Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the progression, prevalence, and incidence of myopia: A systematic review.

We systematically reviewed the literature on the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the progression, prevalence, and incidence of myopia. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases. Studies included in the review assessed myopia progression, prevalence, and/or incidence as the primary outcome. Of 523 articles yielded in the initial search, 23 studies (6 cross-sectional and 17 cohort) were eligible for inclusion. Sixteen of these were conducted in China and one each in Hong Kong, Turkey, Spain, Israel, India, Korea, and Tibet. Quality appraisals were conducted with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists. Of the included studies, a large majority reported a greater myopic shift and increase in myopia prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 years. All three studies on myopia incidence showed increased incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Myopia progression accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, even in individuals using low-concentration atropine eye drops in two studies but not in those using orthokeratology treatment in one study. Overall, the studies found that the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated home confinement measures generally increased myopia progression, prevalence, and incidence, even in individuals using low-concentration atropine eye drops.

Large corneal epithelial detachment as a complication of wound burping to release aqueous humor for elevated intraocular pressure following cataract surgery.

Wound burping is a technique used to treat intraocular pressure spikes in the immediate postoperative period after cataract surgery. A 55-year-old man with no history of glaucoma presented with painless blurring of vision in his left eye following cataract surgery 20 days earlier. Ophthalmic examination disclosed elevated intraocular pressure, mild conjunctival hyperemia, corneal microcystic epithelial edema, and mild anterior chamber reaction. In an attempt to lower the intraocular pressure quickly, the corneal wound was 'burped' at the slitlamp. Upon burping the wound, a large epithelial bulla formed instantly in the cornea. The patient's blinking caused the corneal epithelial bulla to burst and collapse. Examination the next day disclosed the detached epithelium had sloughed off completely. The epithelial defect healed gradually over 10 days. Wound burping to release aqueous humor after the corneal epithelium has healed over the surgical incision can result in corneal epithelial detachment and should be avoided.

Successful anatomical closure of a photographically documented 30-year-old idiopathic full-thickness macular hole following surgery for concurrent repair of an acute macula-on rhematogenous retinal detachment.

A 62-year-old man with a 30-year-old photographically documented idiopathic full-thickness macular hole and visual acuity of 6/45 developed an acute macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in his left eye. A pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling around the macular hole, fluid-air exchange, endolaser retinopexy around the peripheral retinal break and perfluoropropane (C3F8) internal tamponade were performed to repair the detached retina and macular hole. One month postoperatively, the patient developed a large peripheral circumferential retinal tear with shallow retinal detachment which necessitated scleral buckling, repeat vitrectomy, endolaser photocoagulation and C3F8 tamponade. The retina was successfully re-attached and the macula hole was closed. Three years post-vitrectomy, the repaired 30-year-old macular hole remained closed although the visual acuity remained unchanged at 6/45. In summary, we describe the successful anatomical closure of a 30-year-old idiopathic full-thickness macular hole which we believe to be the longest duration photographically documented macular hole closed following surgery.

Severe astigmatism secondary to large intraocular lens pantoscopic tilt because of a malpositioned haptic following cataract surgery.

An 80-year-old woman presented with painless blurring of vision and monocular diplopia in her left eye following routine phacoemulsification and monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation 5 weeks earlier. Her uncorrected visual acuity (VA) was 6/60 correctable with pinhole to 6/21. Her best-corrected VA was 6/15 with a subjective refraction of -0.50DS/-5.25DCx37. Her corneal astigmatism was -1.25DCx74. Ophthalmic examination disclosed a severely tilted single-piece posterior chamber IOL in the capsular bag. The inferior portion of the optic was tilted posteriorly because of a twisted and malpositioned haptic. The patient underwent remedial surgery to untwist and reposition the IOL haptic which led to immediate improvement of the IOL position. Her uncorrected VA improved to 6/12-2 correctable with pinhole to 12+1 with an autorefraction of +0.25DS/-2.00DCx74 on the first postoperative day. One month postoperatively, her best-corrected VA was 6/12 with a refraction of +0.50DS/-2.50DCx82. Her final vision was limited by myopic macular degeneration.

Steroid-induced glaucoma: an avoidable cause of irreversible blindness.

A man in his 70s on regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist for 10 years presented with blurry vision in his right eye for 4 days. He was diagnosed with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) bilaterally 18 months earlier and treated with antiglaucoma eye-drops. On direct questioning, he admitted to using fixed combination tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% eye-drops frequently to relieve ocular redness and discomfort in both eyes for 3.5 years without his ophthalmologist's knowledge. Examination disclosed markedly elevated IOP, advanced optic disc cupping and tunnel vision due to steroid-induced glaucoma bilaterally. After cessation of the eye-drops and 2 weeks of antiglaucoma therapy, his IOP returned to normal and his visual field remained stable for 4 years.Our case highlights the danger of habitual self-treatment of prescription medications containing corticosteroids and the importance of taking a detailed medication history in the diagnosis and management of steroid-induced glaucoma.

Impact of teleconsultation on subsequent disease activity and flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the widespread adoption of teleconsultations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, their safety in SLE patients has not been evaluated. Here, we examined subsequent disease activity and flares among SLE patients who received teleconsultation vs in-person consultation. To discern differences in physicians' prescription behaviour during both forms of consultations, we compared corticosteroid dose adjustments. METHODS: We studied adult SLE patients who were seen between 1 February 2020 and 1 February 2021. At each patient-visit, rheumatologists utilized phone/video teleconsultation or physical consultation at their discretion. Disease activity was assessed with SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and flares were defined by the SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index (SFI). We derived a propensity score for patients who were chosen for physical consultation. Multivariable generalized estimation equations were used to analyse SLEDAI-2k and flare at the next visit, adjusted for the propensity score. RESULTS: A total of 435 visits were recorded, of which 343 (78.9%) were physical visits and 92 (21.1%) were teleconsultations. The modality of consultation did not predict flare [OR for physical consultation (95% CI) 0.42 (0.04, 5.04), P =0.49] or SLEDAI-2k at the next visit [estimate of coefficient for physical consultation (95% CI) -0.19 (-0.80, 0.43), P =0.55]. Adjustments of prednisolone dosages were comparable between the two forms of visits [OR for physical consultation (95% CI) 1.34 (0.77, 2.34), P =0.30]. CONCLUSION: SLE disease activity and flares at the subsequent visit were similar between teleconsultations and physical consultations. Medication prescription behaviour, determined using adjustment in corticosteroid dosages, was not different between the two forms of visits.

Trigger Finger Associated with Fencing in an Adolescent: A Case Report.

Trigger digits in children are rare and the vast majority of cases are primary and involve the thumb. Although there are isolated reports of trigger digits in children after trauma, we were unable to find any report of a trigger digit in a child caused by repetitive forceful gripping. We report a 14-year-old fencer who developed a trigger of his middle finger to highlight this unusual association. This was initially managed with a splint and analgesics and eventually required two intrathecal steroid injections for resolution of symptoms.