In recent years, advanced diagnostic instruments have become widely available in optometric practices, offering various functions that optimize clinical information gathering. This article focuses on the Medmont Meridia™, a state-of-the-art multipurpose diagnostic device with corneal topography and cutting-edge features. Corneal topography is pivotal in the early diagnosis of corneal disorders, determining baseline ocular surface assessment, helping in contact lens fitting, and monitoring ocular health over time. The Medmont Meridia boasts Placido-disc-based imaging with extensive corneal coverage. Furthermore, the Meridia accurately measures the horizontal visible iris diameter, pupil diameter, and palpebral fissure width, which assists in making contact lens parameter decisions. Additionally, it offers sagittal height data for scleral lens design and first lens selection, streamlining the fitting process. Beyond its topography capabilities, the Meridia excels as a comprehensive dry eye assessment tool. With features like tear meniscus height, tear film surface quality, and meibography capabilities, it aids in diagnosing dry eye and monitoring its progression. The device also provides customizable dry eye reports with integrated grading scales and questionnaires, making dry eye management, patient education, and compliance more accessible. In conclusion, the Medmont Meridia consolidates a multitude of examination tools in a single instrument, enhancing practice efficiency and elevating patient care and communication. Its versatility and accuracy make it an invaluable asset in optometric practices worldwide.
Purpose: To examine the potential of different head-mounted displays in the rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairment.
Methods: This prospective explorative study conducted between September 2019 and August 2020 included participants with Stargardt disease with moderate to severe visual impairment and a relatively preserved peripheral visual field. AceSight, eSight 3, IrisVision Live, and Jordy were tested. After instruction and training, participants chose two head-mounted displays for home use for two weeks per device. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was used for evaluation.
Results: Twelve participants (aged 16-53 years) tested all head-mounted displays in the clinic. Distance visual acuity and reading distance improved with all head-mounted displays and eSight and Irisvision improved near visual acuity. Six participants decided not to test the head-mounted display at home due to lack of time or energy, dizziness and discomfort, double vision and peripheral visual field limitation, or aesthetics. After home use, the participants reported improved visual function at a distance with IrisVision, AceSight, and e-Sight, whereas only AceSight improved vision during near tasks. IrisVision and eSight improved reading ability, and none of the devices improved vision during tasks involving computers. Five participants used the devices sparingly, and five avoided public use owing to aesthetics.
Conclusion: We found an improvement in distance visual acuity and increased reading distance for all tested head-mounted displays. Additionally, IrisVision and eSight improved visual function at near and eSight also improved contrast vision at distance. Despite the possibility of improving vision, social stigma and device aesthetics kept the participants from using head-mounted displays in public and limited their use at home.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine hospitalisation profiles related to postprocedural disorders of eye and adnexa in England and Wales.
Patients and methods: This was an ecological study using publicly available data extracted from the "Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database" in England and the "Patient Episode Database for Wales (PEDW)" for the period between April 1999 and April 2020. Diagnostic code for postprocedural disorders of eye and adnexa (H59) was used to identify hospital admission. We used the chi-squared test to assess the difference between the hospital admission rates between 1999 and 2020.
Results: Hospital admission rate decreased by 6.3% [from 4.98 (95% CI 4.79-5.17) in 1999 to 4.67 (95% CI 4.50-4.84) in 2020 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p<0.05]. The most common hospital admissions causes were other postprocedural disorders of eye and adnexa "Chorioretinal scars after surgery for detachment." The age group 75 years and above accounted for 44.3% of the total number of admissions. Hospital admission rate among females decreased by 30.2% [from 5.90 (95% CI 5.61-6.19) in 1999 to 4.12 (95% CI 3.89-4.35) in 2020 per 100,000 persons]. Hospital admission rate among males increased by 30.2% [from 4.02 (95% CI 3.77-4.26) in 1999 to 5.23 (95% CI 4.97-5.49) in 2020 per 100,000 persons].
Conclusion: This study revealed that hospital admission rates for postprocedural disorders of the eye and adnexa decreased over the course of the study period. Eye and adnexa disorders accounted for the preponderance of hospital admissions among the elderly. Further research is required to identify risk factors that can be avoided.
Background: Choroidal and retinal disorders significantly contribute to vision impairment, often necessitating hospitalization for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, and continued care. The aim of this study was to examine hospitalisation trends of choroid and retina diseases in the past 20 years in Australia.
Methods: This was an ecological study that used publically available data in Australia from 1998 to 2021. The National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) is an online database that was used to collect the data for this study. We used the chi-squared test to assess the difference between the hospitalisation rates between 1998 and 2021.
Results: During the study period, hospital admission rate for choroid and retina diseases increased by 13.21-fold [from 29.54 (95% CI 28.77-30.32) in 1998 to 419.70 (95% CI 417.21-422.20) in 2021 per 100,000 persons, p<0.001]. Same-day hospital admission patients accounted for 90.3% of the total number of episodes. Rates of same-day hospital admission increased by 37.70-fold [from 9.24 (95% CI 8.81-9.68) in 1998 to 357.78 (95% CI 355.48-360.09) in 2021 per 100,000 persons]. Rates of overnight-stay hospital admission decreased by 19.3% [from 20.34 (95% CI 19.69-20.98) in 1998 to 16.41 (95% CI 15.91-16.90) in 2021 per 100,000 persons]. Females contributed to 54.6% of the total number of hospital admission. Admission rate among females increased by 16.01-fold [from 23.68 (95% CI 22.70-24.66) in 1998 to 402.78 (95% CI 399.33-406.22) in 2021 per 100,000 persons]. Admission rate among males increased by 8.69-fold [from 35.57 (95% CI 34.36-36.78) in 1998 to 344.80 (95% CI 341.58-348.02) in 2021 per 100,000 persons].
Conclusion: In this ecological investigation, we found that the admission rate for choroid and retina disorders increased dramatically. The preponderance of these admissions were made up of females and elderly patients. Future research is required to identify additional risk factors for disorders of this type.
Purpose: The incidence of road traffic accidents (RTAs) is dramatically increasing worldwide. Consequently, driving and licensing authorities have instituted strict rules and regulations, such as vision standards, restrictions on drunk driving, seat belt usage, and speeding, for driving safety. This study aimed to summarize the global visual standards for driving license issuing and renewal and investigate the effect of driving safety laws on RTA-related death rates in different countries.
Methods: The study gathered data on visual standards for driving licenses from reliable sources and extracted enforcement scores (drunk driving, seat belt usage, and speeding) and RTA-related death rates from the World Health Organization status report on road safety. The Wilcoxon test explored the association between visual standards and RTA-related death rates, while the Kruskal-Wallis test analyzed the relationship between visual functions and death rates, as well as driving safety enforcement scores and RTA-related death rates.
Results: The analysis was conducted on 71 countries and 50 states within the United States out of the 193 countries listed by the United Nations. It was found that 116 countries and states required a minimum VA range of 6/6-6/18, while 91 countries and states mandated a similar range for one-eyed drivers. VF testing for driving licenses was necessary in 77 countries and states. No significant association was observed between VA or VF testing and RTA-related death rates. However, countries that conducted more visual function tests demonstrated lower rates of RTA-related fatalities. Furthermore, RTA-related death rates were significantly associated with speeding, drunk driving, and seat belt laws.
Conclusion: Implementing clear policies regarding vision requirements, maintaining strict rules, and promoting law enforcement on speeding, drunk driving, and seat belt usage are crucial for improving road safety. These measures should be prioritized by driving and licensing authorities worldwide to mitigate the escalating incidence of RTAs.
Purpose: Children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) present with delayed developmental milestones. Pediatricians and pediatric neurologists are usually the first point of contact, and eye exam largely remains referral based. This study documented the visual concerns reported by parents of children with CVI visiting a pediatric neurology clinic. Additionally, we investigated the association between visual concerns, functional vision measures and visual functions.
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in children with CVI (chronological age range: 7 months-7 years). Visual concerns reported by the parents/caregivers were documented as open-ended statements. Additionally, a functional vision assessment was conducted using the CVI Range instrument with phase 1, 2 and 3 indicating low, moderate and high visual functioning, respectively. Grating acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured using Teller acuity cards-II and Ohio contrast cards respectively.
Results: A total of 73 children (mean age of 2.84 ± 1.87 years) were recruited. Sixty-eight parents reported visual concerns that were broadly grouped into 14 unique concerns. Nineteen parents (27.9%) reported more than one visual concern. Difficulty maintaining eye contact and recognizing faces were the top two visual concerns in phases 1 and 2. Missing objects in the lower visual field was the top concern in phase 3. A larger number of visual concerns were reported in phase 1 (43%) than phase 2 (40.6%) and phase 3 (16.2%). Multiple regression analysis revealed that grating acuity, contrast sensitivity and chronological age were able to predict the functional vision, F (3, 55) = 63.0, p < 0.001, r2 = 0.77.
Conclusion: Targeted questions enquiring about eye contact and face recognition can be included in history elicitation in children with CVI in pediatric neurology clinics. In the presence of visual concerns, it will be important to assess grating acuity and contrast sensitivity. A poor functional vision score requires referral for eye examination and vision rehabilitation services.
Purpose: To map contact lens (CL) comfort over the full wear day and across 1 month's wear in established, asymptomatic to minimally symptomatic, reusable, soft CL wearers.
Methods: Adult, 18- to 45-year-old, participants were recruited and required to have 20/20 best-corrected visual acuity or better and must have been asymptomatic to minimally symptomatic CL wearers. Participants were required to be able to wear TOTAL30® sphere CLs and have minimal astigmatism. Participants were fit in the study CLs and asked to wear these CLs daily for the next month for 16 hours per day each day. Participants were asked to complete a visual analog scale (VAS) survey via text message at time of CL application and after 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 hours of wear and at CL removal on days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and at 2 weeks and 1 month. The utilized VAS had a ±50 scale with positive scores being comfortable, negative scores being uncomfortable, and scores of 0 being neutral comfort.
Results: Forty-eight participants were recruited who had a mean ± SD age of 26.2 ± 5.2 years (71% female). Mean initial VAS CL comfort scores at initial CL dispense were 45.56 ± 9.20 units. Mean CL wear times for any of the days evaluated were at least 14.80 ± 2.41 hours per day and did not differ across the study (p = 0.77). Mean comfort VAS scores significantly decreased over the wear day (all days p ≤ 0.02), yet there were no significant differences in VAS comfort scores across the same time of day for the duration of the study (all times p ≥ 0.06).
Conclusion: This study determined that while CL wearers were slightly less comfortable at the end of the day compared to application, this comfort change was minimal given that the average participants had overwhelmingly good comfort at all time-points evaluated. Comfort scores were likewise consistent across 1 month of wear.
Artificial tears are the mainstay of dry eye disease management, but also have a role in corneal abrasion and wound healing, pain and inflammation management, conjunctivitis, keratitis, contact lens rewetting and removal, and foreign body removal. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (PROSPERO registration CRD42022369619) comparing the efficacy of artificial tears in patients with dry eye to inform prescribing choices using Web of Science, PubMed and Medline databases identified 64 relevant articles. There is good evidence that artificial tears improve symptoms of dry eye disease within a month of regular use, applied about four times a day, but signs generally take several months to improve. Not all patients with dry eye disease benefit from artificial tears, so if there is no benefit over a month, alternative management should be considered. Combination formulations are more effective than single active ingredient artificial tears. Artificial tears containing polyethylene glycol are more effective than those containing carboxymethylcellulose/carmellose sodium and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Those classified as having evaporative dry eye disease, benefit from artificial tears with liposomes, especially of higher concentration. The data available is limited by the definition of dry eye disease applied in published studies being variable, as well as the disease severity examined and compliance with artificial tears being rarely quantified.