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The debate over whether the medical profession should accommodate its members' conscientious objections (COs) has raged on in the bioethics literature and on legislative floors for decades. Unfortunately, participants on all sides of the debate fail to distinguish among different types of CO, a failure that obstructs the view of which cases warrant accommodation and why. In this paper, we identify one type of CO that warrants consideration for accommodation, called Nature of Medicine COs (NoMCOs). NoMCOs involve the refusal of physicians to perform actions they reasonably judge to be contrary to the nature of medicine and their professional obligations. We argue that accommodating NoMCOs can be justified based on the profession's need to preserve reformability. Importantly, this previously underdeveloped position evades some of the concerns commonly raised by opponents of CO accommodations.

Existing knowledge regarding golf-associated eye injuries (GEIs) is sparse. The purpose of this study was to characterize the types of GEIs, examine the mechanisms of injury, describe the characteristics of GEI victims, and determine the incidence of GEIs during the 2002-2021 period using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database.Deidentified patient records were analyzed. Each GEI was assigned into a specific category of diagnosis, and the mechanism of injury was determined. National estimates were collected for each year, and simple linear regression modeling was used to determine trends over time. Furthermore, patient variables for sex, race, and age were analyzed.The NEISS query provided a total of 379 GEIs for analysis. GEIs were most common in adult males, with a decreasing, although not statistically significant, trend during this period (β = -17.88, p = 0.110). Children were more likely to have a GEI caused by a golf club while adults were more likely to have one caused by the surrounding environment. Across all age groups, contusions and corneal abrasions were the most common GEIs, constituting 50.4% (190/377) of all eye injuries, followed by foreign body injuries (9%, 34/377) and then irritation/inflammation of the eye (8%, 30/377). The most common mechanism of injury among all players involved adverse interactions with the environment (37.7%, 142/377).Contradictory to existing literature, we show that minor GEIs are more common than severe ones. Rather than golf clubs or balls, environmental elements are the leading cause of GEIs.

Purpose To compare complication rates, visual acuity, and refractive outcomes of secondary intraocular lens (IOLs) implantation. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Design Retrospective case series. Methods All secondary IOLs placed by the anterior segment service were reviewed. Preoperative data, operative reports, and data from each subsequent postoperative visit were evaluated. Patients were divided into 5 groups based on the final IOL position: (1) sulcus with optic capture, (2) sulcus without optic capture, (3) anterior chamber (AC), (4) iris-fixated, and (5) transscleral-sutured. Complication rates, visual acuity, and refractive outcomes were compared for each group. Results The sulcus with and without optic capture groups had the lowest complication rates and best visual acuity outcomes. There was no difference in final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) between the transscleral-sutured IOL, iris-fixated IOL, and AC IOL groups, although the AC IOL group had the lowest rates of early postoperative complications and a significant improvement in vision. The transscleral-sutured IOL group had the highest complication rates, and 25% of patients in the iris-fixated IOL group lost 2 or more lines of CDVA. Conclusions When a secondary IOL cannot be placed within the capsular bag, sulcus with optic capture is the best alternative, followed by sulcus without optic capture. There was no difference in visual acuity outcomes between transscleral-sutured IOLs, iris-fixated IOLs, and AC IOLs. Anterior chamber IOLs resulted in fewer early complications.

Diabetes mellitus is a global epidemic which is growing in prevalence, and diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of visual impairment among patients affected by this disease. Our objective is to review current and upcoming therapeutic approaches to DME. Once considered the gold standard in treatment of DME, focal/grid laser is now reserved mostly for non-center-involving DME, while anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has become the first-line treatment. However, suboptimal responders to anti-VEGF and the burden of frequent injections have stimulated the development of novel approaches. Corticosteroids can be effective in treating DME, but adverse effects such as intraocular pressure elevation and cataract formation must be considered. Emerging therapeutics and drug delivery systems in the pipeline offer exciting potential solutions to this vision-threatening disease. Multiple types of therapeutics targeting various pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of DME may help lessen the global burden of vision loss from diabetes.

The recapitulation of the material properties and structure of the native aortic valve leaflet, specifically its anisotropy and laminate structure, is a major design goal for scaffolds for heart valve tissue engineering. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are attractive scaffolds for this purpose as they are biocompatible, can be modified for their mechanical and biofunctional properties, and can be laminated. This study investigated augmenting PEG hydrogels with polycaprolactone (PCL) as an analog to the fibrosa to improve strength and introduce anisotropic mechanical behavior. However, due to its hydrophobicity, PCL must be modified prior to embedding within PEG hydrogels. In this study, PCL was electrospun (ePCL) and modified in three different ways, by protein adsorption (pPCL), alkali digestion (hPCL), and acrylation (aPCL). Modified PCL of all types maintained the anisotropic elastic moduli and yield strain of unmodified anisotropic ePCL. Composites of PEG and PCL (PPCs) maintained anisotropic elastic moduli, but aPCL and pPCL had isotropic yield strains. Overall, PPCs of all modifications had elastic moduli of 3.79±0.90 MPa and 0.46±0.21 MPa in the parallel and perpendicular directions, respectively. Valvular interstitial cells seeded atop anisotropic aPCL displayed an actin distribution aligned in the direction of the underlying fibers. The resulting scaffold combines the biocompatibility and tunable fabrication of PEG with the strength and anisotropy of ePCL to form a foundation for future engineered valve scaffolds.

To evaluate the refractive outcomes after multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) exchange.Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.Retrospective case series.Patients had multifocal IOL explantation followed by IOL implantation. Outcome measures included type of IOL, surgical indication, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and refractive prediction error.The study comprised 29 patients (35 eyes). The types of IOLs implanted after multifocal IOL explantation included in-the-bag IOLs (74%), iris-sutured IOLs (6%), sulcus-fixated IOLs with optic capture (9%), sulcus-fixated IOLs without optic capture (9%), and anterior chamber IOLs (3%). The surgical indication for exchange included blurred vision (60%), photic phenomena (57%), photophobia (9%), loss of contrast sensitivity (3%), and multiple complaints (29%). The CDVA was 20/40 or better in 94% of eyes before the exchange and 100% of eyes after the exchange (P = .12). The mean refractive prediction error significantly decreased from 0.22 ± 0.81 diopter (D) before the exchange to -0.09 ± 0.53 D after the exchange (P .05). The median absolute refractive prediction error significantly decreased from 0.43 D before the exchange to 0.23 D after the exchange (P .05).Multifocal IOL exchange can be performed safely with good visual outcomes using different types of IOLs. A lower refractive prediction error and a higher likelihood of 20/40 or better vision can be achieved with the implantation of the second IOL compared with the original multifocal IOL, regardless of the final IOL position.

Purpose To evaluate the accuracy of toric intraocular lens (IOL) alignment in femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery using the Truevision 3-dimensional (3-D) computer-guided visualization system compared with a manual marking method. Setting Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Design Retrospective comparative case series. Methods Preoperatively, all patients had corneal topography measurements with a color light-emitting diode topographer. The 3-D system used the anterior keratometry values to create an optimized plan for the toric IOL alignment. Intrastromal marks were created by the femtosecond laser at the intended toric meridian, guided by manual ink marks placed at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock limbus with the patient sitting upright. Intraoperatively, the 3-D system was used to align the IOL and measure the angular position of the femtosecond marks relative to the IOL meridian. Three weeks postoperatively, the manifest refraction, corrected distance visual acuity, and toric IOL alignment were recorded. Results The mean 3-D imaging error was −0.58 degrees ± 3.90 (SD) (range −9 to 5 degrees), and the mean manual ink error was −0.27 ± 3.65 degrees (range −8 to 5 degrees); neither was statistically significantly different from zero ( P = .28 and P = .76, respectively). The mean absolute errors were 2.96 ± 2.54 degrees and 2.88 ± 2.18 degrees, respectively. Conclusion The 3-D computer-guided system and manual marking combined with femtosecond laser marks were similar in accuracy for toric alignment. Financial Disclosures Dr. Wang received research support from Ziemer USA, Inc. Dr. Weikert is a consultant to Ziemer USA, Inc. Dr. Koch is a consultant to Alcon Laboratories, Inc., and Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., and received research support from Ziemer USA, Inc., i-Optics Corp, and Truevision Systems. None of the other authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

To evaluate the repeatability of the Galilei G4 dual Scheimpflug analyzer in measuring simulated keratometric, total, and posterior corneal curvature in normal and post-refractive surgery eyes.Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.Prospective evaluation of diagnostic technology.A single observer performed 3 consecutive measurements in 1 eye of each subject. The following were evaluated in both eyes and in eyes that had previous myopic excimer-laser surgery: (1) simulated keratometric corneal power and astigmatism, (2) total corneal power and astigmatism, and (3) posterior corneal power and astigmatism. Repeatability was assessed by calculating the within-subject standard deviation (Sw), coefficient of variation (CoV), and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).The study evaluated 41 normal eyes and 36 post-refractive surgery eyes. In normal eyes, the Sw was 0.08 diopters (D), 0.10 D, and 0.03 D for simulated keratometric, total, and posterior corneal power, respectively. The CoV ranged from 0.16% to 0.40%, and the ICC was 0.992 or more (P.001) for all corneal powers. In post-refractive surgery eyes, the Sw was 0.09 D, 0.09 D, and 0.02 D for simulated keratometric, total, and posterior corneal power, respectively. The CoV ranged from 0.19% to 0.32%, and the ICC was 0.990 or more (P.001) for all corneal powers. For posterior corneal astigmatism, the ICC was 0.814 and 0.886 for normal and post-refractive surgery eyes, respectively.In normal corneas and corneas that had undergone myopic excimer laser ablation, the dual Scheimpflug analyzer showed high intra-observer repeatability for simulated keratometric, total, and posterior corneal power measurements and moderate repeatability for posterior corneal astigmatism.Drs. Koch, Weikert, and Wang received research support from Ziemer USA, Inc. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

To report the short-term outcomes and complications of implantation of scleral-fixated capsular tension rings and/or capsular tension segments with intraocular lenses (IOL) in pediatric patients with ectopia lentis.Retrospective, observational case series.Thirteen consecutive pediatric patients (19 eyes) underwent placement of in-the-bag IOL with either a Cionni modified capsular tension ring or a capsular tension segment in conjunction with a conventional capsular tension ring between January 1, 2009 and March 30, 2013 by 3 anterior segment surgeons at a single academic center. The scleral fixation suture was 9-0 polypropylene in 16 eyes and CV-8 Gore-Tex (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) in 3 eyes. Outcome measures included change in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and complications.The mean age was 10.2 years ± 4.8 (SD) and the median follow-up, 23.4 months. A Cionni modified capsular tension ring was implanted in 5 eyes and a capsular tension segment with an unsutured capsular tension ring was implanted in 12 eyes. In 2 eyes, capsular tension segment alone was placed. The mean CDVA at the final follow-up (0.10 ± 0.11 logMAR, 18 eyes) was significantly better than preoperatively (0.58 ± 0.26 logMAR, 15 eyes) (P.001). The CDVA at the final follow-up was 20/40 or better in 18 eyes (94.7%). All IOLs were well centered. Posterior capsule opacification developed in 11 eyes (57.9%), 9 eyes (47.4%) required neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet capsulotomy, and 3 eyes (15.8%) required pars plana vitrectomy and posterior capsulotomy. Other complications included broken suture (5.3%) (9-0 polypropylene at CTR eyelet, repaired with CV-8 Gore-Tex), conjunctival dehiscence (5.3%), suture exposure (5.3%) (trans-scleral 9-0 polypropylene), and vitreous strand at inferior paracentesis (5.3%).Implantation of in-the-bag IOL with either a Cionni modified capsular tension ring or a capsular tension segment in conjunction with a conventional capsular tension ring appears to be a safe and effective technique for visual rehabilitation in pediatric ectopia lentis.