Simulation of visual impairment in persons with normal vision for scientific research.

Simulation of visual impairment in healthy eyes has multiple applications in students' training, research and product development. However, due to the absence of an existing standard protocol, the method of simulation was left to the discretion of the researcher. This review aimed to outline the various methods of simulating visual impairment and categorising them. A scoping review of the relevant publications was conducted. Of the 1593 articles originally retrieved from the databases, 103 were included in the review. The characteristics of the participants, the method for simulation of the visual impairment in persons with normal vision and the level or type of visual impairment that was simulated were extracted from the papers. None of the methods of simulation can be judged as being superior to the others. However, electronic displays produced the most consistent form of visual impairment simulation.

Opinion and uptake of chloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 during the mandatory lockdown in the sub-Saharan African region.

BACKGROUND: As the search for effective treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection continues, the public opinion around the potential use of chloroquine (CQ) in treating COVID-19 remains mixed. AIM: To examine opinion and uptake of CQ for treating COVID-19 in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region. SETTING: This study was conducted through an online survey software titled SurveyMonkey. METHODS: Anonymous online survey of 1829 SSA countries was conducted during the lockdown period using Facebook, WhatsApp and authors' networks. Opinion and uptake of CQ for COVID-19 treatment were assessed using multivariate analyses. RESULTS: About 14% of respondents believed that CQ could treat COVID-19 and of which, 3.2% took CQ for COVID-19 treatment. Multivariate analyses revealed that respondents from Central (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43, 4.43) and West Africa (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.15, 2.88) had higher odds of believing that CQ could treat COVID-19. Respondents from East Africa reported higher odds for uptake of CQ for COVID-19 than Central, Western and Southern Africans. Knowledge of the disease and compliance with the public health advice were associated with both belief and uptake of CQ for COVID-19 treatment. CONCLUSION: Central and West African respondents were more likely to believe in CQ as a treatment for COVID-19 whilst the uptake of the medication during the pandemic was higher amongst East Africans. Future intervention discouraging the unsupervised use of CQ should target respondents from Central, West and East African regions.

Visual impairment attributable to uncorrected refractive error and other causes in the Ghanaian youth: The University of Cape Coast Survey / Deficiencia visual atribuible a error refractivo no corregido y a otras causas en los jóvenes de Ghana: Estudio de la Universidad de Cape Coast

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of visual impairment attributable to refractive error and other causes in a youthful Ghanaian population. Methods: A prospective survey of all consecutive visits by first-year tertiary students to the Optometry clinic between August, 2013 and April, 2014. Of the 4378 first-year students aged 16-39 years enumerated, 3437 (78.5%) underwent the eye examination. The examination protocol included presenting visual acuity (PVA), ocular motility, and slit-lamp examination of the external eye, anterior segment and media, and non-dilated fundus examination. Pinhole acuity and fundus examination were performed when the PVA≤6/12 in one or both eyes to determine the principal cause of the vision loss. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.86 years (95% CI: 21.72-21.99). The prevalence of bilateral visual impairment (BVI; PVA in the better eye ≤6/12) and unilateral visual impairment UVI; PVA in the worse eye ≤6/12) were 3.08% (95% CI: 2.56-3.72) and 0.79% (95% CI: 0.54-1.14), respectively. Among 106 participants with BVI, refractive error (96.2%) and corneal opacity (3.8%) were the causes. Of the 27 participants with UVI, refractive error (44.4%), maculopathy (18.5%) and retinal disease (14.8%) were the major causes. There was unequal distribution of BVI in the different age groups, with those above 20 years having a lesser burden. Conclusion: Eye screening and provision of affordable spectacle correction to the youth could be timely to eliminate visual impairment (AU)

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de la deficiencia visual atribuible al error refractivo y a otras causas en una población de jóvenes de Ghana. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de todas las visitas consecutivas realizadas por estudiantes terciarios de primer año que acudieron a la Clínica de Optometría entre Agosto de 2013 y Abril de 2014. De los 4.378 estudiantes de primer año registrados, de edades comprendidas entre 16 y 39 años, 3.437 (78,5%) se sometieron a un examen ocular. El protocolo del examen incluyó la revisión de la agudeza visual (AV), la motilidad ocular y la biomicroscopía del ojo externo, segmento anterior y medio, y el examen del fondo de ojo sin dilatación. Los exámenes de la agudeza con agujero estenopeico y del fondo de ojo se realizaron en aquellos casos de AV ≤ 6/12 en uno o ambos ojos para determinar la causa principal de la pérdida de visión. Resultados: La edad media de los participantes fue de 21,86 años (95% IC: de 21,72 a 21,99). La prevalencia de la deficiencia visual bilateral (BVI; AV en el mejor ojo ≤ 6/12) y la deficiencia visual unilateral (UVI; AV en el peor ojo ≤ 6/12) fue del 3,08% (95% IC: de 2,56 a 3,72) y el 0,79% (95% IC: de 0,54 a 1,14), respectivamente. En 106 participantes con BVI, las causas principales fueron el error refractivo (96,2%) y la opacidad corneal (3,8%). De los 27 participantes con UVI, el error refractivo (44,4%), la maculopatía (18,5%) y la enfermedad retiniana (14.8%) fueron los principales motivos. Se produjo una distribución desigual de la BVI en los diferentes grupos de edad, habiendo un menor impacto en aquellos participantes con edades superiores a 20 años. Conclusión: La exploración ocular y la adaptación de una corrección en gafa asequible en los jóvenes podría eliminar a tiempo la deficiencia visual (AU)