follow-up periods post-treatment. Ultimately, IPL with MGX appears to be a promising therapy for MGD.

Dry eye after refractive surgery: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine and compare the rates of dry eye after various refractive surgeries, including laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), femtosecond lamellar extraction (FLEx), and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines. Databases searched included MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Meeting abstracts from European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and Canadian Ophthalmological Society were also examined. Articles underwent 3 stages of screening before data extraction and meta-analysis. RESULTS: In total, 3232 studies were found; 261 remained after title screening, 92 remained after abstract screening, and 14 studies progressed to data extraction. Meta-analysis indicated a significant reduction in tear break-up time (TBUT) with LASIK (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.3; confidence interval [CI]: -0.53 to -0.08) and FLEx (SMD = -1.09; CI: -1.44 to -0.74), and a nonsignificant reduction in TBUT with SMILE (SMD = -0.34; CI: -0.95 to 0.27) and PRK (SMD = -0.11; CI: -0.29 to 0.08). Meta-analysis also indicated a significant reduction in tear production with LASIK (SMD = -0.23; CI: -0.46 to -0.01), and a nonsignificant reduction in tear production with SMILE (SMD = 0.04; CI: -0.28 to 0.36), FLEX (SMD = -0.05; CI: -0.37 to 0.28), and PRK (SMD = -0.07; CI: -0.32 to 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a significant reduction in postoperative tear production as well as TBUT time was seen with LASIK, and a nonsignificant reduction in postoperative tear production and TBUT was seen with SMILE, FLEx, and PRK. Ultimately, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to make concrete conclusions about dry eye parameters after refractive surgery.

Hormone replacement therapy for dry eye disease patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used by women to get relief from menopausal symptoms, including dry eyes. However, it is not entirely certain that HRT helps relieve dry eye disease (DED). The focus of this study is to systematically review the literature of the relevant studies to understand and determine the correlation between HRT and DED. Literature was systematically reviewed using Distiller SR. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 15.0. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using statistics. Fixed-effect and random-effects models were computed based on heterogeneity. Subgroups analysis was done by follow-up. Our meta-analysis results indicated significant reduction in dry eye with HRT treatment at 1-month follow-up (SMD = -1.97; CI: -3.83, -0.11), a nonsignificant increase in tear breakup time at 3-month (SMD = -0.91; CI: -3.26, 1.44) and 6-month (SMD = -1.05; CI: -3.91, 1.82) follow-ups. Our meta-analysis results indicated a nonsignificant improvement in DED with HRT treatment at 1-month (SMD = -0.97; CI: -2.35, 0.4), 3-month (SMD = 0.19; CI: -0.91, 1.29), and 6-month (SMD = -0.48; CI: -1.39, 0.43) follow-ups.Overall, nonsignificant improvement in postoperative tear production, as well as tear breakup time, was seen after HRT treatment at follow-ups in dry eye patients. More good-quality randomized control trials are needed to make accurate conclusions.

Survey of occupational musculoskeletal pain and injury in Canadian ophthalmology.

OBJECTIVE: Surgeons and other physicians have reported occupational musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, and it has been recently raised as a growing issue by ophthalmologists and optometrists. What is most concerning is that it could be a serious threat to career longevity and performance. MSK pain and injury in Canadian ophthalmologists has not been quantified. Our goal was to estimate the prevalence of MSK issues, to determine the impact of MSK injuries to working hours and health, and to ascertain physician characteristics and practice patterns associated with MSK problems. DESIGN: Survey. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty-nine ophthalmologists and 121 optometrists. METHODS: A voluntary internet-based (Survey Monkey) survey was conducted. All Canadian ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents were contacted via the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, and all optometrists registered through the Canadian Association of Optometrists were contacted through their respective listserve email. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine ophthalmologists (response rate 17%) and 121 optometrists (2.4%) responded to a voluntary internet-based survey. Fifty percent of the ophthalmology respondents reported clinic-associated MSK pain in the preceding 12 months, compared to 61% of optometry respondents (p = 0.06). Of the ophthalmologists, 48.3% said they had experienced occupational MSK pain in the preceding 12 months, which they directly attributed to their operating room activities. Neck pain was reported in 46%, lower back in 36% and shoulder pain in 28% of ophthalmology respondents. This was compared to 34% (p = 0.04), 37% (p = 0.90) and 41% of optometrists (p= 0.02). Respondents in our survey listed "performing the same task over and over", "working in cramped or awkward positions" and "bending or twisting your neck" as the most common causes of MSK pain. CONCLUSION: Our survey identified that a large proportion of respondents reported MSK pain associated with clinical and surgical duties. Physician-led research is needed before industry and administrative partners can develop equipment and work-spaces that are better suited to the needs of physicians.

Sleep outcomes associated with dry eye disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and quantitatively evaluate sleep outcomes of dry eye disease (DED) patients. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PARTICIPANTS: DED patients were individuals with dry eye symptoms or primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). Controls were healthy, non-pSS, or non-DED patients. METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and grey literature was conducted. Studies were screened using Covidence software. Outcomes included sleep quality, duration, daytime sleepiness, prevalence/incidence/severity of sleep disorders, and sleep disturbances. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 13.0. The weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated as the effect size for continuous scale outcomes. Random-effects models were developed based on the presence of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Seventeen full-text articles (16 370 subjects) and 2 conference abstracts (571 763 subjects) were included. Compared to controls, DED patients score higher on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (WMD = 1.69, 95% CI: 0.82, 2.56; I2 = 88.8%, p < 0.001) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (WMD = 2.26, 95% CI: 0.96, 3.56; I2 = 82.4%, p < 0.001). Additionally, DED patients spend less time asleep (WMD = -0.59 hours, 95% CI: -0.94, -0.24; I2 = 85.1%, p < 0.001), experience more sleep disturbances, and may have increased prevalence, incidence, severity of sleep disorders. CONCLUSION: DED patients may have poorer sleep quality, greater daytime sleepiness, less sleep, more sleep disturbances, increased prevalence, incidence, and severity of sleep disorders compared to non-DED patients. Further research is needed to identify potential causes of these outcomes given the paucity and heterogeneity of included studies. It may be worthwhile to consider sleep in the clinical management of DED.

Chronic, Stromal Foreign Body of Presumed Human Origin, following Corneal Abrasion.

A 30-year-old woman presented with left eye pain and photophobia for over eight weeks. A hair was found to be embedded obliquely within the corneal stroma with overlying reepithelialization. The foreign body had been quiescent for over four years prior to any ocular symptoms. Successful removal of the hair was performed using local anesthetic, jeweler's forceps, a microblade, and a thirty-gauge needle with good visual outcome. We report an interesting case of an acute exacerbation of a previously quiescent, chronic corneal foreign body secondary to what we presume to be human hair following trauma, with only three other cases in the English literature.

Association between positive corneal rim cultures and microbiology screening protocols in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: (i) To assess the rate of positive microbiological cultures of corneas prepared by the Eye Bank of Canada (Ontario Division) between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013; (ii) to review the microbiology protocols at the 5 major transplant centres in Ontario; and (iii) to assess the incidence of endophthalmitis during the study period. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4186 consecutive cultured corneal tissues prepared by the Eye Bank from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013. METHODS: Rates of culture-positive cornea rims and incidence of postkeratoplasty endophthalmitis at 5 surgical centres in Ontario were determined, and the protocols used to culture rims at each site were concurrently reviewed. Culture results were analyzed via logistic regression for positive cultures. RESULTS: The rate of positive cultures at each sites were as follows: centre A, 3.74%; centre B, 3.26%; centre C, 0.51%; centre D, 0.48%; and centre E, 0.04%. Centres A, B, and D were noted to have significantly higher positive rates than centre E. In comparing microbiology protocols, longer incubation period (11 days) was 12 times more likely to be associated with higher positive culture rates than shorter period (4-5 days). Six-month follow-up of all keratoplasties revealed zero reported cases of endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: A literature review regarding the predictive value of routine culturing reveals conflicting data. Our findings suggest that differences in the microbiology protocols directly influence the rates of positive rim cultures. Without a standardized protocol, it is not possible to evaluate the predictive value of routine corneal rim culturing in predicting postkeratoplasty endophthalmitis.

Comparison of intraocular pressure post penetrating keratoplasty vs Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) with penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and use of ocular antihypertensives. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five eyes in 33 patients undergoing PKP and 43 eyes in 38 patients undergoing DSEK were included in the analysis. Fifteen eyes undergoing PKP and 12 undergoing DSEK had diagnosed glaucoma. Patients undergoing corneal transplant because of trauma, keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, or prior failed transplant were excluded. METHODS: Charts were obtained for all patients who underwent PKP or DSEK by a single surgeon at the Ivey Eye Institute between 2003 and 2010. IOP and all IOP-lowering medications were recorded preoperatively and at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Complications, graft survival, and glaucoma surgeries were noted. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative IOP between the 2 groups (p = 0.30). Postoperatively, IOP was significantly higher in the PKP group at 1 week (p < 0.01), 4 weeks (p < 0.01), and 8 and 12 weeks (p < 0.05), but not at 24 weeks (p = 0.62). Mean IOP increased significantly post-transplant in all groups (p < 0.05). In patients without glaucoma, postoperative IOP elevation requiring treatment occurred in 68% of PKP eyes and 23% of DSEK eyes. In patients with prior glaucoma, an increased requirement for ocular antihypertensives occurred in 60% of PKP eyes and 20% of DSEK eyes. Three trabeculectomies and 1 tube shunt were performed in the cohort with glaucoma undergoing PKP. No glaucoma surgery was required in the DSEK cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of IOP requiring treatment occurred at a lower rate after DSEK compared with PKP. This difference was significant during the early postoperative course but nonsignificant at 24 weeks. Additional long-term studies on the effect of DSEK on glaucoma and IOP control are warranted.

The epidemiology of herpes simplex virus eye disease in Northern California.

PURPOSE: To calculate the incidence and prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) eye disease in a large, well-defined population in Northern California, USA, and to determine the recurrence rate following an initial episode of disease in this cohort. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, cohort study using population-based data and medical record review. The patient database of a large, regional health maintenance organization (Northern California Kaiser Permanente) was searched, and the study population consisted of 1,042,351 people over a 1-year study period from 1 July 1998 through 30 June 1999. Only ocular HSV cases with definitive clinical or laboratory confirmed diagnoses were included. Active and inactive cases were included, however only active cases were used in incidence and prevalence calculations. Bilateral disease was counted as one case. Newly diagnosed cases were followed for recurrence from initial presentation through 31 December 2002. RESULTS: After chart review of 322 possible cases, 71 new cases and 59 previously diagnosed active cases of ocular HSV were confirmed. This resulted in an incidence rate of 6.8 new cases/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, CI, 5.3-8.6). Incidence increased with age, and rates were highest in people over 75 years of age (p < 0.001). The recurrence rate in new cases was 18% for the 3-year follow-up time, and was equal to 5% per year (95% CI 3-9%). CONCLUSION: The incidence and prevalence of ocular herpes simplex in this study was lower than previously reported. Incidence increased with age, and there were significantly higher rates in the older population.

Atopic disease and herpes simplex eye disease: a population-based case-control study.

PURPOSE: To determine whether atopy is associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) ocular disease. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based, case-control study. SETTING: Large, regional health maintenance organization (Northern California Kaiser Permanente). STUDY POPULATION: 1,042,351 people over a one-year period. OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Electronic database search for HSV ocular disease and subsequent chart review determined study eligibility. Two age-matched control groups (one population-based and one clinic-based) were randomly chosen. Medical record review determined the presence of atopy. Severe atopic disease was defined by diagnostic code or illness requiring an emergency room visit, hospitalization, or treatment with a systemic corticosteroid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of HSV eye disease, presence of atopy, and characterization of atopy severity. RESULTS: HSV eye disease was found in 172 patients. HSV cases had a greater prevalence of atopy (34%, 58/172) than the clinic-based (25%, 43/172) or the population-based controls (21%, 36/172, odds ratio (OR) 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9 to 2.6 and OR 1.9, 95%, CI 1.1 to 3.3, respectively). The association of HSV ocular disease with severe atopy was even greater, with a history of severe atopic disease in 13% (22/172) of patients with HSV ocular disease as compared with 6% (11/172) of patients in the clinic control group and 3% (5/172) of patients in the population control group (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.7 to 5.9 and OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 19.2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HSV ocular disease are more likely to have a history of atopic disease, especially severe atopic disease, than age-matched controls.

Uveitis-associated flap edema and lamellar interface fluid collection after LASIK.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of corneal pathology associated with anterior uveitis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 47-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman who experienced vision loss and corneal changes associated with acute anterior uveitis after LASIK were examined. RESULTS: The 47-year-old man, who had undergone LASIK for low myopia developed an interlamellar fluid pocket at the level of the flap interface, whereas the 50-year-old woman, who underwent LASIK for hyperopia, developed marked flap edema without interface fluid collection. CONCLUSIONS: These two cases demonstrated acute corneal fluid accumulation associated with episodes of acute anterior uveitis in eyes that had undergone LASIK. Uveitis should be considered a risk factor for vision threatening corneal complications after LASIK.