Performance of Extended Depth of Focus Intraocular Lens in Eyes with Pre-existing Retinal Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) offers improved near and intermediate vision, aiming to reduce spectacles dependence in cataract patients. This research aims to evaluates the performance of EDOF IOL in patients with retinal pathologies following cataract surgery. METHODS: The medical charts of thirty-three eyes with retinal pathologies and 100 healthy eyes that underwent cataract extraction with implantation of an EDOF IOL and had at least 3 weeks postoperative follow-up were retrospectively included. Patients' overall satisfaction, spectacle dependence, visual perception, and side effects were evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean uncorrected visual acuities (LogMAR) were significantly better in the healthy eyes compared with the eyes with retinal pathologies: 0.05 and 0.10, p=0.011 (distance), 0.06 and 0.16, p=0.001 (intermediate) and 0.20 and 0.28, p=0.026 (near), respectively. No or rare use of spectacles for any distance was reported by 71% and 38% of patients, respectively (p=0.004). Haloes/glare were reported by 17% and 23%, respectively, (p=0.556); only in 7% and 4% it was clinically disturbing (p>0.999). The same IOL would be chosen again in 77% and 73% of patients, respectively, (p=0.550). CONCLUSION: Patients with retinal pathologies who were implanted with an EDOF IOL demonstrated excellent distant uncorrected visual results with reasonable intermediate and near uncorrected visual results alongside high satisfaction; however, results were inferior to those of the control healthy eyes.

[ARTIFICIAL CORNEA: FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE FUTURE].

INTRODUCTION: Corneal disease is among the leading reversible causes of blindness worldwide. Corneal transplantation is a successful and curative treatment for most of these cases. However, in certain indications it is not amendable for standard corneal transplantation, the only available option to restore functional vision is keratoprosthesis (KPro) implantation. KPros may also offer an alternative to the global shortage of donor corneas, limiting the access to transplantations. However, current KPros face many challenges, including surgical complexity that requires skilled surgeons and vast resources as well as unique surgical and post-operative complications. Although several artificial corneas have been proposed over the years, two implants are mostly used in the clinical setting today. The first, the Boston KPro, consists of a front plate with an optical stem and a back plate snapped together with donor corneal tissue in-between, which is then sutured to the patient's cornea. The second, the Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), uses biological tissue of the alveolar bone to support an optical cylinder within the eye. The indications, surgical techniques, and complication profile of the two procedures are different and will be discussed in this review. Extensive research continues to improve the accessibility and technological developments of KPros in the search for a potential breakthrough in the treatment of these difficult cases.

Academic Productivity in Ophthalmology and Its Correlation to National Economic Indicators Among the OECD Countries: A Bibliometric Analysis.

PURPOSE: Prompted by the clinical concern that limited healthcare resources allocation affects physicians' research productivity, this study examines the association between bibliometric indices of ophthalmologic research and national economic indicators in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. METHODS: The Scimago Journal and Country rank source was searched for research productivity data in ophthalmology among OECD countries between 1996 and 2019. Bibliometric indices included: documents number, number and percent of citable documents, citations number, citations per document, and H-index. The updated economic indicators of each country (gross domestic product [GDP] per capita, health spending as percent of GDP (health expenditure), gross domestic expenditure on research, and development as percent of GDP [GERD]) were collected from the World Bank and the OECD websites. Correlation between economic and bibliometric metrics and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Among 267,444 documents analyzed, correlation analysis found a strong correlation between health expenditure and H index (r = 0.711, p < 0.001); a moderate correlation between health expenditure and documents number (r = 0.589, p < 0.001), number of citable document (r = 0.593, p < 0.001) and citations number (r = 0.673, p < 0.001); and a moderate correlation between GERD and H index (r = 0.564, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis controlling for economic factors, population and language showed the independent association of these parameters with bibliometric indices. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a positive correlation between bibliometric indicators of ophthalmology research and economic factors, particularly health expenditure, among the OECD countries. Our results suggest an advantage of domestic investment in health to expand academic productivity in the field of ophthalmology.

The effect of patient age on some new and older IOL power calculation formulas.

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in different age groups using various IOL calculation formulas. METHODS: Data from 421 eyes of 421 patients ≥60 years old (ages: 60-69, n = 131; 70-74, n = 105; 75-84, n = 158 and ≥85, n = 27), who underwent uneventful cataract surgery with SN60WF IOL implantation at John A. Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, USA, were retrospectively obtained. The SD of the prediction error (PE), median and mean absolute PEs and the percentage of eyes within ±0.25, ±0.50, ±0.75 and ±1.00 D were calculated after constant optimizations for the following formulas: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, Haigis, Hoffer Q, Hoffer QST, Holladay 1, Kane, Radial Basis Function (RBF) 3.0 and SRK/T. Results were compared between the different age groups. RESULTS: Predictability rates within 0.25D were lower for the eldest age group compared with the other groups using the EVO 2.0 (33% vs. 37%-53%, p = 0.045), Kane (26% vs. 35%-50%, p = 0.034) and SRK/T (22% vs. 31%-49%, p = 0.002). Higher median absolute refractive errors for all formulas were observed in the oldest group [range: 0.39 D (Haigis, Hoffer QSR)-0.48 D (Kane)], followed by the youngest group [range: 0.30 D (RBF 3.0)-0.39 D (Holladay 1, SRK/T)] but did not reach statistical significance. No significant differences between the groups in the distribution parameter were seen. CONCLUSION: Current IOL power calculation formulas may have variable accuracy for different age groups. This should be taken into account when planning cataract surgery to improve refractive outcomes.

Results of an Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lens Implantation in the Second Eye of Monofocal Pseudophakic Patients: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the visual results and patient satisfaction after implantation of an extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) in the second eye of patients implanted previously with a monofocal IOL in the first eye. METHODS: The medical records and self-reported questionnaires from patients who were implanted with monofocal IOLs in the first eye and EDOF IOLs in the second eye (group A) and from patients implanted bilaterally with EDOF IOLs (group B) were compared for visual acuity (VA), spectacle independence, patient satisfaction, and photic phenomena. RESULTS: Group A (23 eyes of 23 patients) had similar distance uncorrected VA and intermediate uncorrected VA compared with group B (72 eyes of 36 patients) (0.03±0.05 vs. 0.04±0.16; P =0.136 and 0.660, respectively). There was a tendency toward a better near uncorrected VA in group A compared with group B (0.15±0.14 vs. 0.23±0.17; P =0.074). Patients' perception of their VA was similar between groups. Spectacle independence for distance vision was reported by 16/17 (94.1%) and 35/36 (97.2%) patients ( P =0.543), 13/17 (76.5%) and 32/36 (88.9%) patients ( P =0.252) for intermediate vision, and 4/17 (23.6%) and 22/36 (61.1%) patients for near vision ( P =0.011), in groups A and B, respectively. There was no difference in complaints of photic phenomena between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients previously implanted with a monofocal IOL in 1 eye who are interested in improving their spectacle independence can be considered for an EDOF IOL implantation in the second eye and may have similar results to those implanted bilaterally with EDOF IOLs.

Evaluating Changes in Apparent Chord Mu after Pharmacological Pupil Dilatation.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative measurements of apparent chord mu length above 0.6 mm have been associated with higher risks for photic phenomena after cataract surgery with multifocal intraocular lenses (MFIOLs). METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated patients scheduled for elective cataract surgery at a single tertiary medical center between 2021 and 2022. Pupil diameter and apparent chord mu length were analyzed for eyes with biometry measurements from IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, AG) under photopic light conditions, before and after pharmacological pupil dilatation. Exclusion criteria were visual acuity worse than 20/100, prior intraocular surgery, refractive surgery, iris-related procedures, or pupil abnormalities affecting dilatation. Apparent chord mu lengths before and after pupil dilatation were compared. In addition, multivariate linear regression analysis, using a stepwise method, was conducted to assess possible predictors of apparent chord values. RESULTS: Included were 87 eyes of 87 patients. Mean chord mu length increased after pupillary dilatation from 0.32 ± 0.17 mm to 0.41 ± 0.17 mm for right eyes (p < 0.001) and from 0.29 ± 0.16 mm to 0.40 ± 0.22 mm for left eyes (p < 0.001). Seven eyes (8.0%) had an apparent chord mu of 0.6 mm and above pre-dilatation. Fourteen eyes (16.1%) with an apparent chord mu under 0.6 mm pre-dilatation had apparent chord mu of 0.6 mm or above post-dilatation. CONCLUSION: Apparent chord mu length significantly increases after pharmacological pupillary dilatation. Pupil size and dilatation status should always be considered during patient selection for a planned MFIOL using apparent chord mu length as a reference marker.

Comparison of the Barrett toric calculator using measured and predicted posterior corneal astigmatism and the Kane and Abulafia-Koch calculators.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of the Barrett toric calculator with measured and predicted posterior corneal astigmatism (MPCA and PPCA, respectively), the Abulafia-Koch (AK) formula, and the toric Kane formula. SETTING: Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. METHODS: Consecutive cases of patients who underwent uneventful cataract extraction surgery with implantation of a toric intraocular lens between March 2015 and July 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. 1 eligible eye from each patient was included. The predicted postoperative refractive astigmatism was calculated using each method and compared with the postoperative refractive astigmatism to give the prediction error. RESULTS: 80 eyes of 80 patients were included in this study. The mean centroid and the mean and median absolute prediction errors using Kane (0.25 diopters [D] ± 0.54 @ 6 degrees, 0.50 D ± 0.31 and 0.45 D, respectively) were significantly different compared with MPCA (0.12 D ± 0.52 @ 16 degrees, P < .001, .44 D ± 0.28 and 0.36 D, P = .027, respectively), PPCA (0.09 D ± 0.49 @ 12 degrees, P < .001, .41 D ± 0.27 and 0.35 D, P < .001, respectively), and AK (0.11 D ± 0.49 @ 11 degrees, P < .001, .42 D ± 0.27 and 0.35 D, P = .004, respectively). No significant differences were found between the calculators in the predictability rates within ±0.25 D, ±0.50 D, ±0.75 D, and ±1.00 D. CONCLUSIONS: The measured posterior corneal curvature in the Barrett calculator yielded comparable outcomes to its prediction by the Barrett and AK formulas. The Kane calculator showed a slight against-the-rule prediction error compared with the other methods, resulting in a small higher median absolute error with marginal clinical importance.

Clinical outcomes of presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is considered a contraindication for the implantation of presbyopia-correcting IOLs, without sufficient corroborating evidence. A Retrospective, case-control study. Nineteen eyes of ten patients with grade 2-5 FECD (study group) and 57 healthy eyes of 57 patients (control group) who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of presbyopia-correcting IOLs, at the Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, were included. The target refraction was emmetropia for both groups. Two subgroups of IOLs were analyzed separately: extended depth of focus (EDOF), (9 eyes of FECD patients and 27 eyes of control patients) and multifocal IOLs (10 eyes of FECD patients and 30 eyes of control patients). Main outcome measures were visual acuity and refraction 6 weeks after the surgery. Secondary outcomes were patient perceptions of visual acuity, spectacle independence, photic phenomena and satisfaction scores, reported in a self-assessment questionnaire. FECD patients in the EDOF IOL subgroup had inferior uncorrected distance visual acuity (P = 0.007) and better uncorrected near visual acuity (P = 0.001) compared to the controls. They had less spectacle independence for the intermediate range (P = 0.01) and overall (P = 0.006). However, they did not have more photic phenomena. In the multifocal IOL subgroup, no significant differences were found between the FECD and the control group in visual acuity for all ranges and in spectacle independence. FECD patients had more photic phenomena than the controls (P = 0.006), but it did not interfere with daily life activities. There was no difference in post-operative mean spherical equivalent, patient reported visual perception, and general satisfaction between FECD and control patients in both groups. Our results suggest that presbyopia-correcting IOLs can be carefully considered in patients with grade 2-5 FECD, with slightly inferior results compared with healthy eyes.

The first-in-human implantation of the CorNeat keratoprosthesis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the first clinical implantation of the CorNeat™ keratoprosthesis, which utilizes a polymeric scaffold for biointegration within ocular tissue. METHODS: The CorNeat keratoprosthesis was implanted in the right eye of a patient with bilateral corneal opacification and neovascularization secondary to multiple failed grafts. The following surgical technique was used: 360 degree peritomy; epithelial scraping and corneal marking; pre-placement of three corneo-scleral sutures through the implant; central trephination using a 7 mm trephine and host cornea removal; keratoprosthesis placement and sutures tightening while fitting the corneal edge into the posterior groove of the CorNeat keratoprosthesis; and repositioning of the conjunctiva over the implant skirt and fixation with sutures and Fibrin sealant. RESULTS: Twelve months postoperatively visual acuity improved to 1/16 from hand movement. The keratoprosthesis was properly positioned. Tactile intraocular pressure was assessed as normal. Regional, mostly nasal, conjunctival retraction of 4-5 mm over the nano-fibre skirt was seen throughout follow-up. The anterior chamber was quiet and well-formed. No other postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: This initial case may imply a potential breakthrough in the treatment of corneal disease not amenable to standard corneal transplant. Long follow-up and additional implantations are desired to prove the long-term safety and efficacy of this device.

Anatomical and Functional Outcomes with Prompt versus Delayed Initiation of Anti-VEGF in Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between time from diagnosis of treatment-naïve exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to the introduction of anti-VEGF treatment and anatomical and functional outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Included were treatment-naïve exudative AMD patients who presented to a single tertiary medical center between 2012 and 2018. All patients were treated within the first 30 days of their diagnosis with three monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (prompt anti-VEGF) were injected with bevacizumab within ten days, group 2 (intermediate anti-VEGF) within 11-20 days, and group 3 (delayed anti-VEGF) within 21-30 days from diagnosis. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared up to two years from treatment. RESULTS: 146 eyes of 146 patients were included. Sixty-eight patients were in the prompt anti-VEGF group, 31 in the intermediate anti-VEGF group, and 47 in the delayed anti-VEGF group. Following the induction phase of three intravitreal bevacizumab injections, the mean central subfield macular thickness (328.0 ± 115.4 µm vs. 364.6 ± 127.2 µm vs. 337.7 ± 150.1 µm, p = 0.432) and the best-corrected visual acuity (0.47 ± 0.38 vs. 0.59 ± 0.48 vs. 0.47 ± 0.44 logMAR units, p = 0.458) were comparable between the prompt, intermediate and delayed anti-VEGF groups. Anatomical and functional outcomes, treatment burden, number of relapses and eyes with second-line anti-VEGF therapy were comparable between the groups at both 1-year and 2-year timepoints. CONCLUSIONS: Our real-world evidence data emphasize that even if anti-VEGF induction cannot be initiated promptly within ten days from diagnosis of naïve exudative AMD, the visual and anatomical prognosis of the patients may not worsen if the treatment is started within one month of diagnosis.

Toric Intraocular Lens Calculations With the Barrett Calculator: A Comparison of the Calculator With and Without the Integrated K Method.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of the Barrett Integrated K (IK) toric calculator with the standard Barrett toric calculator. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent cataract extraction with implantation of a toric intraocular lens at the Rabin Medical Center, Israel, were reviewed. Errors in predicted postoperative refractive astigmatism were calculated for the Barrett toric calculator using biometry measurements only and with the IK tool using biometry and tomography. Both methods were assessed with predicted and measured posterior corneal astigmatism (PPCA and MPCA, respectively). RESULTS: The study included 73 eyes of 59 patients. The mean centroid prediction error using PPCA (0.08 ± 0.80 D @ 78°) was significantly different compared with MPCA (0.07 ± 0.80 D @ 48°, P = .016). In addition, a significant difference between IK-PPCA (0.06 ± 0.80 D @ 80°) and IK-MPCA (0.05 ± 0.80 D @ 38°) was found (P = .023). The median absolute prediction error ranged from 0.55 D using IK-PPCA to 0.60 D using PPCA, with no significant differences between the four calculation versions. No significant differences were found between the calculators in the predictability rates within ±0.50, ±0.75, and ±1.00 D. Analysis of one eye of each patient showed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: The IK calculator yielded comparable outcomes to the standard Barrett calculator. Although differences in the mean centroid errors were found, they were clinically insignificant and predominantly seen in the axis of the predicted astigmatism error. These minor differences were mainly attributed to the incorporation of the MPCA in the calculation. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(9):565-571.].

Deviation from the planned axis of three toric intraocular lenses.

In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the deviation from the planned axis of 3 Toric intraocular lenses (TIOL). Included in the study 190 eyes, operated by two surgeons using two different manual marking techniques. The patients were implanted with either AcrySof IQ Toric SN6AT (Alcon) (n = 90), POD FT (PhysIOL) (n = 50), or TECNIS Symfony Toric (J&J) (n = 50). At least 1 month postoperatively, the IOL was photographed, and the axis was measured using a designed software. The difference between the planned and actual axis was defined as axis deviation. The effect of IOL type, astigmatism direction, and marking techniques on the average degree and direction of the IOL deviation were evaluated and compared. There was no significant difference in the average deviation between the IOLs (TECNIS Symfony: 4.03° ± 4.34, POD FT: 3.52° ± 3.38, and SN6AT: 4.24° ± 4.10), and its direction (55.8%, 39.0%, and 56.6% clockwise (CW) deviation, respectively). With the rule, astigmatism had significantly more CW deviation compared with against the rule and oblique astigmatism (64.3%, 43.8%, and 41.7%, respectively, P = 0.027), but the average deviation was similar. The marking techniques did not influence the degree or direction of the deviation.

Evaluation of IOL power calculation with the Kane formula for pediatric cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of the Kane formula for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in the pediatric population. METHODS: The charts of pediatric patients who underwent cataract surgery with in-the-bag IOL implantation with one of two IOL models (SA60AT or MA60AC) between 2012 and 2018 in The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, CanFada, were retrospectively reviewed. The accuracy of IOL power calculation with the Kane formula was evaluated in comparison with the Barrett Universal II (BUII), Haigis, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, and Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff Theoretical (SRK/T) formulas. RESULTS: Sixty-two eyes of 62 patients aged 6.2 (IQR 3.2-9.2) years were included. The SD values of the prediction error obtained by Kane (1.38) were comparable with those by BUII (1.34), Hoffer Q (1.37), SRK/T (1.40), Holaday 1 (1.41), and Haigis (1.50), all p > 0.05. A significant difference was observed between the Hoffer Q and Haigis formulas (p = 0.039). No differences in the median and mean absolute errors were found between the Kane formula (0.54 D and 0.91 ± 1.04 D) and BUII (0.50 D and 0.88 ± 1.00 D), Hoffer Q (0.48 D and 0.88 ± 1.05 D), SRK/T (0.72 D and 0.97 ± 1.00 D), Holladay 1 (0.63 D and 0.94 ± 1.05 D), and Haigis (0.57 D and 0.98 ± 1.13 D), p = 0.099. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate the Kane formula in pediatric cataract surgery. Our results place the Kane among the noteworthy IOL power calculation formulas in this age group, offering an additional means for improving IOL calculation in pediatric cataract surgery. The heteroscedastic statistical method was first implemented to evaluate formulas' predictability in children.

Intravitreal Tissue Plasminogen Activator Injection for the Treatment of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in a Rabbit Model.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of intravitreal injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) on proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). METHODS: PVR was induced in a rabbit model by intraocular injection of dispase (0.05 U/0.1 mL). Progression of PVR was followed by indirect ophthalmic examination. Following 6 weeks, five animals received intravitreal injection of 25 µg/0.1 mL tPA and four were injected with balanced salt solution (BSS). Animals were euthanized at 48 hours following tPA/BSS injection and eyes were enucleated for histological evaluation and staining with α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and Sirius Red. RESULTS: Following tPA injection, one eye had a reduction in PVR from grade 2 to 1 and three eyes remained stable. Following BSS, PVR grade was unchanged in three eyes. In one eye in each group, the severity of PVR couldn't be assessed due to limited view. Staining with αSMA showed reduced presence of fibroblasts in eyes injected with tPA compared with those injected with BSS. Collagen type I and III, demonstrated by Sirius Red staining, was reduced in the tPA group in comparison to controls. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that intravitreally injected tPA may show an inhibitory effect on PVR progression. Further exploration in clinical trials is desired.

Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy on the same day of the initial consultation for the correction of myopia.

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical outcomes, efficacy, safety, and predictability of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) operations performed on the day of the first screening visit in comparison with operations scheduled at a following appointment. METHODS: Data of consecutive patients with myopia of various degrees, who underwent Trans-PRK, were retrospectively analyzed. Findings were compared between patients who underwent Trans-PRK on the same day of first consultation to patients that underwent surgery at subsequent visits, following initial consultation on a different day. RESULTS: The study included 599 eyes treated on the initial visit day and 1936 eyes treated on a subsequent visit. Mean final spherical equivalent was close to emmetropia in both groups (p = 0.183). Efficacy indices were 0.928 ± 0.192 in the initial-visit group and 0.945 ± 0.163 in the second-visit group (p = 0.152). Safety indices were 0.954 ± 0.156 and 0.955 ± 0.151 (p = 0.707), respectively. No differences between the groups were seen in uncorrected visual acuity (UDVA) of ⩾20/20, ⩾20/25, and ⩾20/32. Only the sub-analysis of patients reaching UDVA of 20/40 or better was slightly lower in the first-visit (95.5%) compared with the second-visit group (97.9%, p = 0.001). Results of attempted correction within ±0.50 D were: 63.3% and 69.0%, respectively (p = 0.009). Complications profiles in the two groups were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-PRK completed on the day of the first screening appointment demonstrated a similar safety outcome compared with subsequent-visits procedures, and slightly lower, yet comparable, results regarding efficacy and predictability.

Comparison of the Barrett Universal II formula to previous generation formulae for paediatric cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of the Barrett Universal II (BUII) five-variable formula to previous generation formulae in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power following paediatric cataract extraction. METHODS: Retrospective study of consecutive paediatric patients who underwent uneventful cataract extraction surgery along with in-the-bag IOL implantation between 2012 and 2018 in the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The accuracy of five different IOL formulae, including the BUII, Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff Theoretical (SRK/T), Holladay I, Hoffer Q and Haigis, was evaluated. Constant optimization was performed for each IOL and for each formula separately. Mean prediction error (PE) and the mean and median absolute PE (APE) were calculated for the five different IOL formulae investigated. RESULTS: Sixty-six eyes of 66 children (59% males) with a median age at surgery of 6.2 years (IQR, 3.2-9.2 years) were included in the study. The mean IOL power that was implanted was 23.3 ± 5.1 D (range; 12.0-39.0 D). Overall, the BUII had a comparable median APE to the Hoffer Q, Holladay I, SRK/T and Haigis formulae (BUII: 0.49D versus 0.48D, 0.61D, 0.74D and 0.58D respectively; p = 0.205). The BUII, together with Hoffer Q, produced better predictability within 0.5D from target refraction compared with the SRK/T formula (BUII:51.5%, Hoffer Q:51.5% versus SRK/T:31.8%, p = 0.002 for both). CONCLUSION: The BUII formula had comparable accuracy to other tested formulae and outperformed the SRK/T formula, when calculating IOL power within the 0.5D range from target refraction in paediatric eyes undergoing cataract surgery with in-the-bag IOL implantation.

Global Academic Productivity in the Field of Internal Medicine and Its Correlation to National Economic Indicators: A Bibliometric Analysis of 24 Years.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between national economic indicators and academic productivity. However, such a relationship has not been studied in the field of internal medicine (IM). METHODS: The number of documents published, number of citable documents, number of citations, citations per document and the h index between 1996 and 2019 in the field of IM among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries were analysed. Data were derived from the The Scimago Journal and Country rank source. We analysed the correlation between these indicators to the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, health spending as percent of GDP and gross domestic expenditure on research and development as percent of GDP (GERD). Economic data were collected from the OECD websites. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between health expenditure and h index (r = 0.75, P < 0.001), number of citations (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), number of documents (r = 0.62, P < 0.001) and number of citable documents (r = 0.61, P < 0.001); between GERD and number of citations (r = 0.6, P < 0.001), h index (r = 0.6, P < 0.001), number of documents published (r = 0.53, P = 0.001) and citable documents (r = 0.51, P = 0.001); between the GDP per capita and number of citations (r = 0.46, P = 0.005), citations per document (r = 0.54, P = 0.001) and h index (r = 0.5, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a positive correlation between academic productivity in the field of IM and economic indicators of the OECD countries, mainly health expenditure, implying the advantage of domestic investment in health.

Scientific Productivity in Rheumatology Among Countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Its Correlation to National Economic Indicators.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between research productivity in the field of rheumatology and various updated economic indicators of Countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). METHODS: The number of documents published, number of citable documents, number of citations, citations per document, and the H-index for the 36 OECD countries in the field of rheumatology between 1996 and 2017 were obtained from the The Scimago Journal and Country rank source. The recent data regarding gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, total health spending as percent of GDP, and the gross domestic expenditure on research and development as percent of GDP were collected from the World Bank, OECD, and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Web sites, accordingly. The relationship between economic indicators and scientific productivity for each of the OECD countries was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 132,314 documents were analyzed. A moderate to strong significance correlation was found between health expenditure and the number of documents published (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), number of citable documents (r = 0.68, p < 0.001), number of citation (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), and H-index (r = 0.77, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a current highlight on the relationship between academic productivity in rheumatology and economic indicators of OECD countries. We showed a positive moderate to strong significant correlation between total health expenditure as percent of GDP and different bibliometric indicators, implying another possible advantage of national investment in this filed.

Refractive outcomes of high-magnitude astigmatism correction using femtosecond LASIK versus transepithelial PRK.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of femtosecond laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) with transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) for the correction of high-grade astigmatism. METHODS: Medical records of patients with astigmatism of 2 diopters (D) or higher, who were treated with FS-LASIK or T-PRK in 2013 through 2014 at a private practice laser clinic, were retrospectively analyzed. Efficacy, safety, predictability and vector analysis of astigmatism correction were compared between the treatment groups. RESULTS: The study included 93 eyes treated with FS-LASIK and 186 eyes treated with T-PRK. No significant differences in postoperative spherical equivalent (-0.10 ± 0.7 D and -0.11 ± 0.7 D, respectively, p = 0.958) and postoperative refractive astigmatism (0.79 ± 0.54 D and 0.82 ± 0.63 D, respectively, p = 0.685) were demonstrated. A significant advantage of FS-LASIK over T-PRK was seen for the efficacy (1.00 ± 0.18 and 0.86 ± 0.22, respectively, p < 0.001) and safety (1.03 ± 0.17 and 0.89 ± 0.21, respectively, p < 0.001) indices. Results remain statistically significant in a multivariate analysis model. Vector analysis for the astigmatism correction showed no significant difference between the surgery methods in the surgically induced astigmatism, difference vector, correction index and index of success. CONCLUSION: Both procedures demonstrated desirable post-operative SE outcomes for high-grade astigmatism correction. However, FS-LASIK achieved better results than T-PRK in the efficacy and safety parameters.

Femtosecond laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) yields better results than transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) for correction of low to moderate grade myopia.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) with femtosecond laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for the correction of low to moderate myopia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was used. The study group included patients with myopia less than -6.0 D, with or without concomitant astigmatism under 2.0 D, who were treated with FS-LASIK or Trans-PRK in 2013 through 2014. Background, clinical and outcome data were collected from the patient files. A comparison between eyes treated with FS-LASIK or Trans-PRK was performed. RESULTS: The Trans-PRK group was comprised of 1793 eyes and the FS-LASIK group of 666 eyes. Mean ± SD spherical equivalent (SE) refraction prior to surgery was -3.43 ± 1.27 D in the Trans-PRK group and -3.18 ± 1.34 D in the FS-LASIK group (p < 0.001). Efficacy index values were 0.95 ± 0.14 in the Trans-PRK group and 0.98 ± 0.12 in the FS-LASIK group (p < 0.001), and corresponding safety index values were 0.96 ± 0.13 and 0.99 ± 0.12 (p < 0.001). Distance from target refraction was 0.45 ± 0.42 D in Trans-PRK group and 0.43 ± 0.38 D in the FS-LASIK group (p = 0.537); 71.6% and 74.2% of eyes were within ±0.5 D of attempted correction, respectively (p = 0.193). CONCLUSIONS: Both Trans-PRK and FS-LASIK demonstrated excellent results, mostly comparable with the current literature. FS-LASIK achieved better results than Trans-PRK surgery in the efficacy and safety parameters.