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Background: To determine the prevalence of anisometropia and its association with stereopsis and amblyopia in Goan school children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on students between 9 and 14 years of age from two randomly selected schools in Goa. All students underwent an assessment of uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, stereo acuity, and complete ophthalmic examination. Children with refractive errors without any other coexisting ocular pathologies were included. Refractive correction of children with a best-corrected visual acuity of logMAR 0.0 was measured using a manual lensometer. Subjects with visual acuity greater than logMAR 0.2, further improving with pinhole, were subjected to objective and subjective refraction. The prevalence of anisometropia, anisometropic amblyopia, and degree of stereo acuity in anisometropic children was assessed. Results: Four hundred and six children were screened for refractive errors. Sixty-four children were found to have refractive errors, of which 58 students (90.6%) were myopic, and six (9.4%) were hyperopic. The prevalence of anisometropia of ≥1.0 D spherical equivalent was found in 12 students (18.75%), among whom myopia was the most common refractive error (9.75%). Anisometropic amblyopia was noted in eight students (66.6%), five of whom were myopes and three hyperopes. All three hyperopic anisometropes (100%) had amblyopia. Seventy-five percent of children with poor stereo acuity, ranging from ≥160 seconds of arc, belonged to the hyperopic anisometropia group. Conclusion: Amblyopia is more prevalent among anisometropes than isometropes, with hyperopic anisometropes having poor stereoacuity and being more likely to develop amblyopia. Hence, early identification and treatment of anisometropia will significantly reduce the risk of amblyopia in school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Video games are largely favoured by younger generations. Many researchers have shown the positive effect of video games on the brain and cognitive functions. This study aims to compare visual reaction time, accuracy, and practice effects between gamers, semi-gamers, and non-gamers and to investigate whether previously inexperienced participants can improve their performance with practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among gamers, semi-gamers, and non-gamers, in which each group comprised 15 subjects. A mobile-based reaction time application and a reaction trainer application were used to measure reaction time, score, and accuracy rate. Practice sessions were administered for all of the subjects over a period of one week, and the measurements were repeated. Paired-t test was used to compare various parameters before and after practice. Comparison between the three groups was made using a one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Reaction time decreased significantly after practice in all groups. The semi-gamers and non-gamers, however, showed significant improvement compared to gamers. Comparing the three groups, the gamers displayed the shortest reaction time, both before (mean=251.20 msec, p=0.015) and after (mean=240.60 msec, p=0.113) practice. The accuracy rate was highest among the gamers. Gamers achieved higher scores both before (p=0.009) and after practice (p=0.001) compared to those having little or no gaming experience. CONCLUSION: Regular involvement in action video games resulted in improvement in attentional and cognitive skills in gamers, leading to better performance in reaction time, score, and accuracy rate compared to semi-gamers and non-gamers. The administration of practice over a short period of time drastically improved the performance of the non-gamers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge of and perceived barriers to providing low vision services among eye care practitioners in Goa. Methods: A pretested and predesigned questionnaire was sent to 72 eye care practitioners, which included the optometrists and ophthalmologists working in Goa, through offline and online (social media like WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.) platforms. Information was collected to understand the barriers that restrict eye care practitioners from providing low vision services. Results: Seventy-two participants took part in this study, of which 26.39% (n=19) were ophthalmologists and 73.61% (n=53) were optometrists. From the practitioner's point of view, lack of awareness (70.83%, n=51) and training (68.06%, n=49) were the major barriers to providing low vision services. Conclusion: A lack of awareness and training facilities among eye care practitioners acts as a barrier to providing low vision services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In late 2019, in response to the worldwide spread of the disease COVID-19, the authorities of India ordered a nationwide lockdown, which extended through 2021. In the wake of the pandemic, optometric education faced massive changes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of online learning platforms from the student's perspective on the benefits and difficulties encountered. Methods: An online survey was conducted for students of optometry across India. A list of colleges was made that provided the B.OPT/M.OPT degrees and fellowships in different specialties. The questionnaire was circulated to the colleges through e-mail and multiple social media platforms (LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Instagram). The survey requested demographic information and details related to different online learning programs and the status of education provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 465 questionnaires were circulated, and 237 (50.96%) completed responses were received. The average age of students was 21.9 ± 2.14 years. The majority of the respondents (82.2%) were enrolled in bachelor's degree in optometry, 15.1% were in Masters in Optometry/M. Phil. programs, 1.68% were pursuing a Diploma in Optometry program, and 0.8% of the respondents were in fellowship. About 87.7% of the students responded that the lockdown had negatively impacted their learning programs. Ninety-seven percent of students responded that their college/university faculty were providing online lectures. The students responded that they faced difficulties in attending online lectures: 79% reported having network and connectivity issues, and 8% had electricity fluctuation issues. In all, 71.7% of the respondents felt that online classes and webinars were useful during the lockdown period. Conclusion: Optometry students believed that online lectures were useful. There was a rise in online learning platforms to gain knowledge. Some students faced difficulty in attending lectures where internet-related connectivity issues were the common complaints. Optometry students and practitioners have adapted quickly to the pandemic with all vital precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus continues to increase in epidemic proportions globally as well as in India. Poor glycemic control in long-standing diabetes mellitus eventually leads to chronic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. Diabetic retinopathy is emerging as an important cause of avoidable visual impairment and blindness in India across all strata of society. Much of this vision loss can be prevented by improving control of known risk factors, annual fundus screening, with prompt treatment of individuals with sight-threatening retinopathy. The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust has made a significant contribution by supporting such a program across India, including Goa. The newly established medical retina clinic at Goa Medical College now provides facilities for screening, a detailed evaluation of advanced retinopathy, and therapeutic modalities such as laser and intravitreal injections. The peripheral centers are equipped to screen all people with diabetes mellitus and refer those with sight-threatening retinopathy to the medical college. The provision of a foot scanner to evaluate the risk of foot ulcers and microalbuminuria assessment as part of the nephropathy screening would encompass the entire gamut of diabetic microvascular complications. The next decade would provide evidence if this initiative, with the enthusiastic partnership of the state government, results in reduction of blindness in the people of Goa and an overall reduction in diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different music on visual reaction time. Methodology: Thirty subjects with visual acuity logMAR 0.00 and near vision N6 in both eyes and no binocular vision anomaly or ocular anomaly were included in this research. Subjects with any kind of ocular disease, arthritis, or muscle disorders were excluded. Psychological Experimental Building Language (PEBL) version 2.1 software was used to check the visual reaction time. Subjects listened to four different types of instrumental music (symphony, hard rock, Indian classical, and techno) randomly while performing the PEBL visual reaction time task in a dark room. The volume of the music was maintained at 80 dB, and the brightness of the screen was maintained at 100% throughout the experiment. Readings were taken before listening to music, during listening to music, and after listening to music. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Thirty subjects (15 male and 15 female) aged between 18 and 25 years, with mean age of 20 ±1 years, participated in this study. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test. The Shapiro-Wilk test showed a significance departure from the normality, W (30)=0.908, p=0.013. There was no significant difference in reaction time before listening and after listening to classical music (p<0.178), whereas there was a significant difference before listening and after listening to techno (p<0.008), symphony (p<0.005), and hard rock (p<0.002). In all four music styles--techno (p<0.586), symphony (p<0.629), rock (p<0.349), and Indian classical (p<0.829)--there was no statistically significant difference in reaction time before listening and during listening to music. There was a significant difference during listening and after listening to all four music stylres: techno (p<0.030), classical (p<0.039), symphony (p<0.000), and hard rock (p<0.014). CONCLUSION: Listening to instrumental music such as techno, Indian classical, symphony, and rock has the effect of reducing visual reaction time during listening. Longer visual reaction time is shown after listening to music. The visual reaction time before and after listening to classical music is longer as compared to other music; possibly because it was the most disliked music out of the four music styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial combined hyperlipidemia, which presents as hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia, is the commonest form of genetic hyperlipidemia and is associated with premature coronary artery disease. This is a rare case report of a 27 day-old neonate born out of a third-degree consanguineous marriage, with grade III lipemia retinalis secondary to familial-combined hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular manifestations of COVID-19 are still being studied. Posterior segment involvement in viral entities is either direct viral involvement or a delayed immune response to the antigen. A 22-year-old woman presented with history of perceiving absolute inferior scotoma in the right eye for 4 days and history of fever and sore throat 10 days ago. Fundus examination revealed disc edema and vessel tortuosity. Humphreys Field Analyzer confirmed inferior field defect and Optical Coherence Tomography showed superior, nasal and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer thickening in the right eye. Patient was positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Patient received three doses of injection methylprednisolone over 3 days. There was subjective resolution of scotoma reported 3 weeks posttreatment. We bring forward the first reported case of parainfectious optic neuritis associated with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents questions and answers related to visual impairment diseases including anterior segment examination with patient having small pupil size since birth.

Purpose: To determine the economic burden of glaucoma on patients., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on glaucoma patients diagnosed at least 6 weeks prior to the study and on topical anti-glaucoma medications. After consenting, patients were asked about their monthly income, education, occupation, treatment duration, drugs being used, cost of drugs, one bottle lasts for, financial dependence for treatment, glaucoma surgery, transportation means and cost, etc. Also, information regarding government reimbursement of medical costs was collected., Results: Seventy-four patients aged 60.18±11.5 years (40 males and 34 females) were enrolled. Majority were retirees (37.84%) and Homemakers (29.73%). Fifty (68%) participants didn't earn anything. Sixty-three patients had bilateral involvement and 52.70% were on treatment for >3 years. Prostaglandin analogs were most commonly used drugs (34.21%). Average cost of medications and travelling was ₹669.46 per month and ₹203.38 per visit respectively. Majority were financially responsible for their own treatment (62.16%). Patients had an average monthly income of ₹7108.11. Low-income group spent 26.08 % of their monthly salary on glaucoma treatment. Low-moderate and high-income group spent 5.17% and 1.50% of their monthly income respectively. Only 4.05% were covered by government reimbursement. Gender (P=0.019), occupation (P=0.010), whether undergone surgery (P=0.007), whether accompanied (P=0.027), hours lost during each visit (P=0.016) and treatment impression (P=0.027) showed statistical significance when associated with financial dependence., Conclusion: Treatment should be modified according to the patient's socioeconomic status. Glaucoma education programs and screening camps in remote areas would help in early detection of the disease., Competing Interests: None