Optometry And Vision Science[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Factors associated with eye examination within the past year among older home care clients: A cross-sectional register study.
Pesonen T, Edgren J, Elo S … +2 more , Falck A, Siira H
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 41021822 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: International guidelines recommend that older adults undergo eye examinations every 1 to 2 years. Eye examinations can identify vision issues at an early stage, enabling timely intervention to prevent or ma...
SIGNIFICANCE: International guidelines recommend that older adults undergo eye examinations every 1 to 2 years. Eye examinations can identify vision issues at an early stage, enabling timely intervention to prevent or manage impaired vision. PURPOSE: We explored the prevalence of older home care clients who had undergone an eye examination within the past year and the associated factors. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional register study design. The data were derived from the National Resident Assessment Instrument database, authorized by the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare. We utilized data from home care clients who were aged 65 or older and had an assessment with the Resident Assessment Instrument conducted between April 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022 (n = 19,150). We used multivariate binary logistic regression to analyze factors associated with having an eye examination within the past year among home care clients. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of Finnish home care clients had undergone an eye examination within the past year. Having an eye examination within the past year was significantly associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.20), impaired vision, especially moderate or severe impairment (OR 3.01; 95% CI 2.70-3.36), and mild hearing impairment (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.22). Limited physical function, both needing supervision or limited assistance in activities of daily living (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.72-0.85) and needing extensive assistance (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.53-0.67), and mild cognitive impairment (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.80-0.92), as well as moderate or severe cognitive impairment (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.59-0.74), were associated with lower odds of having an eye examination within the past year. CONCLUSIONS: A significant share of home care clients may not seek or may be unable to attend eye examinations at the recommended intervals due to various barriers, such as limited physical function and cognitive decline. The opportunity to participate in eye examinations may require targeted support services, such as assistance or transport services, or the development of innovative home-based vision care services. In addition, home care professionals' awareness and competence regarding eye examination recommendations, available eye care services, and overall vision health should be strengthened.
Ohio Contrast Cards are reliable and robust to blur under cycloplegia in visually normal children.
Takoo S, Toole AJ, Brown AM
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40986692 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: Few clinical tests of visual performance can be performed equally well regardless of whether the patient has been dilated with a cycloplegic agent. This report shows that the Ohio Contrast Card test (OCC) i...
SIGNIFICANCE: Few clinical tests of visual performance can be performed equally well regardless of whether the patient has been dilated with a cycloplegic agent. This report shows that the Ohio Contrast Card test (OCC) is reliable across repeated measurements and robust to blur under cycloplegia. PURPOSE: The OCC measures clinical contrast sensitivity, including of patients who cannot read and report the letters on an eye chart. The OCC presents a 0.15 cycle per degree (20/4000, 2.3 logMAR) square-wave grating of variable contrast. We examined the test/retest reliability of the OCC, whether it can be used equally successfully to measure contrast sensitivity before versus after dilation with a cycloplegic agent, and whether it is sensitive to blur from uncorrected refractive error and cycloplegia. Participants were a group of visually normal pediatric optometric patients. METHODS: Two examiners used the OCC to measure the eyes of 38 children who were seen for full eye examinations. Two tests were performed before cycloplegic agents were administered while participants wore their habitual refractive corrections. The examiners were randomly assigned to the two tests. After the eye examination (post-cycloplegia), the measurements were repeated, with and without correction. Statistical analyses examined test/retest reliability before and after cycloplegia and the impact of blur due to cycloplegia and uncorrected refractive error. RESULTS: The first two (pre-cycloplegic) tests indicated high reliability. The contrast sensitivity values from the second test were within ±0.15 log 10 units of the first in 97.4% of cases (mean difference = 0.012 log 10 units). Similar results were obtained when the first test was compared with the post-cycloplegic tests, with or without correction. Limits of agreement were the same (±0.220) when the first test was compared with each repeat test. Under cycloplegia, participants' contrast sensitivity was not associated with the absolute amount of blur for the OCC grating. Thus, the OCC results did not depend systematically on the refractive state of the eye in this pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS: The OCC is a reliable test that can be used on pediatric patients irrespective of whether the patient is under cycloplegia. Its resistance to blur is due to the very low-spatial-frequency square-wave target.
Comparing visual acuity and optimized visual image quality for individuals with and without Down syndrome.
Plaumann MD, Marsack JD, Anderson HA
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40965370 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: Individuals with Down syndrome experience reduced visual image quality compared with individuals without Down syndrome, even when wearing spectacle prescriptions that have been optimized to maximize visual...
SIGNIFICANCE: Individuals with Down syndrome experience reduced visual image quality compared with individuals without Down syndrome, even when wearing spectacle prescriptions that have been optimized to maximize visual image quality. PURPOSE: Individuals with Down syndrome are known to have reduced visual acuity; however, it is unknown whether their visual image quality is proportionately reduced. The purpose of this study was to evaluate optimized image quality via visual Strehl ratio (VSX), a measure of visual image quality known to be correlated with visual acuity, in a group of individuals with Down syndrome, and compare the optimized logVSX values to those predicted from a cohort of individuals without Down syndrome. METHODS: Wavefront aberration measures were recorded on 30 adults with Down syndrome (age = 29 ± 10 years). A computer program was used to mathematically apply more than 20,000 sphero-cylindrical refractions to the uncorrected wavefront error of each eye. The residual wavefront error was then used to calculate optimized logVSX for each eye. These optimized logVSX values were compared with predicted age and pupil-matched normal levels of optimized logVSX. The logMAR visual acuity measured from individuals with Down syndrome wearing optimized corrections was compared with normative values in the literature for the typical population. RESULTS: Optimized logVSX values were significantly poorer for individuals with Down syndrome (average: -0.56 ± 0.19) compared with the minimum (average: -0.47 ± 0.12) or mean (average: -0.26 ± 0.10) values predicted in the typical population. Visual acuity in this group of individuals with Down syndrome was also reduced compared with normative values, and there was a significant relationship between visual acuity and optimized logVSX (p=0.03), though with a modest correlation, suggesting that other factors likely also contribute to reduced visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with Down syndrome have reduced logVSX values compared with individuals without Down syndrome.
Investigating visual search performance in children with albinism and their peers with other visual impairment.
Nagarajan K, Periakaruppan SP, Sumalini R … +2 more , Luo G, Satgunam P
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Nov · PMID 40965369 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: Despite having comparable levels of visual functions, functional performance in a visual task may vary. Children with albinism had better visual search performance when compared with their other peers with...
SIGNIFICANCE: Despite having comparable levels of visual functions, functional performance in a visual task may vary. Children with albinism had better visual search performance when compared with their other peers with visual impairments (VIs). Upon further investigation, the presence of nystagmus seemed to have a role in this performance outcome. PURPOSE: Individuals with albinism and VI (AVI) are shown to have near-normal reading speed akin to normally sighted (NS), whereas individuals with other causes of VI are known to have difficulty. We investigated if a similar observation can be obtained in other functional vision domains, such as visual search. Towards this aim, visual search performance was compared among three groups of children (NS, AVI, and VI). METHODS: Real-world images were presented on a computer screen along with a search target. Participants were asked to find and point to the search target within these images. A total of 150 trials were given to each child. Reaction time (time taken to find the target), accuracy, and integrated search performance score (a composite score accounting for time-accuracy trade-off) were analyzed. Comparisons between AVI and VI used univariate ANOVA after controlling for other factors (age, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity). RESULTS: Ninety-seven children (age: 5 to 17 years) participated (n = 26 NS, 31 AVI, and 40 VI). As expected, NS children had better performance (p≤0.005). While the accuracy of AVI was comparable to those with VI (p=0.068), AVI were significantly faster (p=0.002) and had a better integrated visual search performance score (p<0.001). Further subanalysis showed the AVI group had better performance (p<0.001) when compared with those with VI but without nystagmus (n = 23) and not when compared with the VI group with nystagmus (p=0.059). No difference in performance was observed between the two VI groups (p=0.081). CONCLUSIONS: Despite having comparable visual functions, the AVI group performed better in a functional vision task than their peers with VI. Nystagmus seems to play a role in this visual performance. Further studies are needed to investigate this.
Refractive changes in children with moderate to high astigmatism at a tertiary pediatric academic center.
Shaikh N, Stec M, Devine B … +2 more , Bajaj A, Bohnsack BL
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40952257 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: There is a lack of knowledge on myopic progression in patients with moderate to high astigmatism, which has been compounded by their exclusion from myopia control studies. This study found increased myopia...
SIGNIFICANCE: There is a lack of knowledge on myopic progression in patients with moderate to high astigmatism, which has been compounded by their exclusion from myopia control studies. This study found increased myopia that was linearly associated with age, emphasizing the importance of understanding myopia control treatments in this population. PURPOSE: Moderate to high amounts of astigmatism cause visual blur and may affect myopic progression. However, there is little information as to the effect of cylinder on change in myopia, and the vast majority of myopia control studies have excluded children with significant astigmatism. The purpose of this study was to assess myopic and cylinder changes in children with moderate to high astigmatism. METHODS: Retrospective review of children (2 to 15 years) who presented with astigmatism (>2.00D) and myopic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) to a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Best corrected visual acuity and cycloplegic refraction changes over at least 2 years of follow-up were analyzed. Patients with confounding ocular disease, history of myopia control, or Trisomy 21 were excluded. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-seven patients presented at 6.6 years (IQR 5.2, 9.1) with a median 0.00D (IQR -2.00, 0.50) sphere, -3.00D (IQR -4.25, -2.50) cylinder, and -1.75 (IQR -3.75, -0.99) SER. Twenty-four percent of patients had amblyopia and 46% had strabismus. At final exam (4.9 [IQR 3.0, 6.7] years), patients were more myopic and had greater cylinder (p<0.001). Hispanic patients were disproportionately represented (64%) but had no difference in refractive parameters versus non-Hispanic patients. Initial age was linearly associated with sphere and SER, and the rate of change in sphere and SER over 2 to 3 years of follow-up. Initial J 0 was linearly associated with myopic and cylindrical progression. CONCLUSIONS: Children with moderate to high levels of astigmatism showed myopic and cylindrical progression at follow-up. Amblyopia and strabismus were common in our cohort, but neither amblyopia nor strabismus affected the rates of myopic or cylindrical progression. Patients with moderate astigmatism (-2.00 to -3.00D) had more myopic and cylindrical progression compared with those with higher levels of astigmatism.
A feasibility study of real-time manipulation of blur feedback to accommodation using eccentric photorefraction and a tunable lens.
Bandela PK, Ho A, Papas E … +1 more , Bharadwaj SR
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Nov · PMID 40952252 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: This study describes a new technique that integrates an electrically tunable lens with a dynamic infrared photorefractor for real-time manipulation of blur feedback for human ocular accommodation. This tech...
SIGNIFICANCE: This study describes a new technique that integrates an electrically tunable lens with a dynamic infrared photorefractor for real-time manipulation of blur feedback for human ocular accommodation. This technique is straightforward to implement, and it also overcomes the limitations of present paradigms used for opening the blur-feedback loop (e.g., pinholes and low spatial frequency difference of Gaussian targets). PURPOSE: To describe and validate a technique for real-time manipulation of blur feedback for ocular accommodation by integrating an electrically tunable lens with a dynamic eccentric infrared photorefractor. METHODS: The EL-16-40-TC-VIS electrically tunable lens (Optotune, Dietikon, Switzerland AG) and the PowerRef 3 eccentric infrared photorefractor (PlusOptix, Nuremberg, Germany) were independently calibrated and integrated via a Secure Shell network protocol. The electrically tunable lens was positioned before the right eye, which accommodated multiple times to 2D step changes in optical vergence. The photorefractor captured consensual accommodative changes through the infrared filter occluded left eye at 50 fps. Blur feedback to the right eye was canceled by feeding in the sign-reversed refraction data into the electrically tunable lens in real-time at 25 fps. The feasibility of this setup to minimize robust blur-driven accommodative step responses was tested on five pre-presbyopic adults. RESULTS: All subjects showed robust monocular, blur-driven accommodative responses at baseline, with a median response magnitude of 1.54 D (1.47 D to 1.54 D). The responses were reduced to only baseline fluctuations following blur-feedback manipulation. The median response magnitude following blur-feedback manipulation (-0.34 D [-0.35 D to 0.09 D]) was significantly different from baseline values (Wilcoxon Sign rank test; p=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The integration of an electrically tunable lens with the photorefractor provides a real-time method for manipulating blur feedback during ocular accommodation. This technique may be a promising tool for investigating sensorimotor properties of accommodation and refractive error development. Alternate schematics for manipulating the blur feedback, expanded operating range of the electrically tunable lens, and reduced signal transmission delays may be considered in the future to enhance the efficacy of this technique.
Advances in glaucoma research feature issue.
Denniss J, Flanagan J
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40929003 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Recommended practices for vision screening in pre-school-age children: A 2025 update.
Pang Y, Lyons SA, Nottingham Chaplin PK … +4 more , Block SS, Fishman D, Ciner EB, Advisory Committee to the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40892439 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: Despite significant evidence supporting the utility of vision screening for identifying children who need further evaluation by an eye care professional, there is considerable variability in screening guide...
SIGNIFICANCE: Despite significant evidence supporting the utility of vision screening for identifying children who need further evaluation by an eye care professional, there is considerable variability in screening guidelines along with a lack of consensus for monitoring and reporting outcomes. This article provides updated vision screening recommendations for pre-school-age children (aged 3 to <6 years) in the United States. PURPOSE: The goal of vision screening programs is to identify, refer, and help ensure eye examinations for children who may have vision disorders, such as significant uncorrected refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, reduced visual acuity, and other vision and eye health problems. This article provides an update to the 2015 recommendations for vision screening in pre-school-age children in the United States, which were developed by the National Expert Panel to the National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness. METHODS: Recommendations for vision screening for pre-school-age children were developed by the NCCVEH and published in 2015. The updated recommendations in this article were developed through a targeted literature review (PubMed and Science Direct) and expert opinion from the committee, which approved the final recommendations. RESULTS: The committee recommends that vision screening programs have follow-up systems to ensure that referred children receive comprehensive eye examinations. In addition, screening programs should consist of observation, threshold or critical line (age-specific minimal acuity line to pass) distance visual acuity, binocular critical line near visual acuity, and stereopsis, all of which should be performed annually. Instrument-based screening may be used in place of distance visual acuity and stereopsis, though additional research is needed to guide the recommendation for specific devices. CONCLUSIONS: The NCCVEH recommends that children aged 3 to <6 years have their vision screened annually to identify potential eye health and vision disorders. These updated vision screening recommendations provide lay screeners with a standardized approach for detecting vision problems and ensuring timely intervention and treatment. The NCCVEH will continue to provide vision screening updates at http://nationalcenter.preventblindness.org.
A qualitative analysis of strategies for managing work-related stress among optometrists in the United Kingdom.
Retallic N, Fylan F, Rountree L … +2 more , Bentley S, Elliott DB
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40892438 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: Work-related stress is common in the optometry profession, yet there is limited research on how optometrists and organizations manage and mitigate these issues. This study explores strategies to reduce work...
SIGNIFICANCE: Work-related stress is common in the optometry profession, yet there is limited research on how optometrists and organizations manage and mitigate these issues. This study explores strategies to reduce work-related stress and provides recommendations for individuals, employers, and the profession, to inform future support and guidance. PURPOSE: To explore how optometrists self-manage work-related stress and to identify potential strategies that employers can implement to minimize stress and foster a supportive and positive work environment. METHODS: This study was a qualitative analysis of 1284 responses from an online cross-sectional survey of optometrists registered with the General Optical Council in the United Kingdom during 2024. Content analysis was applied to responses to three different open questions covering work-related stress: what participants do to minimize stress in the workplace; what employers could do; and which aspects of their role participants find most enjoyable. RESULTS: We identified four themes that describe personal strategies for managing work-related stress: (1) in-work approaches; (2) work-life balance strategies; (3) leisure and social support activities; and (4) personal and professional interventions. Three themes described actions employers could take: (1) clinical efficiency and workload management; (2) clinical-commercial business strategy; and (3) workplace culture and emotional well-being. In terms of their role, clinical and patient-related work was the most enjoyable. Many expressed a strong interest in professional development, with higher clinical qualifications, particularly in independent therapeutic prescribing, being the most aspirational form of self-development. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing work-related stress requires a collaborative approach where individuals adopt personal coping strategies, and employers and the profession implement tailored, multifactorial interventions to mitigate systemic stressors. Such combined efforts are essential to foster supportive work environments, reduce stress across the workforce, and drive the systemic changes necessary to enhance professional well-being and patient care in optometry.
Impact of a pre-visit glaucoma video/question prompt list intervention on Black patient eye drop adherence during a 12-month period: A randomized controlled trial.
Sleath B, Carpenter DM, Budenz DL … +8 more , Muir KW, Annis IE, Sayner R, Romero MS, Adjei AA, Tudor G, Garcia N, Robin AL
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40857731 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: Black patients with glaucoma who received the pre-visit question prompt list/video intervention and asked one or more questions during visits were significantly more likely to take the percentage of correct...
SIGNIFICANCE: Black patients with glaucoma who received the pre-visit question prompt list/video intervention and asked one or more questions during visits were significantly more likely to take the percentage of correct prescribed doses each day and the percentage of correct number of doses each day on schedule over a 12-month period. PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine the impact of a randomized, controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a pre-visit glaucoma video/question prompt list intervention on Black patient glaucoma medicine adherence over a 12-month period. METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine Black patients with glaucoma were enrolled and randomized to either a usual care or pre-visit video/question prompt list intervention. Patients who reported being nonadherent on one of two measures were enrolled into the trial. Baseline and 6-month visits were audio-taped, and patients were interviewed afterwards. This manuscript focuses on the longitudinal 12-month adherence data, which has not been reported previously. Patients' eye drops were placed in prescription vial(s) at baseline with Medication Event Monitoring System caps to electronically measure adherence over a 12-month period. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group who asked any questions at baseline or 6 months were significantly more likely to take the percentage of correct number of doses each day during the 12-month follow-up period than patients in the intervention group who did not ask any questions (35% compared with 16%, p=0.0004). The video/question prompt list intervention was not significantly associated with whether patients were 80% or more adherent during the 12-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: An interesting finding was that Black patients in the intervention group who asked any questions during visits were more likely to take the percentage of correct prescribed doses each day and the percentage of correct number of doses each day on schedule over a 12-month period than those in the intervention group who did not ask any questions. Future work needs to figure out ways to motivate more patients who receive the question prompt list/video intervention to ask questions during their visits.
Assessment of dry eye disease and convergence insufficiency symptoms in e-commerce workers using validated questionnaires: A cross-sectional study.
Soltan Dehghan H, Rafieepour A, Hosseinzadeh S
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Oct · PMID 40857730 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the significant symptom presence of dry eye disease (DED) (27%) and convergence insufficiency (CI) (34%) among e-commerce workers (14% had both), underscoring their unique ocular healt...
SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the significant symptom presence of dry eye disease (DED) (27%) and convergence insufficiency (CI) (34%) among e-commerce workers (14% had both), underscoring their unique ocular health risks from prolonged screen exposure. It emphasizes the need for targeted workplace interventions and optometric screening to safeguard the digital workforce's visual health. PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of DED and CI symptoms in e-commerce workers. METHODS: One hundred fourteen e-commerce workers (out of 140 distributed links, response rate = 81%) were surveyed via the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) questionnaires online in the Porsline surveyor. A total of 30 questions were assigned to each individual, comprising demographic, OSDI, and CISS questions, all in Persian. The survey was carried out online. RESULTS: The mean age was 29.2 ± 7.2 years (range: 18-50), and 55% of participants were female. The mean OSDI score was 9.3 ± 5.2, and the mean CISS score was 18.4 ± 9.6. Among all participants, 31 individuals had an OSDI score greater than 12, indicating the presence of DED symptoms. In all of these cases, the severity was categorized as mild; no moderate or severe cases were observed. Additionally, 39 individuals among participants had CISS scores higher than 21, showing symptoms of CI. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of OSDI and CISS between males and females (p=0.54 and p=0.064, respectively). The results showed a significant positive correlation between daily hours of digital screen use and DED symptoms (p<0.001), as well as a significant correlation between CI and dry eye symptoms (p<0.001, 14% of the participants [n = 16]). CONCLUSIONS: E-commerce workers exhibit a notable prevalence of symptoms for both mild DED and CI, based on symptom survey results. Symptom scores from these surveys were highly correlated, suggesting that the symptoms of the two different conditions are similar and could be mistaken for one another.
Knowledge and practice towards high-energy visible light filtering ophthalmic lenses.
Rampersad N, Hansraj R
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40839515 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: High-energy visible light filtering ophthalmic products have been attracting much attention recently, yet there currently exists no evidence-based clinical guidelines to help optometrists make informed deci...
SIGNIFICANCE: High-energy visible light filtering ophthalmic products have been attracting much attention recently, yet there currently exists no evidence-based clinical guidelines to help optometrists make informed decisions about whether to recommend them. Understanding the knowledge and practice toward these products is thus important and was explored in this study. PURPOSE: Amidst much debate about high-energy visible light and commercially available ophthalmic products developed to attenuate it, this study investigated South African optometrists' knowledge of, and practice towards, these ophthalmic products. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a 30-item online questionnaire was distributed via optometry social media platforms and associations. The questionnaire explored knowledge, practice patterns, and perceptions towards high-energy visible light filtering ophthalmic products. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and inferential statistics assessed factors that influenced the prescribing of high-energy visible light filtering spectacle lenses. RESULTS: Of the 108 respondents, 92% prescribed high-energy visible light filtering spectacle lenses, and 88% perceived high-energy visible light as most important for regulating sleep. The majority of respondents considered high-energy visible light from electronic devices as a causative factor for computer vision syndrome (84%) and prescribed high-energy visible light filtering spectacles to electronic device users (95%). Most respondents believed that placebo effects played a role in patient experiences. High-energy visible light-filtering spectacles were the most common method used to attenuate high-energy visible light transmission, often guided by manufacturer product information (69%) and the internet (55%). Respondents were more likely to prescribe these spectacles if they believed advertisements concerning these products were accurate (odds ratio [OR] 6.66, p=0.001), were recent graduates (OR 1.06, p=0.031), or worked in corporate (OR 9.79, p=0.018) or independent (OR 8.77, p=0.046) private practice. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and practice of South African optometrists regarding high-energy visible light and associated products mirrors the uncertainty about its effects that currently exists in this field.
Patching the robot: Perspectives about amblyopia and the feasibility of social robots supporting patching therapy.
Spafford MM, Stalin A, Yamini A … +3 more , Dautenhahn K, Thompson B, Christian LWT
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40839457 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: Social robots have potential applications in eyecare, including the treatment of amblyopia. Desirable functions and features were explored with caregivers whose children were prescribed patching for amblyop...
SIGNIFICANCE: Social robots have potential applications in eyecare, including the treatment of amblyopia. Desirable functions and features were explored with caregivers whose children were prescribed patching for amblyopia. Caregiver perspectives about the feasibility of social robots supporting amblyopia patching will inform the subsequent design of a social robot for a clinical trial with children undergoing patching therapy. PURPOSE: To explore a new strategy for addressing suboptimal amblyopia patching adherence by gathering caregiver perspectives on amblyopia and the feasibility of using a social robot to support their child's patching regime. METHODS: Caregivers of children who were prescribed patching for amblyopia completed an online survey and an online individual, semi-structured interview. Caregivers were asked about their amblyopia knowledge and experiences. They were also asked to share their views about using social robots to help them understand the condition and support their child with adherence to patching therapy. Anonymized interview transcripts were evaluated using thematic content analysis. Data saturation determined the sample size. RESULTS: Seven caregivers displayed knowledge deficits about amblyopia and a 50% average patching adherence. Prior experience with amblyopia mitigated the attitudes toward amblyopia and its management. All caregivers believed their child would benefit from interacting with a social robot during their eye examinations. They held mixed views about using the robot to enhance their knowledge about amblyopia. The perceived desirable social robot functions included regulating emotions, educating, motivating, and entertaining the child, demonstrating the child's vision, and monitoring vision progress. Desirable features regarding attributes, appearances, and actions were identified (e.g., friendly, expressive, gentle, and wearing an eye patch). CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore a need for enhanced patching adherence and caregiver amblyopia literacy. They uniquely highlight how prior experience with amblyopia can shape caregiver attitudes towards managing amblyopia. Social robots may offer an innovative option to address these problems. These caregivers identified desirable functions (e.g., regulate, educate, motivate, entertain, and monitor) and features (e.g., wear an eye patch) of a social robot interacting with children undergoing patching therapy. These perspectives will help to inform the development of a social robot for a subsequent clinical trial with children undergoing patching for amblyopia.
Accommodative responses in children with high and low levels of astigmatism.
Haensel JX, Chen AM, Cotter SA … +10 more , Raghuram A, Manh VM, Han S, Jones-Jordan LA, Lorenzana I, Huang K, Patel R, Lytle AA, Retnasothie D, Roberts TL
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40833971 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: Children with uncorrected astigmatism are often assumed to accommodate to the circle of least confusion. However, empirical evidence in children without a history of refractive correction is lacking. This s...
SIGNIFICANCE: Children with uncorrected astigmatism are often assumed to accommodate to the circle of least confusion. However, empirical evidence in children without a history of refractive correction is lacking. This study found that most children accommodate toward the anterior focal plane, with both focal planes exhibiting a lag of accommodation. PURPOSE: To examine accommodative responses by measuring refractive states of the eye during near viewing in children with uncorrected astigmatism without a history of refractive correction. METHODS: Participants aged 3 to <10 years with no history of refractive correction monocularly viewed a 20/250 letter at a 3-D demand (33 cm) while accommodative responses were measured using open-field autorefraction. Responses were classified based on the focal plane closest to the stimulus: anterior or posterior focal plane, or circle of least confusion. Cycloplegic autorefraction was used to classify participants as having low astigmatism (≤1.50 D) or high astigmatism (>1.50 D). Participants were further subdivided as having hyperopia (≥2.00 D), myopia (≥0.75 D), or emmetropia (less than 0.75 D myopia and 2.00 D hyperopia) based on their spherical cycloplegic refractive error. Chi-square analyses and Fisher exact tests were used to assess the association between accommodative response and cycloplegic refractive error classification. RESULTS: Of the 352 participants, 316 (89.8%) had low astigmatism and 36 (10.2%) had high astigmatism. In both groups, significantly more participants were classified as being focused at the anterior focal plane (low: 98.7%; high: 83.3%) than the posterior focal plane (low: 0.6%; high: 0.0%) or circle of least confusion (low: 0.6%; high: 16.7%; p<0.001). Almost all nonhyperopic participants in the low astigmatism group (99.2%) and hyperopic participants irrespective of astigmatism magnitude (low: 100%; high: 95.2%) accommodated closer to the anterior focal plane with accommodative lags in both meridians. Most nonhyperopic participants with high astigmatism also accommodated to the anterior focal plane (66.7%) and a third to the circle of least confusion (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the assumption that children with astigmatism accommodate to the circle of least confusion, our findings show that most children accommodated to the anterior focal plane during near-viewing tasks, with accommodative lags in both meridians.
Evaluation of keratoconus and its impact on vision-related quality of life.
Park T, Rueff E, Nguyen AL
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40773279 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: This study adds to the understanding of how different factors affect quality of life in people with keratoconus. PURPOSE: To evaluate how various demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and treatment...
SIGNIFICANCE: This study adds to the understanding of how different factors affect quality of life in people with keratoconus. PURPOSE: To evaluate how various demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and treatment modalities influence quality of life in people with keratoconus. METHODS: This prospective survey study recruited adult participants (18 years and older) with a history of keratoconus. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, visual and surgical treatment history, and responses to the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) were collected. RESULTS: Between June 2022 and June 2023, 40 participants completed the study. The mean age was 40.9 ± 15.1 years, and 70.0% were male. All participants wore contact lenses (52.5% scleral lenses, 45.0% corneal lenses, and 2.5% soft lenses), and 17.5% had a history of corneal crosslinking. Compared to scleral lens wear, corneal lens wear was associated with worse quality of life on the NEI-VFQ-25 overall composite ( p =0.015), general vision ( p =0.02), and mental health ( p =0.052) domains. History of corneal crosslinking was associated with worse quality of life in the NEI-VFQ-25 overall composite ( p =0.002), mental health ( p =0.010), role difficulty ( p =0.045), and dependency ( p =0.021) domains. The five lowest-scoring NEI-VFQ-25 domains in this sample were general health, general vision, ocular pain, mental health, and role difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: Factors such as the type of contact lens wear may influence an individual's quality of life. In categories like mental health, general vision, and the overall composite score, scleral lens wearers reported better quality of life. Similarly, surgical treatment history may influence quality of life. Specifically, those with a history of corneal crosslinking reported worse quality of life scores in the categories of mental health, role difficulty, dependency, and the overall composite score. Although these factors were found to be statistically significant, not all reached clinical significance. To determine whether the relationships found in this study are repeatable across different populations, additional studies must be performed. Additionally, eye care providers must consider how different treatment options impact not only a patient's vision and ocular health but also their quality of life.
Letter to the editor: Seeing the evidence for myopia control interventions: Looking through the lens of a Cochrane living systematic review.
Lawrenson JG, Walline JJ, Downie LE … +7 more , Verkicharla PK, Huntjens B, Dhakal R, Li T, Virgili G, Ng S, Kernohan A
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40763196 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
2024 impact factor increases again and submissions up ~30.
Elliott DB
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40763114 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Glaucoma case finding and management among optometrists in Ghana and Nigeria.
Amoah-Smith O, Eghaghara J, Ryan B … +1 more , Robinson DG
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40720294 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: This research contributes to the understanding of glaucoma case finding and management in Ghana and Nigeria. As areas of high glaucoma prevalence, gaining insight into this is paramount to identify barriers...
SIGNIFICANCE: This research contributes to the understanding of glaucoma case finding and management in Ghana and Nigeria. As areas of high glaucoma prevalence, gaining insight into this is paramount to identify barriers and better understand how to improve the detection of this blinding eye disease in an at-risk population. PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate limiting factors to glaucoma case finding and management that exist within Ghana and Nigeria, including equipment and resource availability, management and referral options, optometrist skillset, and perceived socioeconomic barriers. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, online survey of licensed optometrists practicing in Ghana and Nigeria was conducted. The survey was distributed via an e-link and was designed to be self-administered. The survey consisted of 22 questions divided into three sections exploring (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) resources and skillset, and (3) case finding. RESULTS: A total of 318 optometrists (105 Ghanaians, 213 Nigerians) responded to the survey. Nearly all optometrists (>95% from each country) performed glaucoma case finding, diagnosed glaucoma, and prescribed antiglaucoma medications. The cost of performing clinical tests and antiglaucoma medications were readily cited as barriers to glaucoma care. Equipment availability for key clinical tests (Ghana %; Nigeria %, respectively) included slit lamp biomicroscope (94%; 76%), binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy lens (46%; 38%), Goldmann applanation tonometer (79%; 30%), and automated visual field analyzer (38%; 60%). At least half of the optometrists from both countries perceived the need for extra training on at least one glaucoma case finding technique. CONCLUSIONS: Optometrists from Ghana and Nigeria are involved in glaucoma case finding, diagnosis, and management. The main perceived barriers to optometric glaucoma care relate to the affordability of assessment/treatment and the need for additional training for some techniques. Equipment availability for key glaucoma investigations was also variable. Identifying and improving awareness of these barriers will facilitate strategies to improve the early detection and management of glaucoma in any nation that aims to promote health care system development.
Durability of the TearCare treatment effect in subjects with dry eye disease: Stage 3 of the Sahara randomized controlled trial.
Hovanesian J, Ayres BD, Bloomenstein MR … +7 more , Loh J, Chester T, Saenz B, Echegoyen J, Kannarr SR, Rodriguez TC, Dickerson JE
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40719437 · Full text
SIGNIFICANCE: Localized heat therapy with manual expression has been effective for meibomian gland dysfunction-associated dry eye disease in clinical studies including two randomized controlled trials, and in the present...
SIGNIFICANCE: Localized heat therapy with manual expression has been effective for meibomian gland dysfunction-associated dry eye disease in clinical studies including two randomized controlled trials, and in the present report, provides long-lasting relief from signs and symptoms for moderate-to-severe dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. PURPOSE: Meibomian gland dysfunction is a disease with high prevalence and accounts for most dry eye disease. Localized heat therapy with manual expression, an office-based intervention, has demonstrated effectiveness in improving the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. The aim of this third phase of the Sahara randomized controlled trial was to study the durability of the treatment benefits. METHODS: Subjects randomized to localized heat therapy in Sahara and receiving second treatment at month 5 continued follow-up for an additional 19 months. Ocular signs including tear break-up time and meibomian gland secretion score, and symptoms including ocular surface disease index were assessed at months 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24. Subjects could be retreated when tear break-up time was within 2 seconds of study baseline and ocular surface disease index increased by 15 points from the previous visit. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six subjects entered this phase of the study. All measures of signs and symptoms (for the overall group of subjects) remained statistically significantly better than study baseline at all time points. Thirty-two subjects required additional treatment. Median time for retreatment was 8 months. Six-month retreatment-free survival probability was 92%. There were a few adverse events and none related to the localized heat therapy procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Localized heat therapy with manual expression has been shown to be an effective treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction, providing durable relief from dry eye disease signs and symptoms. Treatment twice per year can provide meaningful improvement and symptomatic relief for patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye disease.
Potential applications of near-infrared imaging in eye care beyond the established use cases: A scoping review.
Bhakta T, Thakur M, Chaurasia S … +3 more , Satgunam P, Marmamula S, Bharadwaj SR
Optom Vis Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40700038 · Publisher ↗
SIGNIFICANCE: Near-infrared (NIR) imaging, through novel technology or through adaptation of existing technology, is a useful tool for detecting and screening ocular abnormalities. PURPOSE: This scoping review determined...
SIGNIFICANCE: Near-infrared (NIR) imaging, through novel technology or through adaptation of existing technology, is a useful tool for detecting and screening ocular abnormalities. PURPOSE: This scoping review determined (1) the novel use cases of NIR imaging for the in vivo identification of ocular abnormalities and (2) if these technologies involved purpose-built designs or an adaptation of existing technology for achieving its intended usage. METHODS: Query strings were created using an initial limited search in PubMed and Scopus data sources. Articles subsequently identified on a secondary search using Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect data sources were filtered based on their title and abstract (primary screening) and on their methods and results (secondary screening). The final search was from the citations of the finalized articles. Articles that detailed the technology used, its intended use cases, and the value addition to the eye care ecosystem were included. Technologies well-integrated into clinical practice were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 1431 articles identified, 22 were selected for full-text reading. The selected articles, published between 1978 and 2022, used NIR light for three applications: (1) as a transillumination source for detecting anterior segment abnormalities (n = 17); (2) as a photorefractor for identifying corneal ectasias like keratoconus (n = 3), and (3) as an illumination source for detecting media opacities using devices unintended for ophthalmic use (n = 3). The first application employed a video slit-lamp biomicroscope or a purpose-built imaging apparatus while placing the NIR transilluminator on the cornea, palpebra, or sclera. The remaining applications illuminated the eye noninvasively and analyzed the resultant pupillary reflex using standard image processing. All studies demonstrated high accuracy of NIR light in detecting ocular abnormalities compared with visible light. However, they were all proofs-of-concept, with relatively homogenous disease profiles and limited sample size for assessing diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: NIR imaging holds promise for improved detection and screening of several anterior segment ocular abnormalities, relative to visible light. The clinical adoption rates of many of these technologies have been low. This may arise from several factors, including paucity of strong evidence of their utility from clinical trials and/or lack of commercialization due to limited perceived market for such technologies.
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