Effectiveness of the Spot tm Vision Screener With Variations in Ocular Pigments.

PURPOSE: To evaluate Spot in detecting American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Amblyopia risk factors (ARF) and for ARF myopia and hyperopia with variations in ocular pigments. DESIGN: Diagnostic screening test evaluation. METHODS: Study population: Children presented for a complete eye examination in pediatric clinic. The study population included 1040 participants, of whom 273 had darkly pigmented eyes, 303 were medium pigmented, and 464 were light pigmented. INTERVENTION: Children were screened with the Spot vision screener before the complete eye examination. A pediatric ophthalmologist then completed an eye examination, including cycloplegic refraction. The pediatric ophthalmologist was blinded to the result of the Spot vision screener. MAIN OUTCOME: The association between Spot screening recommendation and meeting one or more ARF/ARF + Amblyopia criterion, Spot measured spherical equivalent, and ARF myopia and hyperopia detection. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operative characteristic curve (AUC) for myopia was excellent for all. The AUC for hyperopia was good (darker-pigmented: 0.92, medium-pigmented: 0.81, and lighter-pigmented: 0.86 eyes). The Spot was most sensitive for ARF myopia (lighter-pigmented: 0.78, medium-pigmented: 0.52, darker-pigmented: 0.49). The reverse was found for hyperopia; however, sensitivity was relatively poor. The Spot was found most sensitive for hyperopia in the darker-pigment group (0.46), 0.27 for medium-pigment, and 0.23 for the lighter-pigment cohort. CONCLUSIONS: While the Spot was confirmed as a sensitive screening test with good specificity in our large cohort, the sensitivity of the Spot in detecting AAPOS guidelines for myopia and hyperopia differed with variations in skin pigment. Our results support the consideration of ethnic and racial diversity in future advances in photorefractor technology.

External Validation of a Model to Predict Postoperative Globe Axial Length in Children After Bilateral Cataract Surgery.

PURPOSE: To perform the external validation of a model to predict postoperative axial length (AL) in children over 2 years of age who were undergoing bilateral cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. DESIGN: Validation study using a retrospective case series. METHODS: Using a population different from the one that created the model, but with the same characteristics regarding age, bilateral cataract, primary IOL implantation, and follow-up assessment, AL was estimated. The AL values estimated by the model were compared with the AL measured in the follow-ups. RESULTS: In all, 55 eyes of 30 children were selected for this study; in 5 children with bilateral cataracts, only 1 eye was included. The median age at the time of surgery was 5.01 years. Follow-up AL measurements were obtained for 179 visits. The median age at the final follow-up visit was 10.15 years. The median AL measured and estimated by the model in all visits were 22.37 mm and 22.16 mm, respectively (Pearson coefficient: 0.9534; Lin correlation: 0.9258). In the Bland-Altman analysis, the 95% limit of agreement between the 2 methods (measured and estimated AL) was 0.71 to -1.19. In 3 eyes (1.68%) with AL shorter than 21.2 mm, the difference was >0.71, and in 9 eyes with AL longer than 22.5 (5.03%), it was less than -1.19. The median AL measured and estimated at the final visit were 22.69 mm and 22.43 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our previously developed prediction model for globe AL growth demonstrated good external validity by accurately predicting measured AL changes with growth in the validation cohort.

Genetic testing for infantile nystagmus syndrome with or without associated findings.

PURPOSE: To review the published literature assessing the clinical utility of genetic testing in individuals with infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS), defined as binocular conjugate nystagmus and onset prior to 6 months of age, with or without associated findings. METHODS: A literature search was last conducted in October 2022. The results were limited to articles published in English. The search yielded 517 abstracts, of which 72 papers were reviewed in full text. Of these papers, 4 met the criteria for inclusion and were graded by a study methodologist. RESULTS: The 4 studies that met inclusion criteria used next-generation sequencing with gene panels ranging from 31 to 336 genes. The overall molecular diagnostic rate ranged from 35% to 60% in the included studies, although the yield was higher when genetic testing was guided by clinical phenotyping (approximately 80%) and in the subsets of patients with a family history (up to 88%). As many as 30% of patients tested had a reclassification of the diagnosis based on the genetic testing results. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing has the potential to provide a definitive diagnosis and identify treatable conditions in patients presenting with INS, especially when considered in conjunction with clinical phenotyping and family history.

Intraoperative discovery of lens dislocation in a child with Knobloch syndrome.

We present the case of a 14-year-old boy with a known diagnosis of Knobloch syndrome (KS) referred for bilateral cataract evaluation and possible cataract surgery. At time of initial presentation, no lens subluxation was appreciated, and no phacodonesis was detected on slit lamp biomicroscopy. However, 7-weeks later, on the day of surgery, his right eye was found to have a complete lens dislocation into the vitreous cavity, with no zonule attachment. The left eye did not have subluxated lens; however, intraoperatively, after irrigation into the eye, near complete zonular dialysis was observed. This case highlights the importance of regular follow-up of children with KS.

Preoperative central corneal thickness in eyes with pediatric cataract versus normal fellow eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare the preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) in eyes with unilateral cataract with their normal fellow eyes in the pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted using the STORM Kids cataract database. Eyes with traumatic cataract, previous surgery or therapeutic manipulation, or age >18 years were excluded. Only eyes with a normal fellow eye were included. The intraocular pressure, age at time of surgery, race, sex, and type of cataract were also extracted from the record. RESULTS: A total of 70 eyes with unilateral cataract and 70 fellow normal eyes met inclusion criteria. The mean age at the time of surgery was 3.35 years (range, 0.08-15.05). The mean preoperative CCT in the operated eyes was 577 ± 58 µm (range, 464-898 µm). The mean preoperative CCT in fellow eyes was 570 ± 35 µm (range, 485-643 µm). There was no statistically significant difference between the preoperative CCT in cataract eyes versus unaffected fellow eyes (P = 0.183). When stratified by age, the difference in the CCT between cataract and fellow eyes was greatest in the <1 year age group, but was not statistically significant (P = 0.236). The mean preoperative corneal diameter of operative eyes was 11.0 mm (range, 5.5-12.5 mm [n = 68]). The mean preoperative IOP was 15.1 mm Hg (n = 66). CONCLUSIONS: In our study cohort, there was no significant difference in mean preoperative CCT between unilateral pediatric cataract eyes and unaffected fellow eyes.

Effectiveness of the Spot Vision Screener using updated 2021 AAPOS guidelines.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the Spot Vision Screener according to updated 2021 AAPOS Vision Screening Committee guidelines for instrument-based pediatric vision screen validation. METHODS: As part of an IRB-approved ongoing prospective study, children were screened with the Spot prior to a complete examination. RESULTS: Spot screening was successful in 1,036 of 1,090 children (95%). Forty-eight percent of participants were referred for further screening using the Spot manufacturer guidelines, and 40% of all children were found to have a 2021 amblyopia risk factor or visually significant refractive error by gold standard examination. The Spot recommendation compared reasonably well to the 2021 criteria, with an overall sensitivity of 0.88 and a specificity of 0.78. Applying updated guidelines to the Spot for hyperopia, anisometropia, and astigmatism yielded moderate-to-poor sensitivity (0.27-0.77) but excellent specificity (>0.9). The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrates overall good prediction performance for the Spot for each diagnosis-myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, anisometropia (range, 0.87-0.97). Results of our study suggest increasing the instrument referral criterion for astigmatism from 1.5 D (manufacturer thresholds of the screener used in this study) to 2 D in older children. Decreasing the anisometropia cut-off from 1 D to 0.75 D would improve sensitivity from 0.59 to >0.8. CONCLUSIONS: In our study population, the overall predictive ability of the Spot is good, with a sensitivity of 0.88 and a specificity of 0.78. We recommend specific device refractive referral criteria to maximize screening effectiveness using the updated AAPOS guidelines.

The blinq™ Vision Screener in Detection of Amblyopia and Strabismus.

PURPOSE: The blinq (Rebion Inc) is a new screening device designed to directly detect amblyopia and strabismus rather than amblyopia risk factors. We performed an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the blinq in detecting amblyopia and strabismus. DESIGN: Prospective clinical validity analysis of a screening device based on sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: Children presenting for examination in the pediatric ophthalmology clinic underwent screening with the blinq before examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist blinded to the screening results. Results of the blinq and examination findings of strabismus or amblyopia were compared. RESULTS: In our cohort of 267 children with an average age of 6.3 years, the sensitivity of the blinq to detect amblyopia or any constant strabismus was 87.5% (78.2%-93.8%) and specificity was 51.3% (43.9%-58.7%). Using the previously described "appropriate referral gold standard" criteria, including children with intermittent strabismus and high refractive error, the sensitivity increased to 91.3% and the specificity to 63.2%. We found a high number of children (44 [16%]) upon whom the blinq timed out and were included as automatic referrals. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support use of the blinq as a screening device to detect amblyopia and strabismus in children.

Surgical Treatments to Improve Visual Acuity in Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the literature on the efficacy of surgical procedures to improve visual acuity (VA) in patients with infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS). METHODS: Literature searches were last conducted in January 2022 in the PubMed database for English-language studies with no date restrictions. The combined searches yielded 354 abstracts, of which 46 were reviewed in full text. Twenty-three of these were considered appropriate for inclusion in this assessment and were assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. RESULTS: One included study was a randomized trial; the remaining 22 were case series. The 23 studies included children and adults with INS and a variable proportion with anomalous head position (AHP), strabismus, and sensory diagnoses. The surgical interventions evaluated included large recessions, tenotomy and reattachment (TAR), myectomy with or without pulley fixation, and anterior extirpation of the 4 horizontal rectus muscles, as well as various procedures to correct an AHP in which VA was reported as a secondary outcome. The data were mixed, with improvements in binocular best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranging from no improvement to 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), or 3 lines. (Most studies were in the range of 0.05-0.2 logMAR.) Statistically significant improvement in VA was noted in 12 of 16 studies (75%) that performed statistical analyses, with no clear advantage of any single procedure. Complications and reoperations were lowest in patients who underwent TAR and highest in those who underwent myectomy or anterior extirpation. CONCLUSIONS: The best available evidence suggests that eye muscle surgery in patients with INS results in a modest improvement in VA. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Effectiveness of Laser Refractive Surgery to Address Anisometropic Amblyogenic Refractive Error in Children: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the published literature assessing the safety and effectiveness of laser refractive surgery to treat anisometropic amblyogenic refractive error in children aged ≤ 18 years. METHODS: A literature search of the PubMed database was conducted in October 2021 with no date limitations and restricted to publications in English. The search yielded 137 articles, 69 of which were reviewed in full text. Eleven articles met the criteria for inclusion and were assigned a level of evidence rating. RESULTS: The 11 included articles were all level III evidence and consisted of 1 case-control study and 10 case series. Six studies used laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), 1 used photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), 1 used refractive lenticule extraction/small incision lenticule extraction, and the rest used a combination of LASIK, PRK, laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), or refractive lenticule extraction/small incision lenticule extraction. Five studies enrolled patients with anisometropic myopia, 2 studies enrolled patients with anisometropic hyperopia, and the remainder were mixed. Although all studies demonstrated an improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the magnitude of improvement varied widely. As study parameters varied, a successful outcome was defined as residual refractive error of 1 diopter (D) or less of the target refraction because this was the most commonly used metric. Successful outcomes ranged between 38% and 87%, with a mean follow-up ranging from 4 months to 7 years. Despite this wide range, all studies demonstrated an improvement in the magnitude of anisometropia. Regression in refractive error occurred more frequently and to a greater degree in myopic eyes and eyes with longer follow-up, and in younger patients. Although one study reported 2 free flaps, most studies reported no serious adverse events. The most common complications were corneal haze and striae. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from included studies suggest that laser refractive surgery may address amblyogenic refractive error in children and that it appears to decrease anisometropia. However, the evidence for improvement in amblyopia is unclear and long-term safety data are lacking. Long-term data and well-designed clinical studies that use newer refractive technologies in standardized patient populations would help address the role of refractive surgery in children and its potential impact on amblyopia.

Outcomes of unilateral cataract surgery in children 2-7 years of age: a comparison to surgery in toddlers and infants.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of unilateral cataract surgery in children aged 2-7 years with the outcomes reported in younger children. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent unilateral cataract surgery between the ages of 2-7 years were reviewed retrospectively. Traumatic cataracts and ectopia lentis were excluded. Outcomes were compared to those of the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) for infants up to 7 months of age and the Toddler Aphakia and Pseudophakia Study (TAPS) for toddlers between 7-24 months of age who underwent unilateral cataract surgery. RESULTS: A total of 68 children were included, with a mean follow-up of 4.3 years. The proportion of intraoperative complications (7%) was significantly lower than that reported in IATS but not significantly different from that of TAPS. In our older cohort, more children (41%) had visual acuity better than 20/40 compared to infants (23% [P < 0.05]) and toddlers (11% [P < 0.001]), with a final median visual acuity of 20/44. The proportion of adverse events in our older cohort was reduced (7%) compared to that of infants (81%) and toddlers (24%). Additional unplanned intraocular surgeries occurred less often (6%) than in the infant cohort (72%). No patients developed glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery in slightly older children carries less risk of vision-threatening complications and adverse events compared to infants and results in better visual outcomes than in toddlers. Once the decision is made to pursue surgery on a visually significant cataract, the age of the child should determine which relevant risks are emphasized in the informed consent discussion.

Prospective analysis of Artisan aphakia intraocular lens implantation for nontraumatic ectopia lentis in children.

PURPOSE: To report long-term outcomes of iris claw aphakia intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for nontraumatic ectopia lentis (EL) in children. METHODS: In this prospective study, children who underwent Artisan Aphakia IOL placement were included if they have a minimum of 1-year follow-up after implantation. Main outcome measures were: best-corrected distance visual acuity, reoperations, change in central corneal thickness (CCT), and corneal endothelial cell counts (ECC). RESULTS: The Artisan Aphakia IOL was implanted in a total of 76 eyes of 43 patients (68 eyes of 34 patients with EL). 56 eyes of 28 patients have been followed long enough to meet the inclusion criteria for this report. The average age at Artisan Aphakia IOL implantation was 11.1 years (range of 2-20 years). Average follow-up was 3.59 years, and 23% of patients have >5 years' follow-up. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.36 (20/46) to logMAR 0.18 (20/30) after implantation (P = 0.02). Five reoperations were needed in 4 patients, 3 (7%) related to post-implantation trauma. Average preoperative CCT was 580 µm; estimated mean increase in CCT at the 5-year postoperative visit was 11.9 µm higher (P = 0.047). Average preoperative ECC was 3178 cells/mm2; estimated mean loss of ECC at the 5-year postoperative visit was not significantly different from zero (187.7 cells/mm2 [P = 0.102]). CONCLUSIONS: The Artisan Aphakia IOL, used in the absence of capsular support, had an acceptable safety profile in our patients.

Outcomes of bilateral cataract surgery in children 2-7 years of age: a comparison to surgery in toddlers and infants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of bilateral cataract surgery in children 2-7 years of age in our institution and to compare them to the bilateral infant and toddler outcomes of the Toddler Aphakia Pseudophakia Study (TAPS) registry. METHODS: The medical records of children who underwent bilateral cataract surgery between the ages of 2 and 7 years of age with a minimum of 2 years' postoperative follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with a history of trauma or subluxated lenses were excluded. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, strabismus requiring surgery, adverse events, and reoperations. RESULTS: A total of 114 eyes of 57 children were included. Median age at surgery was 4.4 years. At the visit closest to 10 years of age, the median best-corrected visual acuity of the better-seeing eye was 0.05 logMAR (20/22); of the worse-seeing eye, 0.18 logMAR (20/30). Strabismus surgery was performed in 1 patient. Among first-operated eyes, adverse events occurred in 4 eyes (7%), which was significantly less than in the TAPS cohort of 1-7 months (P = 0.0001) and the TAPS cohort of 7 months to 2 years (P = 0.01). No eye developed glaucoma or was labeled glaucoma suspect. Unplanned intraocular reoperations were needed in 4 first-operated eyes (3 membranectomy/vitrectomy for removal of opacifications and 1 lysis of vitreous wick). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to infants and toddlers, bilateral cataract surgery performed between 2 and 7 years of age was associated with significantly fewer adverse events and excellent visual acuity.

Adjustable Sutures in the Treatment of Strabismus: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the scientific literature that evaluates the effectiveness of adjustable sutures in the management of strabismus for adult and pediatric patients. METHODS: Literature searches were performed in the PubMed database through April 2021 with no date limitations and were restricted to publications in English. The searches identified 551 relevant citations, of which 55 were reviewed in full text. Of these, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria and were assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. The search included all randomized controlled studies regardless of study size and cohort studies of 100 or more patients comparing the adjustable versus nonadjustable suture technique, with a focus on motor alignment outcomes or reoperation rates. RESULTS: The literature search yielded no level I studies. Of the 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 11 were rated level II and 6 were rated level III. Among the 12 studies that focused on motor alignment outcomes, 4 small randomized clinical trials (RCTs) did not find a statistically significant difference between groups, although they were powered to detect only very large differences. Seven of 8 nonrandomized studies found a statistically significant difference in motor alignment success in favor of the adjustable suture technique, both overall and in certain subgroups of patients. Successful motor alignment was seen in both exotropia (in 3 studies that were not limited to children) and esotropia (in 1 study of adults and 2 of children). The majority of included studies that reported on reoperation rates found the rates to be lower in patients who underwent strabismus surgery with adjustable sutures, but this finding was not uniformly demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are no level I studies evaluating the effectiveness of adjustable sutures for strabismus surgery, the majority of nonrandomized studies that met the inclusion criteria for this assessment reported an advantage of the adjustable suture technique over the nonadjustable technique with respect to motor alignment outcomes. This finding was not uniformly demonstrated among all studies reviewed and warrants further investigation in the development and analysis of adjustable suture techniques.

Outcomes after surgical removal of anterior epi-capsular plaque associated with persistent pupillary membranes in children.

INTRODUCTION: Anteriorepi-capsular plaque (ACP) is usually eccentric and is associated with persistent iris strands arising from the collarette. Outcomes of lens preserving ACP peeling along with removal of persistent pupillary membrane (PPM) strands have seldom been reported with only a few cases within some case series appearing in the literature. Herein we aim to report outcome after surgical removal of ACP associated with PPM in children. METHODS: Research was done in three different Institutes. Charts were reviewed for all children who had undergone ACP removal surgery from 2010. Age at surgery, gender, preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), preoperative refraction, morphologic details of ACP, intraoperative complications, ophthalmic viscosurgical device use, age at last follow-up, postoperative complications, and postoperative BCVA were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients, 10 male and 6 female, were included in study. Age at surgery ranged from 2 to 86 months old. Age at last follow up visit ranged from 2 to 14 years old. Postoperative complications were not observed in any of the 16 patients. Specifically, in all patients the crystalline lens remained clear at the last follow up visit. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital ACP of the lens associated with PPM and clear lens can be safely surgically removed with a very low risk of iatrogenic cataract in the early period after surgery.

Botulinum Toxin Injection for the Treatment of Strabismus: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the available evidence comparing the effectiveness of extraocular muscle botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injection with eye muscle surgery for restoring ocular alignment in children and adults with nonparalytic, nonrestrictive horizontal strabismus. METHODS: Literature searches in the PubMed Cochrane Library, and clinical trial databases with no date restrictions, but limited to articles published in English, were conducted last on January 10, 2021. The searches yielded 515 citations, 40 of which were reviewed in full text by the first author. Fourteen articles met the criteria for inclusion (randomized or nonrandomized comparative studies, or case series with a minimum 50 patients; evaluating extraocular muscle BTXA injection for initial or repeat treatment of horizontal, nonparalytic, nonrestrictive strabismus; with at least 6 months of follow-up) and were graded by a methodologist. RESULTS: The 14 included studies consisted of 2 randomized clinical trials, 3 nonrandomized comparative studies, and 9 case series. All 5 comparative studies were graded level II evidence, and the 9 case series were graded level III evidence. Successful motor outcomes after BTXA injection were relatively consistent across 4 of the 5 comparative studies at 60%, when adjustment was made for differential selection bias in 1 of the studies. In the 4 studies, successful motor outcomes after surgery ranged from 66% to 77% with a mean follow-up of 23 to 75 months, and the outcomes were not significantly different from those after BTXA injection. In the fifth level II study, success was significantly higher with BTXA injection than with surgery (94% vs. 72%). The level III BTXA case series demonstrated higher motor success rates of 87% to 89% when children were treated in 2 muscles at a time; rates were lower in adults treated with single-muscle BTXA injection. CONCLUSIONS: Extraocular muscle injection of BTXA achieves a high rate of successful motor alignment, comparable with that achieved after eye muscle surgery for nonparalytic, nonrestrictive horizontal strabismus. Good alignment may require multiple BTXA injections, and it is not yet clear whether sensory outcomes are equivalent for BTXA injections versus eye muscle surgery in young children.

Home- and Office-Based Vergence and Accommodative Therapies for Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency in Children and Young Adults: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review home- and office-based vergence and accommodative therapies for treatment of convergence insufficiency (CI) in children and young adults up to 35 years of age. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted through October 2020 in the PubMed database for English-language studies. The combined searches yielded 359 abstracts, of which 37 were reviewed in full text. Twelve of these were considered appropriate for inclusion in this assessment and assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. RESULTS: Of the 12 studies included in this assessment, 8 were graded as level I evidence, 2 were graded as level II evidence, and 2 were graded as level III evidence. Two of the level I studies included older teenagers and young adults; the remainder of the studies exclusively evaluated children. Two randomized controlled trials found that office-based vergence and accommodative therapies were effective in improving motor outcomes in children with symptomatic CI. However, the studies reported conflicting results on the efficacy of office-based therapy for treating symptoms of CI. Data were inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of home-based therapies (including pencil push-ups and home computer therapy) compared with home placebo. In young adults, office-based vergence and accommodative therapies were not superior to placebo in relieving symptoms of CI. CONCLUSIONS: Level I evidence suggests that office-based vergence and accommodative therapies improve motor outcomes in children with symptomatic CI, although data are inconsistent regarding symptomatic relief. Evidence is insufficient to determine whether home-based therapies are effective.

Preoperative Predictors for Esodeviation and Exodeviation after Cataract Surgery in Children.

Purpose: For those children that went on to have strabismus surgery after cataract surgery, we sought to identify preoperative predictors for whether strabismus surgery would be for an esodeviation or for an exodeviation.Design: Retrospective studyMethods: Charts of patients <18 years who underwent cataract surgery were reviewed. Data from the first strabismus surgery after cataract surgery were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using T-test for continuous variable and chi-square test for categorical variable. A binomial logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of variables that were found to be significant.Results: 142 patients were identified having strabismus surgery. Type of deviation at first strabismus surgery was: Esodeviation: 72 (50.7%), exodeviation 55 (38.7%), and surgery for only vertical strabismus 15 (10.6%). Age at cataract surgery was an independent variable determining subsequent surgery for esodeviation or exodeviation. For each year increase in age at cataract surgery, the odds of having surgery for exotropia instead of esotropia increases by a factor of 1.620 (P = .005). Odds that strabismus surgery will be for exodeviation is 4.9 times higher in children who had cataract surgery at 1 year of age or greater as compared to children <1 year of age (P < .001).Conclusion: For those children who went on to have strabismus surgery after cataract surgery, younger age at cataract surgery increases the chance that subsequent strabismus surgery will be for an esodeviation. Those who had cataract surgery at an older age were more likely to have surgery for exotropia than for esotropia.

A sustained-release intracanalicular dexamethasone insert (Dextenza) for pediatric cataract surgery.

We assess the outcomes of a sustained-release intracanalicular dexamethasone insert (Dextenza) in the treatment of postoperative ocular inflammation in children undergoing cataract surgery. Seventeen eyes of 17 children were analyzed. The anterior chamber was clear in 18% of eyes at 1-2 weeks after surgery. A spike in intraocular pressure requiring intervention was observed in 18% of eyes. Rescue medications using topical steroids were required in 29% of eyes. Our initial experience suggests that the dexamethasone insert reduced or eliminated the need for postoperative steroid drops.

Office- or Facility-Based Probing for Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the published literature assessing the efficacy and safety of in-office probing compared with facility-based probing to treat congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). METHODS: Literature searches were conducted in March 2020 in the PubMed database with no date restrictions and limited to studies published in English and in the Cochrane Library database with no restrictions. The combined searches yielded 281 citations. Of these, 21 articles were deemed appropriate for inclusion in this assessment and assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. Four articles were rated level I, 2 articles were rated level II, and 15 articles were rated level III. RESULTS: Treatments consisted of observation, in-office nasolacrimal probing, or facility-based nasolacrimal probing. Success rates and complications or recurrences were recorded from 1 week to 6 months after surgery. Complete resolution of symptoms after surgery ranged from 66% to 95.6% for office-based procedures versus 50% to 97.7% for facility-based procedures. Level I evidence indicated that 66% of cases spontaneously resolved after 6 months of observation in infants between 6 and 10 months of age. Success rates for in-office probing were lower for bilateral than for unilateral NLDO (67% vs. 82%), whereas success rates were high in both unilateral (83%) and bilateral (82%) patients who underwent facility-based probing after 6 months of observation. Cost data did not indicate a definitive cost savings of either treatment method ($562 for in-office vs. $701 for facility-based, depending on cost models predicting spontaneous resolution rates at different ages). No serious adverse events with treatment or anesthesia were reported for either treatment method. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence supports the efficacy and safety of both in-office and facility-based surgery for congenital NLDO. However, treating bilateral NLDO in a facility setting may be better. Because a significant percentage of children achieved resolution spontaneously before 12 months of age, deferring treatment until 12 to 18 months of age is a reasonable option. Additional research may address symptom burden on families and the impact of anesthesia and emotional trauma of nonsedated office probings on patients and may explore further the cost of treatment for each treatment method.