The Impact of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents after Phacoemulsification on Quality of Life: A Randomized Study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of our study was to investigate the impact of ketorolac addition to the well-established combination of antibiotic-steroid agent in terms of vision-related quality of life. METHODS: Patients were randomized to: (1) fixed combination of tobramycin 0.3%-dexamethasone 0.1%, one drop qid (n = 68) and (2) fixed combination of tobramycin 0.3%-dexamethasone 0.1%, one drop qid, plus ketorolac tromethamine 0.5%, one drop tid (n = 70). All patients completed the VFQ-25 questionnaire to assess their functional vision before cataract surgery and postoperatively on days 7, 28 and 42. The statistical analysis comprised the point-wise comparison between the two groups at the four time points for all sub-scales of the VFQ-25 questionnaire, as well as the composite score. RESULTS: No significant differences were noted regarding the composite score, as well as all subscales in all examined time points. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ketorolac did not seem to offer any additional benefit in terms of vision-related quality of life.

Incomplete Gardner's syndrome with blepharoptosis as the first symptom.

Gardner's syndrome (GS) is an autosomal dominant form of polyposis characterized by the presence of multiple polyps in the colon together with osseous tumors and soft-tissue tumors, such as epidermoid cysts and lipomas. An osteoma is a benign, osteogenic tumor and may be sporadic or related to GS. Here, we present a patient with a giant sino-orbital osteoma and blepharoptosis as the only symptom of incomplete GS. A 74-year-old woman, with no previous history of trauma or ophthalmic surgery, presented with a 2 years history of right blepharoptosis without diplopia. The results of slit-lamp and fundoscopic examination were normal. Computed tomography showed a giant sino-orbital osteoma. With suspicion for GS, we thoroughly examined the patient and found no soft-tissue tumors. Fifteen years ago, the patient, who had a family history of colonic polyposis, underwent right colectomy and chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma. We report a case of incomplete GS with blepharoptosis as the first symptom.

Risk factors for poor vision-related quality of life among cataract patients. Evaluation of baseline data.

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to investigate the possible risk factors for poor vision-related quality of life in patients scheduled to undergo phacoemulsification. METHODS: Participants in our study were 220 patients who were eligible for phacoemulsification cataract surgery. All participants underwent a routine ophthalmological examination and completed the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25), which encompasses 12 subscales and the composite score. Sociodemographic and lifestyle parameters were evaluated as potential risk factors for low VFQ-25 composite score, as well as subscale scores. Multivariate regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Composite score did not exhibit any significant associations. General Health subscale score was positively associated with higher educational level. Patients who currently worked presented with lower Vision Specific Mental Health subscale score (OR: 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.18 to 0.63). Vision Specific Role Difficulties subscale score was positively associated with exercise (OR: 1.89, 95 % CI: 1.30 to 2.75). Vision Specific Dependency subscale score was independently positively associated with marital status (married vs single/widowed/divorced, OR: 1.83, 95 % CI: 1.08 to 3.12) but inversely with current working status (OR: 0.40, 95 % CI: 0.20 to 0.79). Males exhibited lower Peripheral Vision subscale score compared with females (OR: 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.04 to 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline vision-related quality of life in cataract patients presenting for surgery seems affected by inherent sociodemographic and lifestyle parameters, such as gender, educational level, marital status, current working status and exercise. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the discrepancies that risk factors may confer, and should thus focus on the most vulnerable subgroups.

A comparative study of visual function of young myopic adults wearing contact lenses vs. spectacles.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of contact lenses wear vs. spectacles wear on visual function of young adults with mild to moderate myopia. METHODS: 57 students (27 male and 30 female) with a mean age of 23 years old participated in the study. Their mean best corrected visual acuity was 10/10 binocularly, all suffered from mild to moderate myopia (-3.75 sph/SD 1.25 sph) and they were both contact lenses and spectacles wearers. The VF-14 questionnaire was administered to assess the contact lenses wear vs. spectacles wear impact score on general daily living among the young individuals. It was used translated in Greek after following the 'translation-back translation' procedure. RESULTS: The mean VF-14 score among spectacles and contact lenses wearers was 100 and 86.78 (SD 4.08) respectively. Although there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05), both scores were related to a satisfactory functional vision for daily living. The contact lenses wearers were facing difficulty especially while driving at night, seeing steps, as well as doing fine handwork (i.e. sewing, knitting or carpentry). CONCLUSIONS: The use of both spectacles and contact lenses provides satisfactory visual functioning for daily activities in young individuals suffering from mild to moderate myopia. However, there is a spectacles' wear superiority in personal satisfaction when compared to contact lenses.

First postoperative day review after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery: is it necessary?

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to examine the value of the first postoperative day review after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery. METHODS: 291 patients who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification were randomized into two groups (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01247155): i) Next day review (NDR group, n = 146) and ii) No next day review (NNDR group, n = 145). The rate of complications, percentage of patients seeking non-scheduled medical consultation up to postoperative day 14, presence of any inflammation-related sign and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on postoperative day 28 were analyzed. RESULTS: In the NDR group, 5.5% of patients developed a postoperative complication, whereas the respective rate was 6.2% in the NNDR group. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.791). The most frequent complications were: elevated intraocular pressure, allergy to postoperative treatment, corneal abrasion, punctuate epitheliopathy, iris prolapse and postoperative hyphema, whose rates did not differ between the two groups. The rate of patients seeking non-scheduled medical consultation up to postoperative day 14, presence of any inflammation-related sign, as well as BCVA on day 28 did not exhibit any significant differences between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: First postoperative day review could be omitted in cases of uneventful cataract surgery.

The value of fundoscopy in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Many of the common systemic diseases present characteristic changes in the fundus of the eye, but fundoscopy is often performed by an ophthalmologist. Our purpose was to assess the value of fundoscopy for the general practitioners (GPs) regarding the diagnosis and management of the cases which they face in daily practice. METHODS: 689 patients were referred by GPs to the outpatient ophthalmology department for fundoscopy during the year 2010. The causes of this referral, the results of ophthalmoscopy and its significance in the final diagnosis were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: In 22 patients (3.1%), fundoscopy revealed optic disc edema. In 7 patients with head trauma (9.7%), fundoscopy revealed intravitreous haemorrhage and Berlin edema. From the patients with photopsias or floaters, 5 (10.2%) had retinal detachment. Finally, in cases with diabetes mellitus or hypertension, ophthalmoscopy was very important to detect the existence and grade the degree of diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy, if they appeared, and as a result to evaluate the prognosis of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fundoscopy is fundamental for the GP, as it may help to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of many common diseases. Nevertheless, there are clinical entities where ophthalmoscopy should be performed by an ophthalmologist, in order to be more specific and accurate, and GP should be able to recognise these cases.

Hypopyon in the context of tuberculous uveitis.

An 86-year-old man presented with blurred vision and pain in the left eye. A slitlamp examination revealed anterior uveitis with hypopyon. During the investigation of the uveitis, the diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed. Hypopyon is a rare manifestation of uveitis due to tuberculosis.

Ketorolac plus tobramycin/dexamethasone versus tobramycin/dexamethasone after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the benefit of adding a nonsteroid agent to an antibiotic/steroid combination after uneventful phacoemulsification, adopting a weekly follow-up, to gain insight into the optimal duration of postoperative treatment and to examine whether risk factors for inflammation exist. METHODS: Patients were randomized to (i) tobramycin 0.3%-dexamethasone 0.1%, 1 drop q.i.d. (n = 72), and (ii) a combination of tobramycin 0.3%-dexamethasone 0.1%, 1 drop q.i.d., plus ketorolac tromethamine 0.5%, 1 drop t.i.d. (n = 73). On days 7, 14, 21 and 28, the frequency of inflammation-related signs (corneal edema, conjunctival hyperemia, anterior chamber or Tyndall reaction) as well as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured. On day 21, logistic regression was performed to evaluate risk factors for inflammation. RESULTS: The frequency of inflammation-related signs did not differ between the 2 groups at any time point, neither did BCVA. On day 21, pseudoexfoliation was associated with the presence of any inflammation-related sign (OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.2-16.0; p = 0.022). No evidence of clinically significant cystoid macular edema became evident in either group. CONCLUSION: The addition of ketorolac did not seem to offer any additional benefit in terms of inflammation-related signs. Four weeks appeared as an adequate treatment interval. Special attention should be paid to patients with pseudoexfoliation.

Graves' Ophthalmopathy Misdiagnosed as Relapsing Conjunctivitis.

A 59-year-old female patient presented at the outpatients' Department of Ophthalmology with epiphora, eyelid swelling, and a foreign body feeling in the right eye. The symptoms were present for 4 months, and the patient was treated as suffering from relapsing conjunctivitis. The slit lamp examination revealed keratitis due to exposure, related with the deficient closure of the eyelids. There was a 2 mm difference in the readings with the Hertel exophthalmometry examination between the eyes. Her medical history was clear, and she was referred for computed tomography of the orbits and brain and biochemical examinations (FT(3), FT(4), and TSH) to investigate the presence of an intraorbital mass. FT(3) was significantly increased and TSH was accordingly low, indicating the diagnosis of Graves' disease, which presented without other signs and symptoms apart from ophthalmopathy. Computed tomography scan excluded the diagnosis of an intraorbital mass. Therefore, it is important not to underestimate the ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.

Risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with microvascular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR is one of the main causes of visual loss in individuals aged 20-64 years old. This study aims to investigate the independent associations between the stage of DR and a variety of possible risk factors, including years since DM diagnosis, HbA1c levels, the coexistence of hypertension, age and gender. FINDINGS: 120 patients were recruited in the Department of Internal Medicine, Veroia General Hospital, Veroia, Greece, and the DR stage was defined by an ophthalmologist. Afterwards, the DR association with the aforementioned factors was examined. Univariate and multivariate analysis (multivariate ordinal logistic regression) was performed. At the univariate analysis, there was a positive association between DR severity and age (Spearman's rho = 0.4869, p < 0.0001), years since DM diagnosis (Spearman's rho = 0.6877, p < 0.0001), HbA1c levels (Spearman's rho = 0.6315, p < 0.0001), history of hypertension (2.47 +/- 1.37 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.80 for patients without hypertension; p < 0.0001) and male sex (2.56 +/- 1.41 vs. 2.05 +/- 1.45 for female patients; p = 0.045, MWW). All these factors, except for age, retained their statistical significance at the multivariate ordinal logistic model. CONCLUSIONS: Years since DM diagnosis, hypertension, HbA1c levels and male sex are independently associated with severe DR. The effect of age seems to reflect a confounding association.