Blending data to understand the economic impact of COVID-19.

The data demands during the pandemic heightened the need to blend information from numerous sources to get a more timely and granular picture of economic developments. Ongoing efforts include the Chicago Fed's weekly retail sales estimate, the Census Bureau's work on higher-frequency state-level retail sales data, the Federal Reserve Board's computations of business closures and weekly payrolls, and the academic Opportunity Insights team's estimates of spending, business revenues and employment by income and ZIP code.

Custom vs conventional PRK: a prospective, randomized, contralateral eye comparison of postoperative visual function.

PURPOSE: To determine whether VISX S4 (VISX Inc) custom photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) results in better visual outcomes than VISX S4 conventional PRK. METHODS: Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on 80 eyes from 40 patients in this randomized, prospective, contralateral eye study. Dominant eyes were randomized to one group with the fellow eye receiving the alternate treatment. Primary outcome measures included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), contrast sensitivity, and root-mean-square (RMS) higher order aberrations. RESULTS: Mean UDVA was -0.023±0.099 (20/19) in the custom group and -0.044±0.080 (20/18) in the conventional group 6 months after surgery (P=.293). Mean CDVA was -0.073±0.067 (20/17) in the custom group and -0.079±0.071 (20/17) in the conventional group 6 months after surgery (P=.659). Total higher order aberration RMS and spherical aberration increased in both groups compared to preoperative values (P<.05). Coma increased in the conventional group (P<.05) whereas it was similar to preoperative values in the custom group. No significant differences were noted in induction of trefoil. CONCLUSIONS: Custom and conventional PRK were shown to be safe and effective with excellent visual acuity and contrast sensitivity performance at 6 and 12 months. Conventional PRK induced more coma than custom PRK; however, this did not seem to correlate with clinical outcomes.

Prospective, contralateral comparison of 120-µm and 90-µm LASIK flaps using the IntraLase FS60 femtosecond laser.

PURPOSE: To compare differences in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, higher order ocular aberrations, quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes at 3 and 6 months postoperatively in eyes with stable myopia undergoing thin-flap (intended flap thicknesses of 120 or 90 µm) LASIK using the VISX Star S4 CustomVue excimer laser (VISX Inc), with flaps created by the IntraLase FS60 femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics). METHODS: In this prospective study, thin-flap LASIK was performed contralaterally on 94 eyes: 47 eyes with 120-µm intended flap thickness and 47 eyes with 90-µm intended flap thickness. Primary outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), contrast sensitivity, and higher order aberrations. RESULTS: At 6 months, mean values for UDVA (logMAR) were -0.064±0.077 and -0.051±0.070 in the 120-µm and 90-µm groups, respectively (n=40, P=.431). Visual acuity of 20/20 was achieved in 98% of eyes with 120-µm flaps and 95% of eyes with 90-µm flaps, whereas 20/15 vision was achieved in 50% of eyes with 120-µm flaps and 45% of eyes with 90-µm flaps (P≥.454). Both groups had significant increases in total higher order aberrations (P≤.003). Significant differences were not found between groups in contrast sensitivity (P≥.258), CDVA (P≥.726), total higher order aberrations (P≥.477), or patient-reported outcomes (P≥.132). Patients in both groups reported increased quality of life postoperatively (P≤.002). CONCLUSIONS: Under well-controlled surgical conditions, thin-flap LASIK achieved similar results in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and low induction of higher order aberrations in eyes with intended flap thicknesses of either 120 or 90 µm.

Visual outcomes after wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy and wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis: Prospective comparison.

PURPOSE: To compare visual outcomes between wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Academic center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. METHODS: In this randomized prospective study, myopic eyes were treated with wavefront-guided PRK and or wavefront-guided LASIK using a Visx Star S4 CustomVue platform with iris registration. Primary outcome measures were uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities and manifest refraction. Secondary outcome measures were higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and contrast sensitivity. RESULTS: The PRK group comprised 101 eyes and the LASIK group, 102 eyes. At 6 months, the mean UDVA was -0.03 logMAR +/- 0.10 [SD] (20/19) and 0.07 +/- 0.09 logMAR (20/24), respectively (P = .544). In both groups, 75% eyes achieved a UDVA of 20/20 or better (P = .923); 77% of eyes in the PRK group and 88% in the LASIK group were within +/-0.50 diopter of emmetropia (P = .760). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in contrast sensitivity at 3, 6, 12, or 18 cycles per degree. The mean postoperative HOA root mean square was 0.45 +/- 0.13 mum in the PRK group and 0.59 +/- 0.22 mum in the LASIK group (P = .012), representing an increase factor of 1.22 and 1.74, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Wavefront-guided PRK and wavefront-guided LASIK had similar efficacy, predictability, safety, and contrast sensitivity; however, wavefront-guided PRK induced statistically fewer HOAs than wavefront-guided LASIK at 6 months. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Nepafenac-associated bilateral corneal melt after photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: We are reporting a case of bilateral corneal melt after photorefractive keratectomy requiring bilateral corneal transplantations. RESULTS: A 35-year-old man underwent uncomplicated photorefractive keratectomy and was treated postoperatively with topical nepafenac, one drop in both eyes every 2 hours. Three days into this course of treatment, the patient developed bilateral irritation and the dose was decreased to one drop every 4 hours. The next day, he developed stromal melting in both eyes. Although nepafenac was discontinued at this point, the ulcerative keratolysis progressed in both eyes requiring penetrating keratoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of sterile ulceration after photorefractive keratectomy surgery, which we believe was caused by frequent postoperative dosing of nepafenac.