Patient satisfaction and attitudes towards immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate patients' first-hand experience, satisfaction and attitudes towards immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). SETTING: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, UK. DESIGN: Retrospective study using semi-structured phone interviews and qualitative content analysis. METHODS: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted by an independent interviewer, to explore patients' experiences of ISBCS, at least four weeks postoperatively. The open-ended responses were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Categories and meaning units were tabulated, with the number and percentage of patients contributing to each category provided. RESULTS: 25 patients were included. All patients rated their overall satisfaction of ISBCS as 'very satisfied' and would opt again to have both eyes operated on the same day. 22 patients (88%) reported a 'very good/comfortable' surgery experience. After surgery, 24 patients (96%) felt completely safe going home, with most organizing for family or friends to drive them home. None of the patients experienced any complications in the postoperative period. 24 patients (96%) experienced only minimal reduction in accomplishing daily living activities after surgery and 24 patients (96%) said they would recommend ISBCS to family and friends. CONCLUSION: The results support wider implementation of ISBCS from the patient's perspective and experience. Providing written information addressing common themes and concerns is recommended to increase patient acceptance and uptake of ISBCS preoperatively.

Dupilumab-associated ocular surface disease: presentation, management and long-term sequelae.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the presenting features of ocular surface disease in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with dupilumab at a tertiary, university hospital. To establish the need for treatment of dupilumab-associated ocular surface disease and report any long-term effects on the ocular surface. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients treated with dupilumab for AD between January 2017 and August 2019 was undertaken. Data were collected on demographics, incidence and type of ocular disease features, natural history and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 50% (14/28) patients developed ocular symptoms with a mean time of onset of 6.75 (±6.1) weeks from starting dupilumab. Of these, 69% (9/13) were diagnosed with conjunctivitis associated with cicatrisation in two patients and periorbital skin changes in four. Of these nine, four had prior history of atopic keratoconjunctivitis. All were treated with topical steroids; two required additional ciclosporin drops. In all, 67% (6/9) patients went on to have on-going ocular inflammation requiring maintenance drops at a mean of 16 (±6.9) months of follow-up. All patients had improvement in their AD severity; only one patient discontinued dupilumab due to ocular side effects. CONCLUSION: The rate of dupilumab-associated ocular surface disease was 32%. Periorbital skin changes and conjunctival cicatrisation were noted in association with conjunctivitis. Ocular surface disease improved on topical steroids and ciclosporin but 67% of patients needed on-going treatment. Close liaison with an ophthalmologist should be considered in those patients who develop conjunctivitis or have a past history of severe ocular surface disease.

Accuracy of intraocular lens power calculation methods when targeting low myopia in monovision.

PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy of IOL power calculation methods for refractive targets of myopia compared with emmetropia. SETTING: Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Australia. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. METHODS: Patients undergoing bilateral, sequential cataract surgery with a plan of modest monovision were analyzed. Target refraction was plano (distance eye) and -1.25 diopters (D) (near eye). Prediction error was determined by comparing the actual postoperative refraction with the predicted postoperative refraction, calculated by the Barrett Universal II (BUII), Hill-RBF version 2.0 (Hill-RBF 2.0), Haigis, Holladay 1, SRK/T, and Hoffer Q formulas. The dataset was divided into distance and near eye subgroups. Mean and median absolute error and percentage of eyes within ±0.25, ±0.50, ±0.75, and ±1.00 D of refractive target were compared. RESULTS: The study included 88 consecutive patients. There was a consistent trend for lower refractive accuracy in the near eyes. BUII and Hill-RBF 2.0 were the most accurate overall and least affected by this phenomenon, with 1 (1.1%) and 4 (4.6%) fewer eyes, respectively, in the near subgroup achieving ±0.50 D of target. Haigis and SRK/T were most affected, with 14 (15.9%) and 11 (12.5%) fewer near eyes achieving ±0.50 D of target (P < .05). Holladay 1 and Hoffer Q occupied the middle ground, with 6 (6.8%) and 9 (10.2%) fewer near eyes achieving ±0.50 D of target. CONCLUSIONS: IOL-power calculation formulas appear to be less accurate when targeting myopia compared with emmetropia. BUII and Hill-RBF 2.0 represented good options when planning pseudophakic monovision as they were least affected by this phenomenon and can be used for both distance and near eyes.

Modified thin manual Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty with air-guided, non-pachymetric donor lenticule dissection: outcomes of graft thickness and complication rate.

AIM: To describe a modified technique of donor lenticule dissection for thin manual Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (TM-DSEK). METHODS: Donor material was soaked in balanced salt solution (BSS) for 30min, before being mounted on an artificial anterior chamber (AAC). Rather than BSS, the AAC was filled with filtered air, resulting in a visible reflection at the corneal endothelium-air interface. This reflection served as a landmark for the depth of the dissection, facilitating the creation of a thin lenticule with low risk of perforation. Dissection was commenced at a standardized depth of 500 microns, with no initial pachymetry necessary. Totally 29 donor corneas were dissected by a novice TM-DSEK surgeon. Dissection time, central graft thickness at 2mo and complications were analysed. RESULTS: Results were similar to other endothelial keratoplasty techniques, despite the cases being performed by a novice DSEK surgeon. Mean dissection time was 7min (range 6-10). One graft perforation occurred (3.45%), but the air tamponaded the break and enabled dissection to be restarted and completed from a different location. Mean central graft thickness after at least two months follow-up was 106 microns (range 25-170). CONCLUSION: A problem with manual DSEK is the risk of graft perforation by attempting to dissect too thin a lenticule, or creating a thick graft due to fear of perforating. This modified air-guided technique addresses this problem, and is recommended for surgeons either embarking on the learning curve, or who wish to achieve more consistently thin grafts while reducing perforation rates.

Methods for Intraocular Lens Power Calculation in Cataract Surgery after Radial Keratotomy.

PURPOSE: To compare methods of calculating the required intraocular lens (IOL) power for patients undergoing cataract surgery after radial keratotomy (RK), including the 2016 update of the True K formula. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 52 eyes of 34 patients who had sequential RK and cataract surgery performed in the same institution by 1 of 2 surgeons. METHODS: Seven IOL calculation formulae were evaluated: True K [History], True K [Partial History], True K [No History], Double-K Holladay 1 (DK-Holladay-IOLM), Potvin-Hill, Haigis, and Haigis with a -0.50 diopter (D) offset. Biometry was obtained with the IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) and Pentacam (OCULUS Inc, Arlington, WA) devices. Subjective refraction was performed at 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively. The achieved spherical equivalent outcome was compared with the target outcome to calculate the absolute error for each eye with each formula. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Median absolute error (MedAE) and mean absolute error (MAE), and percentage of patients within ±0.50 D, ±0.75 D, and ±1.00 D of refractive target. Mean error (ME) was also calculated to demonstrate whether a formula tended toward more myopic or hyperopic outcomes. RESULTS: Best results were achieved with the True K [History]. The MedAE was higher (0.382 vs. 0.275) with the True K [Partial History], but a similar percentage of patients (75.0%-76.6%) achieved within ±0.50 D of target. Of the methods that do not require refractive history, the True K [No History] and unadjusted Haigis were most accurate (69.2% within ±0.50 D of target), with the True K [No History] returning the lowest MedAE but also more of a tendency toward hyperopia (ME +0.269 vs. -0.006 for Haigis). The DK-Holladay-IOLM and Potvin-Hill methods were the least accurate. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the refractive history significantly improves the accuracy of IOL calculations in patients undergoing cataract surgery after previous RK. The post-RK refraction appears to be the most important parameter, with inclusion of the pre-RK refraction offering a further slight improvement in MedAE. When no refractive history is available, the True K [No History] and Haigis formulae both perform well, with the added advantage of not requiring data from separate biometric devices.

Using the first-eye prediction error in cataract surgery to refine the refractive outcome of the second eye.

PURPOSE: To refine the refractive outcome of the second eye after cataract surgery by deriving adjustment coefficients for intraocular lens (IOL) selection based on the prediction error (PE) of the first eye. SETTING: University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, England, and the Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Australia. DESIGN: Retrospective study of two heterogeneous datasets. METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine patients who underwent delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery in Australia were retrospectively analyzed. The PE was determined by comparing postoperative subjective refraction with the predicted postoperative refraction (PPOR) calculated by the Barrett Universal II, Hoffer Q, Holladay I, and SRK/T formulas. Adjustment coefficients were derived for each formula and applied to the second eye's IOL calculation. Separately, patient-specific optimized IOL constants were derived from the first-eye PE and applied to the second-eye calculation. The same adjustments were applied to a dataset of 605 patients in the United Kingdom to test the validity of the Australian results. RESULTS: The study comprised data on 139 patients in Australia and 605 patients in the U.K. The Australian-derived adjustment coefficients based on PE ranged from 0.30 to 0.56 (Barrett Universal II 0.30; Hoffer Q 0.56; Holladay I 0.53; SRK/T 0.48). Applying these to the U.K. dataset led to the percentage of patients within 0.50 diopters of PPOR with their second eye improving from 70.74%, 65.29%, 69.09%, and 67.77%, with the Barrett Universal II, Hoffer Q, Holladay I, and SRK/T, respectively, to 72.73%, 68.76%, 71.57%, and 72.56%. Using patient-specific optimized IOL constants derived from the first eye had similar efficacy to formula-specific adjustment. CONCLUSION: Second-eye refinement via either formula-specific PPOR adjustment or patient-specific IOL constant adjustment improved the percentage of patients achieving the refractive target with their second eye.

Determinants of visual quality after endothelial keratoplasty.

Endothelial keratoplasty is now favored over full-thickness penetrating keratoplasty for corneal decompensation secondary to endothelial dysfunction. Although endothelial keratoplasty has evolved as surgeons strive to improve outcomes, fewer patients than expected achieve best corrected visual acuity of 20/20 despite healthy grafts and no ocular comorbidities. Reasons for this remain unclear, with theories including anterior stromal changes, differences in graft thickness and regularity, induced high-order aberrations, and the nature of the graft-host interface. Newer iterations of endothelial keratoplasty such as thin manual Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, ultrathin automated Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty have achieved rates of 20/20 acuity of approximately 50%, comparable to modern cataract surgery, and it may be that a ceiling exists, particularly in the older age group of patients. Establishing the relative contribution of the factors that determine visual quality following endothelial keratoplasty will help drive further innovation, optimizing visual and patient-reported outcomes while improving surgical efficacy and safety.

Angle-closure glaucoma on long-haul flights.

IMPORTANCE: Unlike other modes of long-distance travel, long-haul flights delay urgent, specialist medical treatment until the destination is reached or the plane is diverted. Angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) occurring during those flights results in considerable morbidity and may cause permanent visual loss. It is preventable in patients with risk factors but may be an underrecognized and underreported phenomenon on long-haul flights. OBSERVATION: We report a case series of 3 patients with ACG that developed on long-haul flights. The patients presented to 2 ophthalmic institutions for treatment in the south of England between 2010 and 2012. All patients were female and hypermetropic, and all experienced considerable morbidity while awaiting medical treatment that was not available in flight. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Individuals with risk factors should be advised on the symptoms of ACG and the appropriate course of action should those symptoms occur. Prophylactic therapy with pilocarpine, 2%, eyedrops may be useful for individuals with risk factors who are embarking on long-haul flights. Airline personnel should be aware of ACG and encouraged to consider the value of training cabin crews to provide appropriate first-aid measures.

Video recording of ophthalmic surgery--ethical and legal considerations.

Video documenting is increasingly used in ophthalmic training and research, with many ophthalmologists routinely recording their surgical cases. Although this modality represents an excellent means of improving technique and advancing knowledge, there are major ethical and legal considerations with its use. Informed consent to record is required in most situations. Patients should be advised of any risk of identification and the purpose of the recording. Systems should be in place to deal with issues such as data storage, withdrawal of consent, and patients requesting copies of their recording. Privacy and security of neither patients nor health care professionals should be compromised. Ownership and distribution of video recordings, the potential for their use in medical litigation, the ethics and legality of editing and the impact on surgeon performance are other factors to consider. Although video recording of ophthalmic surgery is useful and technically simple to accomplish, patient safety and welfare must always remain paramount.

Bilateral visual loss: more than meets the eye.

A 72-year-old woman presented with acute onset bilateral visual loss. She had no other symptoms or signs, but had a complex past medical history including blood transfusions and immunosuppression. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral occipital lobe vasogenic edema, consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Her vision improved with conservative management.