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Screening for visual acuity loss (VAL) is not applied systematically because of uncertain recommendations based on observations from affordable countries. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of primary health care-based screening. A cross-sectional investigation was carried out among adults who did not wear glasses and did not visit an ophthalmologist in a year (N = 2070). The risk factor role of sociodemographic factors and the cardiometabolic status for hidden VAL was determined by multivariable linear regression models. The prevalence of unknown VAL of at least 0.5 was 3.7% and 9.1% in adults and in the above-65 population. Female sex (b = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.35; 2.18), age (b = 0.15, 0.12; 0.19), and Roma ethnicity (b = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.22; 3.97) were significant risk factors. Higher than primary school (bsecondaryschoolwithoutgraduation = −2.06, 95% CI: −3.64; −0.47; and bsecondaryschoolwithgraduation = −2.08, 95% CI: −3.65; −0.51), employment (b = −1.33, 95% CI: −2.25; 0.40), and properly treated diabetes mellitus (b = −2.84, 95% CI: −5.08; −0.60) were protective factors. Above 65 years, female sex (b = 3.85, 95% CI: 0.50; 7.20), age (b = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.10; 0.67), Roma ethnicity (b = 24.79, 95% CI: 13.83; 35.76), and untreated diabetes (b = 7.30, 95% CI: 1.29; 13.31) were associated with VAL. Considering the huge differences between the health care and the population’s social status of the recommendation-establishing countries and Hungary which represent non-high-income countries, the uncertain recommendation of VAL screening should not discourage general practitioners from organizing population-based screening for VAL in non-affordable populations.

PURPOSE To examine hypotony-associated foveal lesions (FovLs) using optical coherence tomography, and to assess the risk factors of visual deterioration after glaucoma filtering surgery. METHODS Parameters that may be associated with postsurgical deterioration of visual acuity were retrospectively studied in 44 eyes of 44 patients who experienced postsurgical intraocular hypotension ≤6 mmHg between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS Six eyes (14%) had FovLs, such as detachment of photoreceptors (5 eyes, 11%) and acquired vitelliform lesions (1 eye, 2%) at 3 months after trabeculectomy. Logistic regression analysis revealed that hypotony maculopathy (P = 0.0141 at 3 months) and FovLs (P = 0.0486 and 0.0296 at 3 and 12 months, respectively) were significant risk factors for Visual acuity loss after trabeculectomy. The FovLs were located just behind the Muller cell cone. Visual acuity at 3 and 12 months after surgery in patients with FovLs was significantly lower than in those without FovLs (P = 0.0013 and P = 0.006, respectively). Epiretinal membrane was more common in eyes with FovLs (5 of 6 eyes, 83%) than in eyes without FovLs (7 of 38 eyes, 18%; P = 0.0037). CONCLUSION Muller cell cone-associated FovLs lead to long-lasting visual acuity loss after filtering surgery.

To evaluate the association of children's daily electronic screen use with severe meibomian gland atrophy (MGA).Retrospective cross-sectional study.Children (aged 6-17years) presenting at clinical practice December 2016 - October 2017 were evaluated for ≥grade 2 MGA vs age-matched controls with insignificant atrophy (grade 1 atrophy). Questionnaires assessed dry eye symptoms, daily electronic screen use hours, diet, and outdoor time. Meibography imaging assessed for severe meibomian gland atrophy (≥grade 2 atrophy; ≥1 eyelid on validated, 4-point, ImageJ scale: 0 [normal] - 3 [severe]). Autoimmune disease biomarker positivity was assessed in 16 severe meibomian gland atrophy cases after being found relevant in firstcase.A total of 172 children were evaluated. Patients with known meibomian gland atrophy causes or poor-quality meibographies were excluded. Forty-one met inclusion criteria (mean age, 11 years; 49% female): 17 cases had severe meibomian gland atrophy; 24 controls had insignificant gland atrophy. All severe meibomian gland atrophy cases had ocular symptoms/signs of dry eye disease including corneal neovascularization (29%), best-corrected visual acuity loss (41%), and central corneal neovascularization (14%). No controls had significant dry eye symptoms/signs. Controls had lower/"better" meibogrades vs cases (P.01). In severe meibomian gland atrophy cases, 86% reported ≥4 hours of daily electronic screen use; 50% reported ≥8 hours. No controls exceeded 2 hours. Increased electronic screen use was positively associated with increased/"worse" meibogrades (odds ratio: 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-5.41). In 16 severe meibomian gland atrophy cases, 62.5% tested positive for autoimmune biomarker(s), though none had systemic symptoms: 18.8% rheumatoid factor; 6.25% SS-A/SS-B; 31.3% early Sjögren syndrome biomarkers; 6.25% ANA-positive/RF-negative. Autoimmune disease biomarker positivity was not significantly associated with severe meibomian gland atrophy vs controls (P = .34, right-eye; P = .71, left-eye).Children's excessive electronic screen use is associated with severe meibomian gland atrophy. Further research is needed to establish formal electronic screen use limits based on meibography grade and evaluate correlation of autoimmune disease biomarker positivity in children with severe meibomian gland-atrophy.

Unilateral retro-ocular pain, photophobia and visual disturbance in patients suspected as having acute optic neuritis was described as a distinct clinical entity by Jefferis et al. in 2018. We hereby report a further four patients with the same clinical phenotype and propose the term ROPPVAL syndrome (Retro-Ocular Pain, Photophobia and Visual Acuity Loss). All of them had a previous (mis)diagnosis of optic neuritis. All of the patients had normal ocular and neurological examinations, no relative afferent pupillary defect and no objective structural abnormality was identified. We also discuss possible mechanisms, the role of cycloplegics that we found to be useful in reducing symptoms, and the importance of distinguishing this syndrome from optic neuritis.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited pigmentary retinal dystrophy where patients experience poor peripheral, night, and eventually central vision. There are statements in the literature which suggest visual acuity loss can progress to total blindness in these patients. This study sought to examine these statements by performing a retrospective analysis of the visual acuity measured in a large cohort of RP patients.The charts of 1,095 RP patients were reviewed in this retrospective cross-sectional analysis. They included all of the RP patients examined by one of the authors (G.A.F.). Patients with sector RP or a delimited form of this disease were not included. The review was focused on the analysis of patients with 20/200 or worse vision in the better-seeing eye (N = 215).We determined that 0.46% of the enrolled patients progressed to no light perception in each eye. Ninety-two percent of the 1,095 patients examined were able to read a visual acuity chart. There were 6.8% who saw only hand motion, count fingers, or light perception.No light perception was measured in only 0.46% of patients. Thus, only a very small number of the RP patients in our cohort progressed to total blindness.

Purpose Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) can be used to measure visual resolution via a spatial frequency (SF) limit as an objective estimate of visual acuity. The aim of this systematic review is to collate descriptions of the VEP SF limit in humans, healthy and disordered, and to assess how accurately and precisely VEP SF limits reflect visual acuity. Methods The protocol methodology followed the PRISMA statement. Multiple databases were searched using “VEP” and “acuity” and associated terms, plus hand search: titles, abstracts or full text were reviewed for eligibility. Data extracted included VEP SF limits, stimulus protocols, VEP recording and analysis techniques and correspondence with behavioural acuity for normally sighted healthy adults, typically developing infants and children, healthy adults with artificially degraded vision and patients with ophthalmic or neurological conditions. Results A total of 155 studies are included. Commonly used stimulus, recording and analysis techniques are summarised. Average healthy adult VEP SF limits vary from 15 to 40 cpd, depend on stimulus, recording and analysis techniques and are often, but not always, poorer than behavioural acuity measured either psychophysically with an identical stimulus or with a clinical acuity test. The difference between VEP SF limit and behavioural acuity is variable and strongly dependent on the VEP stimulus and choice of acuity test. VEP SF limits mature rapidly, from 1.5 to 9 cpd by the end of the first month of life to 12–20 cpd by 8–12 months, with slower improvement to 20–40 cpd by 3–5 years. VEP SF limits are much better than behavioural thresholds in the youngest, typically developing infants. This difference lessens with age and reaches equivalence between 1 and 2 years; from around 3–5 years, behavioural acuity is better than the VEP SF limit, as for adults. Healthy, artificially blurred adults had slightly better behavioural acuity than VEP SF limits across a wide range of acuities, while adults with heterogeneous ophthalmic or neurological pathologies causing reduced acuity showed a much wider and less consistent relationship. For refractive error, ocular media opacity or pathology primarily affecting the retina, VEP SF limits and behavioural acuity had a fairly consistent relationship across a wide range of acuity. This relationship was much less consistent or close for primarily macular, optic nerve or neurological conditions such as amblyopia. VEP SF limits were almost always normal in patients with non-organic visual acuity loss. Conclusions The VEP SF limit has great utility as an objective acuity estimator, especially in pre-verbal children or patients of any age with motor or learning impairments which prevent reliable measurement of behavioural acuity. Its diagnostic power depends heavily on adequate, age-stratified, reference data, age-stratified empirical calibration with behavioural acuity, and interpretation in the light of other electrophysiological and clinical findings. Future developments could encompass faster, more objective and robust techniques such as real-time, adaptive control. Registration International prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/), registration number CRD42018085666.

PURPOSE To compare visual acuity (VA) change at 24 months in eyes with clinically significant DME (CSDME) and good VA initially treated versus initially observed in routine clinical practice. METHODS Retrospective analysis of treatment-naive eyes with CSDME and good VA (baseline VA ≥ 79 letters), with at least 24 months of follow-up and initially managed with treatment (intravitreal treatment and/or macular laser) or observation with possible treatment after 4 months that were tracked in a prospectively designed observational registry. RESULTS We identified 150 eligible eyes (98 initially observed, 52 initially treated) of 130 patients. The proportion of eyes with at least a 5-letter VA loss at 24 months was not significantly different between the groups: 65% with initial observation and 42% with initial treatment (p = 0.39). However, initially observed eyes were more likely to have a 10-letter VA loss at 24 months (OR = 4.6, p = 0.022). Most of eyes in the initial observation group received at least one treatment (an intravitreal injection in 66% and macular laser in 20%) during the 24-month period. CONCLUSIONS The risk of 5 letters loss was similar between both management groups. However, initially observed eyes were more at risk of developing moderate visual loss and more than 80% of them required treatment over 24 months.

Aim The aim of this study was to detect clinical factors predictive of loss of visual acuity after treatment in order to develop a predictive model to help identify patients at risk of visual loss. Patients and methods This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) with 106Ru plaque for primary uveal melanoma. A predictive nomogram for visual acuity loss at 3 years from treatment was developed. Results A total of 152 patients were selected for the study. The actuarial probability of conservation of 20/40 vision or better was 0.74 at 1 year, 0.59 at 3 years, and 0.54 at 5 years after treatment. Factors positively correlated with loss of visual acuity included: age at start of treatment (p=0.004) and longitudinal basal diameter (p=0.057), while distance of the posterior margin of the tumor from the foveola was inversely correlated (p=0.0007). Conclusion We identified risk factors affecting visual function and developed a predictive model and decision support tool (AVATAR nomogram).

Punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) is a rare inflammatory chorioretinopathy that predominantly affects young myopic women. Visual prognosis is generally good, but occurrence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is common and may be vision threatening. Case reports and short case series support the effectiveness of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents (ranibizumab and bevacizumab) for CNV associated with PIC given their anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Evidence concerning aflibercept, a more recent intravitreal anti-VEGF, is limited to a single case report. In this case report, we illustrate the case of a 43-year-old myopic woman presenting with visual acuity loss and distortion in the right eye over the last 5 days in whom CNV associated with PIC was diagnosed. Treatment with 1 injection per month of intravitreal aflibercept for 2 months and full-dose oral prednisone for 1 week, being tapered afterwards, improved visual acuity and resolved CNV, with benefits lasting up to 24 months.

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical features and outcomes of conjunctival melanoma classified by tumour origin. METHODS: Retrospective review of conjunctival melanoma patients at a single ocular oncology centre between April 18, 1974 and September 9, 2019. Lesions were divided into three tumour origin groups (primary acquired melanosis [PAM], nevus, and de novo) and clinical features and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: There were 629 patients with conjunctival melanoma that arose from PAM (n = 476, 76%), nevus (n = 59, 9%), or de novo (n = 94, 15%). A comparison (PAM vs. nevus vs. de novo) revealed patients with tumours arising from PAM presented with older mean age (62 vs. 52 vs. 55 years, p

AimTo characterise combinations of multimodal imaging risk factors and predictive value for choroidal nevus transformation into melanoma.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of multimodal imaging features for 3806 choroidal nevi from 1 January 2007 through 1 January 2017. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression analyses were used to calculate 5-year percentages of growth to melanoma and HR.ResultsUsing multimodal imaging, six risk factors predictive of choroidal nevus transformation into melanoma were identified, namely tumour thickness >2 mm, subretinal fluid, symptoms of visual acuity loss to 20/50 or worse, orange pigment, hollow acoustic density and tumour largest basal diameter >5 mm. Kaplan-Meier 5-year estimated tumour growth was found in 1% of nevi with no risk factors, 11% (range 9%–37%) with one factor, 22% (12%–68%) with two factors, 34% (21%–100%) with three factors, 51% (0%–100%) with four factors and 55% (0%–100%) with five factors. HR for growth was 0.1 with no factor, 2.1–7.8 with one factor, 1.8–12.1 with two factors, 4.0–24.4 with three factors, 4.6–170.0 with four factors and 12.0–595.0 with five factors. The highest HR with each combination of two, three, four or five risk factors always included symptoms of visual acuity loss and orange pigment.ConclusionSix risk factors for choroidal nevus transformation into melanoma by multimodal imaging have been identified. Risk for transformation into melanoma is 1% when no factors are present, and approaches 100% with specific combinations of three or more risk factors. Understanding how combinations of factors influence risk of transformation into melanoma can guide counselling and treatment decisions.

SIGNIFICANCE A new driving simulator paradigm was developed and evaluated that will enable future investigations of the effects of the ring scotoma in bioptic drivers with diverse vision impairments and different telescope designs. PURPOSE The ring scotoma may impair detection of peripheral hazards when viewing through a bioptic telescope. To investigate this question, we developed and tested a sign-reading and pedestrian-detection paradigm in a driving simulator. METHODS Twelve normally sighted subjects with simulated acuity loss (median 20/120) used a 3.0× monocular bioptic to read 36 road signs while driving in a simulator. Thirteen of 21 pedestrian hazards appeared and ran on the road for 1 second within the ring scotoma while participants were reading signs through the bioptic. Head movements were analyzed to determine whether the pedestrian appeared before or only while using the bioptic. Six subjects viewed binocularly, and six viewed monocularly (fellow eye patched). Two patients with real visual acuity loss in one eye and no light perception in the other performed the same tasks using their own telescopes. RESULTS For the monocular simulated acuity loss group, detection rates were significantly higher when the pedestrian appeared before using the bioptic than when it appeared while using the bioptic and was likely within the area of the ring scotoma (77% vs. 28%, P < .001). For the binocular simulated acuity loss group, there was no significant difference in detection rates for pedestrians that appeared before or while using the bioptic (80% vs. 91%, P = .20). The two monocular patients detected only 17% of pedestrians that appeared while looking through the bioptic. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm the utility of the testing paradigm and suggest that the fellow eye of normally sighted observers with simulated acuity loss was able to compensate for the ring scotoma when using a monocular bioptic telescope in a realistic driving task.

Summary Purpose To compare the efficacy of two cyclodestructive treatments for refractory glaucoma: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) cyclocoagulation and transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (cyclodiode). Methods A retrospective comparative single centre study including all patients who underwent cyclodestruction for refractory glaucoma by either HIFU cyclocoagulation or cyclodiode. “Refractory glaucoma” was defined as an uncontrolled high IOP despite medical treatment and at least one filtering surgery. Uncontrolled high IOP was defined as an IOP ≥ 16 mm Hg. The diagnosis of glaucoma was confirmed by automated visual field (VF) testing and peripapillary RNFL scans using a time-domain ocular coherence tomography device. Treatment success was defined as: postoperative IOP between 5 mm Hg and 21 mm Hg and IOP reduction greater than or equal to 20% as compared to preoperative values. Results Among the 99 eyes of 86 patients included in this study, 29 eyes were treated by cyclodiode and 70 eyes by HIFU. Median follow-up was 3 months (IQR 3–6) for the cyclodiode group and 6 months (IQR 3–8) for the HIFU group. Average preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 34.3 ± 11.1 mm Hg (cyclodiode group) and 23 ± 6.8 mm Hg (HIFU group). The treatment success rate at last follow-up was 52% [34–70] for the cyclodiode group and 25% [15–35] for the HIFU group (P value = 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the mean estimated time to failure was 5.9 months (4.4–7.5) for the cyclodiode group and 3.7 months (2.8–4.7) for the HIFU group (log-Rank test, P = 0.02). A 2-line visual acuity loss was observed for 31% of the patients treated by cyclodiode and 17% for those treated by HIFU. In the cyclodiode group 4 cases of hypotony were reported vs. none in the HIFU group. Conclusions The success rate was significantly higher for cyclodiode treatment as compared to HIFU cyclodestruction when treating refractory glaucoma. However, significantly fewer complications were observed with HIFU cyclocoagulation as compared to cyclodiode.

Orbitocranial penetrating injuries (OPI) represent a rare type of head injuries encountered in clinical practice. These appear after falls or motor vehicle accidents and are more frequent among children. We present the case of a male patient with OPI, associated with large frontal hemorrhagic contusion, with minimal periorbital trauma findings related to brain injury. Knowing and understanding the clinical anatomy of the orbit and the patterns of injuries in OPI are mandatory, since failure in detecting intracranial complications may lead to the increase of the neurological morbidity, visual loss and death.

Optic pathway gliomas (OPG) represent an important cause of visual loss in pediatric population. The indication of treatment is based on clinical or neuroimaging progression. Visual acuity loss is the most important symptom of disease progression, but children with OPG are frequently unable to complete the testing of visual function. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was suggested as an objective tool for visual assessment. A literature review was performed in order to determine the role of retinal OCT as a surrogate marker of vision in children with OPG. The search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases and was restricted to articles published in English between 2000 and 2016, with a minimum of ten participants enrolled. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the present review. Both neurofibromatosis-1 associated and sporadic OPG were investigated. Retinal OCT is a promising tool to be considered as a screening or follow-up test in children with OPG, and further multicenter research is encouraged.

A quality of experience measure for virtual reality is important for both understanding the limitations of existing technology and to provide a focus for specific improvements necessary for virtual reality to achieve full realism. In this paper, we provide a mechanism for the quantitative measurement of scene reconstruction in virtual reality based on visual acuity loss (VAL) as measured by both a virtual and real LogMAR eye chart tests. We illustrate that this test is viable for measuring the entire stack of visual recording and playback in virtual reality, and provide quantitative results for popular virtual reality recording and playback device combinations. We specifically show that visual acuity loss appears to be primarily based on the recording quality, rather than the playback device.

International audience; Purpose: To investigate clinical baseline characteristics and optical coherence tomography biomarkers predicting visual loss during observation in eyes with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and good baseline visual acuity (VA). Methods: A sub-analysis of a 12-month, retrospective study, including patients with baseline VA ≤0.1 logMAR (≥20/25 Snellen) and centre-involving DMO. The primary outcome measure was the correlation between baseline characteristics and VA loss ≥10 letters during follow-up. Results: A total of 249 eyes were included in the initial study, of which 147 eyes were observed and 80 eyes received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment at baseline. Visual acuity (VA) loss ≥10 letters occurred in 21.8% (observed cohort) and in 24.3% (treated cohort), respectively. Within observed eyes, presence of hyperreflective foci [HRF; odds ratio (OR): 3.18, p = 0.046], and disorganization of inner retina layers (DRIL; OR: 2.71, p = 0.026) were associated with a higher risk of VA loss ≥10 letters. In observed eyes with a combined presence of HRF, DRIL and ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption, the risk of VA loss was further increased (OR: 3.86, p = 0.034). In eyes with combined presence of DRIL, HRF and EZ disruption, risk of VA loss was 46.7% (7/15 eyes) in the observed cohort, and 26.3% (5/19 eyes) in the treated cohort (p = 0.26). Conclusion: Patients with DMO and good baseline VA, managed by observation, are of increased risk for VA loss if DRIL, HRF and EZ disruption are present at baseline. Earlier treatment with anti-VEGF in these patients may potentially decrease the risk of VA loss at 12 months.

Background: Older age is commonly associated with an increased risk of surgical complications and comparatively poor outcomes. Purpose: To report cataract surgery outcomes and risk indicators for patients aged 90 years and older. Methods: Data collected as part of routine cataract care in 34 centres contributing to the United Kingdom Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ National Ophthalmology Database (NOD) were analysed. Very elderly people undergoing cataract surgery were profiled in terms of demographics, pre- and postoperative best-measured visual acuity (VA), ocular co-morbidities, intraoperative posterior capsule rupture (PCR) or vitreous loss or both, and risk indicators for operative PCR and adverse VA outcome. Results: 25,856 cataract operations in 19,166 people of 90 years or older between 2000 and 2014 are reported. Preoperative VA was available for 82.4% eyes, being 0.30 LogMAR or better in 21.5%. Postoperative VA was available for 61.8% eyes, being 0.30 LogMAR or better in 74.4%. For those without ocular co-morbidity, postoperative VA was 0.30 LogMAR or better in 84.7%. Various co-morbidities were present in 49% and contributed to an adverse VA outcome. PCR data were available for all operations and occurred in 2.7%. Significant risk indicators for PCR included pseudoexfoliation/phakodonesis, mature cataract, smaller pupil and worse preoperative VA. Conclusions: Slightly poorer cataract surgery outcome results were noted in patients of 90 years or older, more so in patients with ocular co-morbidity which was highly prevalent. However, surgeons should not be deterred from offering cataract surgery to the very elderly as successful visual rehabilitation remains achievable.

Visual acuity loss can be due to eye ball diseases or to lesions of the optic nerves, visual pathway or cortical projection of vision. The differential diagnosis can be challenging and though patients go first to the ophthalmologist, there is not always the ophthalmologist who can diagnose and treat the patient. For a great number of causes/diseases, a neurologist should also see the patient, even if there is a transient or persistent monocular or binocular visual acuity loss a disturbance of the visual field or of the perception of colours. Visual acuity loss can be more than this. It can be a symptom or a sign of a neurological or systemic disease and a rapid diagnosis and specific treatment are mandatory in order to treat the symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Purpose: Choroidal osteomas are benign intraocular tumors that classically present in females. Despite their benign nature, significant visual acuity loss can occur due to retinal pigment epithelium degeneration. We report an unusual case of bilateral choroidal osteoma in a young boy. Observation: A 16 year old boy presented to the Aga Khan University Hospital with a history of painless, bilateral deteriorating vision over past few months. Examination showed best corrected visual acuity as 20/200 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left eye. Funduscopy revealed a well-defined lesion in the juxtafoveal region of both eyes. A diagnosis of (bilateral) choroidal osteoma was subsequently made on the basis of optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography, Indocyanine green and B-scan ultrasonography. The presence of choroidal neovascularization with sub retinal fluid was also established on OCT. The patient was treated with three intravitreal Ranizumab injections. At the follow up visit, vision had improved to 20/50 in the right eye and 20/200 in the left. Sub retinal fluid had also resolved. Conclusions: and importance: Intravitreal Ranizumab may be an effective alternative in the management of choroidal neovascularization secondary to choroidal osteoma.

We report the case of a twenty-year-old man with a unilateral maculopathy responsible for an acute visual acuity loss and a sudden absolute central scotoma. His schizoid personality made the medical history fruitless. The patient's best corrected visual acuity was 20/60. Clinical examination revealed a strictly unilateral maculopathy with pigment remodeling and hyper-autofluorescent areas. Through this case report, we describe the characteristics of the lesion and the pathway to the diagnosis: a laser pointer-induced photic injury.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of permanent central visual acuity loss in persons over 65 years of age in industrialized nations. Today, intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors are the mainstay of treatment worldwide. Areas covered: The following review covers the current treatments and challenges of wet AMD management. It also covers emerging therapies including radiation, latest generation anti-VEGF agents, and combination therapies. Expert opinion: Current neovascular AMD therapy is aimed at decreasing the VEGF effect at the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) complex. The most important existing challenges in the treatment of neovascular AMD are improving visual outcomes, decreasing the treatment burden, and minimizing geographic atrophy. Clinicians are using many treatment strategies to minimize intravitreal injections without sacrificing visual outcomes. Combination of anti-VEGF therapy with other previously available treatments that target a different pathophysiological mechanism may be a reasonable clinical strategy to minimize intravitreal injections. Many exciting novel drugs that target newly discovered pathways associated with CNV development and progression hold clinical promise. The results of ongoing randomized clinical trials will answer the important concerns surrounding new drugs and delivery devices: safety and visual outcomes.

PURPOSE To evaluate the outcomes of trabeculectomy performed in an ophthalmology training program. DESIGN Retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 160 patients undergoing trabeculectomy performed by a resident or fellow under attending supervision. MATERIALS AND METHODS Trabeculectomy surgeries performed by a supervised resident or fellow surgeon between October 2000 and April 2010 were reviewed. Success was considered to be complete or partial if intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications were not or were required to achieve IOP≤21 mm Hg, respectively. Failure was defined as IOP>21 mm Hg on 2 consecutive visits, loss of light perception vision, IOP≤5 on 2 consecutive visits with associated visual acuity loss of ≥2 lines, or need for surgical intervention. Trabeculectomy survival was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis through 60 months of follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Final IOP, success/failure rate. RESULTS Complete success was achieved in 65 patients (41%). The average final IOP of this group was 9.1±3.7 mm Hg. Qualified success was achieved in 56 patients (35%). The average final IOP of this group was 11.5±6.4 mm Hg. At 60 months, the estimated cumulative probability of survival for complete and qualified successes was 28.9% and 63.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Among patients undergoing trabeculectomy by supervised residents or glaucoma fellows in a large Veterans Affairs Medical Center, IOP reduction was significant and similar to published studies. Trabeculectomy remains a successful intervention to lower IOP, with satisfactory success rates in the hands of trainee surgeons.

Introduction. The prognosis of postoperative visual acuity in patients with surgically treated suprasellar meningiomas is influenced not only by the size and precise localization of meningiomas in the optochiasmatic region and their compressive effect, but also by certain parameters, such as the age of patient, duration of symptoms, and preoperative visual acuity. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of these factors on postoperative visual acuity in the patients with surgically treated optochiasmatic meningioma as well as to determine their prognostic value in the recovery of visual function after surgery. Material and Methods. The study sample consisted of 43 patients operated for suprasellar meningioma. All tumors were diagnosed by computed tomography or nuclear magnetic resonance scans. Visual acuity was analyzed both before surgery and six months after surgery. The effects of age, preoperative visual loss, duration of visual symptoms and tumor size on visual outcome were analyzed. Results. Postoperative improvement of visual acuity was observed in 50% of eyes (68.4% of patients). Visual outcome was better in the younger patients. The patients with better preoperative visual acuity had better postoperative visual acuity outcome. Chances of achieving better postoperative visual function and favorable tumor resection outcome were inversely proportional to the increased length of history of disease and tumor size. Conclusion. Postoperative visual acuity prognosis in suprasellar meningioma surgery was favorably affected by the mean duration of symptoms of less than 24 months, tumor size less than 30 mm, and preoperative visual acuity loss below 0.1.

Introduction Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) can affect visual acuity in dynamic conditions, like walking. This can be assessed by testing Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) on a treadmill at different walking speeds. Apart from BVP, age itself might influence DVA and the ability to complete the test. The objective of this study was to investigate whether DVA tested while walking, and the drop-out rate (the inability to complete all walking speeds of the test) are significantly influenced by age in BVP-patients and healthy subjects. Methods Forty-four BVP-patients (20 male, mean age 59 years) and 63 healthy subjects (27 male, mean age 46 years) performed the DVA test on a treadmill at 0 (static condition), 2, 4 and 6 km/h (dynamic conditions). The dynamic visual acuity loss was calculated as the difference between visual acuity in the static condition and visual acuity in each walking condition. The dependency of the drop-out rate and dynamic visual acuity loss on BVP and age was investigated at all walking speeds, as well as the dependency of dynamic visual acuity loss on speed. Results Age and BVP significantly increased the drop-out rate (p ≤ 0.038). A significantly higher dynamic visual acuity loss was found at all speeds in BVP-patients compared to healthy subjects (p p ≤ 0.036). Conclusion DVA tested while walking on a treadmill, is one of the few “close to reality” functional outcome measures of vestibular function in the vertical plane. It is able to demonstrate significant loss of DVA in bilateral vestibulopathy patients. However, since bilateral vestibulopathy and age significantly increase the drop-out rate at faster walking speeds, it is recommended to use age-matched controls. Furthermore, it could be considered to use an individual “preferred” walking speed and to limit maximum walking speed in older subjects when testing DVA on a treadmill.

6 voices in 10 minutes: Update on chronic complications Retinopathy Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent cause of new cases of preventable blindness in adults between 20 and 74 years old; it is estimated that more than a third of the patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) have some degree of diabetic retinopathy and the same correlation with the duration of diabetes and glycemic control. Eye complications related to Diabetes represent, worldwide, a 35.6% in any of its manifestations, being a 7.24% proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a 7.48%, diabetic macular edema (DME) and an 11.72%, severe compromise of visual acuity loss.

Purpose To investigate the influence of interocular suppression and visual acuity loss on stereoacuity in observers with and without abnormal vision development from strabismus or amblyopia. To determine whether stereoacuity improves in amblyopic observers when suppression is neutralized. Methods Experiment 1: Visual acuity (VA), depth of suppression (contrast ratio [CR]), and stereoacuity (digital random-dot) were tested in adult amblyopic observers (n = 21; age 27 ± 11 years). Experiment 2: VA, stereoacuity, and CR were measured at baseline and through a series of monocular contrast attenuation and Bangerter filter conditions that degrade visual input in participants with normal binocular vision (n = 19; age 31 ± 13 years). Multiple regression models were used to determine relative contribution of VA and CR to stereoacuity in both groups. Experiment 3: stereoacuity was retested in a subsample of amblyopic observers (n = 7) after contrast reduction of the stimulus presented to dominant eye to neutralize suppression. Results In amblyopic observers, stereoacuity significantly correlated with CR (P < 0.001), but not with interocular VA difference (P = 0.863). In participants with normal vision development, stereoacuity, VA, and CR declined with introduction of monocular Bangerter filter (P < 0.001), and stereoacuity reduced with monocular attenuation of stimulus contrast (P < 0.001). Reduction in stereoacuity correlated with both VA decrement and degraded CR. Stereoacuity significantly improved in amblyopic observers when the contrast to the dominant eye was adjusted based on the contrast ratio. Conclusions Suppression rather than visual acuity loss limits stereoacuity in observers with abnormal vision development. Stereopsis can be improved when interocular sensory dominance is neutralized.

The visual acuity loss enables the brain to access new pathways in the quest to overcome the visual limitation and this is wellknown as neuroplasticity which have mechanisms to cortical reorganization. In this review, we related the evidences about the neuroplasticity as well as cortical anatomical differences and functional repercussions in visual impairments. We performed a systematic review of PUBMED database, without date or status publication restrictions. The findings demonstrate that the visual impairment produce a compensatory sensorial effect, in which non-visual areas are related to both cross (visual congenital) and multimodal (late blind) neuroplasticity.

Purpose To evaluate visual acuity and visual acuity development in children from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, who were exposed to the Zika virus (ZIKV) gestationally. Methods Children who had been exposed to ZIKV during gestation and age-matched control subjects received visual acuity and funduscopic examination. ZIKV exposure was confirmed by maternal quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing or serology assay. The ZIKV group was divided into two subgroups: Zika - exposed (ZE), with only the mother having confirmed ZIKV-infection, and Zika-infected (ZI), with confirmed infection. Visual acuity development was compared with prior norms and quantified by measuring visual acuity correlation with age. Results A total of 110 children were included: 47 who had been exposed to ZIKV (ZE, 23; ZI, 24) and 63 controls. Abnormal visual acuity was found in 5 of 24 ZI children. Of the 4 children with microcephaly, only 2 had visual acuity loss (only 1 also had abnormal funduscopic findings). There was significant correlation between age and visual acuity in both the control group ( R 2 = 0.8; P R 2 = 0.6; P R 2 = 0.04; P = 0.38). Furthermore, the increment in octaves/month was much lower in the ZI subgroup. Conclusions Our data indicates that visual acuity losses only occur in infants who suffered gestational-infection, not simply exposure. Lack of correlation between age and visual acuity in the ZI subgroup suggests a slowing of visual development even in the absence of microcephaly. This result may have broad implications for the deleterious effects of ZIKV on the central nervous system.

PURPOSE: To investigate the results after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) followed immediately by standard 30-minute corneal cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus. METHODS: This retrospective study included 26 eyes of 16 patients with keratoconus. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (SE) and cylinder, apical keratometry, corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs), and corneal haze were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 32 ± 8 months (range: 19 to 50 months) and mean patient age was 31 ± 5 years (range: 24 to 40 years). Mean UDVA improved significantly from 0.80 ± 0.39 to 0.32 ± 0.36 logMAR after surgery ( P < .001), but the mean CDVA worsened significantly from 0.07 ± 0.09 to 0.15 ± 0.14 logMAR after surgery ( P = .006). Thirteen eyes (50%) lost at least one line of CDVA, 3 eyes (12%) lost two lines, and 4 eyes (15%) lost three lines. SE, cylinder, and apical keratometry decreased significantly. Corneal haze grade 1 was found in 15 eyes (57.7%), grade 2 in 6 eyes (23.1%), and grade 3 in 1 eye (3.8%). A significant correlation was seen between postoperative CDVA loss and corneal haze ( P = .001) and history of atopy ( P < .01), but not with corneal HOA change. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an improvement in UDVA and topographic values, the loss of CDVA, explained by postoperative haze, demonstrates that this procedure should be approached with caution, may not be as safe as initially thought, especially in patients with atopy and can cause severe visual acuity loss. [ J Refract Surg . 2019;35(2):109–114.]

Aim: To report the "do it yourself" method of converting an existing wired-halogen indirect ophthalmoscope (IO) to a wireless-light emitting diode (LED) IO and report the preferences of the patients and the ophthalmologists. Subjects and Methods: In this prospective observational study, a conventional IO was converted to wireless-LED IO using easily available, affordable electrical components. Conventional and the converted IO were then used to perform photo-stress test and take the feedback of subjects and the ophthalmologists regarding its handling and illumination characteristics. Results: The cost of conversion to wireless-LED was 815/- rupees. Twenty-nine subjects, mean age 34.3 ΁ 10 years with normal eyes were recruited in the study. Between the two illumination systems, there was no statistical difference in the magnitude of the visual acuity loss and the time to recovery of acuity and the bleached vision on photo-stress test, although the visual recovery was clinically faster with LED illumination. The heat sensation was more with halogen illumination than the LED (P = 0.009). The ophthalmologists rated wireless-LED IO higher than wired-halogen IO on the handling, examination comfort, patient′s visual comfort and quality of the image. Twenty-two (81%) ophthalmologists wanted to change over to wireless-LED IO. Conclusions: Converting to wireless-LED IO is easy, cost-effective and preferred over a wired-halogen indirect ophthalmoscope.

Orbitocranial penetrating injuries (OPI) represent a rare type of head injuries encountered in clinical practice. These appear after falls or motor vehicle accidents and are more frequent among children. We present the case of a male patient with OPI, associated with large frontal hemorrhagic contusion, with minimal periorbital trauma findings related to brain injury. Knowing and understanding the clinical anatomy of the orbit and the patterns of injuries in OPI are mandatory, since failure in detecting intracranial complications may lead to the increase of the neurological morbidity, visual loss and death.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of visual acuity loss with head movement in actively training mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. Methods: Vestibulo-ocular reflex function of 22 asymptomatic, male MMA fighters (age = 29.2 ± 5.1) was assessed by taking the difference between static visual acuity and the dynamic visual acuity test, in both yaw and pitch planes. Results: The mean static visual acuity testing logMAR was -0.173 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.114). Mean dynamic visual acuity test values decreased with head movement to 0.196 logMAR (SD = 0.103) in yaw; p < 0.001, and to 0.283 logMAR (SD = 0.133) in pitch; p < 0.001. Conclusion: MMA fighters had a decay, beyond normal ranges, in visual acuity during head movement. These decreases may suggest vestibulo-ocular reflex impairment and were unrelated to self-reported concussion history. These results should be cautiously interpreted since there was not a control group.

To describe the incidence of and risk factors for visual acuity (VA) loss in patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.A total of 132 patients were included. The main outcome measurements were the incidences of VA loss to ≤20/50 and ≤20/200.The incidences of VA loss to ≤20/50 and ≤20/200 were 0.22/eye-year (EY) and 0.12/EY, respectively. Risk factors for the incidence of VA loss to ≤20/50 were low nadir CD4The incidence of VA loss in eyes affected by CMV retinitis was high. The use of HAART, particularly with subsequent immune recovery, substantially reduced the incidence of VA loss.

Myopic choroidal neovascularization is a frequent cause of visual acuity loss that can affect young individuals. Through a group of experts belonging to the Federation France Macula, we review the treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization and provide recommendations related to the treatment of this complication.

Objective A 10 year old presented with painless loss of vision as the first manifestation of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Clinical assessment detected diagnostic features of NF1 and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan confirmed presence of plexiform neurofibroma and bilateral optic pathway glioma (OPG). The child was managed with chemotherapy which helped in improvement of vision. Review of current literature recommends vision testing in diagnosed cases of NP1 till 7 years of age; this is aimed at detecting visual impairments resulting from a symptomatic OPG.

We report 6 eyes (spherical refraction from −4.0 to −10.0 diopters) in 4 cases of diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) after femtosecond laser refractive lenticule extraction. A refractive lenticule was created using a femtosecond laser and then extracted through a 3.0 mm incision (5 eyes without a flap) and an approximately 20.0 mm incision (1 eye, flap thickness 100 μm). On the first postoperative day, Case 1 developed bilateral DLK (stage 1), Case 2 developed DLK (stage 2) with a small tear at the incision edge, Case 3 developed bilateral DLK (stage 2 in the right eye, stage 1 in the left eye). Case 4 developed late-onset DLK (stage 2) after 5 months. All cases were treated adequately with topical steroids and resolved completely without progression; no visual acuity loss occurred. The DLK may have occurred after refractive lenticule extraction. It is important to diagnose and treat timely and appropriately to avoid vision loss. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

a b s t r a c t Case report: A 24-year-old male presented with visual acuity loss of the right eye. Examination of the right eye fundus showed a serous detachment of the posterior pole associated with optic disc coloboma. The patient refused surgical treatment. After six months an improvement in visual acuity was observed with the disappearance of macular subretinal fluid. Discussion: The macular detachment is a known complication of the optic disc coloboma. Different therapeutic options have been used, although spontaneous re-attachment may also occur as shown in this case.

Aflibercept is the most recently approved vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) inhibitor for the management of diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this article is to review the efficacy and safety of aflibercept in the management of diabetic eye complications and to describe its place in therapy. Anti-VEGF agents have been noted in clinical trials to be superior to laser photocoagulation, the standard therapy ( P < .0001, P ≤ .0085, respectively). Aflibercept has been comparatively studied with other anti-VEGF agents, namely, bevacizumab and ranibizumab, and noted to be equally efficacious and safe in patients with mild visual acuity loss ( P > .50). However, in the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema having moderate to severe visual acuity loss, aflibercept outperformed the other 2 anti-VEGF agents (aflibercept vs bevacizumab, P < .001; aflibercept vs ranibizumab, P = .003). However, additional studies are needed to fully appreciate the long-term safety and efficacy of aflibercept and the anti-VEGF therapy class.