Bridging the resources gap: deep learning for fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography macular thickness map image translation.

BACKGROUND: To assess the ability of the pix2pix generative adversarial network (pix2pix GAN) to synthesize clinically useful optical coherence tomography (OCT) color-coded macular thickness maps based on a modest-sized original fluorescein angiography (FA) dataset and the reverse, to be used as a plausible alternative to either imaging technique in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: Original images of 1,195 eyes of 708 nonconsecutive diabetic patients with or without DME were retrospectively analyzed. OCT macular thickness maps and corresponding FA images were preprocessed for use in training and testing the proposed pix2pix GAN. The best quality synthesized images using the test set were selected based on the Fréchet inception distance score, and their quality was studied subjectively by image readers and objectively by calculating the peak signal-to-noise ratio, structural similarity index, and Hamming distance. We also used original and synthesized images in a trained deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to plot the difference between synthesized images and their ground-truth analogues and calculate the learned perceptual image patch similarity metric. RESULTS: The pix2pix GAN-synthesized images showed plausible subjectively and objectively assessed quality, which can provide a clinically useful alternative to either image modality. CONCLUSION: Using the pix2pix GAN to synthesize mutually dependent OCT color-coded macular thickness maps or FA images can overcome issues related to machine unavailability or clinical situations that preclude the performance of either imaging technique. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05105620, November 2021. "Retrospectively registered".

Specular Microscopic Corneal Endothelial Cell Changes following Uneventful Phacoemulsification in Patients with Gout.

Purpose: To assess the effects of phacoemulsification on the corneal endothelium in patients with gout and age-related cataracts. Methods: Eighty-eight patients who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification for age-related cataracts were included in this retrospective comparative study. The patients were divided into two groups: group A included 31 patients with gout and tight control of uric acid levels and group B included 57 patients without gout or any other systemic disease. All patients completed follow-up assessments over 6 months, and the two groups were compared in terms of changes to their specular microscopic values. Results: Both groups showed marked improvement in uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity at the end of the follow-up period. Corneal endothelial cell loss was more severe in group A than in group B, with a mean difference of 221.35 ± 43.87 in group A and 169.88 ± 52.67 in group B at the sixth month (p < 0.001). The difference between the two groups in terms of other specular microscopic values did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Patients with gout are more prone to corneal endothelial cell damage after phacoemulsification than those without gout. To confirm these results, future studies with a prospective design and longer durations of follow-up are needed.

PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MULTIFOCAL CHOROIDITIS/PUNCTATE INNER CHOROIDOPATHY IN PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA EYES WITH PATCHY ATROPHY.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of multifocal choroiditis/punctate inner choroidopathy (MFC/PIC) in eyes with patchy atrophy because of pathologic myopia. METHODS: Five hundred eyes of 253 patients with patchy atrophy were examined between 2014 and 2020 at the Advanced Clinical Center for Myopia. The main outcome measures included the prevalence and characteristics of active MFC/PIC lesions diagnosed by optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Fifty-five of the 500 eyes (11%) diagnosed with patchy atrophy had optical coherence tomography features of active MFC/PIC lesions, such as focal elevations of the retinal pigment epithelium filled with medium hyperreflectivity material, curvilinear scars (Schlaegel lines), and/or areas of outer retinal atrophy. At the time when the MFC/PIC was diagnosed, the mean age was 57.3 ± 12.0 years, and the mean axial length was 29.2 ± 1.8 mm. Macular neovascularization was found in 45 of eyes (81.8%) with MFC/PIC versus 151 eyes without such findings (33.9%; P < 0.001). In 25 of the 55 eyes (45.5%), active MFC/PIC lesions were found before the development of the patchy atrophy. The Bruch membrane defects were colocated with these lesions. CONCLUSION: Active MFC/PIC lesions were identified in a minority of eyes with pathologic myopia, and a subset of these lesions were observed to progress to findings indistinguishable from myopic patchy atrophy. Evidence of MFC/PIC in eyes with pathologic myopia appeared to be a risk factor for the development of macular neovascularization.

Flap Sliding Technique for Managing Flap Striae following Laser In Situ Keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of a simple, noninvasive, "flap-sliding" technique for managing flap striae following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: This prospective, interventional study included eyes with post-LASIK flap striae. All eyes underwent flap sliding 1-2 days after surgery. Following flap edge epithelialisation, a cellulose sponge was used to gently slide the flap perpendicular to the striae direction. This technique allows for flap striae treatment without flap lifting, avoiding any associated lifting complications. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and refractive error were monitored one day after the flap-sliding procedure. RESULTS: Fifteen eyes (15 patients) with post-LASIK flap striae were managed using the flap-sliding technique. The procedure did not successfully relocate the flap striae in 1 eye, and flap elevation and floating (using a balanced salt solution) were required. Therefore, 14 eyes were included in post-flap-sliding analyses. The UDVA improved in all patients the first day after the flap-sliding procedure was performed, with 11 of 14 eyes (78.57%) reaching an UDVA of 20/25 or better. Complications following flap sliding occurred in 2 eyes (14.29%). One eye had intraoperative epithelial abrasion, and 1 eye had residual postoperative striae outside of the optical zone. CONCLUSION: The flap-sliding technique is a simple, noninvasive, efficient, and safe technique for managing post-LASIK flap striae that develop after epithelial healing in the early post-LASIK period. This trial is registered with NCT04055337.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography study of pearl-like lesions in the anterior chamber.

AIM: To study the morphological pattern of pearl-like lesions in the anterior chambers of children before and after management using anterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, observational cross-sectional study of patients presenting with peculiar pearl-like lesions in the anterior chamber of their eyes. 1 mL of betamethasone sodium phosphate (2 mg/mL) and betamethasone dipropionate (5 mg/mL) was injected subconjunctivally. Follow-ups of all patients were conducted for a period of 6 weeks. Anterior segment imaging was done using SD-OCT and also photo slit lamp before and after management. RESULTS: Twelve eyes of 12 patients were included in this study. These patients presented with pearl-like lesions in the anterior chamber with signs of anterior uveitis. There was no history of ocular injury or tuberculosis in any patients. Six weeks after subconjunctival steroid injection, all patients achieved mean best-corrected visual acuity, which changed from 0.2 (range 0.1-0.4) to 0.5 (range 0.4-0.8), and the severity of iritis decreased. SD-OCT showed that the lesions at presentation appeared as a globular noncystic mass attached to the back of the cornea, encroaching on the angle of the eye, and attached to the anterior surface of the iris at some points. CONCLUSION: SD-OCT for imaging the anterior segment allowed us to exclude the cystic nature of this pearly lesion. Some similarities may exist between these pearly lesions and superficial phlyctenular keratitis, which may support the immunological and inflammatory origin of these lesions.

Penetrating eyelid injury: a case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: In literature, many different types of foreign objects have been found to have caused eye injuries. These objects can range from organic to inorganic matter such as glass, wood, pencil, nails and fishhooks. Once the injury is recognized, removal of the foreign body and technique used in the management of the injury is very important to reduce further ocular damage. This case report investigates an injury caused by an object similar to a fishhook that pierced into the eyelid in the opposite direction to normal. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19 year old man presented with a one hour history of the right upper eyelid injury from a wire fence. The loose end of the wire penetrated the full thickness of the eyelid in the direction opposite to the normal. The wire passed from under the eyelid, through the centre of the upper lid, to the external surface. After the application of topical anesthetic drops, the eye could be opened manually, the lid averted, and the wire passed out through the defect. No complications were observed. Post removal, the acuity increased to 6/9 and there was no intraocular penetration. Full recovery was observed as well. CONCLUSION: A severe eyelid penetrating injury can be uncomplicated with a full recovery when there is no intraocular penetration. It is also possible to have an injury pass under the lower margin of the lid and penetrate from inside to out, with no associated corneal injury.

Patient satisfaction with cataract surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Measuring the patient satisfaction is a very important issue that will help very much in improving the service provided to patients and improve the level of satisfaction. AIM: To evaluate patient satisfaction with the cataract surgery service and identify any areas for improvement, determination of patient satisfaction with referral, out-patient consultation, pre-assessment clinic, surgery and post-operative care, also to report patients' comments relating to improvement in service provision. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study was undertaken for 150 patients underwent cataract surgery at Barrow General Hospital, UK, the survey sample was by postal questionnaires. We collected our data from the theatre lists for a period of 4 month. RESULTS: This study included 150 patients; the response rate was (72%) 108 patients, Most patients were referred from their general practitioner 86.1%, 93 (86.1%) patients were happy with the time interval from seeing their GP to eye clinic. In the eye out patient department many factors significantly affected the level of patient satisfaction, in general the more information provided for the patient the more the satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction is on important health outcome old understanding both the domains of satisfaction as well as their relative importance to patients is necessary to improve the overall quality of patient care. Meeting the doctor, presenting all relevant information and giving printed information are very important factors in improving the patient's satisfaction with cataract surgery.

Pattern of eye casualty clinic cases.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: The purpose of the eye casualty clinic (ECC) is to manage patients with ocular emergencies, however a large number of patients attended the eye casualty clinic did not have an acute problem and could have been treated by their General Practitioner (GP) or referred to the eye outpatient clinic. AIM: To identify the number of patients attending the ECC every day and their route of referral and to estimate the number of patients who could have be seen and managed by a competent ophthalmic nurse practitioner. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the notes and history of all patients who attended the eye casualty clinic at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon during two weeks in March 2006. RESULTS: The average daily attendance was 21 patients who were seen between morning and afternoon sessions in the Eye Casualty Clinic.112 (54%) patients were female. The median patient age was 50 years with an age range of 1 to 91 years. 68 (34.2%) patients attended as self referrals without GP letters as our eye casualty clinic is open to the general public from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. A & E referred 28 (14.1%) patients of which only 3 had a General Practitioner (GP) letter and only 1 patient had a walk-in centre letter. There was insufficient information to assess whether 14 patients could have been managed by a nurse; of the remaining 195 visits, 50 (25.6%) patients could have been managed by an Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner and 145 (74.4%) patients could not have been managed by an Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner. CONCLUSION: The workload of the eye casualty doctors could be decreased by 38.6% if defined categories of patients were managed by the ophthalmic nurse practitioner, appropriate referrals were directed to the General Clinic and casualty patients were not followed up inappropriately.