Painful Eyes in Neurology Clinic: A Guide for Neurologists.

Eye pain is a common complaint among patients presenting to the neurology clinic. It can be related to neurologic diseases, but it can also be a localized eye condition. Such disorders can be misleading, as their benign appearance might mask more grave underlying conditions, potentially leading to misdiagnoses or delayed treatment. Clinicians should be aware of the specific neurologic or systemic disorders (eg, demyelinating diseases or vascular abnormalities) that might first manifest as eye pain. Formal ophthalmic consultation is recommended for patients presenting with eye pain as the predominant complaint especially when red flags for more serious pathology are present.

Current status of contact lenses usage in Korea: A population-based cohort study 2021.

PURPOSE: To investigate trends in contact lens usage in a nationally representative sample of the Korean population in 2021. METHODS: For this retrospective study, we analyzed data of 3,601 Korean participants aged 10-59 years, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2021 version), who underwent eye examination, of whom 1,136 individuals (274 men and 862 women) were contact lens users. The demographic trend among Korean contact lens wearers was examined using statistical analyses to investigate the changes in their contact lens-wearing experience, duration of lens use, type of lens used, location of purchase, presence of an Eye Care Practitioner(ECP)'s prescription, lens-related ophthalmic complications, and type of lenses worn at the time of complications, according to sex. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of each variable with the rate of complications and use of soft lenses. RESULTS: The average age of the contact lens users was 33.42±0.33 years, with 70.36% (weighted percentage) of users being women who used contact lenses for significantly longer periods than men (p<0.001). Additionally, only wearing of cosmetic lenses was significantly correlated with the occurrence of complications (p = 0.006), and 6.76% of users purchased lenses without a prescription. Multivariate analysis among the contact lens users revealed a significant relationship between the complication rate and female sex (p = 0.002), pre-existing eye disease diagnosed by ECPs (p = 0.0288), and duration of contact lens use (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: We identified sex differences in contact lens usage trends in Korea. The main changes observed were an increase in middle-aged lens users and a decrease in female users compared to that in the early 2000s. In addition, contact lens complications were significantly associated with sex and pre-existing eye disease. Therefore, those wearing contact lenses for extended periods should exercise caution and consult eye care specialists in the presence of any symptoms.

Congenital ectropion in Noonan syndrome.

Ten-year-old female patient, with facial dysmorphia, scoliosis, short stature, muscular hypotonia, patent foramen ovale and maturational delay, presented for correction of bilateral congenital ectropion. Ophthalmological examination revealed bilateral lower eyelid ectropion, euryblepharon and lagophthalmos, with a positive Bell's phenomenon. She was treated with full-thickness autologous skin grafts on the lower eyelids with bilateral lateral canthoplasty, resolving the ectropion and improving eyelid occlusion. Subsequently, a genetic study was performed that revealed a mutation in the PTPN11 gene and allowed, together with the clinical picture, to make the diagnosis of Noonan syndrome. Noonan syndrome is a multisystem genetic disorder with a wide variety of phenotypes, which usually presents with ocular and periocular disorders. Eyelid ectropion, a distinctive feature of this patient, is a rare ophthalmological manifestation of this syndrome that can be corrected with full-thickness skin graft and lateral canthoplasty.

Clinical utility of handheld fundus and smartphone-based camera for monitoring diabetic retinal diseases: a review study.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading global cause of vision loss, accounting for 4.8% of global blindness cases as estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Fundus photography is crucial in ophthalmology as a diagnostic tool for capturing retinal images. However, resource and infrastructure constraints limit access to traditional tabletop fundus cameras in developing countries. Additionally, these conventional cameras are expensive, bulky, and not easily transportable. In contrast, the newer generation of handheld and smartphone-based fundus cameras offers portability, user-friendliness, and affordability. Despite their potential, there is a lack of comprehensive review studies examining the clinical utilities of these handheld (e.g. Zeiss Visuscout 100, Volk Pictor Plus, Volk Pictor Prestige, Remidio NMFOP, FC161) and smartphone-based (e.g. D-EYE, iExaminer, Peek Retina, Volk iNview, Volk Vistaview, oDocs visoScope, oDocs Nun, oDocs Nun IR) fundus cameras. This review study aims to evaluate the feasibility and practicality of these available handheld and smartphone-based cameras in medical settings, emphasizing their advantages over traditional tabletop fundus cameras. By highlighting various clinical settings and use scenarios, this review aims to fill this gap by evaluating the efficiency, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and remote capabilities of handheld and smartphone fundus cameras, ultimately enhancing the accessibility of ophthalmic services.

Diagnostic Challenges of Ocular Rosacea.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to address the issues surrounding the diagnosis of ocular rosacea and to evaluate the development of the patients' condition after treatment, as well as to distinguish between healthy and diseased patients using a glycomic analysis of tears. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study was conducted to assess a total of 68 eyes in 34 patients over a six-week period. These patients were diagnosed with ocular rosacea based on subjective symptoms and clinical examination. The study monitored the development of objective and subjective values. The difference between patients with the pathology and healthy controls was established by means of analysis of glycans in tears. RESULTS: Skin lesions were diagnosed in 94% of patients with ocular rosacea, with the most commonly observed phenotype being erythematotelangiectatic (68.8%). The mean duration of symptoms was 29.3 months (range 0.5­126 months) with a median of 12 months. Throughout the study, an improvement in all monitored parameters was observed, including Meibomian gland dysfunction, bulbar conjunctival hyperemia, telangiectasia of the eyelid margin, anterior blepharitis, uneven and reddened eyelid margins, and corneal neovascularization. The study also observed improvements in subjective manifestations of the disease, such as foreign body sensation, burning, dryness, lachrymation, itching eyes, photophobia, and morning discomfort. The analysis of glycans in tears partially separated tear samples based on their origin, which allowed for the differentiation of patients with rosacea from healthy controls. In the first sample, the pathology was determined in a total of 63 eyes (98.4%) of 32 patients, with further samples showing a change in the glycomic profile of patients' tears during treatment. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated objective and subjective improvements in all the patients. Tear sampling and analysis could provide a means of timely diagnosis of ocular rosacea.

Ocular therapeutics and the profession of optometry in South Africa.

BACKGROUND:  The role of an optometrist as defined by the World Council of Optometry includes the management of ocular diseases. In 2015, the scope of optometry in South Africa was expanded to include ocular therapeutic drugs. To date approximately 27 optometrists have obtained full certification to exercise ocular therapeutic privileges. AIM:  This study aimed to determine the interest, readiness, as well as challenges, of optometrists for the inclusion of ocular therapeutics into daily practice. SETTING:  The study was set in South Africa. METHODS:  A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was employed. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 420 participants from a study population of optometrists registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, with data collected using an online questionnaire hosted on social media platforms and distributed by professional organisations. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 27. RESULTS:  The majority of respondents (73.3%) reported keenness for ocular therapeutics certification. While 75.7% of respondents had obtained diagnostics certification, only 9.5% were registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) with ocular therapeutics certification. Most (92.1%) respondents reported the required minimum of 600 h of clinical training as a major challenge to obtaining ocular therapeutics certification. Almost all (96.9%) of the respondents agreed that ocular therapeutics certification will improve provision of optimal eyecare. CONCLUSION:  South African optometrists support and are personally interested in ocular therapeutics certification. However, while there is a preponderance of diagnostically qualified optometrists, very few are certified for ocular therapeutics with completion of the required clinical training for certification perceived as the greatest challenge.Contribution: This findings in this study highlight that, current requirements to support ocular therapeutics certification of South African optometrists should be reviewed to ensure an enabling environment for the completion of the clinical training.

Beyond Vision: A View from Eye to Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia.

With the aging of the global population, the health care burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia is considered to increase dramatically in the coming decades. Given the insufficiency of effective interventions for AD and dementia, clinical research on identifying potentially modifiable risk factors and early diagnostic biomarkers becomes a public health priority. Currently, extracerebral manifestations with a large proportion of ocular involvement are usually recognized to precede the symptoms of AD and dementia. Growing epidemiologic evidence also suggests that eye disorders, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and so on, are closely associated with and even have a higher incidence of AD and dementia. The eye, as an extension of the central nervous system, therefore has the potential to provide a feasible approach to detecting structural and functional abnormalities of the brain. Numerous new imaging modalities are developed and give novel insights into the detection of several neurodegenerative, vascular, neuropathological, and other ocular abnormalities of AD and dementia in scientific research and clinical application. This review provides an overview of the epidemiologic associations between eye disorders and AD or dementia and summarizes the recent advances in ocular examinations and techniques employed for the detection of AD and dementia. With more brain-and-eye interconnections being identified, the eye is becoming a noninvasive and easily accessible window for the early diagnosis and prevention of AD and dementia.

Validez de contenido de la propuesta del diagnóstico de enfermería Sequedad ocular en pacientes adultos internados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Content validity of the nursing diagnosis proposal Ocular dryness in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit

Objetivo: Verificar la validez de contenido de la propuesta del diagnóstico de enfermería “Sequedad ocular” en pacientes adultos internados en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Materiales y métodos: Se trata de un estudio metodológico de validación de contenido de la propuesta del diagnóstico de enfermería “Sequedad ocular”, operacionalizado a través de un grupo focal. La selección de especialistas tuvo en cuenta la experiencia clínica y/o académica en el área de diagnósticos de enfermería y/o sequedad ocular y/o ojo seco y/o salud ocular, así como el tiempo de actuación con el tema. Fueron invitados 13 enfermeros que cumplieron con los criterios descritos anteriormente, de los cuales 10 aceptaron participar. El enfoque de validación fue por consenso. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva, nivel de especialización y análisis de elementos diagnósticos. Resultados: Luego del consenso final de los jueces de enfermería en relación a los elementos diagnósticos, se definió una propuesta del diagnóstico “Sequedad ocular” basada en la validez de contenido con una nueva definición, 14 características definitorias, 9 factores relacionados, 2 poblaciones en riesgo y 20 problemas asociados. Además, luego de juzgar la coherencia de los elementos en relación a la estructura diagnóstica, los jueces emitieron el consenso en relación a las definiciones conceptuales y operativas (AU)

Objetivo: Verificar a validade de conteúdo da proposição diagnóstica de enfermagem Ressecamento ocular em pacientes adultos internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo metodológico de validação de conteúdo da proposição diagnóstica de enfermagem Ressecamento ocular, operacionalizado mediante grupo focal. A seleção dos especialistas levou em consideração a experiência clínica e/ou acadêmica na área de diagnósticos de enfermagem e/ou ressecamento ocular e/ou olho seco e/ou saúde ocular, bem como o tempo de atuação na temática. Foram convidados 13 enfermeiros que se enquadravam nos critérios acima descritos, dos quais 10 aceitaram participar. A abordagem de validação foi por consenso. Os dados foram analisados mediante estatística descritiva, nível de expertise e análise dos elementos diagnósticos. Resultados: Após o consenso final dos enfermeiros juízes em relação aos elementos diagnósticos, foi definida uma proposta do diagnóstico Ressecamento ocular a partir da validade de conteúdo com nova definição, 14 características definidoras, 9 fatores relacionados, 2 populações em risco e 20 condições associadas. Após julgar a coerência dos elementos em relação a estrutura diagnóstica, os juízes emitiram o consenso sobre as definições conceituais e operacionais. Conclusões: O estudo permitiu verificar a validade do conteúdo por juízes da proposição diagnóstica de enfermagem Ressecamento ocular em pacientes em unidades de terapia intensiva, o que favorece o raciocínio diagnóstico do enfermeiro e o planejamento de intervenções efetivas relacionadas a esse diagnóstico, permitindo o manejo do paciente de maneira a proporcionar a integridade ocular (AU)

Objective: to verify the content validity of the nursing diagnosis proposal Ocular dryness in adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Materials and methods: this is a methodological study of content validation of the nursing diagnosis proposal Ocular dryness, operationalized through a focus group. The selection of specialists took into account the clinical and/or academic experience in the area of nursing diagnoses and/or ocular dryness and/or dry eye and/or ocular health, as well as the time of performance with the theme. Thirteen nurses who met the criteria described above were invited, of whom 10 agreed to participate. The validation approach was by consensus. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, level of expertise and analysis of diagnostic elements. Results: after the final consensus of the nurse judges in relation to the diagnostic elements, a proposal of the diagnosis Ocular dryness was defined based on the validity of content with a new definition, 14 defining characteristics, 9 related factors, 2 populations at risk and 20 associated conditions. In addition, after judging the coherence of the elements in relation to the diagnostic structure, the judges issued the consensus in relation to the conceptual and operational definitions. Conclusions: the study allowed verifying the validity of the content by judges of the nursing diagnosis proposal Ocular dryness in patients in intensive care units, which favors the diagnostic reasoning of nurses and the planning of effective interventions related to this diagnosis, allowing the management of the patients in order to provide ocular integrity (AU)

Use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires for clinical decision-making and psychological referral in ophthalmic care: a multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of anxiety and depression on clinician decision-making in patients suffering from chronic eye disease in ophthalmological clinical practice. DESIGN AND SETTING: This multicentre observational study, in collaboration with the WHO, included ophthalmologists and their patients affected by chronic eye disease. States of anxiety and depression were screened with specific questionnaires, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), self-administered by patients before the visit. In the present analysis, we report data from three major eye care centres in Italy between 2021 and 2022. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: To assess self-reported changes in ophthalmologists' clinical approach (communication style and their clinical-therapeutic strategies) and decisions after knowing questionnaire scores (primary aim), and to analyse the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in patients with chronic eye diseases (secondary aim). RESULTS: 41 ophthalmologists and 359 patients were included. The results from PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores showed critical depression and anxiety status scores (PHQ-9 ≥5 and GAD-7 ≥10) in 258 patients. In 74% of cases, no actions were taken by the ophthalmologists based on these scores; in 26% of cases, they changed their clinical approach; and in 14% of cases, they referred the patients for psychological/psychiatric evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: States of anxiety and depression affect many patients with chronic eye conditions and need to be detected and managed early to improve patients' well-being. Providing ophthalmologists with knowledge of their patients' psychological conditions can change the clinical management and attitude towards referral for a psychological evaluation. Further studies are needed to expand our knowledge of how to raise awareness among ophthalmologists regarding multimorbidity of patients suffering from chronic eye diseases in order to achieve better clinical outcomes.

Finding Ophthalmic Risk and Evaluating the Value of Eye exams and their predictive Reliability (FOREVER)-A cohort study in a Danish high street optician setting: Design and methodology.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe the rationale and design of Project FOREVER (Finding Ophthalmic Risk and Evaluating the Value of Eye exams and their predictive Reliability). DESIGN: Project FOREVER will build a comprehensive database of clinical eye and vision data collected from ~280 000 adults at 100 optician stores across Denmark. The FOREVER database (FOREVERdb) includes detailed data from refraction, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, visual field assessments and retinal fundus images. Linkage to the comprehensive Danish national registries with, that is diagnostic and prescribing data permits investigation of rare associations and risk factors. 30 000 individuals over 50 also provide a saliva sample for later genetic studies and blood pressure measurements. Of these 30 000, 10 000 will also get optical coherence tomography (OCT) nerve and retinal scans. This subpopulation data is reviewed by ophthalmologists for disease detection. All participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire assessing lifestyle, self-perceived eye health and general health. Enrolment of participants began in April 2022. PERSPECTIVE: The FOREVERdb is a powerful tool to answer a wide range of research questions that can pave the way for better eye health. This database will provide valuable insights for future studies investigating the correlations between eye and general health in a Danish population cohort, enabling research to identify potential risk factors for a range of diseases.

Diagnostic genome sequencing improves diagnostic yield: a prospective single-centre study in 1000 patients with inherited eye diseases.

PURPOSE: Genome sequencing (GS) is expected to reduce the diagnostic gap in rare disease genetics. We aimed to evaluate a scalable framework for genome-based analyses 'beyond the exome' in regular care of patients with inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) or inherited optic neuropathy (ION). METHODS: PCR-free short-read GS was performed on 1000 consecutive probands with IRD/ION in routine diagnostics. Complementary whole-blood RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was done in a subset of 74 patients. An open-source bioinformatics analysis pipeline was optimised for structural variant (SV) calling and combined RNA/DNA variation interpretation. RESULTS: A definite genetic diagnosis was established in 57.4% of cases. For another 16.7%, variants of uncertain significance were identified in known IRD/ION genes, while the underlying genetic cause remained unresolved in 25.9%. SVs or alterations in non-coding genomic regions made up for 12.7% of the observed variants. The RNA-seq studies supported the classification of two unclear variants. CONCLUSION: GS is feasible in clinical practice and reliably identifies causal variants in a substantial proportion of individuals. GS extends the diagnostic yield to rare non-coding variants and enables precise determination of SVs. The added diagnostic value of RNA-seq is limited by low expression levels of the major IRD disease genes in blood.

Modelling and Development of a Mechanical Eye for the Evaluation of Robotic Systems for Surgery.

Ophthalmic surgery, which addresses critical eye diseases such as retinal disorders, remains a formidable and arduous surgical pursuit. Nevertheless, with the advent of cutting-edge robotics and automation technology, significant advancement has been made in recent years to enhance the safety and efficacy of these procedures through meticulous research and development efforts. Ensuring the safe and effective execution of micro-surgical procedures requires stringent quality control measures, notably concerning evaluating and testing the devices utilized. During the development phase, these instruments must undergo extensive and continual evaluation by clinical practitioners to guarantee their safety and efficacy. Ideally, the test conditions should be identical to those of an actual operation. When testing robotic systems for ophthalmology, essential variables of the human eye, such as tissue properties and movement mechanisms, should be addressed. To minimize the discrepancy of tests and actual eye surgery conditions, in this paper, we propose a developed mechanical eye model to enable the realistic evaluation of ophthalmic surgical systems. After developing a virtual and physical model, the model was tested by an eye surgeon. The eye surgeon rated the model with four out of five possible points.Clinical relevance- This method ensures minimal discrepancy in verification of ophthalmic surgical devices by allowing the mechanical eye model to behave similar to the human eye, thus providing a realistic surgical procedure.

EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY ROTATION ON FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTICE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: A MULTICENTER STUDY.

Introduction: Globally, 36 million people are blind and 217 million people have moderate or severe distance vision impairment. Eighty-nine percent of vision-impaired people live in low and middle-income countries. To prevent progression to blindness, there is a need for early diagnosis and referral for treatment. At the heart of this are the Family Physicians who are the first port of call for our teeming population. Objectives: The main aim of this study is to assess the ophthalmic knowledge base of Family Physicians and the level of utilization of skills acquired during the ophthalmology rotation in their day-to-day practice. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was filled by all consenting Family Physicians in 4 hospitals in 2 states. It included a self-assessment section on knowledge, ophthalmic skills, and open-ended questions on suggestions. An on-the-spot assessment of available ophthalmic equipment was made. Data was analyzed using STATA 13 with descriptive and analytical statistics to yield frequencies, percentages, and proportions. A significant between-class difference was indicated by P < 0.05. Results: A response rate of 57.9% was obtained. Respondents are graduates from 14 states across the country; mostly in Northern Nigeria 61(87.1%) and 65.6% from the University of Jos. Most respondents received the 4 weeks of ophthalmology rotation 53(82.8%) in undergraduate and 61 (95.3%) in postgraduate. On a dichotomized Likert scale, 68 (97.1%) rated their ophthalmology posting/training experience as satisfactory with half of these ranking their experience as average. There was no statistically significant difference between the level of practice and comfort in managing ophthalmic conditions (p = 0.949). Respondents made suggestions on training, duration and equipment. Conclusion: Most Family Physicians had ophthalmology training for the required 4 weeks by the colleges in addition to the undergraduate training giving them a good knowledge base. Despite a good rating in managing ophthalmic conditions, only one of the 4 hospitals had ophthalmic equipment. There is a need to objectively measure Family Physicians' ophthalmic skills to ensure that eye patients seen first by Family Physicians receive appropriate treatment.

Artificial intelligence within ophthalmologic diseases.

As ophthalmology is an increasingly busy medical specialty relying solidly on imaging technology, this review investigates the introduction of artificial intelligence to improve diagnostic performance and reduce human resources. In diabetic retinopathy screening, algorithms are now regulatory-approved for international markets but not yet tailored for the Danish system. In age-related macular degeneration, algorithms are now able to facilitate the classification and segmentation of disease activity, and in upcoming years, these are likely to assist us to improve diagnosis and provide subsequent clinical care.