Optometry Commons^™

Diagnosis And Management Of A Patient With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Conjunctivitis, Michael Chocky Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are becoming more common. These infections can cause various ocular conditions including conjunctivitis. Conjunctival cultures are an important tool to assist with proper diagnosis and treatment of these infections. Case Report : A 61-year-old African American male presented with the complaint of redness and drainage from his eyes. With the assistance of conjunctival cultures, he was diagnosed with MRSA conjunctivitis. Treatment with vancomycin ultimately led to resolution of the condition. Conclusion : MRSA conjunctivitis should always be considered when a conjunctivitis is not responding to empirical therapy. Eye care professionals should be aware …

Conditional Deletion Of Cd25 In The Corneal Epithelium Reveals Sex Differences In Barrier Disruption, Anmar Abu-Romman, Kaitlin K Scholand, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Zhiyuan Yu, Yashaswini Kelagere, Ghasem Yazdanpanah, Winston W-Y Kao, Vivien J Coulson-Thomas, Mary Ann Stepp, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: IL-2 promotes activation, clonal expansion, and deletion of T cells. IL-2 signals through its heterotrimeric receptor (IL-2R) consisting of the CD25, CD122 and CD132 chains. CD25 knockout (KO) mice develop Sjögren Syndrome-like disease. This study investigates whether corneal CD25/IL-2 signaling is critical for ocular health.

METHODS: Eyes from C57BL/6 mice were collected and prepared for immunostaining or in-situ hybridization. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on the corneal epithelium from wild-type and CD25KO mice. We generated a conditional corneal-specific deletion of CD25 in the corneal epithelium (CD25

RESULTS: In C57BL/6 mice, CD25 mRNA was expressed in ocular tissues. Protein expression …

Single Cell Analysis Of Short-Term Dry Eye Induced Changes In Cornea Immune Cell Populations, Brandon D Ayres, Eric Donnenfeld, Marjan Farid, Ian Benjamin Gaddie, Preeya K Gupta, Edward Holland, Paul M Karpecki, Richard Lindstrom, Kelly K Nichols, Stephen C Pflugfelder, Christopher E Starr, Elizabeth Yeu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Twelve ocular surface disease experts convened to achieve consensus about Demodex blepharitis (DB) using a modified Delphi panel process.

METHODS: Online surveys were administered using scaled, open-ended, true/false, and multiple-choice questions. Consensus for questions using a 1 to 9 Likert scale was predefined as median scores of 7-9 and 1-3. For other question types, consensus was achieved when 8 of 12 panellists agreed. Questions were randomized, and results of each survey informed the following survey.

RESULTS: Twelve practitioners comprised the Demodex Expert Panel on Treatment and Eyelid Health (DEPTH). Following 3 surveys, experts agreed that DB is chronic (n …

Tnf Is A Critical Cytokine In Age-Related Dry Eye Disease, Yashaswini Kelagere, Kaitlin K Scholand, Erica N Dejong, Andrea I Boyd, Zhiyuan Yu, Roger A Astley, Michelle C Callegan, Dawn Me Bowdish, Helen P Makarenkova, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging is a complex biological process that is characterized by low-grade inflammation, called inflammaging. Aging affects multiple organs including eye and lacrimal gland. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in inflammation, activation of proteases such as cathepsin S, and formation of ectopic lymphoid organs. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we investigated the role of TNF in age-related dry eye disease, emphasizing the ocular surface and lacrimal gland inflammation. Our results show the increased protein and mRNA levels of TNF in aged lacrimal glands, accompanied by increased TNF, IL1β, IL-18, CCL5, CXCL1, IL-2, IL-2 receptor alpha (CD25), …

Effects Of Cathepsin S Inhibition In The Age-Related Dry Eye Phenotype, Jeremias G Galletti, Kaitlin K Scholand, Claudia M Trujillo-Vargas, Wolfgang Haap, Tiago Santos-Ferreira, Christoph Ullmer, Zhiyuan Yu, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Aged C57BL/6J (B6) mice have increased levels of cathepsin S, and aged cathepsin S (Ctss-/-) knockout mice are resistant to age-related dry eye. This study investigated the effects of cathepsin S inhibition on age-related dry eye disease.

METHODS: Female B6 mice aged 15.5 to 17 months were randomized to receive a medicated diet formulated by mixing the RO5461111 cathepsin S inhibitor or a standard diet for at least 12 weeks. Cornea mechanosensitivity was measured with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Ocular draining lymph nodes and lacrimal glands (LGs) were excised and prepared for histology or assayed by flow cytometry to quantify …

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling In The Eye, Ruchi Shah, Cynthia Amador, Steven T Chun, Sean Ghiam, Mehrnoosh Saghizadeh, Andrei A Kramerov, Alexander V Ljubimov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Wnt signaling comprises a group of complex signal transduction pathways that play critical roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis during development, as well as in stem cell maintenance and adult tissue homeostasis. Wnt pathways are classified into two major groups, canonical (β-catenin-dependent) or non-canonical (β-catenin-independent). Most previous studies in the eye have focused on canonical Wnt signaling, and the role of non-canonical signaling remains poorly understood. Additionally, the crosstalk between canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling in the eye has hardly been explored. In this review, we present an overview of available data on ocular non-canonical Wnt signaling, including developmental …

Accuracy Of Artificial Intelligence In Estimating Best-Corrected Visual Acuity From Fundus Photographs In Eyes With Diabetic Macular Edema, William Paul, Philippe Burlina, Rohita Mocharla, Neil Joshi, Zhuolin Li, Sophie Gu, Onnisa Nanegrungsunk, Kira Lin, Susan B Bressler, Cindy X Cai, Jun Kong, T Y Alvin Liu, Hadi Moini, Weiming Du, Fouad Amer, Karen Chu, Robert Vitti, Farshid Sepehrband, Neil M Bressler

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) is a measure used to manage diabetic macular edema (DME), sometimes suggesting development of DME or consideration of initiating, repeating, withholding, or resuming treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate BCVA from fundus images could help clinicians manage DME by reducing the personnel needed for refraction, the time presently required for assessing BCVA, or even the number of office visits if imaged remotely.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential application of AI techniques for estimating BCVA from fundus photographs with and without ancillary information.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Deidentified color fundus …

Secretogranin Iii Selectively Promotes Vascular Leakage In The Deep Vascular Plexus Of Diabetic Retinopathy, Liyang Ji, Prabuddha Waduge, Yan Wu, Chengchi Huang, Avinash Kaur, Paola Oliveira, Hong Tian, Jinsong Zhang, J Timothy Stout, Christina Y Weng, Keith A Webster, Wei Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults, induces mosaic patterns of vasculopathy that may be associated with spatial heterogeneity of intraretinal endothelial cells. We recently reported that secretogranin III (Scg3), a neuron-derived angiogenic and vascular leakage factor, selectively binds retinal vessels of diabetic but not healthy mice. Here, we investigated endothelial heterogeneity of three retinal vascular plexuses in DR pathogenesis and the therapeutic implications. Our unique in vivo ligand binding assay detected a 22.7-fold increase in Scg3 binding to retinal vessels of diabetic mice relative to healthy mice. Functional immunohistochemistry revealed that Scg3 predominantly binds …

Effects Of Different Spectrum Of Leds On Retinal Degeneration Through Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Wenyi Chen, Rong Lin, Kunhong Xiao, Kun Yuan, Zhongjiang Chen, Yan Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of full-spectrum light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on albino guinea pigs' retina and investigate the roles of short-wavelength opsin (S-opsin) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD).

METHODS: Three-week-old albino guinea pigs (n = 30) were distributed into five groups under 12/12 light/dark cycles with indoor natural light (NC; 300-500 lux, n = 6), full-spectrum LEDs (FL; 300 lux, n = 6; 3000 lux, n = 6), and commercial cold-white LEDs (CL; 300 lux, n = 6; 3000 lux, n = 6) and raised for 28 days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron …

An Ocular Th1 Immune Response Promotes Corneal Nerve Damage Independently Of The Development Of Corneal Epitheliopathy, Alexia Vereertbrugghen, Manuela Pizzano, Florencia Sabbione, Irene Angelica Keitelman, Carolina Maiumi Shiromizu, Douglas Vera Aguilar, Federico Fuentes, Cintia S De Paiva, Mirta Giordano, Analía Trevani, Jeremías G Galletti

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proper sight is not possible without a smooth, transparent cornea, which is highly exposed to environmental threats. The abundant corneal nerves are interspersed with epithelial cells in the anterior corneal surface and are instrumental to corneal integrity and immunoregulation. Conversely, corneal neuropathy is commonly observed in some immune-mediated corneal disorders but not in others, and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we hypothesized that the type of adaptive immune response may influence the development of corneal neuropathy. To test this, we first immunized OT-II mice with different adjuvants that favor T helper (Th)1 or Th2 responses. Both Th1-skewed mice (measured …

Limitations Of Telemedicine Vs. Face-To-Face Eye Examination In A Patient With New Headaches, Joseph Hallak, Od, Danielle Kalberer, Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: During the emergence and rise of COVID-19, precaution directives and limitations on in-person eye examinations re-routed a significant portion of care to telemedicine and virtual modalities. While these technologies allowed for healthcare communications that otherwise could not occur during such trying times, there are major limitations to these sanctioned applications. This report will present a seemingly benign case that could have easily been re-routed from an in-person examination to a telemedicine version due to the patient’s seemingly “routine” vision complaints.

Case Report: A 50-year-old male patient contacted the eye clinic with a complaint of a minor, new, unexplained headache …

Barriers To Screening For Diabetic Retinopathy: A Scoping Review, Amy Cooper Rn, Bsn, Lajerica Bates Rn, Bsn, Julie Bridges Rn, Bsn, Laura Reed Dnp, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

More than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes and a leading cause of vision loss. Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and being African American or Hispanic/Latino. This scoping review seeks to analyze the current research on ways to increase vision screenings, thus reducing cases of diabetic retinopathy in adults.

Methods

Between September 2020 and November 2021, a search was conducted using PubMed, EBSCOhost, Medline, and CINAHL to identify articles using keywords such as diabetic retinopathy and ophthalmology. This …

Direct Costs Of Second Aqueous Shunt Implant Versus Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (The Assists Trial), Jack X Ma, Alice Z Chuang, Robert M Feldman, Steve L Mansberger, Angelo P Tanna, Lauren S Blieden, Daniel Shoham, Nicholas P Bell, Ronald L Gross, Louis R Pasquale, David S Greenfield, Jeffrey M Liebmann, Robert N Weinreb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PRCIS: The cost of cyclophotocoagulation is less than the cost of a second glaucoma drainage device.

PURPOSE: To compare the total direct costs of implantation of a second glaucoma drainage device (SGDD) with transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) for patients with inadequately controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, despite the presence of a preexisting glaucoma drainage device in the ASSISTS clinical trial.

METHODS: We compared the total direct cost per patient, including the initial study procedure, medications, additional procedures, and clinic visits during the study period. The relative costs for each procedure during the 90-day global period and the entire study period were …

Ectopic Lymphoid Structures In The Aged Lacrimal Glands, Jeremias G Galletti, Kaitlin K Scholand, Claudia M Trujillo-Vargas, Zhiyuan Yu, Olivier Mauduit, Vanessa Delcroix, Helen P Makarenkova, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging is a complex biological process in which many organs are pathologically affected. We previously reported that aged C57BL/6J had increased lacrimal gland (LG) lymphoid infiltrates that suggest ectopic lymphoid structures. However, these ectopic lymphoid structures have not been fully investigated. Using C57BL/6J mice of different ages, we analyzed the transcriptome of aged murine LGs and characterized the B and T cell populations. Age-related changes in the LG include increased differentially expressed genes associated with B and T cell activation, germinal center formation, and infiltration by marginal zone-like B cells. We also identified an age-related increase in B1

Lacrimal Gland Epithelial Cells Shape Immune Responses Through The Modulation Of Inflammasomes And Lipid Metabolism, Vanessa Delcroix, Olivier Mauduit, Menglu Yang, Amrita Srivastava, Takeshi Umazume, Cintia S De Paiva, Valery I Shestopalov, Darlene A Dartt, Helen P Makarenkova

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Lacrimal gland inflammation triggers dry eye disease through impaired tear secretion by the epithelium. As aberrant inflammasome activation occurs in autoimmune disorders including Sjögren's syndrome, we analyzed the inflammasome pathway during acute and chronic inflammation and investigated its potential regulators. Bacterial infection was mimicked by the intraglandular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nigericin, known to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Acute injury of the lacrimal gland was induced by interleukin (IL)-1α injection. Chronic inflammation was studied using two Sjögren's syndrome models: diseased

Vitamin C Contributes To Epigenetic Regulation Of Genes Related To Diabetic Retinopathy In Retinal Endothelial Cells, Elizabeth L. Turner, Jonathon Reynolds, Walker Kay, Marianne Becnel, Matthew Conway, Alexander Kim, John A. Kriak, Kyle B. Bills, David W. Sant

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

High Energy Blue Light Induces Oxidative Stress And Retinal Cell Apoptosis, Jessica Malinsky

Capstone Showcase

Blue light (BL) is a high energy, short wavelength spanning 400 to 500 nm. Found in technological and environmental forms, BL has been shown to induce photochemical damage of the retina by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Excess ROS leads to oxidative stress, which disrupts retinal mitochondrial structure and function. As mitochondria amply occupy photoreceptors, they also contribute to oxidative stress due to their selectively significant absorption of BL at 400 to 500 nm. ROS generation that induces oxidative stress subsequently promotes retinal mitochondrial apoptosis. BL filtering and preventative mechanisms have been suggested to improve or repair BL-induced retinal damage, …

Examining The Effects Of Hyperglycemia On Retinal Regeneration, Emmanuella Ec Kyllians

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body processes glucose, leading to a cascade of other complications, one of which is diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR is a neurovascular disease that affects the retina and research has revealed the role of retinal neurodegeneration in its development. Animal models like zebrafish have emerged as important tools for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying DR. On the other hand, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a degenerative disease that involves the progressive degeneration of rods and cones, and hyperglycemia has been found to impair regeneration. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects …

Retinal Alpha-Synuclein Accumulation Correlates With Retinal Dysfunction And Structural Thinning In The A53t Mouse Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Katie K N Tran, Vickie H Y Wong, Anh Hoang, David I Finkelstein, Bang V Bui, Christine T O Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Abnormal alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) protein deposition has long been recognized as one of the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease's (PD). This study considers the potential utility of PD retinal biomarkers by investigating retinal changes in a well characterized PD model of α-SYN overexpression and how these correspond to the presence of retinal α-SYN. Transgenic A53T homozygous (HOM) mice overexpressing human α-SYN and wildtype (WT) control littermates were assessed at 4, 6, and 14  months of age (male and female,

Dry Eye Disease In Astronauts: A Narrative Review, Timon Ax, Bergita Ganse, Fabian N Fries, Nóra Szentmáry, Cintia S De Paiva, Francesc March De Ribot, Slade O Jensen, Berthold Seitz, Thomas J Millar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Long-duration spaceflight can have adverse effects on human health. One of the most common ocular conditions experienced by astronauts is dry eye disease (DED). Symptoms of DED include feelings of eye irritation, eye strain, foreign body sensation and blurred vision. Over 30% of International Space Station expedition crew members reported irritation and foreign body sensation. We reviewed the current literature on the prevalence and mechanisms of DED in astronauts and its potential implications for long-duration spaceflight, including the influence of environmental factors, such as microgravity and fluid shift on tear film physiology in space. DED has negative effects on astronaut …

Delphi Panel Consensus Regarding Current Clinical Practice Management Options For Demodex Blepharitis, Marjan Farid, Brandon D Ayres, Eric Donnenfeld, Ian Benjamin Gaddie, Preeya K Gupta, Edward Holland, Richard Lindstrom, Stephen C Pflugfelder, Paul M Karpecki, Kelly K Nichols, Christopher E Starr, Elizabeth Yeu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: To obtain consensus on Demodex blepharitis (DB) treatment using a modified Delphi panel process.

METHODS: Literature search identified gaps in knowledge surrounding treatment of DB. Twelve ocular surface disease experts comprised the Demodex Expert Panel on Treatment and Eyelid Health (DEPTH). They completed a live roundtable discussion in addition to 3 surveys consisting of scaled, open-ended, true/false, and multiple-choice questions pertaining to the treatment of DB. Consensus for scaled questions using a 1 to 9 Likert scale was predefined as median scores of 7–9 and 1–3. For other question types, consensus was achieved when 8 of 12 panelists agreed. …

Non-Invasive Tear Break-Up Detection With The Kowa Dr-1Α And Its Relationship To Dry Eye Clinical Severity, Stephen Pflugfelder, Lauren Nakhleh, Yasushi Kikukawa, Shin Tanaka, Takuya Kosugi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The purpose of this study is to compare visual versus software detection of non-invasive tear break-up with the KOWA DR-1α tear interferometer and investigate the relationship between non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) and dry eye clinical severity. Tear interferometry with the KOWA DR-1α, together with a standardized comprehensive ocular surface/tear evaluation, was performed on 348 consecutive eyes. Investigator visually detected or software detected non-invasive tear break-up and NIBUT were measured and compared on a subset of these examinations. The relationship between software-detected NIBUT and categorical dry eye severity based on irritation symptoms and corneal and conjunctival dye staining scores was …

A Reactivation Of Ocular Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy, Brett Garee Od, Ms, Sarah Dieter Od, Pete Liette Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite estimated to affect over 500 million people worldwide. The feline is the definitive host for the parasite and infection may be acquired or congenital via maternal transmission. Humans may acquire the infection by ingestion of raw or undercooked meats and vegetables, contaminated water, or exposure to infected cat feces. The infection is often benign, self-limiting, and asymptomatic for humans, but potentially life threatening to infants or the immunocompromised patient.

Case Report: A 22 year-old Caucasian female, pregnant at 12 weeks gestation, presented to the optometry service with acute symptoms of hazy vision …

Mutations In Bcor, A Co-Repressor Of Crx/Otx2, Are Associated With Early-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Maéva Langouët, Christine Jolicoeur, Awais Javed, Pierre Mattar, Micah D Gearhart, Stephen P Daiger, Mette Bertelsen, Lisbeth Tranebjærg, Nanna D Rendtorff, Karen Grønskov, Catherine Jespersgaard, Rui Chen, Zixi Sun, Hui Li, Najmeh Alirezaie, Jacek Majewski, Vivian J Bardwell, Ruifang Sui, Robert K Koenekoop, Michel Cayouette

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Many transcription factors regulating the production, survival, and function of photoreceptor cells have been identified, but little is known about transcriptional co-regulators in retinal health and disease. Here, we show that BCL6 co-repressor (BCOR), a Polycomb repressive complex 1 factor mutated in various cancers, is involved in photoreceptor degenerative diseases. Using proteomics and transcription assays, we report that BCOR interacts with the transcription factors CRX and OTX2 and reduces their ability to activate the promoters of photoreceptor-specific genes. CUT&RUN sequencing further shows that BCOR shares genome-wide binding profiles with CRX/OTX2, consistent with a general co-repression activity. We also identify missense …

Surgical Extraction Of Traumatic Lodgment Of A Pen Nib Between The Eye And Nasal Bridge Of An Infant: A Case Report, Krishna Shah, Vaishali Prajapati, Smeet Desai, Karishma Dhaval Desai, Mayur B Wanjari, Deepika Singhal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Unintentional eye injuries are common in small children. If left unobserved by parents or caretakers, it is challenging to assess as the kids are in distress and pain. Penetrating trauma in or near the eye requires urgent treatment as it can lead to infection and other complications. Early diagnosis and management help avoid further complications. An 11-month-old female was presented by her parents at a tertiary care clinic with inconsolable crying and swelling over the right eye's upper lid for one day. There was a history of possible trauma with a pen while the child was playing. During the examination, …

Immune Phenotype Of The Cd4+ T Cells In The Aged Lymphoid Organs And Lacrimal Glands, Claudia M Trujillo-Vargas, Kelsey E Mauk, Humberto Hernandez, Rodrigo G De Souza, Zhiyuan Yu, Jeremias G Galletti, Jana Dietrich, Friedrich Paulsen, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging is associated with a massive infiltration of T lymphocytes in the lacrimal gland. Here, we aimed to characterize the immune phenotype of aged CD4+ T cells in this tissue as compared with lymphoid organs. To perform this, we sorted regulatory T cells (Tregs, CD4+CD25+GITR+) and non-Tregs (CD4+CD25negGITRneg) in lymphoid organs from female C57BL/6J mice and subjected these cells to an immunology NanoString® panel. These results were confirmed by flow cytometry, live imaging, and tissue immunostaining in the lacrimal gland. Importantly, effector T helper 1 (Th1) genes were highly upregulated on aged Tregs, including the master regulator Tbx21. Among …

Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown On The Management Of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study, Vaishali Prajapati, Krishna Shah, Dhruvi Shah, Mayur B Wanjari, Deepika Singhal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction Worldwide, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Early treatment and screening for DR have a major role in reducing the rate of the disease and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related restrictions have altered real-world practice patterns in managing DR. Aims and objectives To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of DR amongst patients presenting to a tertiary eye care center in Gujarat, India. Methods This is a cross-sectional study comparison of ophthalmic findings of 72 patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital with the manifestation of DR …

Eye Care Protocol In Critically Ill Pediatric Patients On Neuromuscular Blockage, Jinnie Tkach

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are at increased risk for the development of ocular surface disease (OSD) due to impaired ocular mechanisms while intubated, sedated, and on continuous neuromuscular blockade. The purpose of this project is to prevent OSD and vision impairments by increasing the frequency of eye care in accordance with a PICU eye care protocol.

Methods: An observational descriptive study was conducted utilizing retrospective and prospective chart review. Comparisons were drawn between the 2021 pre intervention group and the 2022 post intervention group regarding the impact of linking lubricating eye ointment orders …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Visual Outcomes Of Diabetic Macular Edema Patients At A Tertiary Care Veterans Affairs Center, Philip Zhou, Jie Gao, Xiaofan Huang, Kristen A Staggers, Kristin Biggerstaff, Silvia Orengo-Nania, Roomasa Channa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: There are limited studies on factors that impacted retina clinic patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate visual and anatomic outcomes in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) requiring anti-VEGF injections at the veterans' affairs tertiary care eye clinic in Houston, TX.

METHODS: Patient volume from April 2020 was compared to that of April 2019 to determine attendance changes. To evaluate outcomes, we reviewed patients with DME who had scheduled appointments during April 2020. We tracked changes in central foveal thickness (CFT) and Snellen visual acuity (VA) measurements. Patient outcomes were classified as poor (defined as …

Interpersonal Communication In Eye Care: An Analysis Of Potential Impacts On Cataract Surgery Candidates’ Expectations And Behaviors, Amy Hellem, Sara Labelle, Cynthia Matossian, Paul Karpecki

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose: To identify cataract surgery candidates’ knowledge, beliefs, desires and emotions as they relate to cataract surgery generally as well as to their behavioral intent to adhere to a doctor-recommended pre-surgical ocular surface prep routine designed to improve refractive outcomes and prevent surgical complications.

Methods: This national, noninterventional, cross-sectional, mixed methods survey included 278 US adults ages 65 and older with no history of cataract surgery in either eye.

Results: Only 20% of participants said they want to have cataract surgery, and even fewer (8%) said they wish they could have cataract surgery right away. Fear was the predominant emotion …