Psychological aspects of living with an artificial eye.

PURPOSE: Artificial eye clinics address physical and aesthetic aspects of orbital prostheses, but psychological effects may not be formally addressed. In general, without effective coping mechanisms, stress can lead to anxiety and depression. This study aims to determine, in the context of having an artificial eye, whether coping strategies, as well as perception of illness and other demographic and clinical variables are associated with anxiety or depression. METHODS: Consecutive patients attending two artificial eye clinics were invited to participate in this audit. Participants completed questionnaires: HADS, Brief IPQ and Brief COPE. Variables with a correlation coefficient of ≥0.2 with anxiety or depression were included in regression modeling. The extent to which the participants' emotional and cognitive representations of their artificial eye related to feelings of anxiety and depression was determined. RESULTS: In the cohort of 208, clinically significant anxiety was present in 29.5% and clinically significant depression was present in 8.4%. Perceptions of the impact of the artificial eye and self-blame as a coping strategy were correlated with anxiety. Depression levels were higher when participants believed that their artificial eye had a greater impact on their life, when they lived alone, and when they used substances as a coping strategy. CONCLUSION: Significant levels of anxiety exist in those living with artificial eyes, with various coping strategies used. Addressing this and offering alternative coping strategies may improve patient well being and overall satisfaction.

The BElfast Retinal Tear and detachment Score (BERT Score).

PURPOSE: To establish a scoring system to triage patients presenting with symptoms of flashes and floaters to allow safe differentiation between those with retinal tears and detachments, versus uncomplicated posterior vitreous detachments (PVDs). METHODS: Prospective and retrospective audits of 153 patients presenting to eye casualty and vitreoretinal clinics to ascertain the clinical features most likely to be associated with retinal pathology, rather than simple PVD. We then developed a scoring system, which was applied to 160 patients in a further prospective audit. RESULTS: The significant risk factors, symptoms and signs were identified then given a number related to their importance: male sex 1, myopia 1, blurred vision 2, shadow 2, vitreous haemorrhage 3, tobacco dust 4. The scores were summed and a total score > 3 was more likely to be a complicated PVD. Sensitivity of the scoring system was 90% (confidence interval (CI) 68.3-98.8%), specificity 80% (CI 73.2-86.9%), positive predictive value 40% (CI 25.7-55.7%), and negative predictive value 98.26% (CI 93.9-99.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The BElfast Retinal Tear and detachment Score is an easy to apply scoring system, which has a high sensitivity and negative predictive value i.e. nearly all retinal tears or detachments are detected by the scoring system.

Treatment of choroidal neovascularisation secondary to membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II with intravitreal ranibizumab.

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (MPGN II) is characterised by electron-dense deposits of complement components in the glomerular basement membrane and retinal pigment epithelium. Approximately, 10% of affected individuals develop serious ocular complications similar to age-related macular degeneration such as choroidal neovascularisation (CNV), which has been managed with photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy; however, these treatments can impact visual acuity. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with MPGN II presenting with decreased visual acuity and paracentral scotoma in her left eye due to an extrafoveal choroidal neovascular membrane (growth of new vessels under the retina). The patient was successfully treated with intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis) with restoration of visual function. This case highlights the successful management of CNV secondary to MPGN II with the antivascular endothelial growth factor agent ranibizumab and emphasises the importance of early referral of patients with MPGN II who are reporting of visual 'distortion'.