Opportunities for Improving the Long-term Management of Keratoconus Patients.

Background And Objective: This study determined whether practitioners specializing in keratoconus (KC) adhere to published guidelines for disease management and to what extent comorbid conditions of dry eye, contact lens tolerance, and psychological consequences of KC are formally assessed as part of long-term management.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study used an IRB-approved, Internet-based, REDCap platform. Descriptive statistics are presented.

Image- and Impression-Based Technology in Scleral Lens Fitting for Keratoconus: Availability and Utilization.

Objective: Scleral lenses (SLs) can be customized using traditional diagnostic lens fitting or by using image- and/or impression-based technologies. This study describes the availability and usage of SL fitting technology in patients with keratoconus.

Methods: An online survey queried practitioners on the mode of practice, country of residence, and estimated number of SL fits completed for keratoconus.

Image- and impression-based technology for scleral lens fitting for keratoconus: Efficiency of the fitting process.

Purpose: This study describes efficiency of diagnostic, image-based, and impression-based fitting methods by eye care providers who prescribe scleral lenses (SL) for patients with keratoconus.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to eye care providers with an interest in SL fitting. Demographic data including practice modality, country of residence, and fitting volume were collected.

Patient-Reported Dry Eye Treatment and Burden of Care.

Objectives: Dry eye is a common condition that can decrease the quality of life. This survey-based study of persons with dry eye investigated self-reported treatments (initial, current), out-of-pocket expenses, time spent on self-management, sources of care, and sources of information about their condition.

Methods: Online dry eye newsletters and support groups were emailed a link to an electronic survey asking members to participate.

Lens and solution properties in patients with and without midday fogging.

Introduction: Midday fogging is a complication of scleral lens (SL) wear that interrupts clear vision during the course of wear. SLs can be made with a variety of gas permeable materials, sizes and surface treatments, and various solutions are available for storing the lenses and for filling them before application on the eye. Many of these factors have been implicated as possible contributors to midday fogging.

Process and Outcomes of Fitting Corneoscleral Profilometry-Driven Scleral Lenses for Patients With Ocular Surface Disease.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of obtaining cornea scleral profile (CSP) measurements using Scheimpflug imaging and report on the fitting process of free-form custom scleral lenses (SLs) for patients with ocular surface disease (OSD).

Methods: This prospective study of patients fit with free-form SLs collected data on the following: demographics, indications for wear, corneal and scleral tomography, scan acquisition process, and SL fitting process.

Results: Cornea scleral profile scans were acquired on 15 eyes of nine patients.

Use of ClearGuard HD caps in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a leading cause of hospitalizations and mortality among patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) therapy, especially those with a central venous catheter (CVC) for dialysis access. The use of chlorhexidine impregnated catheter caps (ClearGuard) has been associated with a decrease in the rate of HD catheter-related BSIs (CA-BSIs) in adults; similar data have not been published for children.

Methods: We compared CA-BSI data from participating centers within the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric Endstage Kidney Disease (SCOPE) collaborative based on the center's use of ClearGuard caps for patients with HD catheter access.

Patient Experiences With Therapeutic Contact Lenses and Dry Eye Disease.

Objectives: To report patient-reported experiences with dry eye disease and therapeutic contact lenses.

Methods: A survey was distributed to patients with dry eye disease. Demographics, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), systemic disease, contact lens history, and burden of care information were collected.

Graduating optometry student perceptions of their scleral lens fitting knowledge.

Although optometric programs have incorporated scleral lens (SL) education into their curricula, actual student experiences with SL fitting varies widely. This survey study describes the SL fitting and training experiences of graduating optometry students in US schools and colleges. Participants (323) were fourth-year students preparing to graduate in 2020 (19% response rate).

Diverging patterns of plasticity in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in early- and late-onset blindness.

Plasticity in the brain is impacted by an individual's age at the onset of the blindness. However, what drives the varying degrees of plasticity remains largely unclear. One possible explanation attributes the mechanisms for the differing levels of plasticity to the cholinergic signals originating in the nucleus basalis of Meynert.

Current Trends in Scleral Lens Prescription, Management, and Evaluation.

Objectives: To report current trends in scleral contact lens prescription and management, including lens designs prescribed, care products recommended, and procedures performed during routine scleral lens (SL) evaluation.

Methods: An online survey was designed by the Scleral Lenses in Current Ophthalmic Practice Evaluation study team and administered to eye care practitioners attending a specialty contact lens meeting. The survey was available from November 8, 2019, through March 31, 2020.

Survey-Based Estimation of Corneal Complications Associated with Scleral Lens Wear.

The benefits of scleral lens (SL) wear have been described in cross-sectional and retrospective studies; however, the frequency of complications associated with SL wear has not, to the best of our knowledge, been determined. From a survey of SL practitioners, we estimated the period prevalence over 1 year of corneal complications that required SL wearers to discontinue lens wear. In a sample of 72,605 wearers, SL wear was discontinued for the following complications: corneal edema, 1.

Prescription Habits of Scleral Lenses for the Management of Corneal Irregularity and Ocular Surface Disease Among Scleral Lens Practitioners.

Objectives: To describe prescribing patterns of therapeutic scleral lenses (SLs) in the management of corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease among practitioners who prescribe SLs.

Methods: Participants ranked treatment options for corneal irregularity and ocular surface disease in the order they would generally consider using them in an electronic survey. Median rank score for each option is reported, along with the percentage of participants assigning first place ranking to each option.

Trends in Scleral Lens Fitting Practices: 2020 Scleral Lenses in Current Ophthalmic Practice Evaluation Survey.

Objectives: To explore trends in demographic characteristics of scleral lens (SL) practitioners and primary indications for SL fitting over 5 years.

Methods: An online survey similar to the 2015 Scleral Lenses in Current Ophthalmic Practice Evaluation (SCOPE) study was designed and administered from November 8, 2019, through March 31, 2020, to attendees at two international contact lens meetings, members of the Scleral Lens Education Society, and participants in the 2015 SCOPE study. Practitioners reporting at least five completed SL fits were included in the analysis.

Scleral lens prescription and management practices: Emerging consensus.

Purpose: To describe international scleral lens prescription and management practices across multiple practice types.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, scleral lens practitioners were asked to complete an electronic survey that requested information about a single scleral lens patient. Data collected included practitioner demographics (practice type, country, years of experience) and patient indications for scleral lens wear, fitting process, lens design, and care products.

Dry Eye Symptoms in Individuals With Keratoconus Wearing Contact Lenses.

Objectives: To assess dry eye symptoms associated with different contact lens modalities in patients with keratoconus using a dry eye questionnaire.

Methods: An online survey was distributed by the National Keratoconus Foundation. The survey asked participants to report demographic characteristics, current optical correction, age at the time of diagnosis of keratoconus, and contact lens history.

Sounding out life in the deep using acoustic data from ships of opportunity.

Shedding light on the distribution and ecosystem function of mesopelagic communities in the twilight zone (~200-1000 m depth) of global oceans can bridge the gap in estimates of species biomass, trophic linkages, and carbon sequestration role. Ocean basin-scale bioacoustic data from ships of opportunity programs are increasingly improving this situation by providing spatio-temporal calibrated acoustic snapshots of mesopelagic communities that can mutually complement established global ecosystem, carbon, and biogeochemical models. This data descriptor provides an overview of such bioacoustic data from Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Ships of Opportunity (SOOP) Bioacoustics sub-Facility.

"Save the Vein" Initiative in Children With CKD: A Quality Improvement Study.

Rationale & Objective: The preferred vascular access for hemodialysis recipients is an arteriovenous fistula in the nondominant arm. Prior placement of a peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter can lead to vascular injury and limit options for arteriovenous fistula creation, a particular problem for children, who may need hemodialysis for their entire lifetime. We instituted an initiative to increase the frequency of PIV catheter placement in the dominant arm for hospitalized pediatric patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Multicenter review of impression-based scleral devices.

Objective: To describe outcomes using impression based-scleral devices for the management of anterior segment disease.

Methods: Retrospective chart review identified all patients who were fitted with impression-based scleral devices between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2019 at three specialty contact lens practices. Patient demographic data, indication for device use, visual and physiological outcomes, as well as details of the fitting process and survival of device use were determined.

Current U.S. based optometric scleral lens curricula and fitting recommendations: SCOPE educators survey.

Objectives: To describe current components of scleral lens curricula at U.S. based optometry colleges and universities.

Comparison of Pneumatonometry and Transpalpebral Tonometry Measurements of Intraocular Pressure during Scleral Lens Wear.

Significance: As scleral lens wear becomes more common, understanding the impact of these lenses upon ocular physiology is critically important. Studies on the effect of scleral lens wear upon intraocular pressure (IOP) have used different instruments and have reported conflicting results.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare assessment of IOP during scleral lens wear using pneumatonometry and transpalpebral tonometry.

Keratoconus Patient Satisfaction and Care Burden with Corneal Gas-permeable and Scleral Lenses.

Significance: Scleral lenses (SLs) are increasingly being considered as the initial correction for patients with keratoconus. In this study, keratoconus patients report higher levels of comfort and visual satisfaction with SL compared with corneal gas-permeable lenses (GPs).

Purpose: This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction and care burden associated with GP and SL for the management of keratoconus.

Factors associated with patient-reported midday fogging in established scleral lens wearers.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of patient-reported midday fogging and to identify risk factors for midday fogging.

Method: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted with an electronic survey that was distributed to scleral lens practitioners. The survey asked them to describe their most recently examined established scleral lens patient.