Cystoid macular edema occurring after intracameral bimatoprost implantation.

PURPOSE: This case report aims to report the development of cystoid macular edema (CME) unilaterally following the administration of bimatoprost implant (Durysta) injections in both eyes for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). OBSERVATIONS: An 84-year-old female patient, previously diagnosed with POAG, underwent bimatoprost implant (Durysta) injections in both eyes, spaced one month apart. Subsequently, the patient experienced a gradual decline in visual acuity in her left eye attributed to the development of CME. The condition resolved following a treatment regimen involving topical dexamethasone and nepafenac. CONCLUSION: The use of bimatoprost implant may lead to the occurrence of CME. Ophthalmologists must vigilantly monitor patients post-implantation, especially if they exhibit visual symptoms or have risk factors for a CME.

[PUBLICATION TRENDS AND IMPACT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY DEPARTMENTS IN ISRAEL: SUMMARIZING OVER A DECADE OF RESEARCH WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE (2011-2021)].

BACKGROUND: A focused bibliographic analysis of Israel's ophthalmology research productivity has never been performed. OBJECTIVES: To assess the research output of Israeli ophthalmology departments between the years 2011-2021 and compare to leading countries in the discipline. METHODS: The PubMed search engine was used to detect all medical articles published between the years 2011 and 2021, with at least one author from an Israeli ophthalmology department. Each entry was reviewed for: year of publication, journal, department, sub-specialty, and study design. Journals were ranked according to Scopus Cite Score. Research output and population data of 7 top-ranked countries in ophthalmology (USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Australia, Canada, China) were documented for comparisons. RESULTS: Overall, 1,919 publications were included. Total research output of Israeli ophthalmology departments significantly increased throughout the study period (R2=0.85, P<0.0001). Medical retina publications were the most prevalent (493 articles, 25.6%), and the most commonly utilized design was cohort (536 articles, 28%). Over a third of all articles (669) were published in Q1 ophthalmology journals, and 16% were published in the top-10 journals. Israel was ranked (1/8) and (3/8) in publications per population and physician, respectively, compared to the other assessed countries. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2011-2021, the research productivity of the Israeli ophthalmological community has constantly increased across all sub-specialties and in high-impact journals. Israel's relative contribution to the ophthalmic medical literature is noteworthy internationally.

Advantageous effect of pupil dilation on the quality of optical biometry axial length measurement in individuals with dense cataract.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of pharmacologic pupil dilation on the quality of axial length (AL) measurement in patients with dense cataracts and previous low-quality AL measurements performed without dilation. SETTING: Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: All participants underwent swept-source optical coherence tomographic (SS-OCT) biometry. Those with low-quality AL measurements due to dense cataract underwent an additional SS-OCT biometric evaluation after pupil dilation, and the AL measurement of the same eye was recorded. RESULTS: 2076 patients underwent SS-OCT during the study period, and 177 (8.52%) had low-quality AL measurements because of dense cataract. 79 (44.63%, mean age 72.53 ± 13.27 years, 43 females) of those 177 patients underwent repeat SS-OCT biometric imaging after pharmacologic pupil dilation, and formed the study group. After pupil dilation, high-quality AL measurements were successfully obtained in 60 (75.95%) of the 79 eyes. The mean SD of the AL measurements decreased significantly ( P &lt; .001), and the number of successful OCT scans per measurement increased significantly ( P &lt; .001) after pupil dilation. The mean difference of the AL before and after pupil dilation was 0.03 ± 0.07 mm ( P &lt; .001). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic pupil dilation improved the quality of SS-OCT biometrically measured AL in patients with low-quality AL measurement due to dense cataract. These results could potentially improve postoperative refractive outcomes after cataract surgery and reduce the need of additional AL measurements by more complicated alternative means in this group.

Influence of Reading on Smartphone Screens on Visual Optical Quality Metrics and Tear Film Stability.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of a prolonged reading session on a smartphone screen on optical quality metrics and tear film stability. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in 41 healthy volunteers who were asked to read an article on a smartphone screen for 20 minutes. The following tests were performed before the reading task in this consecutive order and repeated after the reading task in the same order: automated noninvasive tear break-up time, optical quality assessment including Objective Scatter Index (OSI), modulation transfer function, Strehl ratio, and tear film dynamic analysis as follows: vision break-up time (VBUT) as a function of OSI changes within 20 seconds, using a double-pass aberrometer imaging system, and fluorescein tear break-up time (FBUT) measured using the slit lamp. RESULTS: All break-up time-related parameters (noninvasive tear break-up time, FBUT and VBUT) were significantly reduced after the reading task (P < 0.01). The OSI was significantly worsened after the reading task (P = 0.01), whereas all the other optical quality metrics (modulation transfer function and Strehl ratio) slightly deteriorated, were not statistically significant. A significant correlation was found between the shortening of the FBUT, VBUT, and the worsening of the OSI (r = -0.33, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A reading session on a smartphone screen in healthy subjects was found to significantly affect the tear film stability and objectively worsen the retinal image quality.