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Eye and foot problems are two of the most common consequences of diabetes. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of an educational programme based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) on foot and eye care among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Fasa City, Fars Province, Iran. A total of 100 individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II) who met the study's inclusion criteria were included. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (intervention = 50, control = 50). The questionnaires were completed by all groups and included demographic information, TPB constructs, foot and eye care, and patients' HbA1c levels. Questionnaires were completed prior to, immediately following, and three months after the intervention by members of the experimental and control groups. During the intervention period, the experimental group attended 10 instructive sessions. SPSS 22 software was used to analyse the data. Paired t-tests, independent t-tests, chi-square, and RMA (Repeated Measurement ANOVA) were all used (p < 0.05). Knowledge and all TPB components were significantly increased in the experimental group compared with the control group after intervention. In addition, foot and eye care practice and HbA1c level improved significantly among the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Applying the TPB is quite helpful in designing an educational programme for diabetic people to control their blood sugar and improve behavioural foot and eye care. Aside from such programmes, follow-up education on regulating and monitoring is strongly advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyse the effect of the state screening program for glaucoma, funded by the Kazakhstan State programs for the health care system "Salamatty Kazakhstan" (2011-2015) and "Densaulyk" (2016-2019), on glaucoma diagnosis. This study involved 1,620,658 men and women 40-70 years of age. State screening for glaucoma includes measures of intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal thickness. Data for glaucoma incidence were retrieved from the state statistics dataset. Studies of vulnerable age groups and ophthalmologists' availabilities were assessed, and correlations with glaucoma detection were determined. For the statistical analysis, MATLAB application package version R2017b (MathWorks, USA) was used. The number of registered glaucoma patients was 43,337 in 2010. In 2016, following the screening program, this figure increased to 68,195. A 49% increase in newly identified glaucoma cases from 70.8 (in 2010) to 124 (in 2016) per 100,000 population was determined. Thus, the sufficiency and effectiveness of the screening program were confirmed by the increase in the number of patients diagnosed with glaucoma, which also depended on age. A correlation between suspected glaucoma and age groups was exposed with the observation of a high number of cases in the older population. The state screening programs for glaucoma in the Republic of Kazakhstan constitute initial steps in the prevention of irreversible blindness and disability due to glaucoma. Such screening seems to allow timely and adequate diagnosis of the disease in people>40 years of age. * The implementation of the Kazakhstan State programs for the health care system "Salamatty Kazakhstan" (2011-2015) and "Densaulyk" (2016-2019) enabled the detection of glaucoma cases in Kazakhstan of the population aged over 40 years. * Education of the population about the prevention and treatment of glaucoma has a vital role in lowering the cases of this socially significant pathology. * Increasing the number of eye care specialists and implementing high-tech diagnostic tools will be the main steps in the strategy for early detection of glaucoma. Subjects: Epidemiology; Health Informatics and Statistics; Ophthalmology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional medicines are commonly used throughout the world, especially in Africa. About 13.2-82.3% of the population uses traditional eye medicine. These are forms of biologically based therapies, practices, or partially processed agents that are applied to the eye or administered orally to achieve a desired ocular therapeutic effect. To determine the prevalence and associated factors of traditional eye medicine use among adult ophthalmic patients attending the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital-Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. A cross-sectional study within the hospital was conducted on 502 newly admitted adult ophthalmic patients who were selected by using a systemic random sampling method from August 15 to 21 October 2020. Of the total (502) subjects, 93.1% of subjects participated in the study. From the total participants, 22.31% (112) (95% confidence interval (CI: 19-26%)) used traditional eye medicine in the past two years. Positive family history of traditional eye medicine use (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 11.1 (95% CI: 4.8-25.6)), availability of traditional healers (AOR = 3.7 (95% CI: 1.6-8.6)), residency in the rural (AOR = 24.9 (95% CI: 10.4-59.7)), family income of 300-1,500 adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.6 (95% CI: 1.9-22.9)), and ≥ 6 months (AOR = 8.5 (95% CI: 3.02-23.7) were significantly associated with traditional eye medicine use The driving issues for using TEM were the availability and costs of modern medicine. The prevalence of TEM is higher than in the previous study conducted in Ethiopia. Subjects: Allied Health; Health & Society; Health Conditions; Nursing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a public health challenge in Canada with a disproportionate number of Indigenous people, especially women, living with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes ocular complication and a common cause of blindness in Canadian adults. Many individuals living with diabetes do not have regular diabetic eye screening. This study sought to determine the diabetic retinopathy awareness and eye care behaviour of Indigenous women with diabetes or at risk of diabetes. This was a quantitative study among 78 Indigenous women (First Nations and Métis) in Saskatoon, Canada. Data on diabetic retinopathy awareness and eye care behaviour were collected via a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey. Participants had high diabetic retinopathy practice mean scores (32.16) than knowledge (30.16) and attitude scores (22.56). Sub-group analysis showed a significant difference in knowledge scores between age, education, and diabetes status, and differences in practice scores between age and education. Although our regression analysis indicated an association between education and knowledge scores (p = 0.024), and diabetes status and attitude scores (p = 0.044), the associations are not conclusive. Indigenous peoples with or at risk of diabetes may benefit from targeted interventions on diabetes and eye care, which could improve eye care awareness and behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presents the extent to which engagement in research and new developments in clinical practice alike have contributed to the establishment and development of the primary vision care profession in New Zealand that is Optometry. Many notable changes have occurred in the scope of practice of the profession over the past three decades and an important role of visual neuroscience, neurobiology and pharmaceuticals allowed the introduction of therapeutic prescribing responsibilities to a previously optics dominated profession. Scientific, optometric, medical and clinical research are factors leading the changes in scope of practice of Optometrists. These advancements have significantly expanded the scope of practice since Optometry training began in the 1960s, and has been supported by close working relationships with other health professionals in New Zealand. This article describes the history of Optometry in New Zealand from early practitioners, to the establishment of a degree programme at the University of Auckland. Along with undergraduate teaching, a strong tradition of vision science research has established New Zealand as a centre of internationally recognised expertise in a range of areas including myopia and visual neuroscience. The Optometry profession has developed to deliver primary eye care at a community level across the country in a range of areas of special interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Barriers to health care present complex challenges to improving eye health in the U.S., yet few studies have quantitatively measured the impact of these barriers. This study investigated the time elapsed since a person's most recent eye examination (TLEE) as a measure of barriers to eye care. Methods: Participants (N = 1699) from mobile clinic vision health screenings completed demographic and subjective visual function questionnaires, and then underwent comprehensive eye exams. Associations between demographics, subjective visual function, and visual acuity were analyzed with respect to TLEE. Results: Many Hispanic (34.9%) and uninsured (28.6%) participants had no previous eye exam. Although most Caucasians had a previous eye exam, 40.2% did not have an exam in the previous four years. The majority of participants with diabetes were non-compliant with recommendations of annual eye examinations. Conclusion: These results describe barriers that are specific to subpopulations, providing useful information for efforts to improve eye care access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to report on the health inequalities facing stroke survivors with visual impairments as described in the current literature. A systemic review of the literature was conducted to investigate the potential health inequalities facing stroke survivors with subsequent visual impairments. A quality-of-evidence and risk-of-bias assessment was conducted for each of the included articles using the appropriate tool dependent on the type of article. Only four articles discussed health inequalities affecting stroke survivors with visual impairment specifically. A further 23 articles identified health inequalities after stroke, and 38 reported on health inequalities within the visually impaired UK or Irish population. Stroke survivors with visual impairment face inconsistency in eye care provision nationally, along with variability in the assessment and management of visual disorders. The subgroups identified as most at risk were females; black ethnicity; lower socioeconomic status; older age; and those with lower education attainment. The issue of inconsistent service provision for this population must be addressed in future research. Further research must be conducted in order to firmly establish whether or not stroke survivors are at risk of the aforementioned sociodemographic and economic inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A contact lens is a medical device widely used as an alternative to spectacles in order to correct refractive vision problems. The evolution of polymeric biomaterials has heralded a continuous development in the materials used to produce contact lenses and maximize patient comfort and limit adverse events. Microbial keratitis (MK) is a relatively rare but potentially devastating condition associated with contact lens use, particularly with the extended wear of hydrogel lenses. It is the principal complication related to contact lens wear and the large population at risk make it a public health concern. Bacterial binding to the contact lens material is a precursor to the development of MK and is influenced by properties of the material and the bacteria. In order for bacteria to infiltrate the cornea there must be some degree of corneal damage, usually caused by trauma or hypoxia. The most recent materials available aim to allow the continuous wear of lenses while limiting corneal hypoxia, thus helping to prevent the development of MK. Limitations to the treatment of MK require that novel approaches may be necessary in order to limit bacterial adhesion to contact lens materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the pattern of presumed tuberculous uveitis and its various clinical presentation. Methods: This hospital based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal from January 2013 to June 2014. All uveitis patients presenting to uveitis clinic were included in the study. A complete ophthalmic examination, systemic evaluation and tailored investigations were done for each individual patient and the findings were recorded. Results: Out of 1140 uveitis patients evaluated, 12 patients (1.05%) had presumed tuberculous uveitis. Panuveitis (five patients, 41.7%) was the most common form of uveitis, followed by posterior (four patients, 33.3%) and anterior uveitis (three patients, 25%). All patients showed signs of clinical resolution after the institution of anti-tuberculous therapy along with drugs for the control of intraocular inflammation. Conclusion: Panuveitis and posterior uveitis were the common forms of clinical presentation of presumed tuberculous uveitis in this study. Treatment with anti-tuberculous therapy along with drugs to control intraocular inflammation resolves presumed tuberculous uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]