[ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND AMBLYOPIA TREATMENT SUCCESS RATES - EXPERIENCE OF A TERTIARY CENTER IN ISRAEL].

INTRODUCTION: Amblyopia is a common cause of visual impairment in children. There is circumstantial evidence for the correlation between living in impoverished areas and treatment failure. However, no large study directly assessed this correlation. AIMS: To check the correlation between socioeconomic status and amblyopia treatment success rates, in children 3-18 years old. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study, review of the electronic medical records of patients treated for amblyopia in a tertiary center during a period of 24 years. RESULTS: A total of 102 participants were enrolled in the study, of whom 50 came from impoverished areas and were the study group. The study and control group participants had similar distribution of age, sex and baseline clinical data. Study group participants had significantly lower baseline visual acuity. The mean follow-up time was 34 months. Both groups had a significant improvement in visual acuity and a significant decline in severe amblyopia proportion. Final visual acuity, visual improvement and amblyopia severity were similar in both groups. The proportion of successful treatments was similar in both groups. DISCUSSION: Although participants from impoverished areas began follow-up with significantly lower visual acuity, their vision has improved during follow-up and was similar to final visual acuity of the control group. Amblyopia treatment has eliminated the gap in visual acuity between amblyopic patients from impoverished areas and amblyopic patients in the general population. Conclusion: Given good treatment compliance, social disparities were not significant determinants of amblyopia treatment success.

Abiotrophia defectiva Endophthalmitis Post-Keratoplasty - A Case Report and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: To report the first case of acute Abiotrophia defectiva endophthalmitis post-keratoplasty and review the current literature. METHODS: A 47-year-old male, post-keratoplasty, presented with vision loss and severe anterior chamber reaction. Diagnostic investigations included vitreous cultures and molecular analysis. RESULTS: Abiotrophia defectiva was identified. Despite aggressive treatment, visual acuity remained low. We reviewed a total of 14 post-procedural cases of A. defectiva endophthalmitis, focusing on antibiotic and steroidal treatment regimens and long-term prognosis. CONCLUSION: We emphasize aggressive treatment of external disease prior to intraocular surgery. In cases of A. defectiva endophthalmitis, we advocate judicious use of steroids.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Obstetric Data, and Simple Congenital Ptosis.

PURPOSE: This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify obstetric risk factors for simple congenital ptosis and propose an underlying pathophysiological mechanism. METHODS: Newborns diagnosed with simple congenital ptosis (n = 51) were compared with existing population data in terms of obstetric parameters. RESULTS: Positive associations were found between simple congenital ptosis and gestational diabetes mellitus (11.8% vs. 5%, p = 0.026), preterm delivery (15.7% vs. 0.05%, p < 0.001), and lower birth weight (2,998 ± 506 vs. 3,255 ± 484, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study pioneers an association between simple congenital ptosis and gestational diabetes mellitus, potentially linked to insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. We advocate for early ophthalmology checkups for specific newborn subsets.