Emily Dickinson is one of America's premier poets of the 19th century. Henry Willard Williams, MD, was one of the very first physicians to limit his practice to ophthalmology and was the established leader in his field i...Emily Dickinson is one of America's premier poets of the 19th century. Henry Willard Williams, MD, was one of the very first physicians to limit his practice to ophthalmology and was the established leader in his field in Boston, Massachusetts. They met during the time of the Civil War, when Emily consulted him about her ophthalmic disorder. No records of the diagnosis survive. Photophobia, aching eyes, and a restriction in her ability to work up close were her main symptoms. Iritis, exotropia, or psychiatric problems are the most frequent diagnoses offered to explain her difficulties. Rather than attempt a definitive conclusion, this article will offer an additional possibility that Dr Williams likely considered (ie, hysterical hyperaesthesia of the retina). This was a common diagnosis at that time, although it has currently faded from use.
An optimal clear corneal incision creates a self-sealing intrastomal tunnel. Variability in incision length may pose surgical difficulties for subsequent phacoemulsification. An incision that is too long may lead to chal...An optimal clear corneal incision creates a self-sealing intrastomal tunnel. Variability in incision length may pose surgical difficulties for subsequent phacoemulsification. An incision that is too long may lead to challenges including decreased instrument mobility, decreased visibility due to corneal striae, stromal hydration, and a difficult angle of approach to the cataract. These sequelae may lead to surgical complications or abandonment of the original incision. We describe a technique for shortening a long clear corneal incision with the intentional creation of a flap of corneal tissue at the posterior internal wound edge. This technique is a simple and quick modification that may avoid the pitfalls of an incision that is too long.
Stein JD, Talwar N, Laverne AM
… +2 more, Nan B, Lichter PR
Arch Ophthalmol
· 2012 Dec · PMID 23229700
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OBJECTIVE: To determine whether racial disparities exist in the use of ancillary testing to evaluate individuals with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: We identified all enrollees aged 40 years and older in a large US manage...OBJECTIVE: To determine whether racial disparities exist in the use of ancillary testing to evaluate individuals with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: We identified all enrollees aged 40 years and older in a large US managed care network with retinal or optic nerve conditions that could warrant the use of ancillary testing. Among persons with open-angle glaucoma or glaucoma suspects, we performed repeated-measures multivariable logistic regression to determine the odds and probabilities each year of undergoing visual field testing, fundus photography, and other ocular imaging for black, white, Hispanic, and Asian American men and women and compared the groups. RESULTS: Among the 797 879 eligible enrollees, 149 018 individuals had open-angle glaucoma. The odds of undergoing visual field testing decreased for all groups from 2001 through 2009, decreasing most for Hispanic men and women (63% and 57%, respectively) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.31-0.43 and AOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.37-0.50, respectively) and least (36%) for Asian American men (AOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.51-0.80). By comparison, the odds of undergoing other ocular imaging increased for all groups from 2001 through 2009, increasing most (173%) for black men and women (AOR, 2.73; 95% CI, 2.34-3.18 for men and AOR, 2.73; 95% CI, 2.40-3.09 for women) and least (77%) for Hispanic women (AOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.49-2.09). CONCLUSION: Hispanic men and women had considerably reduced odds of undergoing visual field testing and other ocular imaging compared with other groups during the decade. Although increases in glaucoma testing have been noted in recent years among Hispanic men and women for some types of ancillary tests, efforts should be made to better understand and overcome some of the persistent barriers to monitoring for glaucoma in this group.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate higher-order kinematic analysis, a technique not previously applied to surgical skills assessment, as a tool for elucidating patterns of movement. METHODS: An observational cohort study of 27 subje...OBJECTIVE: To evaluate higher-order kinematic analysis, a technique not previously applied to surgical skills assessment, as a tool for elucidating patterns of movement. METHODS: An observational cohort study of 27 subjects, divided into 3 equal groups based on surgical experience consisting of novice (performed <5 prior procedures), intermediate (performed 5-100 prior procedures), and expert (performed >100 prior procedures) subjects. The subjects placed a deep 3-1-1 suture onto a shielded hook on a standardized surgical skills practice board. Detailed 3-dimensional motion data were obtained using a motion capture system. Two novel parameters were used to analyze movement patterns: the frequency distribution (cumulative histogram), describing the distribution of movement sizes used, and the probability density function (normalization of frequency distribution data), evaluating the distribution of motion against the magnitude of movement. The α risk for statistical significance was set at .05. RESULTS: We found significant differences among the 3 groups for frequency distribution (P = .02; Kruskal-Wallis test) and probability density function (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: These 2 indices, derived from kinematic analysis, appear to distinguish between groups of test subjects with known differences in surgical experience. The evaluation of higher-order motion patterns appears to be of value in the objective evaluation of surgical skills. This method for assessment of manual skills is likely to provide a better guide as to which patterns of movement have the greatest efficiency for specific tasks.
OBJECTIVES: To report photographic evidence of eyebrow tissue expansion in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) and to demonstrate consistency in grading through the use of standardized photographs. METHODS...OBJECTIVES: To report photographic evidence of eyebrow tissue expansion in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) and to demonstrate consistency in grading through the use of standardized photographs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients referred for evaluation of TAO in an orbitofacial tertiary care center between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010. A grading key was produced with representative views of each of 4 grades (0 [no expansion] to 3 [severe expansion]), corresponding to increasing severity of eyebrow tissue expansion. Photographs of each study patient, including both premorbid and morbid photographs, were retrieved from an electronic medical record system and graded by 6 independent, masked observers using this 4-point system. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients with TAO were identified for inclusion. The average grade was 0.3 for premorbid eyes and 1.1 for morbid eyes. Intraclass correlation coefficients for the premorbid photographs were 0.705 and 0.632 for the right and left eyes, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients for the morbid photographs were 0.921 and 0.916 for the right and left eyes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Eyebrow tissue expansion is a common manifestation in TAO. Comparison of premorbid and morbid photographs is a useful means to identify and characterize the extent of brow involvement. The use of a grading key improves the consistency of identifying and grading eyebrow tissue expansion. Recognition of the eyebrow tissue as distinct anatomically in TAO may be crucial to rehabilitation of these patients, which may entail multiple surgical procedures.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), and postnatal-weight gain retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) prediction model in a cohort of infants meeting current screening guidelines. METHODS: Multivari...OBJECTIVE: To develop a birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), and postnatal-weight gain retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) prediction model in a cohort of infants meeting current screening guidelines. METHODS: Multivariate logistic regression was applied retrospectively to data from infants born with BW less than 1501 g or GA of 30 weeks or less at a single Philadelphia hospital between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2009. In the model, BW, GA, and daily weight gain rate were used repeatedly each week to predict risk of Early Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity type 1 or 2 ROP. If risk was above a cut-point level, examinations would be indicated. RESULTS: Of 524 infants, 20 (4%) had type 1 ROP and received laser treatment; 28 (5%) had type 2 ROP. The model (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [CHOP]) accurately predicted all infants with type 1 ROP; missed 1 infant with type 2 ROP, who did not require laser treatment; and would have reduced the number of infants requiring examinations by 49%. Raising the cut point to miss one type 1 ROP case would have reduced the need for examinations by 79%. Using daily weight measurements to calculate weight gain rate resulted in slightly higher examination reduction than weekly measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The BW-GA-weight gain CHOP ROP model demonstrated accurate ROP risk assessment and a large reduction in the number of ROP examinations compared with current screening guidelines. As a simple logistic equation, it can be calculated by hand or represented as a nomogram for easy clinical use. However, larger studies are needed to achieve a highly precise estimate of sensitivity prior to clinical application.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the safety, tolerability, and reproducibility of intraocular pressure (IOP) patterns during repeated continuous 24-hour IOP monitoring with a contact lens sensor. METHODS: Forty patients suspected o...OBJECTIVE: To examine the safety, tolerability, and reproducibility of intraocular pressure (IOP) patterns during repeated continuous 24-hour IOP monitoring with a contact lens sensor. METHODS: Forty patients suspected of having glaucoma(n=21) or with established glaucoma (n=19) were studied.Patients participated in two 24-hour IOP monitoring sessions (S1 and S2) at a 1-week interval (SENSIMED Triggerfish CLS; Sensimed AG). Patients pursued daily activities,and sleep behavior was not controlled. Incidence of adverse events and tolerability (visual analog scale score)were assessed. Reproducibility of signal patterns was assessed using Pearson correlations. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 55.5(15.7) years, and 60% were male. Main adverse events were blurred vision (82%), conjunctival hyperemia (80%),and superficial punctate keratitis (15%). The mean (SD)visual analog scale score was 27.2(18.5) mm in S1 and 23.8(18.7) mm in S2 (P=.22). Overall correlation between the 2 sessions was 0.59 (0.51 for no glaucoma medication and 0.63 for glaucoma medication) (P=.12). Mean(SD) positive linear slopes of the sensor signal from wake to 2 hours into sleep were detected in both sessions for the no glaucoma medication group (S1: 0.40 [0.34],P.001; S2: 0.33[0.30], P.01) but not for the glaucoma medication group (S1: 0.24 [0.60], P=.06; S2:0.40[0.40], P.001). CONCLUSIONS: Repeated use of the contact lens sensor demonstrated good safety and tolerability. The recorded IOP patterns showed fair to good reproducibility,suggesting that data from continuous 24-hour IOP monitoring may be useful in the management of patients with glaucoma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01319617
Arch Ophthalmol
· 2012 Dec · PMID 23229695
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OBJECTIVE: To characterize the phenotype of a white patient with occult macular dystrophy (OMD) and her clinically unaffected family members and to determine whether similar mutations were present in the RP1L1 gene in th...OBJECTIVE: To characterize the phenotype of a white patient with occult macular dystrophy (OMD) and her clinically unaffected family members and to determine whether similar mutations were present in the RP1L1 gene in this family. Occult macular dystrophy is a rare macular dystrophy with central cone dysfunction hidden behind a normal fundus appearance that has been attributed to a mutation in the retinitis pigmentosa 1-like 1 (RP1L1) gene in 4 Japanese families. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study of 1 white family with OMD, patients meeting the clinical criteria for OMD and their family members were evaluated by use of multifocal electroretinography, the Farnsworth D-15 color vision test, automated perimetry, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus autofluorescence, and fundus photography. Fluorescein angiography was performed only on the proband. Members of this family were screened for genetic mutations in the RP1L1 gene. RESULTS: In the family studied, the clinically affected proband was noted to have loss of the foveal outer segments and absence of bowing of the inner segment/outer segment junction on SD-OCT scans. In addition, 1 clinically unaffected family member also demonstrated loss of the foveal photoreceptor outer segments and, therefore, decreased bowing of the inner segment/outer segment junction on SD-OCT scans. The fundus autofluorescence images of the eyes of the proband and her family members were normal. Although mutations in the RP1L1 gene have been identified in sporadic and autosomal dominant OMD pedigrees, no mutations in the RP1L1 gene were found in any of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of the outer segments of foveal photoreceptors can be detected and quantified by use of SD-OCT in patients with OMD. Similar findings are present in some clinically unaffected family members and may represent subclinical manifestations of the disease. Although mutations in the RP1L1 gene have been described in several Japanese families with OMD, there were no such mutations in this white family of European descent, which suggests that inherited OMD is a genetically heterogeneous disorder.