Effects of prolonged waiting time on visual outcomes of patients with pediatric cataract in a Tertiary Public Hospital

Background@#Pediatric cataract is one of the most common preventable cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Early and timely intervention of pediatric cataract is important to maximize the visual outcomes and start prompt visual rehabilitation.@*Objectives@#This study aimed to determine the average time from the day of initial consult at the outpatient clinic to the day of the cataract surgery and compare the effects of delayed surgery on visual outcomes of patients.@*Methods@#This is a retrospective chart review of medical records from January 2015 to June 2022. The dates of the different steps in the process up to the day of intervention were noted and the average interval duration and the total waiting time were determined. Patients operated on within 2 weeks from initial consult was defined as no delay while those operated >2 weeks had delayed surgery. Pre-operative and post-operative best corrected log MAR visual acuity were compared within each group to determine if delay in surgical intervention has a significant effect on the visual outcomes of patients.@*Results@#Median age at initial consult was 4.9 years while median age at surgery was 5.2 years. Ninety-nine (99) patients had developmental cataract and 123 patients had bilateral cataract. Leukocoria was the most common chief complaint (63.45%). Pre-operatively, 94 patients had strabismus, 49 had eye preference, 48 had nystagmus, and 43 had amblyopia in the diagnosis. There was significantly faster admission to cataract surgery during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic period but there was no difference in the total waiting time. Patients with congenital cataract had the least total waiting time followed by developmental, and rubella cataract. There is no significant difference in visual outcomes between patients operated without delay and with delay.@*Conclusion@#There is delayed age at diagnosis and surgery of pediatric cataract patients in the Philippine General Hospital. Early surgery did not reflect better visual outcomes compared to delayed surgery probably due to delay in consultation of patients.

Long-term real-world outcomes in retinal vein occlusions: How close are we to the trials?

Purpose: To assess and analyze the visual outcomes of patients with retinal vein occlusions in a real?world setting with a long?term follow?up of more than 5 years. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 56 patients having retinal vein occlusions from a tertiary eye center, with a mean follow?up of 7 years was performed. Primary outcome measures were mean change in best?corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and final visit (?5 years), proportion of patients having BCVA better than 20/40 and worse than 20/200, and mean number of injections. Secondary outcome measures were change in central macular thickness (CMT), development of subsequent retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in same eye or the other eye, and development of neovascular complications. Results: The mean change in letter score was + 11.84 in branch RVO (BRVO), +7.14 in non?ischemic central RVO (CRVO), and ?9.5 in ischemic CRVO at 1 year, which changed to + 8.57, ?5 and ? 24, respectively, at the end of follow?up. CMT had improved from 506 ± 98.8 ?m, 576.44 ± 149 ?m, and 618 ± 178.27 ?m, respectively, at baseline to 267 ± 94 ?m, 345.20 ± 122.61 ?m, and 265.50 ± 107.75 ?m, respectively, in BRVO, non?ischemic, and ischemic hemi RVO (HRVO)/CRVO groups. The total mean number of injections given in BRVO, non?ischemic CRVO, and ischemic CRVO groups were 4.6, 6.6, and 4.1, respectively. None of the patients with BRVO developed neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Non?ischemic to ischemic HRVO/CRVO conversion was noted in 4/11 eyes at a mean duration of 12.6 months. NVG was noted in 7/9 eyes (77.8%) in initial ischemic CRVO/HRVO group and 3/4 (75%) converted eyes. Conclusion: Patients with BRVO have good visual outcomes with anti?VEGF, while in CRVO results may vary considerably owing to patient compliance and treatment burden on long?term follow?up in a real?world setting

Epidemic retinitis - Factors associated with poor visual outcomes

Purpose: To identify factors other than macular edema and retinitis location responsible for poor visual outcomes in epidemic retinitis (ER). Methods: A retrospective, observational, comparative study. Eyes with corrected distant visual acuity (CDVA) 20/200 or worse at resolution formed Group A. Eyes with central macular thickness (CMT) 600 ?m or worse and retinitis within 1500 ?m to foveal center at the presentation, but improved to CDVA 20/200 or better at the resolution formed Group B. The patient’s history, clinical presentation, imaging, and treatment outcomes were studied and the factors responsible for the final visual outcomes were compared in both groups. Results: Groups A and B included 25 eyes each. The mean CDVA at the presentation was 20/400 (range: 20/125–20000) and 20/320 (range: 20/80–20000), and mean CMT at the presentation was 948.5 ?m (range: 520–1553) and 912.2 ?m (range: 615–1250) in Groups A and B, respectively. All eyes except 1 (Group A) had retinitis lesions within 1500 ?m of foveal center. The mean CDVA at the resolution was 20/400 (range: 20/200–20/20000) and 20/40 (range: 20/20–20/80) in Groups A and B, respectively. Older age, male gender, diabetic status, delayed presentation, poor presenting CDVA, bilaterality, presence of keratic precipitates, disk pallor, retinal thinning, and subfoveal deposits had a statistically significant association, whereas the absence of skin rash, ellipsoid zone loss, negative WIDAL, Weil?Felix test, and delayed doxycycline therapy or use of steroids without doxycycline had a statistically insignificant association with poor visual outcomes. Conclusion: Apart from presenting CMT and location of retinitis, multiple demographic, clinical, and imaging factors can be implicated for poor visual outcomes

Visual outcomes and quality of life before and after photorefractive keratectomy

Purpose: To compare visual outcomes and vision?related quality of life (VRQoL) between subjects before and after photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) and controls. In addition, VRQoL was compared between subjects at different periods of PRK surgery. Methods: This was a cross?sectional study that included subjects with refractive errors aged 19–40 years and age?matched controls. Subjects were divided into three groups: pre?, post?PRK, and control. Subjects in the post?PRK group were divided into three subgroups (1?week, <6?month, and >6?month follow?up visits). Measurements including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent (SE) of manifest refraction, and corneal topography were obtained for all participants. The Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) questionnaire was administered to compare VRQOL between groups and between post?refractive surgery subgroups. Results: A total of 145 participants were included in this study. The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of all participants was 26.29 ± 5.1 years. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in total QIRC scores between groups. The total QIRC score was better in the post?PRK group than in the pre?PRK and control groups. The scores of items included in the convenience, well?being, and health concern domains were significantly higher in the post?PRK group than in the pre?PRK and control groups. Within the post?PRK group, significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in UCVA and SE between the post?PRK subgroups. Uncorrected VA and SE were better in the post?PRK groups who were followed up in the < 6 and > 6 months subgroups than in the 1?week follow?up subgroup (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: A significant improvement in visual outcomes and VRQoL occurred after PRK surgery. Subjects enjoyed their VRQoL after refractive surgery.

Factors affecting visual outcomes of children with open globe injury

Objective@#This study described the demographics of pediatric patients who sustained open globe injuries, determined the visual outcome of open globe injuries in pediatric patients and the factors associated with final visual acuity. @*Methodology@#The medical charts of 195 patients aged 0-18 years seen for open globe injury in a Philippine tertiary hospital for three years were reviewed. @*Results@#The average age of patients was 7.9 years with 41% belonging to the 5-9 years old group. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the patients were males. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the open globe injuries were accidental, mostly from play (67%). The most common agents of injury were metallic objects (42%) followed by wooden objects (24%). The cornea was injured in 80% of the cases, cornea and sclera in 10%, sclera in 7%, and globe rupture in 3%. Eighty-six percent (86%) of the patients underwent surgery. Initial visual acuity was associated with the presence of complication and the site of injury. Final visual acuity was associated with the initial visual acuity, the interval from injury to consultation, the site of injury, and the presence of complications. @*Conclusions@#The majority of the injuries were accidental and thus avoidable. The education of parents and caregivers on proper storage of potentially harmful objects at home and proper supervision of children at play are important in addition to early consultation after the injury as well as a timely intervention.

Efectividad del Ocular Trauma Score en la predicción de los resultados visuales en pacientes con catarata traumática / Effectiveness of the Ocular Trauma Score to predict visual outcomes in traumatic cataract patients

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del Ocular Trauma Score como factor pronóstico de la agudeza visual final en pacientes con diagnóstico de catarata traumática. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y de evaluación de un sistema pronóstico en una serie de 61 casos. Los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos de acuerdo con el mecanismo del trauma. Se estudió la relación entre la agudeza visual a los tres meses después de la cirugía de catarata y las variables demográficas y clínicas. El resultado visual se predijo mediante el Ocular Trauma Score y se comparó con el obtenido. Resultados: La mediana de la edad de los pacientes estudiados fue de 52,8 (RI: 44,0-63,0) años. Los pacientes con antecedentes de trauma abierto tendieron a ser más jóvenes: 50,5 (RI: 43,0-54,0) años de edad vs. 57,0 (RI: 45,5-65,5) años. Predominaron los pacientes del sexo masculino (85,2 por ciento) y de baja escolaridad (55,7 por ciento). Se observó mejoría de la agudeza visual mejor corregida después de la cirugía, en particular en los pacientes con trauma cerrado. El Ocular Trauma Score pronosticó adecuadamente para agudeza visual de 20/40 o más. Conclusiones: Se logran buenos resultados con el uso del Ocular Trauma Score como factor pronóstico de la agudeza visual en pacientes con diagnóstico de catarata traumática(AU)

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Ocular Trauma Score as a prognostic factor for final visual acuity in patients diagnosed with traumatic cataract. Methods: A descriptive longitudinal evaluative study was conducted of a prognostic system in a series of 61 cases. The patients were divided into two groups according to the trauma mechanism. An analysis was performed of the relationship between visual acuity three months after cataract surgery and clinical and demographic variables. Visual outcome was predicted with the Ocular Trauma Score and then compared with the result obtained. Results: Mean age of the patients studied was 52.8 (IR 44.0-63.0) years. Patients with a history of open trauma tended to be younger: 50.5 (IR: 43.0-54.0) years vs. 57.0 (IR: 45.5-65.5) years. A predominance was found of male sex (85.2 percent) and a low educational level (55.7percent. Best corrected visual acuity was found to improve after surgery, particularly in patients with closed trauma. The Ocular Trauma Score predicted appropriately for visual acuity values of 20/40 or higher. Conclusions: Good results are obtained with the use of the Ocular Trauma Score as a prognostic factor for visual acuity in patients diagnosed with traumatic cataract(AU)

Assessment of Risk Factors, Etiological Factors and Visual Outcomes of Infected Globe Injuries among Paediatrics and Adults – A Prospective Study

Introduction: Ocular trauma is the major cause of monocularvisual impairment and blindness in the world. The aim of thepresent study was to assess the infected globe injury withreference to demography, etiology, clinical features and visualoutcomes among paediatric and adult patients.Material and Methods: The present study was a prospectivestudy which was done among 92 patients. All patients whopresented to ophthalmology department with mechanicalglobe injuries leading to ocular infection (see methodologyfor definition of ocular infection) were included in the study.Visual status assessment was done with a Snellen chart for allage groups except for children below 5 years of age where ageappropriate tests will be used for VA assessment.Results: The total number of patients in the study was92 patients. Majority of which 77 were found to be males(83.7%) and females were 15 (16.3%). Majority of thepatients were less than 20 years (39.5%). At 6 months followup after management, we found that there was a significantimprovement in BCVA level (P <0.001) and there was alsosignificant relationship of increase in the OTS score withbetter VA in our study. The factors such as Cornea infiltrate(OR = 7.37, 95%CI (1.13 – 47.96), p-=0.037), Fundus goodglow (OR = 0.02, 95%CI (0.001 – 0.23), p=0.002) and Dullglow (OR = 0.16, 95% CI (0.03 – 0.99), p =0.049) were foundto be significant after multivariate analysis.Conclusion: Corneal infiltrate was identified as the singlemost independent risk factor for poor outcome in ourstudy. Children were the mostly affected group with malesoutnumbering females. Wooden sticks were the commonestinsulting agent. Despite the late presentation and predominantzone I injury, eye could be salvaged in majority with visualrecovery of 6/12 and better in 41 cases (44.6%).

The visual outcomes after cataract surgery in urban slums of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India: a cross sectional study

Background: Poor outcomes of cataract surgery are a major problem in developing countries, including India which affects the demand and uptake of cataract surgical services. The present study was aimed to assess the visual outcomes after cataract surgery and identify factors associated with it, among persons aged 50 year and above in urban slums of Raipur.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in15 randomly selected clusters (urban slums) of Raipur from June 2012 to March 2013. Interviews, Visual Acuity measurements and ocular examinations were performed on all persons aged 50 year and above through house to house visits. Details about surgical intervention i.e. date, setting, type of cataract surgery were obtained from cataract operated persons, for each eye that had cataract surgery. Collected data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi- square test was used to determine the associations of different cataract related parameters with visual outcomes in cataract operated eyes.Results: Of the 870 participants, 203 persons (329 eyes) had undergone cataract surgery. Among all operated eyes, visual outcome was good (VA ?6/18) in 84.5%, borderline (VA <6/18 and ?6/60) in 12.5%, and poor (VA <6/60) in 3% of eyes with available correction. Visual outcome of cataract surgery was significantly associated with age at time of surgery, literacy, type of surgery, place of surgery and time since surgery.Conclusions: The visual outcomes of cataract surgery were excellent in study area; it can be further improved by appropriate refractive correction, provision of glasses and adequate follow up after cataract surgery.

Healthcare Utilization and Treatment Patterns in Diabetic Macular Edema in Korea: a Retrospective Chart Review

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on real-world treatment patterns for diabetic macular edema (DME) in Korea. In this study, we investigated DME treatment patterns from 2009 to 2014 and the impact of baseline treatment on healthcare resource utilization and visual acuity (VA) outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort chart review of DME patients treated at 11 hospital ophthalmology clinics between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013 was conducted. We collected data on demographics, healthcare resource utilization (clinic visits, treatment visits, and visits for ocular investigations), distribution of DME treatments, and VA. RESULTS: Overall, 522 DME patients (men, 55.2%; mean age, 59 years; mean HbA1c [n = 209], 8.4%) with 842 DME eyes were evaluated. For all treatments, healthcare resource utilization was significantly higher during the first 6 months versus months 7–12, year 2, or year 3 (P ≤ 0.001), but was highest for patients whose first treatment was an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment (visits/quarter; anti-VEGF, 1.9; corticosteroids, 1.7; laser, 1.4). Use of macular laser therapy decreased (44% to 8%), whereas use of anti-VEGF injections increased (44% to 69%) during the study period. However, VA improvement was not commensurate with healthcare resource utilization of anti-VEGF treatment (mean VA gain, 2.7 letters). CONCLUSION: A trend toward increasing use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for DME treatment was observed in Korea. However, the frequency of dosing and monitoring was lower in clinical practice versus major clinical trials, which may have led to the less-than-favorable improvements in visual outcomes.

Timing and visual changes of secondary intraocular lens implantation in infants with congenital cataract / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Bilateral congenital cataract is one of the vision-threating diseases during infant age.Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is an ideal refraction correction method for children who have already received bilateral cataract extraction.However,the timing and effectiveness of secondary IOL implantation are still under debate.Objective This study was to analyze the visual changes and affecting factors before and after secondary IOL implantation and explore the operative timing.Methods The clinical data of 58 eyes of 29 patients who received bilateral cataract extraction-refractive correction and vision training-secondary IOL implantation in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients received bilateral cataract extraction and posterior capsulotomy with anterior vitrectomy during their first year of life firstly,followed by the wearing of refractive spectacles or visual training,and secondary IOL implantation was simultaneously performed until ＞2 years old.Best corrected visual acurity (BCVA) (LogMAR) was examined at 1 week before and 3 months after secondary surgery under the mydriasis.Changes,distribution alternation of BCVA and the relationship of visual prognosis with preoperative visual acuity were evaluated.Results The average age at surgery of the patients was (3.26±2.07) months and that at secondary IOL implantation was (4.79± 1.38) years,with the operative interval of (4.28± 1.33) years.The BCVA before and after secondary IOL implantation was 0.790± 0.422 and 0.570±0.307 respectively,showing a significant difference between them (t =3.223,P＜0.001).The number of eyes with BCVA ≥ 0.5 after surgery was significantly more than that before surgery (x2=53.931,P＜0.001).A positive correlation in unilateral BCVA was seen between before and after secondary IOL implantation (R2 =0.232,F =17.037,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions A systemic management of bilateral cataract extractionrefractive correction and vision training-secondary IOL implantation for congenital cataract is beneficial to BCVA improvement and amblyopia treatment,and it should be performed as early as possible on the premise of ensuring the safety of life.Secondary IOL implantation should be timely carried out for aphakic children with poor compliance and outcomes during vision training after congenital cataract extraction.

Factors Associated with Visual Outcomes of Postoperative Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: The most serious complication related to cataract surgery is endophthalmitis. Although its incidence is decreasing, it remains the great threat to the outcome of visual acuity in patients who received cataract surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 18 patients who were diagnosed with endophthalmitis. The following factors were investigated: method of cataract extraction, performance of anterior vitrectomy, presence of posterior capsule rupture, results of bacterial culture, existence of systemic disease, and the duration of time from initial cataract surgery to diagnosis of endophthalmitis and then to subsequent posterior vitrectomy. In addition, the differences in final visual acuity due to variations in these factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who were diagnosed with endophthalmitis and had been commenced on systemic antibiotics within a week of the cataract operation, showed better outcomes in final visual acuity (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: Occurrence of endophthalmitis and subsequent usage of systemic antibiotics within a one-week time frame of cataract surgery, led to statistically significant improvement in final visual acuity compared to cases in which these events occurred one week later.

Factors Associated with Visual Outcomes of Postoperative Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: The most serious complication related to cataract surgery is endophthalmitis. Although its incidence is decreasing, it remains the great threat to the outcome of visual acuity in patients who received cataract surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 18 patients who were diagnosed with endophthalmitis. The following factors were investigated: method of cataract extraction, performance of anterior vitrectomy, presence of posterior capsule rupture, results of bacterial culture, existence of systemic disease, and the duration of time from initial cataract surgery to diagnosis of endophthalmitis and then to subsequent posterior vitrectomy. In addition, the differences in final visual acuity due to variations in these factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients who were diagnosed with endophthalmitis and had been commenced on systemic antibiotics within a week of the cataract operation, showed better outcomes in final visual acuity (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: Occurrence of endophthalmitis and subsequent usage of systemic antibiotics within a one-week time frame of cataract surgery, led to statistically significant improvement in final visual acuity compared to cases in which these events occurred one week later.

Intraoperative Use of Perfluo rocarbon Liquids in the Management of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Perfluorocarbon liquids have been shown to be a useful intraoperative adjunct in managing complicated retinal detachment. To prove the effectiveness of intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquid and the improvement of surgical and functional outcomes, we retrospcetively evaluated the clinical results of the patients[13 eyes]who had retinal detachment complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy [over PVR Grade C4, C4 :7 eyes, C5 :6 eyes]. We performed standard 3-port pars plana vitrectomy in all eyes included in this study.Perfluorodecalin[DK-line]was used as a shortterm vitreous substitute intraoperatively and removed before the end of the surgery. The mean follow-up period was 15 months.Anatomical success rate was 86%[6 eyes]in Grade C4, 67%[4 eyes]in Grade C5, Visual acuity was over 5/200 in one eye[8%]and there was improvement in 5 eyes[40%] although it was below 5/200. Consequently, we could easily manage the retinal detachment with PVR with help of intraoperative perfluorocarbon liquid and could improve the postoperative surgical and visual outcomes.