Expanding the scope of an eConsult service: acceptability and feasibility of an optometry-ophthalmology pilot project.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of connecting optometrists to ophthalmologists on an eConsult service. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of utilization data and an anonymous survey. PARTICIPANTS: All eConsult cases sent by optometrists between March 2019 and February 2020 (utilization data); optometrists and ophthalmologists participating in the eConsult Vision Pilot Project (survey). METHODS: Utilization data for the study period were collected automatically and underwent descriptive analysis. Participating optometrists and ophthalmologists received an email invitation to a survey assessing the project. RESULTS: Thirteen optometrists from 5 clinics in the southeast region and 7 ophthalmologists were recruited to participate in the pilot project. Optometrists sent 109 eConsults in a 13-month period, representing 33% of all cases submitted to ophthalmology through the eConsult service provincially (March 2019-March 2020). Sixty-eight percent of respondents to an anonymous online survey valued the recruitment and engagement of eye care professionals from the same health region. The influence of the eConsult service was reported to have a "somewhat positive" (27%) to "very positive" (50%) influence on the relationship between the two professional groups. CONCLUSION: The eConsult Vision Pilot Project fills a gap in service and provides an opportunity for patients to get access to specialty advice. We demonstrated that allowing optometrists to solicit specialist advice from ophthalmologists was acceptable and feasible.

Changes in Scleral Thickness Following Repeated Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to compare changes in scleral thickness between eyes injected with repeated anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs and fellow injection naive eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: A total of 79 patients treated with three intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in one eye versus no injections in the fellow eye were included.Anterior segment-OCT measured scleral thickness in the inferotemporal quadrant 4 mm away from the limbus. Results: Injected eyes had a mean scleral thickness of 588 ± 95 µm versus 618 ± 85 µm in fellow naïve eyes (P < 0.001). Comparing injected eyes to fellow naïve eyes stratified by injection number showed a mean scleral thickness of 585 ± 93 µm versus 615 ± 83 µm in eyes with 3-10 injections (n = 32, P = 0.042); 606 ± 90 µm versus 636 ± 79 µm in eyes with 11-20 injections (n = 24, P = 0.017); and 573 ± 104 µm versus 604 ± 93 µm in eyes with > 20 injections (n = 23, P = 0.041). There was no significant correlation between injection number and scleral thickness change (r = -0.07, P = 0.26). When stratified by indication, subjects with retinal vein occlusions showed a statistically significant difference in scleral thickness between injected and fellow naïve eyes (535 ± 94 µm and 598 ± 101 µm, respectively, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Compared to injection naive eyes,multiple intravitreal injections at the repeated scleral quadrant results in scleral thinning. Consideration of multiple injection sites should be considered to avoid these changes.

Evaluating the efficacy of an educational ergonomics module for improving slit lamp positioning in ophthalmology residents.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes in body positioning while performing a standardized slit lamp examination after exposure to an educational module on ergonomics. DESIGN: Prospective interventional pilot study. PARTICIPANTS: Ten ophthalmology residents. METHODS: An educational module discussing ergonomic issues in ophthalmology was created. In a standardized examination lane, participants were recorded performing 3 trials of an indirect slit lamp examination of a volunteer patient, adjusting equipment as they saw fit. Participants were then sent the module and within 2 weeks repeated the trial process. Data were processed using biomechanical software to obtain the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) injury risk score, elbow and shoulder joint reaction moments, neck and trunk flexion angles, and spinal curvature magnitudes. RESULTS: The RULA injury risk scores decreased after completion of the module (95% CI 2.10-2.77), indicating a lesser risk for injury to the resident. Shoulder flexion and elbow abduction moments also decreased (95% CI -3.2 to -1.5 and -0.44 to -0.04, respectively), suggesting a more neutral body posture. The trunk flexion angle increased after completion of the module (95% CI -5.1 to -1.6), signifying a more upright trunk posture; this was confirmed by the lumbar spine curvature, which flattened postmodule (95% CI 6.6-940). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a promising ability for an educational module to mitigate some injury risk in this population during indirect slit lamp examination. It also delineated some awkward postures that persisted despite the module. These results will be reintegrated into the module to optimize its educational utility.

Novel taste test for nasolacrimal duct obstruction using denatonium benzoate: a randomized controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel, simple, noninvasive method (known as the "bitter taste test") of establishing nasolacrimal duct patency in healthy asymptomatic eyes. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy asymptomatic medical students, residents, and allied health staff at our institution. METHODS: Participants, aged 18-35 years (n = 28) with assumed normal lacrimal function, were randomized to the interventional group (100 parts per million denatonium benzoate in sterile water, n = 14) or to the control group (sterile water only, n = 14). All participants were pretreated with topical tetracaine in their right conjunctival cul-de sac, followed by 3 drops of the experimental solution spaced 1 minute apart. The primary outcome was whether participants reported a strong, persistent bitter taste. The secondary outcome was the time-to-taste. All participants received lacrimal irrigation. The Fisher's exact test was done using GraphPad online software. RESULTS: All participants in the interventional group reported the presence of the bitter solution. None of the participants in the control group reported bitterness (p < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Time-to-taste was within 15 minutes for 71% of the intervention group (n = 10); within 30 minutes for 79% (n = 11); and within 2 hours for 100% (n = 14). The bitterness typically persisted for 1-2 hours. All participants had normal lacrimal systems to irrigation. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The bitter taste test demonstrates a promising ability to assess nasolacrimal duct patency under physiologic conditions in healthy participants. Further research is needed to validate this method in a clinical sample of patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Collagen cross-linking as an adjunct for repair of corneal lacerations: a cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of collagen cross-linking (CXL) as an adjunct to suturing in the repair of corneal lacerations. METHODS: A cadaveric study was undertaken in which a linear 5 mm corneal laceration was created in the central cornea of 20 eyes. The eyes were then randomized to receive 1 (n = 8), 2 (n = 8), or 3 (n = 4) standard corneal sutures. The burst pressure of the wound was then measured. All eyes in the 1- and 2-suture group then underwent standard CXL, with burst pressure repeated afterward. RESULTS: The initial wound burst pressure in the 1-, 2-, and 3-suture groups was 54.9, 74.0, and 201.2 mm Hg, respectively. After CXL, wound burst pressure increased by a mean of 3.2 and 62.3 mm Hg in the 1- and 2-suture groups, respectively. This change was statistically significant in the 2-suture group (p = 0.017). After CXL, the 2-suture group still had a significantly lower burst pressure compared with the 3-suture group (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights a potential novel application for CXL to strengthen corneal wounds. Provided that suture density is sufficient to appose the wound edges, CXL may result in short-term wound strengthening. This could potentially allow for decreased corneal suture density and a corresponding decrease in suture-related complications.