Ophthalmology Commons^™

Giant Cell Arteritis: A Case Study And Review Of Treatment, Andrew Di Mattina Od, Jeffrey Sterling Od, Heather Whyte Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis affecting individuals over 50, and frequently leads to severe ischemic complications, most notably irreversible vision loss. Early diagnosis and prompt, aggressive treatment with corticosteroids is paramount to protect the fellow eye. The multifaceted clinical presentation of GCA, sometimes with atypical or sequential ocular involvement, can pose significant diagnostic challenges. This paper reviews current understanding of GCA pathophysiology, diagnosis, and current management strategies.

Case Report: A 70‑year‑old man presented with “cracked glass” vision in his right eye and was diagnosed with a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). Two weeks later he …

Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (Pps, Elmiron) Maculopathy Demonstrates The Importance Of Coordinated Care From A Low Vision Perspective, Charlotte I. Spada Od, Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri Od, Patricia Sanchez Diaz Dvm, Phd, Jeffrey Rabin Od, Phd

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS, Elmiron®) is a widely used medication to reduce pain caused by interstitial cystitis, a bladder disorder most often affecting females. PPS maculopathy is a novel form of toxic retinal disease often not recognized or mistaken for other retinal conditions such as macular degeneration due to the initial similarities on fundus exam. However, when visualized using fundus autofluorescence, affected eyes show characteristic hyper/hypo-autofluorescent patterns.

Case report: A patient taking PPS for 10 years presented with macular changes and complaints of blurry vision and nyctalopia. Clinical, electrodiagnostic, and genetic testing were performed including fundus autofluorescence and …

Independent Associations With Research Productivity Among U.S. Academic Ophthalmologists Using The Us-Aofd, Brenton T. Bicknell, Josephine Rudd Zhong Manis, Yejin Heo, Haley Chishom, Lance Dzubinski, Taylor L. Aaserud, Alvina Liang, Shayan Massoumi, Thanushri Srikantha, John Stoffer, Guihua Zhai, Basil K. Williams Jr, Steven E. Brooks, Robert Tauscher

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Scholarly productivity is a key marker of achievement in academic ophthalmology, influencing promotion, research support, and leadership opportunities. Prior studies have reported variation by gender, subspecialty, and rank, but few applied regression methods to identify independent predictors.

Purpose: To evaluate demographic, academic, and subspecialty factors associated with research productivity among U.S. academic ophthalmologists and to identify independent predictors through multivariable regression.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 4,028 ophthalmologists across 126 accredited U.S. residency programs using the U.S. Academic Ophthalmology Faculty Database (US-AOFD). Faculty demographics and academic information were obtained from institutional websites, and bibliometric data (publications, …

Novel Treatments For Keratoconus, Caroline Paik

inSIGHT

Keratoconus is a progressive condition in which the cornea gradually thins and bulges outward, causing it to become steep and irregular. This leads to irregular astigmatism and worsening vision, most often beginning in adolescence or early adulthood.¹ The management of keratoconus has evolved significantly over the past two decades, with novel therapeutic approaches emerging across three critical domains: halting disease progression, improving visual function, and providing surgical alternatives when conservative measures fail. This review examines the latest advances in keratoconus treatment, focusing on innovative approaches that are reshaping clinical practice.

Evaluation Of Corneal Infections Using A Smartphone Macro Lens For Synchronous Telemedicine, Joseph A. Anaya, Julia Yu, Marisa A. Schoen, Dilru C. Amarasekera, Cherie A. Fathy, Sophia Lam, Christopher J. Rapuano, Zeba A. Syed

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of synchronous telemedicine consultation with a corneal specialist using a macro lens attachment to a smartphone to evaluate corneal infections.

METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or older who presented to the Cornea Clinic at Wills Eye Hospital between June 2020 and March 2021 with a corneal infection were examined by two fellowship-trained cornea specialists. One examiner (CJR) performed face-to-face (FTF) slit-lamp evaluations, whereas another examiner (ZAS) performed synchronous telemedicine visit (STV) evaluations via a smartphone with a macro lens of 7× magnification (Olloclip; Foothill Ranch, CA, USA) held by trained study coordinators. Agreement between examinations …

Lotilaner Ophthalmic Solution 0.25% In The Treatment Of Demodex Blepharitis: A Case Report, Paul Karpecki, Brandon Ayres, Eric Donnenfeld, Marjan Farid, Ian Benjamin Gaddie, Preeya K Gupta, Cecelia Koetting, Richard Lindstrom, Selina Mcgee, Kelly K Nichols, Laura M Periman, Stephen Pflugfelder, Christopher Starr, Nandini Venkateswaran, Elizabeth Yeu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Demodex blepharitis is a chronic inflammatory ocular condition caused by Demodex mite infestation of the eyelid that can negatively impact quality of life. Currently, lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% is the only FDA-approved treatment for Demodex blepharitis. The Demodex Expert Panel on Treatment and Eyelid Health has established consensus that lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% should be considered the preferred first-line treatment for Demodex blepharitis. We report a patient who presented with collarettes, the pathognomonic sign of Demodex blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and poor visual acuity. The patient also had a history of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Consistent with the Demodex Expert …

Investigating The Prevalence Of Astigmatism In Patients With Intermittent Exotropia In Egyptian Children, Zeinab A Saad, Ghada Samir, Osama M. Abdelhay, Mohamed Gaber Abdallah

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Uncorrected refraction is the major cause of visual morbidity among children and can result in the development of strabismus. Although several studies have investigated the risk factors for intermittent exotropia, uncorrected astigmatism, which is critical for prevention and treatment, has not been well estimated. Objectives: To evaluate the association between uncorrected astigmatism and intermittent exotropia in children. Methods: This retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional, population-based study included 90 children with intermittent exotropia X(T) who were followed up for two years; the children were aged from 6 to 12 years old. Patients were retrospectively reviewed to determine the prevalence of astigmatism and amblyopia …

Genetic Counseling In Ophthalmology: An Interview, Emmanuel Worede-Kal, Bs

inSIGHT

Ms. Procopio has been practicing as a genetic counselor for seven years, and in the Department of Ocular Genetics at Wills Eye Hospital for the past four years. She provides patients with information necessary to understand the role of genetic testing and the impact of results on their care as well as potential implications for family members. Given the rapidly changing field of ophthalmic genetics, Ms. Procopio is an important member of the multidisciplinary care team of patients with rare genetic conditions.

Recent Trends In The Ophthalmology Match, Michael Pratt, Ma

inSIGHT

Ophthalmology remains a competitive field to match for residency, with applications far outnumbering available positions. The criteria for a successful match are unclear owing to differences in data reporting from the SF Match system as compared to the National Residency Match Program, a relatively low volume of scholarly research about the ophthalmology match, and the transition of the USMLE Step 1 exam to pass/fail grading in 2022. This narrative review, while not intended as a guide to become a competitive applicant for residency, will summarize the 2024 ophthalmology match cycle results, report the specific match rate for Sidney Kimmel Medical …

Vegf In Diabetic Retinopathy And Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Andrew Callan, Justin Z. Heckman, Giani Tah, Samantha Lopez, Laura Valdez, Andrew Tsin

School of Medicine Publications

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in angiogenesis throughout the human body, influencing countless physiological and pathological processes, including tumor growth, preeclampsia, and retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In DR, VEGF promotes retinal neovascularization and intraretinal fluid accumulation, leading to complications like diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Regular intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are commonly used to manage PDR and DME, though repeated treatments are often required, and efficacy can be limited. AMD, a major cause of vision loss in older adults, is characterized by either dry or …

A Quantitative Analysis On The Locations Of Phase 3 Retina Trials In The United States Over The Past 5 Years, Shahrukh Naseer, Tarek Hassan

Posters

• Clinical trials are essential for advancing treatments in ophthalmology, yet comprehensive data on institutional participation in Phase 3 retina trials is not readily available.

• The U.S. National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials database (NLM database) lists individual research sites for each study; however, aggregating and visualizing this data remains challenging.

• The lack of centralized and easily interpretable data on research site participation hinders understanding of institutional contributions to retinal clinical research.

• Identifying geographic and institutional trends can improve resource allocation and research collaboration.

• We aim to

• Quantify the number of unique institutions participating in …

Adherence To Follow-Up Among High-Risk Nicu Patients, Iryna Muryn, Susan Mbullah Ndimah, Lisa Renee Eiland, Tara Lozy

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Preterm infants, especially those ≤32 weeks' gestational age (GA) are at increased risk of vision and hearing loss. Risks of both vision and hearing loss can be ameliorated and in some cases prevented by conscientious screening, follow up and treatment. Universally, infants ≤32 weeks are cared for in neonatal intensive care units and there is considerable confidence that screenings and treatment occur according to established guidelines. At hospital discharge, follow up responsibility shifts to infant caretakers likely resulting in reduced compliance.

Objective:

We aimed to determine if preterm infants at risk for vision and hearing loss, attended follow up …

Is Increased Screen Time Associated With A Higher Prevalence Of Myopia In Elementary-Aged Children Globally?​, Katerina Kasatkin, Sree Gowri Sudharshan, Lakumi Dias, Adira Brenner, Emily Reilly, Maikel Mansour

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The onset of myopia in children has emerged as a significant public health concern, especially with increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity following the COVID-19 pandemic. The global prevalence of myopia is expected to rise significantly, with children being particularly vulnerable. Various studies have explored how screen time, near-work activities, and outdoor exposure influence the increasing prevalence of myopia in pediatric populations worldwide.

Hypothesis: This paper aims to evaluate whether increased screen time, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, is associated with a higher prevalence of myopia in young children, providing a more robust understanding of this relationship across …

Impact Of The Acgme Merger On Ophthalmology Match Success: A Pre- And Post-Merger Comparative Analysis, Anna Flts

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

In 2020, the ACGME merger unified the residency match process for MD and DO applicants into a single, standardized system. The merger aimed to promote equity in graduate medical education by streamlining training pathways and matching processes across applicant backgrounds.

Hypothesis

Despite the merger’s goal of standardization and equity, disparities in ophthalmology match outcomes between MD and DO applicants may persist.

Methods

Data from the SF Match and AUPO were collected for ophthalmology applicants from 2016 to 2024. Applicants were divided into pre-merger (2016–2019) and post-merger (2020–2024) cohorts. Match rates for MD and DO applicants were calculated and compared …

Effect Of Non-Complicated Cataract Extraction With Phacoemulsification On Central Macular Thickness (Cmt) And Ganglion Cell Complex (Gcc) In Non-Diabetic Patients At Sohag Teaching Hospital, Mohammed Shikhoun Ahmed, Mariam Kamal

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Cataracts are widely acknowledged as the primary cause of blindness on a global scale. Cataract surgery, particularly phacoemulsification, is the most effective and the only approved intervention for cataracts, regardless of etiology. Phacoemulsification, with its numerous advantages, is the most widely used method for cataract removal. It is important to note that while phacoemulsification is considered a safe and effective procedure, there are potential complications that need to be managed. Methods: This study included one hundred eyes of 93 nondiabetic patients undergoing noncomplicated cataract operation at the ophthalmology department at Sohag Teaching Hospital. A preoperative assessment of the best …

Real-World Assessment (Rwa): Validity Evidence For Cataract Surgery With A Tool Your Faculty Will Actually Use, Grace L. Paley, Hui Zhao, Victoria M. Addis, Casey J. Beal, Geetha K. Davis, Gabriela M. Espinoza, Michael S. Lee, Stacy L. Pineles, Jamie B. Rosenberg, Robert T. Swan, Misha F. Syed, Evan L. Waxman, Susan M. Culican

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: We developed and implemented a real-world assessment tool (RWA) for resident surgery. It was designed to improve utility by reducing faculty and trainee cost (completion and training time, cognitive burden). RWA uses an entrustability scale where higher scores indicate a resident’s readiness for independent surgical practice. We describe a two-phase implementation of RWA and report validity evidence for cataract surgery assessment.

Methods: RWA was developed iteratively with resident and faculty input and piloted at a single residency program in phase 1. Phase 2 implemented RWA at 11 ophthalmology residency programs. The main outcome measures were 1) number …

Emergency Department Slit Lamp Interdisciplinary Training Via Longitudinal Assessment In Medical Practice, Samara Hamou, Shayan Ghiaee, Christine Chung, Maureen Lloyd, Kelly Khem, Xiao Zhang

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Eye emergencies make up nearly 3% of US emergency department (ED) visits. While emergency physicians (EP) should diagnose and treat these ophthalmologic emergencies, many trainees report limited ocular exposure and insufficient training throughout their residency to confidently conduct a thorough slit-lamp exam.

METHODS: We created an interdisciplinary, simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) curriculum to teach emergency attending physicians how to operate the slit lamp with multimodal learning methodology at a tertiary academic center. The EPs first demonstrate their initial slit-lamp competency with a 20-item checklist, and they then review the necessary curricular content to pass their independent readiness test before …

Chatgpt And Google Assistant As A Source Of Patient Education For Patients With Amblyopia: Content Analysis, Gloria Wu, David A Lee, Weichen Zhao, Adrial Wong, Rohan Jhangiani, Sri Kurniawan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: We queried ChatGPT (OpenAI) and Google Assistant about amblyopia and compared their answers with the keywords found on the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) website, specifically the section on amblyopia. Out of the 26 keywords chosen from the website, ChatGPT included 11 (42%) in its responses, while Google included 8 (31%).

Objective: Our study investigated the adherence of ChatGPT-3.5 and Google Assistant to the guidelines of the AAPOS for patient education on amblyopia.

Methods: ChatGPT-3.5 was used. The four questions taken from the AAPOS website, specifically its glossary section for amblyopia, are as follows: (1) What …

Seeing Beyond Reality: Considering The Impact Of Mainstream Virtual Reality Adoption On Ocular Health And The Evolving Role Of Ophthalmologists, Venkata Soumith Jonnakuti, Benjamin Jay Frankfort

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Novel Methods Of Identifying Individual And Neighborhood Risk Factors For Loss To Follow-Up After Ophthalmic Screening, Noah Heilenbach, Titilola Ogunsola, Ceyhun Elgin, Dustin Fry, Mina Iskander, Yara Abazah, Ahmed Aboseria, Rahm Alshamah, Jad Alshamah, Gladys Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Précis

Residence in a middle-class neighborhood correlated with lower follow-up compared to residence in more affluent neighborhoods. The most common explanations for not following up were the process of making an appointment and lack of symptoms.

Purpose:

To explore which individual and neighborhood-level factors influence follow-up as recommended after positive ophthalmic and primary care screening in a vulnerable population using novel methodologies.

Participants

and Methods: From 2017 to 2018, 957 participants were screened for ophthalmic disease and cardiovascular risk factors as part of the Real-Time Mobile Teleophthalmology study. Individuals who screened positive for either ophthalmic or cardiovascular risk factors were …

Enhancing Patient Understanding: The Impact Of Educational Videos On Ophthalmology Visits, Anna Zhao

Medical Student Research Symposium

A major component of effective patient-centered care is the patient’s understanding of their health condition and treatments. Increased knowledge of medical conditions can positively modify health behaviors, such as more participation in cancer screening and better adherence to medications. However, the readability of educational materials often does not match the patients’ reading abilities. Instead, educational videos, which have gained prominence with the emergence of tele-visits following COVID-19, have shown promise in being beneficial to patients with lower literacy levels. For ocular pathologies, early identification and care are key in preventing vision loss. Tele-education in ophthalmology could increase patient awareness of …

Ocular Syphilis: A Case Report And Public Health Discussion, Andrew L. Fine, Hope V. Daskalakis, Rutwik Pradeep Sharma M.D., Mirna Ogeilat M.D.

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Ocular Syphilis describes a localized manifestation of a systemic treponema pallidum infection. It most commonly presents with decreased visual acuity due to uveitis and can occur at any time throughout the disease course. This report describes a case of undiagnosed syphilis that was serendipitously diagnosed with blood product screening. This case highlights the need for better public education and outreach pertaining to sexually transmitted infections. This report will detail this patient's clinical course and discuss how healthcare providers can aid in early disease detection to improve both patient outcomes and overall public health.

Social Determinants Of Health: Evaluation Using Rates Of Vision Screening And Follow-Up Examinations, Madeline Dyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Vision care is essential to the quality of life of young children, impacting them over the course of their lives. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) affect the likelihood of a child having access to appropriate care specified by the Bright Futures. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SDOH on the completion of vision screening and the rate of follow-up with an eye care provider when applicable. In addition, rates of instrument-based vision screening and recommended ophthalmology follow-up were compared with COI, a metric assessing the quality of resources available and the conditions that matter for …

The Iris Registry: A Novel Approach To Clinical Registry Development In Ophthalmology, John C. Lin, Leslie Hyman, Ingrid U. Scott

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of The Nanodropper Eye Drop Adaptor For Glaucoma Medications, Nicholas Pryde, Parker J. Williams, Faisal Ridha Al-Timimi, John Michael Guest

Medical Student Research Symposium

Assessment of the Nanodropper Eye Drop Adaptor for Glaucoma Medications

Nicholas Pryde, BS¹; Parker J. Williams, DO ¹; John-Michael Guest, MD¹; Bret A. Hughes, MD¹; Faisal Ridha MD¹

¹Kresge Eye Institute and Wayne State University Department of Ophthalmology, Detroit, MI, USA

Purpose: To determine the dispensed volume change for seven medications with and without the Nanodropper adaptor.

Methods: Sequentially, 100 µL of each medication was dispensed by micropipette into a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube, and mass without the tube was determined with a precision balance (Practum, Germany). The mean mass was …

Chatgpt: Is It Good For Our Glaucoma Patients?, Gloria Wu, David A Lee, Weichen Zhao, Adrial Wong, Sahej Sidhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Our study investigates ChatGPT and its ability to communicate with glaucoma patients.

Methods: We inputted eight glaucoma-related questions/topics found on the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)'s website into ChatGPT. We used the Flesch-Kincaid test, Gunning Fog Index, SMOG Index, and Dale-Chall readability formula to evaluate the comprehensibility of its responses for patients. ChatGPT's answers were compared with those found on the AAO's website.

Results: ChatGPT's responses required reading comprehension of a higher grade level (average = grade 12.5 ± 1.6) than that of the text on the AAO's website (average = 9.4 grade ± 3.5), (0.0384). For the eight …

Functional Attenuation Coefficient Imaging Of Rod Inner Segment: The Shape Of Things To Come, Cole Goodman

Medical Student Research Symposium

Purpose: Dysfunction of mitochondria and their linked processes within the rod cell (i.e., the rod energy-landscape) are leading hypotheses for rod atrophy in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). It remains unclear how to translate the detailed information available from isolated cell / mitochondria studies into how mitochondria are functioning and responding to treatment in vivo. Here we present a new rod energy-landscape biomarker that can help address this problem using a common clinical tool.

Methods: In mice, OCT data was converted into attenuation coefficients (AC) to map the light-scattering of mitochondria within the inner segment (IS), which fills ~75% of its volume …

Persistent Opioid Use In Cataract Surgery Pain Management And The Role Of Nonopioid Alternatives, Richard S Davidson, Kendall Donaldson, Maggie Jeffries, Sumitra Khandelwal, Michael Raizman, Yasaira Rodriguez Torres, Terry Kim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cataracts are a leading cause of preventable blindness globally. Although care varies between developing and industrialized countries, surgery is the single effective approach to treating cataracts. From the earliest documented primitive cataract removals to today's advanced techniques, cataract surgery has evolved dramatically. As surgical techniques have developed, so have approaches to surgical pain management. With current cataract surgical procedures and advanced technology, anesthesia and intraoperative pain management have shifted to topical/intracameral anesthetics, with or without low-dose systemic analgesia and anxiolysis. Despite this, pain and discomfort persist in some patients and are underappreciated in modern cataract surgery. Although pain management has …

Surgical Training In Ophthalmology: Role Of Eyesi In The Era Of Simulation-Based Learning, Sehrish Nizar Ali Momin, Abdul Sami Memon, Muhammad Bilal Malik, Pir Salim Meher

Section of Ophthalmology

Recent advancements in surgical training methods have escalated the need for simulators. The EyeSi simulation has played a major role in Ophthalmology training by providing opportunity to the novice residents to grasp the surgical steps of the procedure and master the skill by repeated attempts. Participants were assessed on single level of cataract module and their consecutive scores were assessed with each attempt. It was found that repetitive practice on simulator can help develop proficiency in the desired steps that can ultimately prepare the surgical trainees for real life surgery.

Hyperreflective Band On Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography, Zaynab Sajjadi, Zeynep Bas, Carol L Shields

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

No abstract provided.