Measuring phacoemulsification groove depth using probe tip dimensions and biometry lens thickness readings.

AIM: To describe a useful technique utilizing lens thickness from biometric data as well as phacoemulsification (phaco) probe tip dimensions, in order to more accurately determine safe groove depth during divide and conquer techniques for cataract surgery. METHODS: Single center, selection of patients for cataract surgery deemed low risk and suitable for surgical teaching cases. Individual lens thickness measurements from biometry were calculated with known phaco tip dimensions to give an individualized safe number of phaco tip depths for grooving during divide and conquer. This technique was then applied during cataract surgery. RESULTS: Utilization of this technique allows calculation and determination of an appropriate number of phaco tip depths of grooving for each individual patient. This technique was applied as a teaching tool for surgical trainees, with subsequent successful safe cataract surgeries completed. No posterior capsule ruptures were noted for these cases. CONCLUSION: By combining the biometric measurements of an individual patient's lens thickness together with known phaco tip dimensions, individualized safe groove depths can be theoretically determined and applied during divide and conquer cataract surgery.

Patients prefer once-daily glaucoma drops.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between complexity of eye drop regime and compliance is not straightforward, i.e. fewer drops may not mean better compliance. We investigated the level of inconvenience different eye drop regimes incurred in comparison with a once-daily (OD) regime for patients experienced with using topical anti-glaucoma medication. METHODS: Patients indicated the level of inconvenience from drop regimes of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times daily on 10-cm visual analogue scales. The score for the OD regime was then compared with the scores for the other regimes using paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: At a significance limit of p = 0.05, five of six subgroups indicated once-a-day drops were significantly more convenient than other regimes. Patients who had used the OD regime considered this difference greater than those who had not. CONCLUSIONS: This study's results offer some pragmatic guidance on choice of therapy and on counselling patients about compliance. We would suggest starting patients on OD drops in preference to alternatives to promote compliance.

Better optic disc examination: wearing loupes enhances the indirect ophthalmoscope image.

Optic disc examination with the indirect ophthalmoscope is frequently used in the assessment of pediatric glaucoma cases. If the usual viewing eye-pieces are removed from the headgear and loupes worn instead, then a greatly magnified view of the disc is seen with little change to technique or ease of examination.