Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cataract surgery by residents who had routine surgical simulator training during residency

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on cataract surgery by residents who had mandatory surgical simulator training during residency. Methods: In this retrospective, observational analytical study, the total number of cataract surgeries and surgical complications by all senior residents of 2019 (2019 class; prepandemic) and 2020 (2020 class; affected by the reduced number of elective surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic) were collected and compared. All residents had routine mandatory cataract surgery training on a virtual surgical simulator during residency. The total score obtained by these residents on cataract challenges of the surgical simulator was also evaluated. Results: The 2020 and 2019 classes performed 1275 and 2561 cataract surgeries, respectively. This revealed a reduction of 50.2% in the total number of procedures performed by the 2020 class because of the pandemic. The incidence of surgical complications was not statistically different between the two groups (4.2% in the 2019 class and 4.9% in the 2020 class; p=0.314). Both groups also did not differ in their mean scores on the simulator's cataract challenges (p<0.696). Conclusion: Despite the reduction of 50.2% in the total number of cataract surgeries performed by senior residents of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of surgical complications did not increase. This suggests that surgical simulator training during residency mitigated the negative effects of the reduced surgical volume during the pandemic.

Ophthalmological findings in infants with microcephaly and presumable intra-uterus Zika virus infection / Achados oftalmológicos em lactentes com microcefalia e infecção presumida pelo vírus Zika

ABSTRACT Purpose: In 2015, a twenty-fold increase in the prevalence of microcephaly in Brazil was reported, and the Ministry of Health associated this abnormal prevalence with the maternal-fetal Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission. Methods: We assessed the ophthalmological findings of ten mothers and their infants that had been clinically diagnosed with ZIKV-related microcephaly and presented ocular abnormalities, born from May to December 2015. Results: Seven mothers (70.0%) referred symptoms during pregnancy (malaise, rash and arthralgia), of which six (85.7%) were in the first trimester. At the time of exam, no ophthalmological abnormalities were identified in the mothers and they did not report ocular symptoms during pregnancy. Serology was negative in all infants for Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Syphilis and Human Immunodeficiency Viruses. Ocular findings included macular alterations (gross pigment mottling and/or chorioretinal atrophy) in fifteen eyes (75.0%), and optic nerve abnormalities (hypoplasia with double-ring sign, pallor, and/or increased cup-to-disk ratio) in nine eyes (45.0%). Conclusions: Patients presented normal anterior segment and important macular and optic nerve abnormalities. Further studies will assess the visual significance of these alterations.

RESUMO Introdução: No ano de 2015, foi identificado no Brasil um aumento da prevalência de microcefalia em vinte vezes. Esta malformação foi associada pelo Ministério da Saúde à transmissão vertical do Zika vírus (ZIKV). Método: Investigamos dez lactentes com diagnóstico clínico presumido de microcefalia relacionada à ZIKV, que apresentavam anormalidades oculares, nascidos entre maio e dezembro de 2015. Resultados: Sete mães (70,0%) relataram sintomas (mal-estar, rash e artralgia) durante a gestação, sendo seis (85,7%) no primeiro trimestre. No dia da avaliação nenhuma alteração ocular foi identificada nas mães e elas não relataram sintomas oculares durante a gestação. Sorologia foi negativa para toxoplasmose, rubéola, citomegalovírus, sífilis e vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida (HIV) em todos os lactentes. Os achados oculares incluíram alterações maculares (depósito pigmentar grosseiro e/ou atrofia coriorretiniana) em 15 olhos (75,0%) e alterações do nervo óptico (hipoplasia do disco com sinal do duplo anel, palidez e/ou aumento da escavação papilar) em nove olhos (45,0%). Conclusões: Os pacientes apresentaram segmento anterior normal e importantes e anormalidades maculares e do nervo óptico. Estudos futuros vão avaliar a importância destas alterações visuais.

Surgical management of astigmatism with toric intraocular lenses / Uso de lentes intraoculares tóricas no tratamento cirúrgico de astigmatismo

Correction of corneal astigmatism is a key element of cataract surgery, since post-surgical residual astigmatism can compromise the patient's uncorrected visual acuity. Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) compensate for corneal astigmatism at the time of surgery, correcting ocular astigmatism. They are a predictable treatment. However, accurate measurement of corneal astigmatism is mandatory for choosing the correct toric IOL power and for planning optimal alignment. When calculating the power of toric IOLs, it is important to consider anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism, along with the surgically induced astigmatism. Accurate toric lens alignment along the calculated meridian is also crucial to achieve effective astigmatism correction. There are several techniques to guide IOL alignment, including the traditional manual marking technique and automated systems based on anatomic and topographic landmarks. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on astigmatism management with toric IOLs, including relevant patient selection criteria, corneal astigmatism measurement, toric IOL power calculation, toric IOL alignment, clinical outcomes and complications.

O tratamento do astigmatismo corneal é um fator importante na cirurgia de catarata, uma vez que o astigmatismo residual pode comprometer a acuidade visual não corrigida do paciente após a cirurgia. Lentes intraoculares (LIOs) tóricas compensam o astigmatismo corneal no momento da cirurgia, corrigindo o astigmatismo ocular. Ademais, constituem um tratamento previsível. Entretanto, é necessário obter uma medida precisa do astigmatismo corneal para selecionar o poder correto da LIO tórica e para planejar o melhor alinhamento da mesma. No cálculo do poder da LIO tórica, é importante considerar o astigmatismo das superfícies anterior e posterior da córnea, além do astigmatismo induzido na cirurgia. O alinhamento da lente tórica no meridiano planejado é essencial para se obter uma correção efetiva do astigmatismo. Há várias técnicas para guiar o alinhamento da LIO, incluindo a técnica de marcação manual tradicional e sistemas que se baseiam em pontos de referência anatômicos e topográficos. O objetivo desse artigo de revisão é discutir o uso de LIOs tóricas no tratamento de astigmatismo corneal, incluindo os critérios de seleção dos pacientes, a medida do astigmatismo corneal, o cálculo do poder da LIO tórica, o alinhamento da LIO tórica, os resultados clínicos e as complicações.