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Background: Older adults with visual impairments experience a higher risk of falling, and are more vulnerable to adverse health consequences associated with falls than those with normal vision. This study aims to characterize the longitudinal changes of objectively measured physical activity and self-reported fear of falling (FoF) related to types of falls in visually impaired older adults. Methods: We obtained data from the Falls in Glaucoma Study (FIGS), a prospective cohort study that recruited 234 participants at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute from 2013 to 2015. Falls were defined as unintentionally coming to rest on the ground or a lower level, and injurious falls were determined though follow-up calls. Study participants were categorized into three groups – fallers with injurious consequences, fallers without injurious consequences, and non-fallers based on fall status in the first year. Physical activity was assessed using a waist-bound accelerometer (Actical). FoF was evaluated by questionnaire, with Rasch modeling generating FoF scores where higher scores reflected worse FoF. The three-year longitudinal changes of physical activity and FoF were modeled using mixed-effects models. Results: In linear models fully adjusted for visual field damage and other covariates, physical activity among injurious fallers declined 425 steps/year (95% confidence interval [CI]: -793, -57), 13 active minutes/year (95% CI: -21, -6), and 3 minutes/year of moderate/vigorous activity (95% CI: -5, 0) more over the three-year study period compared to non-fallers; however, physical activity did not decline among non-injurious fallers. No longitudinal increases in FoF scores were observed in injurious or non-injurious fallers.Conclusions: Among visually impaired older adults, injurious falls identified prospectively over 12 months contributed to a significant decline in physical activity over a three-year period, while no significant increases were observed for FoF. Further longitudinal research is warranted to better understand how different groups respond to falls, either via behavioral changes and/or changes in FoF, and to characterize the impact of reduced physical activity in fallers.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the association between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the risk of 6-year death, as well as the association between visual impairment (VI) and the risk of 6-year death in a rural Chinese population of age ≥30 years. Methods: This was a population-based cohort study. In 2006–2007, 6,830 subjects aged ≥30 years were recruited from 13 villages in Northern China through clustered randomization. In 2012–2013, a 6-year follow-up was further done. Six different proportional hazards models, with different confounders adjusted, were used to explore the association between baseline DR and risk of death. Results: 5,570 subjects were included in this study by our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four hundred and ten (7.36%) subjects died by follow-up. The median ages of the dead subjects and survived subjects were 67 (interquartile range [IQR]: 58–72) years and 52 (IQR: 42–58) years (Z = 21.979, p < 0.001). Male accounted for 62.20 and 44.92% among the dead and survived subjects (χ2 = 45.591, p < 0.001). Besides, compared with those survived, the dead were found to be with lower education (χ2 = 109.981, p < 0.001), lower marriage rate (χ2 = 101.341, p < 0.001), lower income (χ2 = 123.763, p < 0.001), higher proportion of smoking (χ2 = 8.869, p = 0.003), higher systolic blood pressure (Z = 10.411, p < 0.001), lower body mass index (Z = −3.302, p = 0.001), larger spherical equivalent error (Z = 4.248, p < 0.001), lower intraocular pressure (Z = −4.912, p < 0.001), smaller anterior chamber depth (Z = −9.186, p < 0.001), larger length thickness (Z = 11.069, p < 0.001), higher fast blood glucose level (Z = 5.650, p < 0.001), higher total cholesterols (Z = 2.015, p = 0.044), higher low-density lipoprotein (Z = 2.024, p = 0.043), and higher proportion of drug usage (χ2 = 56.108, p < 0.001). Besides, the dead subjects were more likely to be with VI, glaucoma, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, and DR. Hundred and forty-eight subjects were diagnosed with DR at baseline, and 33 (22.30%) of them were dead before follow-up. By adjusting all relative confounders in a proportional hazards model, DR was found to be a risk factor of 6-year death, the hazard ratio was 1.739 (95% confidence intervals: 1.080, 2.803). Another 5 different statistical models with different confounders adjusted also revealed a statistically significant association between DR and 6-year death. The association between VI and 6-year death was not statistically significant. Conclusions: DR increased the risk of 6-year death in a rural Chinese population aged ≥30 years, while VI did not.

Background/AimTo report visual outcomes and factors associated with good visual outcomes after cataract surgery among the elderly residents in ‘homes for the aged’ in Hyderabad, India.MethodsIndividuals aged ≥60 years were recruited from 41 ‘homes for the aged’. All participants had a detailed eye examinations including visual acuity (VA) assessment , refraction, slit-lamp examination and fundus imaging by trained professionals. A detailed history of cataract surgery was recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with good visual outcomes after cataract surgery which was defined as presenting VA of 6/18 or better in the operated eye. Visual impairment (VI) is defined as presenting VA worse than 6/18 in the operated eye.Results1215 eyes of 703 individuals had cataract surgery. The mean age of these participants was 77.5 years (SD: 8.2 years; range: 60–108 years), 66.8% were women, 29.9% reported diabetes and 61% reported hypertension. 406/1215 (33.4%; 95% CI 30.8 to 36.1) eyes had VI after cataract surgery. Posterior capsular opacification (31.8%; n=129) was the leading cause of VI followed by uncorrected refractive error (24.1%; n=98). The prevalence of good outcomes was 66.6% (95% CI 63.8 to 69.2). On applying multivariable analysis, younger age, self-reported hypertension, independent mobility, surgery in a non-government (as opposed to private) hospital and undergoing paid surgery were associated with good outcomes.ConclusionsOne-third of the eyes of elderly individuals living in homes for the aged that had previously undergone cataract surgery had VI. Regular eye examinations with the provision of laser capsulotomy and appropriate refractive correction can substantially improve their vision.

Purpose To investigate long-term outcomes of a modified bleb needling technique performed in the operating room in controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) and to report risk factors for procedure failure. Design Retrospective, observational cohort study. Participants One hundred six eyes of 98 consecutive patients undergoing intraoperative bleb needling with a continuous infusion of balanced salt solution at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, in the setting of a failed trabeculectomy or express shunt, between May 2011 and December 2015. Methods Postoperative data were collected between May 2011 and August 2019. Success was defined as achieving a previously determined target IOP regardless of (qualified success) or without (complete success) glaucoma medications. Patients who underwent additional glaucoma surgery were censored in the survival analysis. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome measures included IOP, attainment of target IOP, and number of glaucoma medications used at different time points pre- and post-operatively. Results Needling was performed in 106 eyes at an average of 4.3 years from the time of trabeculectomy (standard deviation [SD], 6.5 years) and an average baseline IOP of 20.7 mmHg (SD, 7.2 mmHg). Further glaucoma surgery was required for 33 eyes. We observed a 70% qualified success rate with a mean IOP lowering of 25% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.8%–36.4%) at 1 year after surgery and a 52% qualified success rate and 44.3% reduction in IOP (95% CI, 34.9%–53.6%) at 5 years after surgery. Nearly half and a third of the eyes did not require medications after 1 and 5 years, respectively. The average medication reduction was 0.8 at year 1 (95% CI, 0.5–1.1) and 0.4 at year 5 (95% CI, –0.2 to 1.0). Postoperative complications were uncommon. Poorer outcomes were not associated with the age of the bleb but were more likely in Black patients. Conclusions Reductions in IOP were maintained in most patients over the long term using a modified bleb needling technique, despite an average time from trabeculectomy of over 4 years. No significant adverse events were observed. Bleb needling may defer or avoid more invasive procedures such as tube-shunts or repeat trabeculectomy.

Vision screenings of a school-based program were conducted in state-mandated grades (pre-kindergarten [pre-K] or kindergarten [K], 1st and 8th grade), and nonmandated grades (2nd to 7th).During school years 2016-19, 51,593 pre-K to 8th grade students from 123 Baltimore City Public Schools underwent vision screenings, with 85% of the schools qualifying for Free and Reduced Price Meals. Assessments included distance visual acuity, Spot photoscreening, stereopsis, and cover testing. Screening failures were analyzed by grade using aggregate data. Failure rates for mandated and nonmandated grades were compared using a logistic regression model, and visual acuity distributions were analyzed using individual data.Over the 3-year period, 17,414 (34%) of students failed vision screening. Failure rates by grade ranged from 28% to 38%. Children in kindergarten and 3rd grade and higher were statistically more likely to fail screening than those in 1st grade. Reduced visual acuity was the most common reason for failure (91%). Failure rates were significantly higher in nonmandated grades than in state-mandated testing grades (34.7% vs 32.5% [P 0.001]). Mean visual acuity of all students who failed vision screening was 20/50 in the worse-seeing eye and was 20/40 in the better-seeing eye.One-third of students failed vision screening. High screening failure rates across all grades suggest that screening in select grade levels, as currently mandated in Maryland schools, is inadequate for detecting vision problems in the low-income communities served by this program.

Purpose To examine IOP measurement disagreement between technicians and physicians and the impact of an educational intervention on the short and long-term disagreement in IOP measurement using Goldmann applanation tonometry. Design Prospective study designed to enhance measurement reliability. S etting : A glaucoma clinic at a university hospital. S tudy P opulation : 6 technicians and 2 physicians. I ntervention : An educational intervention was implemented for the technicians to improve IOP measurement agreement with physicians. M ain O utcome M easures : Frequency of IOP measurement disagreement between physicians and technicians, defined as a difference in IOP of >2 or >3 mm Hg and assessed at baseline and immediately and 6 months postintervention. Results IOP was evaluated for a total of 529 eyes (physician measured mean IOP = 16.4 mm Hg [SD = 5.9]), 30 per technician-physician pair for each data collection period: baseline, immediately postintervention and 6 months postintervention. At baseline, physicians disagreed 17% and 7% of the time when measuring IOP using >2 and >3 mm Hg to define disagreement, respectively, whereas the average disagreement between technicians and physicians was 25% and 13%. Disagreement was greater at IOPs greater than 20 mm Hg. No significant changes were noted in the frequency of disagreement between technicians and physicians immediately or 6 months postintervention. Conclusions Two physicians measuring the same patient in the same room disagreed by >2 mm Hg in 17% of patients' eyes, and this amount of disagreement was even higher when comparing physicians to certified technicians. An educational intervention did not improve agreement in IOP measurements between technicians and physicians. This highlights an important limitation of Goldmann tonometry.

Objective To investigate the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage and diabetic retinopathy severity on follow-up for vision care among people with diabetes mellitus (DM) residing in rural Vermont and northern New York State. Methods A retrospective chart review of people with DM who visited our academic eye clinic at least once between October 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016, was done. Of 1,466 unique patient visits, 500 were chosen for full chart review by simple random sampling. DM follow-up within 1 year was recommended for 331 adults. Data about prescribed and actual follow-up intervals were extracted. Regression models were used to identify factors associated with poor attendance at follow-up appointments. Results Sixty-eight [20.5%] patients had poor follow-up, defined as no ophthalmology visit within double the prescribed interval. Of these, 57 were not seen in follow-up by the end of study observation. Poor follow-up was greatest among socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, as defined by Medicaid enrollment (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 95% CI, 1.07–3.56) in comparison to non-disadvantaged patients. Follow-up was better among those with moderate or worse diabetic retinopathy (OR, 0.38 95% CI, 0.20–0.70), and those with macular edema (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.057–0.62). Conclusion Medicaid insurance and better diabetic retinopathy status were associated with worse follow-up among our predominantly rural population of patients. Patients who did not follow-up within double the recommended interval were unlikely to follow-up at all. Interventions are needed to target those at highest risk for poor follow-up.

Background/objective To report on the prevalence and risk factors for near vision impairment (NVI) among the elderly in residential care in Telangana State in India. Methods Individuals aged ≥60 years were recruited from 41 'home for the aged' centres in Hyderabad, India. All participants had complete eye examinations including presenting and best-corrected visual acuity assessment for distance and near. NVI was defined as binocular presenting near vision worse than N8 (6/15) among those who had a normal presenting distance visual acuity of 6/18 in the better eye. Results Of the 826 participants, the mean age was 74.4 years (standard deviation-8.4 years), 525 (63.6%) were women, 715 (86.6%) had at least school education. The prevalence of NVI was 51.2% (95% CI: 47.7-54.7) based on presenting vision. On applying multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds of NVI were higher in 80 years and older age (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 3.44-13.6). Those with school education (OR: 0.58: 95% CI: 0.36-0.94) and higher education (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.21-0.69) had lower odds for NVI. Similarly, those with self-reported diabetes (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.49-0.97), those using spectacles (OR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.05-0.16), and those who had undergone cataract surgery (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.36-0.74) had lower odds for NVI. Conclusions NVI was common among the elderly in residential care in homes for the aged in Hyderabad, India. As most of this NVI is correctable, a routine screening programme and dispensing of spectacles can be undertaken to address this vision loss.

Purpose To investigate the association between balance and gait measures with fall rates in glaucoma patients. Methods Balance and gait were measured for 239 participants with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. Daily falls were evaluated over 24 months. Annual accelerometer trials captured average daily steps. Multivariable negative binomial models evaluated balance and gait associations with average daily steps and rates of falls per time or step, as well as whether balance and gait parameters mediated the association between integrated visual field (IVF) sensitivity and falls. Results Average age was 70.5 years (SD = 7.6), and 22% of the participants had moderate to severe visual field damage. Over the first 12 months of the follow-up, the cumulative probability of falling one or more times was 44.8%, and the cumulative probability of falling two or more times was 17.7%. Gait deficits were associated with fewer daily steps (P < 0.03), but no balance parameters were (P > 0.19). Worse balance was associated with a higher rate of falls per year and step (P < 0.03). No gait measures were associated with the rate of falls per year (P > 0.17). More time in double support and greater swing time variability were associated with higher falls per step, and higher velocity and faster cadence were associated with fewer falls per step (P < 0.05 for all). Neither gait nor balance measures mediated the relationship between visual field damage and fall rates. IVF remained an independent predictor of falls per step (rate ratio = 1.36 to 1.48; P < 0.001 to P < 0.005) in multivariable models including individual balance/gait parameters. Conclusions Although balance and gait measures are associated with fall rates, they do not explain why persons with greater visual field damage fall more frequently, suggesting the importance of other potential factors such as hazard perception.

PURPOSE: To define and quantify patterns of objectively measured daily physical activity by level of visual field (VF) damage in glaucoma patients including: (1) activity fragmentation, a metric of health and physiological decline, and (2) diurnal patterns of activity, a measure of rest/activity rhythms. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Older adults diagnosed with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. METHODS: Degree of VF damage was defined by the average VF sensitivity within the integrated VF (IVF). Each participant wore a hip accelerometer for one week to measure daily minute-by-minute activity for seven consecutive days. Activity fragmentation was calculated as the reciprocal of the average activity bout duration in minutes, with higher fragmentation indicating more transient, rather than sustained, activity. Multivariable linear regression was used to test for cross-sectional associations between VF damage and activity fragmentation. Multivariable linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between VF damage and accumulation of activity across six time periods (5am–8am, 8am–11am, 11am–2pm, 2pm–5pm, 5pm–8pm, 8pm–11pm). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activity fragmentation and amount of activity (steps) over the course of the day. RESULTS: Each 5-unit (dB) decrement in IVF sensitivity was associated with 16.3 fewer active minutes/day (p

PRECIS Intraocular pressure (IOP) screening in adults 18 to 40 years of age identified 1 in 535 young adults with or at risk for developing glaucoma in India with a cost of about Indian rupee 596 (USD 8) per patient diagnosed. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of routine noncontact tonometry as a screening modality for glaucoma in young adults receiving an eye examination at Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India. METHODS Retrospective chart review of adults 18 to 40 years of age screened for IOP from November 2017 to June 2018. The diagnoses were determined by a glaucoma specialist using gonioscopy, dilated fundus examination, and occasionally, Humphrey Field Analyzer, and/or optical coherence tomography. Analyses include detection of glaucoma, ocular hypertension (OHT), angle closure, and calculation of the yield of this screening paradigm. RESULTS A total of 28,369 younger adults were screened and 296 (1.05%) were referred to the glaucoma unit, 84 for an IOP >21 mm Hg and 208 for other reasons. The hypertensive group had a mean screening IOP of 29.3±8.4 mm Hg and the following diagnoses: OHT (19%), secondary raised IOP (14%), glaucoma (26%), angle closure (4%), healthy (11%) and need for further examination (26%). Fifty-five percent of those with glaucoma were previously undiagnosed. In comparison, the normotensive group had a mean IOP of 16±2.5 mm Hg and the following diagnoses: OHT (1%), glaucoma (5%), occludable angles (8%), healthy (47%) and need of further examination (33%). Nearly 40% of these patients with glaucoma were previously undiagnosed. CONCLUSIONS One of every 535 young adults screened had both IOP >21 mm Hg and angle closure, OHT, secondary raised IOP or glaucoma. Given their young age and the potential to treat and delay progression, the benefits seem to outweigh the low cost of this screening.

Current recommendations for glaucoma screening are decidedly neutral. No studies have yet documented improved long-term outcomes for individuals who undergo glaucoma screening versus those who do not. Given the long duration that would be required to detect a benefit, future studies that may answer this question definitively are unlikely. Nevertheless, advances in artificial intelligence and telemedicine will lead to more effective screening at lower cost. With these new technologies, additional research is needed to determine the costs and benefits of screening for glaucoma.Using optic disc photographs and/or optical coherence tomography, deep learning systems appear capable of diagnosing glaucoma more accurately than human graders. Eliminating the need for expert graders along with better technologies for remote imaging of the ocular fundus will allow for less expensive screening, which could enable screening of individuals with otherwise limited healthcare access. In India and China, where most glaucoma remains undiagnosed, glaucoma screening was recently found to be cost-effective.Recent advances in artificial intelligence and telemedicine have the potential to increase the accuracy, reduce the costs, and extend the reach of screening. Further research into implementing these technologies in glaucoma screening is required.

PurposesTo evaluate the effect of YAG laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and morphology in primary angle closure suspects (PACS) over 72 months.MethodsThe Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention Trial is a single-centre randomised controlled trial. Subjects with bilateral PACS received YAG LPI prophylactic treatment in one eye randomly, while the fellow eye served as control. Central corneal ECD and morphology were assessed using non-contact specular microscopy (SP-2000P, Topcon) at baseline, 6, 18, 36, 54 and 72 months postoperatively. Mixed model analysis was conducted to compare the difference between treated and fellow eyes.ResultsA total of 875 participants were included, with a mean age of 59.3±5.0 years and 83.5% female. The ECD declined significantly (pConclusionECD decreases over time primarily due to ageing effect. YAG LPI does not appear to cause clinically significant corneal endothelial damage over 72 months after treatment.Trial registration numberISRCTN45213099.

Background: The Vision Loss Expert Group and Global Burden of Disease Study have extensively updated estimates of global vision loss burden in 2020, temporal changeover 3 decades and forecasts for 2050. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of population-based datasets relevant to vision impairment (VI) from January 1980 to October 2018. Hierarchical models were fitted to estimate 2020 prevalence (with 95% uncertainty intervals, UI) of (1) mild VI (presenting visual acuity [PVA] 6/12). Findings: In 2020, an estimated 43.2 million (95% UI: 37.5-48.2 million; 55% female) people were blind, 295.3 (95% UI 267.0-325.5) million had MSVI, 257.3 (95% UI 232.2-284.7) million had mild VI, and 507.4 million (95% UI 369.3–663.8) were VI from uncorrected presbyopia. Globally among adults aged ≥50 years, age-standardised prevalence of blindness reduced by 29% between 1990 and 2020, while MSVI increased slightly (+2.4%). The number of blind people increased by 50.2% and MSVI by 91.6%. By 2050, we predict 895.5 million people blind/VI. Interpretation: It is encouraging that age-adjusted prevalence of blindness has reduced over the past 3 decades, yet due to population growth progress is not keeping pace with needs. We face enormous challenges in avoiding vision impairment as the global population grows and ages. Funding Statement: Brien Holden Vision Institute. Fondation Thea. Fred Hollows Foundation. Gates Foundation. Sightsavers International. University of Heidelberg. Declaration of Interests: A.M. Bron, Allergan (C) Baush and Lomb (C), Santen (C), Thea (C) - (C) stands for consultant. J Kempen: Consultant (DSMC Chair) for Gilead. Grants and contracts from National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute; Sight for Souls; and Christoffel Blindenmission. No other authors had conflicts to declare.

Objectives To determine whether visual field (VF) damage or other factors confer a similar risk of falling when falls are ascertained as a rate over time (falls/year) as when ascertained over activity (falls/step). Design Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting Clinic‐based recruitment with real‐world monitoring of falls and physical activity. Particpants Individuals with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma (N=230). Measurements Participants recorded falls using daily calendars, with injuries identified in a follow‐up questionnaire. Annual 1‐week accelerometer trials were used to estimate steps. VF results from both eyes were merged to determine integrated VF sensitivity, with lower sensitivity indicating greater VF damage. Other potential risk factors for falls (age, sex, race, comorbid illness, polypharmacy) were determined using questionnaires. Results The cumulative probability of falls was 45.2% at 12 months and 61.6% at 24 months; cumulative probability of injurious falls was 23.3% at 12 months and 40.0% at 24 months. Greater VF damage was associated with higher rates of falls/steps (incident rate ratio = 1.40/5 dB decrement in sensitivity; p = .004) but not with more falls/year (incident rate ratio = 1.25/5 dB decrement in sensitivity; p = .07). Several additional variables (older age, female sex, more comorbid disease) were also associated with a higher rate of falls/step (p 0.10). Black participants had fewer falls/year than whites (p = .002) but did not differ in falls/step (p = .07). Similar results were obtained when injurious falls were analyzed. Conclusions Risk factors associated with frequent falls when walking (falls/step) are not properly identified when analyzing falls as a rate over time (falls/year). Given the clinical importance of preventing falls while preserving physical activity, falls assessment integrated with activity measurement is recommended when determining whether a risk factor is associated with falls. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:87–92, 2019.

Many disadvantaged students with refractive errors, such as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), do not have eyeglasses, and their reduced vision may impact reading proficiency....

PurposeTo determine the 10-year incidence of all forms of primary angle closure (PAC) in phakic eyes and its risk factors in an urban Chinese population aged 50 years and older.MethodsSurvivors of 1405 baseline participants were invited to attend the 10-year follow-up visit in the Liwan Eye Study. Participants with established baseline angle closure, including primary angle closure suspects (PACS), PAC and primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), or those who underwent bilateral cataract surgery during the 10-year period, as well as those who did not tolerate gonioscopic examinations, were excluded from this analysis. Incident PAC was present when those with open angles at baseline developed angle closure in any form in either eye during the 10-year period.ResultsAmong 791 participants who returned during the 10-year follow-up visit, 620 (78.4%) provided data on PAC incidence. The 10-year cumulative incidence of any forms of PAC was 20.5% (127/620, 95% CI 17.4% to 24.9%), including 16.9%, 2.4% and 1.1% with incident PACS, PAC and PACG in either eye, respectively. In multiple logistic regression, significant risk factors for incident angle closure were greater baseline lens thickness (OR=1.82 per mm, p=0.003), shallower anterior chamber depth (OR=3.18 per mm decreased, p=0.010) and narrower angle width (OR=1.63 per decreased angle width, pConclusionsApproximately one in five people aged 50 years and older developed some form of angle closure over a 10-year period. Small ocular dimensions and hyperopia at baseline were associated with the development of angle closure.

Purpose To evaluate factors associated with attendance to follow-up ophthalmic care, and to assess the impact of strategies to improve follow-up. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods This is an ongoing study to develop an eye screening paradigm, focusing on African Americans ≥50 years of age at multiple urban community sites in Baltimore, Maryland. Several strategies were employed aiming to increase follow-up attendance rates. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between demographic, medical, and ocular factors with follow-up rate. Results The total number of referred patients presenting for a free eye examination (attendance rate) during the first phase, during the second phase, and overall was 686 (55.0%), 199 (63.8%), and 885 (57.0%), respectively. In fully adjusted models, the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for attending the follow-up visit was 1.82 (1.19, 2.79) for screening in second phase vs first phase, 0.62 (0.39, 0.99) for screening sites that were 3 to 2 , 2.03 (1.28, 3.21) in patients with presenting visual acuity Conclusions Obesity, short distance between screening sites and hospital, poor presenting visual acuity in the better eye, and an abnormal macula on fundus photography were associated with increased follow-up rate. Implementation of a combination of strategies effectively increased the follow-up rate. Wider adoption of these strategies in other screening programs has the potential to reduce the burden of visual impairment.

To estimate the nationwide prevalence of self-reported serious vision impairment (SVI), serious hearing impairment (SHI), and serious dual sensory impairment (DSI; i.e., concomitant SVI and SHI) and to characterize their associations with self-reported cognitive, independent living, self-care, and ambulatory difficulties.The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide cross-sectional survey administered by the United States Census Bureau.The 2011-2015 ACS sample contains data on 7 210 535 individuals 45 years of age or older.Descriptive statistics for each of the 4 mutually exclusive sensory impairment categories no sensory impairment (NSI), SVI, SHI, and serious DSI were calculated using the weighted sample. Adjusted odds ratios using several logistic regressions were calculated using the unweighted sample to measure the magnitude of associations between sensory impairment status and the outcome difficulties.Self-reported cognitive, independent living, self-care, and ambulatory difficulty.Among individuals 45 years of age or older, the estimated nationwide prevalence of self-reported SVI alone is 2.8%, that of SHI alone is 6.0%, and that of serious DSI is 1.6%. The prevalence of each sensory impairment increases with age. A greater proportion of American Indians or Alaskan Natives experience SVI (4.8%), SHI (8.5%), and serious DSI (3.7%) than any other race or ethnic group (P0.001). Individuals reporting serious DSI are more likely to report cognitive impairment, independent living difficulty, self-care difficulty, and difficulty ambulating than individuals with NSI across all age groups (all P0.001). Furthermore, serious DSI is associated with greater cognitive and functional difficulties than SVI or SHI alone, and SVI alone has a greater association with cognitive and functional difficulties than SHI alone.The nationwide prevalence of self-reported serious sensory impairment increases with age and is distributed unequally among different racial and ethnic groups. Any sensory impairment is associated with greater cognitive and functional difficulties than NSI. Additionally, serious DSI is associated with greater difficulties than SVI or SHI alone, and SVI alone is more serious than SHI alone in each of the 4 cognitive and functional difficulties.

Purpose We report visual acuity improvement and refractive profiles in children prescribed glasses by a school-based vision program (SBVP) in Baltimore, Maryland. Methods In this cross-sectional analysis, pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students who failed vision screening underwent an eye examination. Students prescribed glasses are included. Visual acuity improvement was the difference between presenting and best-corrected visual acuity based on noncycloplegic manifest refraction. Clinically significant refractive error (CSRE) was defined as ≥0.75 D myopia, ≥2.00 D hyperopia without strabismus, ≥1.00 D hyperopia with esodeviation, or ≥1.50 D astigmatism AND presenting visual acuity ≤20/40 or ≥2-line difference with the better-seeing eye ≤20/30. Characteristics associated with greater visual acuity improvement were explored. Results Of the 4,972 students, mean age was 9.4 ± 2.7 years; 77% were black, and 18% were Hispanic. Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and CSRE were found in 65%, 24%, 60%, and 46% students, respectively. In the better-seeing eyes, 70% gained ≥2 lines. Of students with CSRE, improvement of at least 5 lines in the worse-seeing eye increased from 30.9% in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to 77.3% in 7th and 8th grade (Ptrend Conclusions Most students prescribed glasses from our SBVP had clinically significant visual deficits corrected.

IMPORTANCE: Gait dysfunction is common in older people with visual impairment and is a major cause of falls. OBJECTIVE: To compare 3-year longitudinal changes in gait measures across the spectrum of baseline visual field (VF) damage in glaucoma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A post hoc analysis was designed on September 1, 2018, following a prospective cohort study, which enrolled older adults with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma from September 2013 to March 2015 and followed up for up to 3 years. Baseline VF damage was defined by integrated VF (IVF) sensitivity and categorized as normal/mild (IVF >28 dB), moderate (IVF, 23-28 dB), and severe (IVF

Background Visually impaired older adults have a greater risk of falling, making them particularly susceptible to fall-related health consequences and restricted physical activity. Unclear however, is the relationship between having falls and longitudinal changes in daily patterns of objectively measured physical activity in older adults with visual impairments. Methods We created a three-year prospective cohort study (Falls in Glaucoma Study) of older adults with primary or suspected glaucoma at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute from 2013 to 2015. Cumulative incidence of falls was determined through self-reported fall calendars over 12 months. Participants were then classified into one of three groups: multiple fallers (≥2 falls), single fallers (1 fall), and non-fallers (0). Daily physical activity was measured over 1 week using a waist-bound accelerometer during baseline and three-year follow-ups. Activity fragmentation was defined as the reciprocal of the mean activity bout length, with higher fragmentation reflecting shorter, more fractured bouts of continuous activity. Multivariate linear mixed-effects models were used to assess three-year longitudinal changes in: 1) activity fragmentation, and 2) accumulation of activity across six three-hour intervals from 5 AM to 11 PM. Findings In adjusted models accounting for visual field damage and other factors, multiple fallers demonstrated greater annual declines (per year) in daily active bouts (-1.79 bouts/day, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.35, -0.22), daily active minutes (-17.15 min/day, 95% CI: -26.35, -7.94), and increased fragmentation (1%, 95% CI: 0, 2%) over the three-year follow-up period as compared to non-fallers; no such changes were seen when comparing single fallers and non-fallers. In time-of-day analyses, multiple fallers experienced greater annual declines in average hourly steps over all periods of the day, though the rate of decline was only significant between 5 PM and 8 PM (-27.07 steps/hour, 95% CI: -51.15, -2.99) compared to non-fallers. Interpretation In an older population with visual impairment, multiple falls over 12 months were associated with more transient and fragmented activity over a subsequent three-year period, and activity declines during evening hours, compared to non-fallers. These findings suggest that multiple fallers with visual impairment may be at high risk for a decline in physical capacity and endurance, warranting clinical interventions. Funding The research was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant EY022976.

To determine the incidence and baseline clinical and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) predictors associated with residual angle closure as assessed by gonioscopy 1 year after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) in primary angle closure suspects (PACS).Subanalysis of randomized controlled trial data.AS-OCT images from 181 PACS subjects ≥50 years of age were analyzed using customized software before and 1 year after LPI. Other parameters assessed were intraocular pressure (IOP) and axial length (Axl). Residual angle closure was defined as the inability to see the posterior trabecular meshwork for at least 2 quadrants on gonioscopy after LPI. Multivariate regression analysis determined the baseline predictors of residual angle closure 1 year after LPI.The mean age of participants was 62.4 (standard deviation 9.9) years. The majority were female (137, 75.7%) and Chinese (174, 96.1%). At 1 year post LPI, 148 (81.8%) subjects had gonioscopic residual angle closure. Univariate analysis showed that baseline Axl, anterior chamber area, anterior chamber volume, angle opening distance at 750 μm from the scleral spur, and angle recess area were smaller while baseline lens vault and iris curvature were larger in residual angle closure subjects (all P.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that baseline iris volume (B = -0.08, P = .035) and baseline IOP (B = 0.23, P = .032) were predictors for residual angle closure.One year after LPI,80% of PACS had gonioscopic residual angle closure. Greater baseline iris volume and higher IOP at baseline are independent risk factors for residual gonioscopic angle closure.

Assess the impact of false-positives (FP), false-negatives (FN), fixation losses (FL), and test duration (TD) on visual field (VF) reliability at different stages of glaucoma severity.Retrospective.A total of 10 262 VFs from 1538 eyes of 909 subjects with suspect or manifest glaucoma and ≥5 VF examinations.Predicted mean deviation (MD) was calculated with multilevel modeling of longitudinal data. Differences between predicted and observed MD (ΔMD) were calculated as a reliability measure. The impact of FP, FN, FL, and TD on ΔMD was assessed using multilevel modeling.ΔMD associated with a 10% increment in FP, FN, and FL, or a 1-minute increase in TD.FL had little impact on ΔMD (0.2 decibels [dB] per 10% abnormal catch trials), and no level of FL produced ≥1 dB of ΔMD at any disease stage. FP yielded greater than expected MD, with a 10% increment in abnormal catch trials associated with a ΔMD = 0.42, 0.73, and 0.66 dB in mild (MD-6 dB), moderate (-6 ≤MD-12 dB), and severe (-12 ≤MD ≤-20 dB) disease, respectively, up to 20% abnormal catch trials, and a ΔMD = 1.57, 2.06, and 3.53 dB beyond 20% abnormal catch trials. FNs generally produced observed MDs below expected MDs. FN were minimally impactful up to 20% abnormal catch trials (ΔMD per 10% increment-0.14 dB at all levels of severity). Beyond 20% abnormal catch trials, each 10% increment in abnormal catch trials was associated with a ΔMD = -1.27, -0.53, and -0.51 dB in mild, moderate, and severe disease, respectively. |ΔMD| ≥1 dB occurred with 22% FP and 26% FN in early, 14% FP and 34% FN in moderate, and 16% FP and 51% FN in severe disease. A 1-minute increment in TD produced ΔMDs between -0.35 and -0.40 dB.FL have little impact on reliability in patients with established glaucoma. FP, and to a lesser extent FNs and TD, significantly affect reliability. The impact of FP and FN varies with disease severity and over the range of abnormal catch trials. On the basis of our findings, we present evidence-based, severity-specific standards for classifying VF reliability for clinical or research applications.

Background. Smoking causes blindness-related diseases. Eye-care providers are uniquely positioned to help their patients quit smoking. Aims. Using a pre-/postevaluation design, this study evaluated a web-based training in smoking cessation counseling targeting eye-care providers. Method. The training was developed based on the 3A1R protocol: “Ask about smoking, Advise to quit, Assess willingness to quit, and Refer to tobacco quitlines,” and made available in the form of a web-based video presentation. Providers ( n = 654) at four academic centers were invited to participate. Participants completed pretraining, posttraining, and 3-month follow-up surveys. Main outcomes were self-reported improvement in their motivation, confidence, and counseling practices at 3-month follow-up. Generalized linear mixed models for two time-points (pretraining and 3-month) were conducted for these outcomes. Results. A total of 113 providers (54.0% males) participated in the study (17.7% response rate). At the 3-month evaluation, 9.8% of participants reported improvement in their motivation. With respect to the 3A1R, 8% reported improvement in their confidence for Ask, 15.5% for Advise, 28.6% for Assess, and 37.8% for Refer. Similarly, 25.5% reported improvement in their practices for Ask, 25.5% for Advise, 37.2% for Assess, and 39.4% for Refer to tobacco quitlines ( p < .001 for all except for Refer confidence p = .05). Discussion. Although participation rate was low, the program effectively improved providers’ smoking cessation counseling practices. Conclusions. Including training in smoking cessation counseling in ophthalmology curriculums, and integrating the 3A1R protocol into the electronic medical records systems in eye-care settings, might promote smoking cessation practices in these settings.

Telemedicine involves electronic communication between a physician in one location and a patient in another location to provide remote medical care. Ophthalmologists are increasingly employing telemedicine, particularly in retinal disease screening and monitoring. Telemedicine has been utilized to decrease barriers to care and yield greater patient satisfaction and lower costs, while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity. This review discusses common patient barriers to eye care, innovative approaches to retinal disease screening and monitoring using telemedicine, and eye care policy initiatives needed to enact large-scale telemedicine eye disease screening programs.

Purpose To estimate prevalence of presenting near-vision impairment (PNVI) among people aged ≥50 years in the United States (US) and examine associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 11 016 of 12 781 (88.5%) US adults aged ≥50 years participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2008 with recorded near visual acuity. PNVI was defined as presenting near vision worse than 20/40; functional near-vision impairment (FNVI) was defined as at least "moderate difficulty" with either reading newsprint or near work. Prevalence of PNVI and FNVI were estimated accounting for National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey multistage probability sampling design. Multivariable regression models were used to determine sociodemographic characteristics associated with PNVI. Results A total of 13.6% of participants had PNVI, with 25.9% reporting concurrent FNVI. Higher odds of PNVI was associated with nonwhite race, older age, male sex, less than high school education, lack of private health insurance, income less than poverty level, lacking/not using near-vision correction at time of examination, and impaired distance vision. Although the majority of participants with PNVI (82.9%) had normal distance vision or uncorrected refractive error, less than half (46.1%) used near-vision correction. Not using near correction was associated with nonwhite race, younger age, male sex, and lack of access to health care. Conclusions Approximately 1 in 8 Americans aged ≥50 years have PNVI, with 1 in 4 reporting concurrent FNVI. Demographic factors shown to be important in access to eye care likely influence PNVI and utilization of near-vision correction in the US. As the majority of PNVI is likely correctable with spectacles, allocation of resources to provide corrective lenses to those in need likely has great public health implications.

Balance and gait are modifiable targets for falls prevention and may play an important role in preventing falls in older visually impaired individuals. Balance and gait were objectively evaluated in the 239 Falls in Glaucoma Study participants (average age=70.5, 22% with moderate-severe visual field (VF) damage). Greater sway, more time in double support and greater swing time variability were associated with higher fall rates, while higher gait velocity and faster cadence were associated with lower rates (p

The English ophthalmologist Richard Banister was one of the first to report palpable hardness of the normal-appearing eye in 1622.1 Tonometry is an essential measurement in the assessment of eye health and a key component of glaucoma diagnosis and treatment, with intraocular pressure (IOP) remaining the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma.2 Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) is the currently accepted ‘gold standard’ and approximates IOP by measuring the force needed to flatten a fixed area at the corneal apex.3 4 To do so, GAT makes important assumptions about corneal thickness and behaviour, assumptions that are not met in a significant proportion of patients.5 GAT has been used for nearly 70 years and is considered the reference standard4 for IOP measurement largely owing to the fact that nearly all clinical trial protocols have relied on GAT. The technique is widely integrated within clinical practice, and a certain amount of inertia has prevented clinicians from shifting to newer, possibly better, technologies. This resistance is perhaps analogous to the slow adoption of superior logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution measures of visual acuity, even when the limitations of Snellen were well established.6 The relatively low cost of GAT also contributes to its ongoing appeal. Yet GAT has significant limitations that make it a suboptimal, …

PReCIS:: The C3 fields analyzer (CFA) is a moderately reliable perimeter preferred by patients to standard perimetry. While it does not approximate the gold standard, it was sensitive and specific for clinically defined glaucoma (area under the receiving operator characteristic curve=0.77 to 0.86). PURPOSE Testing the visual field is a vital sign for diagnosing and managing glaucoma. The current gold standard, the Humphrey visual field analyzer (HFA), is large, expensive and can be uncomfortable for some patients. The current study investigated the CFA, a virtual reality head-mounted visual field testing device, as a possible subjective field test for glaucoma screening and eventually glaucoma monitoring. PATIENTS AND METHODS The CFA presented stimuli in the same 54 positions as the HFA 24-2 SITA Standard test using a suprathreshold algorithm approximating an 18 dB deficit. A total of 157 patients (both controls and glaucoma patients) at the Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India, were tested with both devices. RESULTS The number of stimuli missed on the CFA correlated with HFA mean deviation (r=0.62, P

Objective Fear of falling (FoF) may alter mobility in older adults, especially among those with visual impairment. Using a longitudinal prospective cohort of older glaucoma patients, we investigated whether and how FoF is associated with future falls and physical activity. Design Prospective observational cohort study. Setting Hospital-based single-center recruitment. Participants Individuals with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. Measurements FoF was measured annually over a 3-year period using the University of Illinois at Chicago FoF Questionnaire, with lower Rasch-analyzed FoF scores (in logit units) indicating less fear. Participants recorded falls prospectively over the 3-year period using monthly mail-in calendars. Daily steps were collected annually over 7 days using an accelerometer. Visual field (VF) sensitivity was derived by combining sensitivities from monocular VF results. Participants completed questionnaires to determine other demographic/health characteristics. Multivariate random effects models evaluated within-participant changes in fall rates and physical activity across study years. Results At lower FoF levels (FoF≤0), each one-unit worsening in FoF score across study years was associated with 2.73 times higher odds of reporting at least one fall in the next year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.55-4.81) but was not associated with average daily steps (P = .44). Similar results were seen when fall rates were normalized by number of steps taken (P = .97). At higher FoF levels (FoF > 0), inter-year changes in FoF scores were not significantly associated with reporting a fall in the following year (P = .78) but were associated with 407 fewer average daily steps per one-unit change in FoF (95% CI = -743 to -71). Conclusion FoF is an important psychological factor associated with mobility in glaucoma patients, although specific aspects of mobility (fall rates vs activity levels) affected vary by the degree of FoF. Our findings suggest that customizing behavioral interventions for older adults based on their levels of FoF may be an important strategy for fall prevention and activity promotion. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1847-1851, 2020.

PRECIS A modified closure for trabeculectomy in which the conjunctiva is incised posterior to the limbus and reapproximated using 2 nylon sutures, provided similar surgical outcomes to the standard trabeculectomy closure technique. PURPOSE To examine the surgical outcomes of a modified trabeculectomy closure technique in which the conjunctiva is incised posterior to the limbus and reapproximated using 2 sutures, burying the posterior conjunctiva under an anterior lip of conjunctiva. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective review included 73 eyes that underwent trabeculectomies between 2015 and 2017 at Johns Hopkins Hospital by a single surgeon. We analyzed traditional closures used from January 2015 to May 2016, and modified closures used from July 2016 to March 2017. The main outcome measures were a reduction in intraocular pressure at 3, 6, and 12 months, reduction in the number of medications at 12 months, and total number of postoperative complications. RESULTS There was no difference in reduction of intraocular pressure at 3 months (9.9±8.2 vs. 10.5±8.7 mm Hg), 6 months (10.8±9.6 vs. 10.6±8.3 mm Hg), or 12 months (12.2±8.9 vs. 10.0±9.3 mm Hg) in the standard (n=44) and modified groups (n=29), respectively. There was a similar reduction in the use of glaucoma medications in the standard group (1.2±1.5 vs. 1.0±1.1) compared with the modified group and no difference in the number of postoperative complications (25.0% vs. 17.2%, respectively) (P>0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS The modified closure provided similar results to the standard closure for trabeculectomy. Further studies are needed to determine whether the 2 techniques differ in surgical outcomes over a longer follow-up or other surgical parameters (eg, ease, surgical time, learning curve).

IMPORTANCE: Understanding eye care use over time is essential to estimate continued unmet health care needs and help guide future public health priorities. OBJECTIVE: To update trends in using eye care and affording eyeglasses in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This analysis of data from the US National Health Interview Survey included adults 18 years and older from 9 annual cross-sectional population-based samples ranging in size from 21 781 to 36 697 participants from 2008 to 2016. Data were analyzed from August 2017 to February 2018. EXPOSURES: Visual impairment, defined as self-reported difficulty seeing despite wearing eyeglasses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Outcome measures included visits to an eye care professional and inability to afford eyeglasses when needed in the past year. Survey logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, visual impairment status, education, employment, general health, poverty-income ratio, and vision insurance, was used to examine associations between survey year and eye care outcomes. RESULTS: Analyses included 9 annual cross-sectional population-based samples pooled from 2008 to 2016, ranging in size from 21 781 to 36 697 participants aged 18 years or older. Compared with 2008, greater proportions of the US population were 65 years or older, Hispanic, or Asian in 2016. There was a significant trend for eye care use and difficulty affording eyeglasses from 2008 to 2016. In fully adjusted models, Americans were less likely to use eye care in 2014 compared with 2008 (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 99.9% CI, 0.82-0.98; P

Background：To compare the clinical performance of bifocal and trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) in cataract surgery, a meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials was conducted. Methods: A comprehensive literature retrieval of PubMed, Science Direct and EMBASE was performed in this systematic review. Clinical outcomes included visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), spectacle independence, postoperative refraction and surgical satisfaction. Results: There were 8 RCTs included in this study. The difference of uncorrected near VA (UNVA) between the bifocal IOLs and trifocal IOLs had no clinical significance [MD=-0.01, 95%CI: (-0.02,0.00), p=0.97]. There was no difference for the distant-corrected near VA (DCNVA) with MD of 0.01[95%CI (-0.02, 0.05), p=0.86]. Compared with trifocal group, bifocal group showed a significantly worse uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) [MD=0.09,95%CI:(0.01,0.17), p＜0.01]. No difference was found in distance-corrected intermediate VA(DCIVA) [MD= 0.09, 95%CI: (-0.04, 0.23) , p＜0.01] between two groups. For the AT LISA group, the subgroup analysis also indicated the bifocal group had worse intermediate VA than trifocal group (AT LISA tri 839M) [MD= 0.18, 95%CI: (0.12, 0.24), p=0.35 for UIVA and MD= 0.19, 95%CI: (0.13, 0.25), p=0.21 for DCIVA]. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the uncorrected distance VA(UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) [MD=0.01, 95%CI: (-0.01,0.04), p=0.51 for UDVA; MD=0.00, 95%CI: (-0.01,0.01), p=0.94 for CDVA]. The postoperative refraction of bifocal group was similar to that of trifocal group [MD=-0.08, 95% CI: (-0.19, 0.03), p=0.51 for spherical equivalent; MD=-0.09, 95%CI: (-0.21, 0.03), p=0.78 for cylinder; MD=-0.09, 95% CI: (-0.27, 0.08), p=0.28 for sphere]. No difference was found for spectacle independence, Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) incidence and patient satisfaction between bifocal IOLs and trifocal IOLs. [RR=0.89, 95% CI: (0.71, 1.12), p=0.69 for spectacle independence; RR=0.81, 95% CI: (0.74, 1.15), p=0.65 for PCO; RR=0.98, 5% CI: (0.86, 1.12), p=0.97 for satisfaction]. Conclusion: Patients receiving trifocal IOLs have a better intermediate VA than bifocal IOLs, especially for the AT LISA subgroup. Near and distance visual performance, spectacle independence, postoperative refraction and surgical satisfaction of bifocal IOLs were similar to those of trifocal IOLs.

Understanding periods of the year associated with higher risk for falling and less physical activity may guide fall prevention and activity promotion for older adults. We examined the relationship between weather and seasons on falls and physical activity in a three-year cohort of older adults with glaucoma. Participants recorded falls information via monthly calendars and participated in four one-week accelerometer trials (baseline and per study year). Across 240 participants, there were 406 falls recorded over 7569 person-months, of which 163 were injurious (40%). In separate multivariable regression models incorporating generalized estimating equations, temperature, precipitation, and seasons were not significantly associated with the odds of falling, average daily steps, or average daily active minutes. However, every 10 °C increase in average daily temperature was associated with 24% higher odds of a fall being injurious, as opposed to non-injurious (p = 0.04). The odds of an injurious fall occurring outdoors, as opposed to indoors, were greater with higher average temperatures (OR per 10 °C = 1.46, p = 0.03) and with the summer season (OR = 2.69 vs. winter, p = 0.03). Falls and physical activity should be understood as year-round issues for older adults, although the likelihood of injury and the location of fall-related injuries may change with warmer season and temperatures.

Purpose To evaluate the Icare HOME (TA022) device (Icare Oy, Vanda, Finland) for use by glaucoma patients for self-tonometry. Design Prospective performance evaluation of a medical device. Participants One hundred eighty-nine participants with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma were recruited from the Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, between July 2014 and April 2015. Methods Participants had standardized training and had to be able use the Icare HOME device independently. Subjects also had to be able to obtain the first intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement within 5 mmHg of Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT). Those certified obtained 3 IOP measures using the HOME device, and these were compared with Icare TA01i and GAT IOP measurements. Main Outcome Measures The agreement between Icare HOME and reference tonometers was used to assess precision. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess within-patient reliability for the HOME device. Results Eighteen of 189 recruited patients were ineligible to take part in the study. Forty-four of 171 patients (25.7%) started but failed to complete the study: 7 stopped because of time concerns, 10 of 171 patients (6%) stopped because of difficulty using the device during certification, and 27 of 171 patients (16%) failed to be certified based on IOP. The HOME and GAT measurements agreed within 5 mmHg in 116 of 127 participants (91.3%); 2 participants (1.6%) had a difference of more than 7 mmHg. The mean difference between the Icare HOME and GAT measurements was −0.33 mmHg (standard deviation, 3.11 mmHg). The overall intraclass correlation coefficient for the HOME device was 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.89–0.95). Conclusions Not all participants could learn how to use the Icare HOME device, but for those who could, most were able to obtain measurements similar to those obtained by GAT. The Icare HOME device is safe and reliable for self-tonometry, but nearly 1 in 6 individuals may fail to certify in use of the device based on large differences in IOP when comparing GAT with the Icare HOME measurements. The device has the potential to address an unmet need by providing more frequent IOP measurements in a patient's day to day life.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to characterize the extent to which central visual field (VF) loss reflects peripheral VF loss in patients with varying degrees of glaucoma severity. METHODS A total of 232 patients with glaucoma or suspect glaucoma completed static central VF testing using the 24-2 pattern and peripheral VF testing using the suprathreshold 30-60 pattern. Points from 24-2 tests were reclassified as normal/abnormal based on pattern deviation values. RESULTS Strong positive correlations (r ≥ 0.7) were observed between the proportion of abnormal central and peripheral points for the full VF, superior hemifield, and inferior hemifield, although the percentage of total central and peripheral abnormal points differed by ≥10% in 45% of eyes. In eyes with an average of 10%-40% abnormal points in the central and peripheral VFs, 12.0% more abnormal peripheral points were noted compared with the percentage of abnormal central points (P < 0.001; SD, 16.7%; range, 61% more to 37% less). In eyes with an average of 60%-90% abnormal points in the central and peripheral VFs, 16.4% fewer abnormal peripheral points were noted compared with the percentage of abnormal central points (P = 0.04; SD, 20.9%; range, 19% more to 49% less). CONCLUSIONS Central 24-2 testing generally reflects the extent of damage to the more peripheral VF in glaucoma, although significant disagreement exists for individual eyes. Further work is needed to determine whether integration of peripheral test points can improve detection of true VF loss in early glaucoma or be useful in monitoring progressive glaucomatous damage to areas of preserved VF in advanced glaucoma.

PURPOSE To compare the 24-hour ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) among patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and those with suspected POAG identified in a population-based study in China. METHODS Forty-seven patients with POAG and 35 with suspected POAG attended the 24-hour OPP study. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood pressure (BP) were measured at 2, 6, and 10 AM and 2, 6, and 10 PM. Subjects were not taking any medications to lower IOP, which was measured with Goldmann applanation in an upright sitting position. Blood pressure was measured in a supine position using a digital automatic BP monitor (OMRON, model HEM-907). Mean arterial pressure was calculated as diastolic BP + 1[Fraction Slash]3 × (systolic BP - diastolic BP). Mean OPP (MOPP) was defined as 2[Fraction Slash]3 × mean arterial pressure - IOP, systolic OPP (SOPP) was defined as 2[Fraction Slash]3 × systolic BP - IOP, and diastolic OPP (DOPP) was defined as 2[Fraction Slash]3 × diastolic BP - IOP. RESULTS After adjustment for age, sex, and IOP, the maximum, mean, and minimum SOPP, DOPP, and MOPP were statistically significantly lower in subjects with POAG than in those with suspected POAG (P < 0.05). The minimum MOPP, SOPP, and DOPP occurred from 10 AM to 2 PM in approximately 60% of eyes with POAG and between 20% and 30% of minimum MOPP, SOPP, and DOPP occurred around 10 PM. CONCLUSIONS Systolic OPP, DOPP, and MOPP were consistently lower in eyes with POAG than in those with suspected POAG, providing further evidence that OPP plays a role in the development of glaucoma.

Topic Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and the most common cause of irreversible sight loss. The objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness of first-line medical treatments in patients with POAG or ocular hypertension through a systematic review and network meta-analysis, and to provide relative rankings of these treatments. Clinical Relevance Treatment for POAG currently relies completely on lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP). Although topical drops, lasers, and surgeries can be considered in the initial treatment of glaucoma, most patients elect to start treatment with eye drops. Methods We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared a single active topical medication with no treatment/placebo or another single topical medication. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Food and Drug Administration's website. Two individuals independently assessed trial eligibility, abstracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We performed Bayesian network meta-analyses. Results We included 114 RCTs with data from 20 275 participants. The overall risk of bias of the included trials is mixed. The mean reductions (95% credible intervals) in IOP in millimeters of mercury at 3 months ordered from the most to least effective drugs were as follows: bimatoprost 5.61 (4.94; 6.29), latanoprost 4.85 (4.24; 5.46), travoprost 4.83 (4.12; 5.54), levobunolol 4.51 (3.85; 5.24), tafluprost 4.37 (2.94; 5.83), timolol 3.70 (3.16; 4.24), brimonidine 3.59 (2.89; 4.29), carteolol 3.44 (2.42; 4.46), levobetaxolol 2.56 (1.52; 3.62), apraclonidine 2.52 (0.94; 4.11), dorzolamide 2.49 (1.85; 3.13), brinzolamide 2.42 (1.62; 3.23), betaxolol 2.24 (1.59; 2.88), and unoprostone 1.91 (1.15; 2.67). Conclusions All active first-line drugs are effective compared with placebo in reducing IOP at 3 months. Bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost are among the most efficacious drugs, although the within-class differences were small and may not be clinically meaningful. All factors, including adverse effects, patient preferences, and cost, should be considered in selecting a drug for a given patient.

Older adults with visual impairments experience a higher risk of falling, and are more vulnerable to associated adverse health consequences than those with normal vision. We investigated the onset and magnitude of declines in physical activity (PA), and corresponding changes in self-reported fear of falling (FoF) in 234 visually impaired persons (mean age=69.8, 48.7% women) over three years. PA was measured using the Actical hip-worn accelerometer and falls were reported using a calendar. In fully adjusted linear models, PA declined 426 steps/year (p

Purpose To evaluate the importance of central versus far peripheral visual field (VF) loss in assessing disability in glaucoma. Methods In total, 231 patients with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma completed 24-2 VF testing and automated peripheral VFs using the suprathreshold 30- to 60-degree pattern. Questionnaires assessed fear of falling (FoF), quality of life (QOL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and driving habits; nonsedentary time, reading speed, and gait were objectively measured. Multivariable regression models analyzed the effect of central VF and/or peripheral VF damage on each outcome. Results In models including both central and peripheral VF damage (independent effects), greater central, but not peripheral, VF damage was associated with greater FoF, worse QOL, fewer daily steps, and difficulty with IADLs (P < 0.02 for central; P > 0.5 for peripheral). For gait measures, greater peripheral, but not central, damage was associated with shorter steps and shorter strides, as well as greater variability in step length (P < 0.03 for peripheral; P > 0.14 for central). Model R2 values were not substantially higher (less than 5% additional explained variability) for models including both central and peripheral VF damage as compared to the best models incorporating only one region of VF damage (i.e., central or peripheral). Conclusions The relative importance of central 24 degrees versus more peripheral VF damage differs across functional domains in patients with glaucoma. Central damage is more strongly associated with most disability outcomes, although peripheral damage is more associated with specific gait measures. Studies examining the relative importance of various VF regions should assess functional domain separately and eschew integrated measures of quality of life/activity limitation.

IMPORTANCE: Open globe injuries can lead to substantial visual morbidity and lifelong sequelae. Interventions to reduce the burden of open globe injuries in the United States require a better understanding of these injuries through well-designed epidemiologic investigations. OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence, common injury mechanisms, and economic burden of open globe injuries in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study of US nationwide emergency department (ED) data assessed all ED visits of patients with a primary diagnosis of open globe injury in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2014. Data analysis was performed from August 29, 2018, to November 11, 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Annual incidence of open globe injuries by age, sex, mechanism of injury, and concomitant diagnosis, as well as median charges associated with open globe injuries and variables associated with hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 124 989 ED visits for open globe injuries were assessed, with an incidence of 4.49 per 100 000 population in the United States from 2006 to 2014 (mean [SD] age of study participants, 37.7 [22.5] years; 94 078 [75.3%] male). The incidence was highest in 2006 (5.88 per 100 000 population) and decreased by 0.3% per month between 2006 and 2014 (incidence rate ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-0.99; P

Importance While dosing reminders for glaucoma medications have been shown to increase drug adherence, an outstanding limitation preventing broad adoption is difficulty linking reminders to medication in each patient’s electronic health record (EHR). Objective To examine the feasibility of implementing an EHR-linked, automated reminder system for glaucoma medications and assess patient satisfaction with it. Design, Setting, and Participants In this prospective, cross-sectional study, patients receiving glaucoma medications were recruited from a university-based glaucoma clinic from April 2017 to January 2018. Analysis began in February 2018. Exposures A web-based application was added to the EHR patient portal, allowing patients to configure telecommunication-based reminders for their glaucoma medications. For all potential participants, basic information was collected to determine risk of nonadherence with glaucoma medications. Those consenting to participate then answered questions on medication adherence, reminders, and their likelihood of using EHR-linked reminders. They then configured reminders using the EHR patient portal. After 3 months, they answered questions about their satisfaction with the system. Main Outcomes and Measures Proportions of patients and high-risk patients willing to use the reminders, and patient satisfaction with the system. Results Of 147 patients approached, 100 (68%) agreed to participate, of whom the majority were men (54 [54%]) and white (51 [51%]), with a mean (SD) age of 65 (12.4) years. There were no differences between those willing and unwilling to participate, except for a slightly lower self-reported medication adherence rate among those who participated (mean [SD], 91% [13.6%] vs 97% [6.0%]). Based on a previously validated risk assessment score, 9% (9 of 100) of participants were categorized as being at high risk for poor adherence (≥50% probability of nonadherence) compared with 11% (5 of 47) of nonparticipants. Of 100 participants, 94 ultimately configured reminders, of whom 89 (95%) completed follow-up. On follow-up, 74% (n = 66; 95% CI, 65-83) of participants found the reminders to be useful, 15% (n = 13) were neutral, and 11% (n = 10) found them not useful. Most participants (72 [81%]; 95% CI, 77-85) had help configuring reminders. Conclusions and Relevance Electronic health records–linked reminders had good uptake and were well received among patients at a tertiary glaucoma clinic. These portals may represent a new and convenient method of allowing patients to link their glaucoma medications to automated reminders, although the generalizability of these results and the effect on glaucoma outcomes remains unknown.

BackgroundTo describe the surgical technique and refractive outcomes following clear lens extraction (CLE) in the Effectiveness, in Angle-closure Glaucoma, of Lens Extraction trial.MethodsReview of prospectively collected data from a multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing CLE and laser peripheral iridotomy. Eligible participants were ≥50 years old and newly diagnosed with (1) primary angle closure (PAC) with intraocular pressure above 30 mm Hg or (2) PAC glaucoma. We report the postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and refractive outcomes at 12 and 36 months postoperatively for those who underwent CLE.ResultsOf the 419 participants, 208 were randomised to CLE. Mean baseline CDVA was 77.9 (SD 12.4) letters and did not change significantly at 36 months when mean CDVA was 79.9 (SD 10.9) letters. Mean preoperative spherical equivalents were +1.7 (SD 2.3) and +0.08 (SD 0.95) diopters (D) at 36 months. Fifty-nine per cent and 85% eyes were within ±0.5D and ±1.0D of predicted refraction, respectively, at 36 months.ConclusionsMean CDVA in patients undergoing CLE for angle-closure glaucoma appeared stable over the 3-year study period. Refractive error was significantly reduced with surgery but refractive predictability was suboptimal.Trial registration number

PurposeTo describe the results of darkroom prone provocative testing (DRPPT) in primary angle closure suspects (PACS) and to compare the findings to controls with open angles.Methods889 subjects with PACS in the Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention Trial (a randomised controlled trial to compare prophylactic laser iridotomy to no treatment in PACS) and 89 with open angles in the 5-year follow-up of Liwan Eye Study were placed in a darkroom face down for 15 min. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured immediately before and after DRPPT.ResultsPACS participants were of similar age than controls (59.3 vs 60.5), more often female (82.9% vs 58.4%) and had lower IOP (14.3 vs 15.2 mm Hg). The average IOP increases after DRPPT was 4.3±3 mm Hg in PACS and 5.2±2.8 in controls (pConclusionsA modified DRPPT failed to separate PACS from those with open angle. Although the test resulted in greater IOP elevation among those PACS participants with all four quadrants closed than in those with two or three closed quadrants, it did not offer any insight into the risk of developing acute or chronic angle closure disease over 6-year follow-up.