Comparing Intracanalicular and Topical Steroid Use in Patients Undergoing Pterygium Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The study received funding from Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., Bedford, MA.We undertook this study to compare the efficacy of intracanalicular dexamethasone 0.4 mg with topical prednisolone acetate (PA) 1% in controlling postoperative pain and inflammation in patients undergoing pterygium surgery. METHODS: This was an open-label, prospective, interventional, nonrandomized comparative trial. Thirty patients were assigned to one of the following groups: Group A [intracanalicular insert of 0.4 mg dexamethasone placed into upper and lower puncta during the procedure, followed by at postoperative month 1 visit institution of topical PA 1% twice daily × 2 weeks then once daily × 2 weeks] or Group B [nonintervention group with institution on postoperative day 1 topical PA 1% every 2 hours × 2 weeks then four times per day × 2 weeks then twice daily × 2 weeks then once daily × 2 weeks]. RESULTS: Fifteen cases and 15 controls were enrolled. There was no statistical difference in patient-reported pain or satisfaction between the case and control groups at 1 day; 1 week; and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in time to an ocular hyperemia score of 0 between the two groups. There was no difference in the rate of corneal reepithelialization and recurrence rate (two controls). Nine eyes had transient ocular hypertension (seven cases and two controls). CONCLUSION: Intracanalicular dexamethasone 0.4 mg may reduce the medication burden for patients who need prolonged postoperative steroid therapy as is routine in the setting of pterygium surgery. It is a safe and effective alternative to PA 1% drops alone for postoperative control of pain and inflammation in pterygium surgery.

The Use of Intraoperative Aberrometry in Normal Eyes: An Analysis of Intraocular Lens Selection in Scenarios of Disagreement.

PURPOSE: To compare prediction error outcomes between the Optiwave Refractive Analysis System (ORA) (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) and two modern intraocular lens (IOL) formulas (Hill-RBF2.0 [HRBF] and Barrett Universal II [BUII]), and further analyze IOL selection in scenarios of disagreement between methods. METHODS: Patients with no previous history of corneal refractive surgery who underwent cataract extraction and had intraoperative aberrometry measurements between October 2016 and December 2019 were analyzed. The prediction error for the ORA, HRBF, and BUII were calculated based on the postoperative manifest refraction. Further analysis was performed evaluating prediction error for scenarios of disagreement between the three methods. RESULTS: After exclusions, 281 eyes were included. The mean absolute prediction errors were 0.28 diopters (D) (ORA), 0.31 D (HRBF), and 0.33 D (BUII) (P < .05). In instances when the IOL recommended by the ORA was in disagreement with what was selected preoperatively, there was no benefit when the lens recommended by the ORA was selected based on anecdotal experience. When further analyzing these instances of disagreement, selecting the ORA-recommended lens when it is higher in power results in improved refractive outcomes: the ORA resulted in more eyes within ±0.25 diopters (D) of predicted spherical error (65% ORA, 37% HRBF, 32% BUII; P = .004) and fewer hyperopic surprises (5% ORA, 15% HRBF, 24% BUII; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: In normal eyes without previous corneal refractive surgery, intraoperative aberrometry is not different from to two modern preoperative IOL formulas. Placing the ORA-recommended lens when it is higher in power than that selected preoperatively results in better refractive outcomes. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(5):304-309.].

A Randomized Fellow-Eye Clinical Trial to Evaluate Patient Preference for Dexamethasone Intracanalicular Insert or Topical Prednisolone Acetate for Control of Postoperative Symptoms Following Bilateral Femtosecond Laser in Site Keratomileusis (LASIK).

PURPOSE: To determine the preference of patients undergoing bilateral LASIK for either the dexamethasone intracanalicular insert or topical prednisolone acetate for control of postoperative symptoms and ocular surface signs. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, one eye was randomized to receive the dexamethasone insert or topical prednisolone acetate 1% four times daily for one week and 2 times daily for a second week; the fellow eye received the alternate therapy. One month postoperatively, patient preference for these two therapies was assessed using an adapted COMTOL questionnaire. Ocular comfort was assessed using the SPEED questionnaire. Corneal staining and uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) were also assessed. RESULTS: Twenty patients participated. At Month 1, 80% of patients preferred the dexamethasone insert, 10% preferred prednisolone acetate, and 10% expressed no preference (p<0.001). SPEED scores measuring ocular comfort/discomfort related to dry eye symptoms were similar between groups (p=0.72), and both the incidence of patient-reported ocular dryness and the corneal staining scores were similar between groups. Both groups attained the same final UDVA. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing elective bilateral femtosecond LASIK surgery overwhelmingly (by an 8-to-1 margin) preferred the dexamethasone insert to topical prednisolone acetate for postoperative treatment. The insert produced comparable ocular comfort, corneal staining, and visual acuity outcomes to topical prednisolone. The insert is an appropriate means of postoperative symptom control in this quality of life-conscious population.

Intraocular Pressure Measurement with Pneumatonometry and a Tonometer Tip Cover.

PURPOSE: To investigate the precision and accuracy of IOP measurements using a pneumatonometer and a tonometer tip cover (Tono-Pen® tip cover) acting as a membrane between a cadaver eye model and pneumatonometer probe. METHODS: A total of 480 paired IOP measurements, with and without a Tono-Pen cover, were collected across 4 pressure levels of 7, 10, 20 and 30 mmHg. IOP measurements were obtained by three different pneumatonometer units paired with three different masked operators (three configurations). Four eyes were sampled for each eye pressure level. The sequence of eye pressure, configuration, and measurements with vs. without the Tono-Pen cover was randomized. RESULTS: With the Tono-Pen cover in place, there was a negative bias with a mean IOP difference of - 1.18 mmHg for all 480 paired samples compared with the measurements absent the cover. Compared with the test pressure settings (i.e., 7, 10, 20, 30 mmHg), the overall mean bias was + 0.35 mmHg with the Tono-Pen cover present. With the Tono-Pen cover present, the overall repeatability %CV (percent coefficient of variation) was 3.4% and the reproducibility %CV was 3.8% compared with a repeatability %CV of 3.2% and reproducibility %CV of 5.7% without the Tono-Pen cover. CONCLUSION: Measurement of IOP via pneumatonometry with a Tono-Pen cover in place, also known as the excursion test method, yields precise, accurate and reproducible results. This developed method of pressure measurement is an acceptable and reliable form of IOP measurement.

Waterborne disease control in natural disasters

Natural disaster can have profound deleterious effects on public and private water systems. These negative impacts also pose a threat to the public's health through the effects of hazardous materials released into the environment by the disaster or through the transmission of waterborne or water-associated diseases. Natural disaster, especially floods, may cause the contamination of water supplies by sewage and the proliferation of mosquitoes, files and rats. One of the mayor health consequences of disasters is contamination of the water supply by phatologies microbes. Prevention and control of waterborne diseases in the disaster area fall within the purview of the preventive medicine team. Protection of the health of emergency responders is give highest priority. Provision of emergencies supplies of potable water restoration of water-treatment and sewage-treatment systems, food-service inspections, testing of water supplies for coliforms, sanitation in emergency shelters and environmental sanitation in general. Monitoring and suppresion (if necessary and feasible) of pest and vector populations, epidemiological surveillance activities of the preventive medicine team. (AU)