ABSTRACT
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease common in children and young adults. Uveitis is the most frequent serious extra-articular JIA manifestation and can lead to severe ocular complications, vision loss, and permanent blindness. This study aims to evaluate the psychological condition and the quality of life of children affected by JIA associated with uveitis (JIA-U) and the repercussion of this condition on parents. Thirty children and adolescents with active uveitis (Uveitis group) and comorbid joint symptoms of JIA were referred to the Unit of Ophthalmology, Giovanni XXIII Hospital of Bari, and 30 age-matched healthy controls (Healthy group) were enrolled with their parents. Four questionnaires were administered: Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Parent Stress Index in Short Form (PSI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). The data were collected from February 2021 to December 2021. No significant differences between the two groups in CBCL, PSI, or CISS tests were shown (p > 0.05). Conversely, significant differences between the two groups were observed in the PedsQL (p < 0.05). This study shows how several ocular complications, recurrent eye examinations, and the rigor of long-term treatment may negatively influence health-related quality of life in children with JIA-U.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The prospective DIabetes and CATaract Study II (DICAT II) was performed to characterise the risks of cataract surgery to the retinae of patients with early diabetic macular oedema (E-DMO). METHODS: DICAT II was a prospective, comparative, multicentre, observational study involving six Italian clinics. Patients were aged ≥55 years, had type 1 or 2 diabetes with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography evidence of ESASO classification Early DMO. Group 1 eyes (78 eyes, 78 patients) underwent phacoemulsification-based cataract surgery. Group 2 eyes (65 eyes, 65 patients) had E-DMO and either clear media or had undergone uncomplicated cataract surgery ≥1 year previously. Central subfield thickness (CST) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed in both groups. RESULTS: The negative impact of surgery on CST was evident after the first postoperative week; CST peaked during the first month, then rapidly decreased. CST worsening ≥10 µm was observed in 63/78 eyes (80.7%) and 29/65 eyes (44.6%) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.0001). CST worsening of ≥50 µm was observed in 51 eyes (65.4%) and 10 eyes (15.4%) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean CST worsening was lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (38.6 ± 30.4 µm vs 85.5 ± 55.3 µm, p < 0.0001) with a lower BCVA loss (-2.6 ± 3.5 letters vs -8.2 ± 6.2 letters, p < 0.0001). Higher glycaemic levels and HBA1c levels were significantly associated with the risk of >50 µm CST worsening in eyes from both groups. CONCLUSION: Early DMO is associated with poorer outcomes after cataract surgery and requires close pre- and postoperative monitoring.
