The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tele-ophthalmology-Based Retinal Screening.

Introduction: This study reports our experiences with systematic retinal screening in Denmark through optometrists with access to tele-ophthalmological services before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We evaluated an optometrist-based retinal screening system with a referral option for tele-ophthalmological service by a consultant ophthalmologist within the time period of August 1, 2018 to September 30, 2023. The optometrist collected patient history, refraction, best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, basic slit-lamp examination, 4-in-1 visual field report, and retinal imaging using color fundus 45° photography.

Teleophthalmology and retina: a review of current tools, pathways and services.

Telemedicine, the use of telecommunication and information technology to deliver healthcare remotely, has evolved beyond recognition since its inception in the 1970s. Advances in telecommunication infrastructure, the advent of the Internet, exponential growth in computing power and associated computer-aided diagnosis, and medical imaging developments have created an environment where telemedicine is more accessible and capable than ever before, particularly in the field of ophthalmology. Ever-increasing global demand for ophthalmic services due to population growth and ageing together with insufficient supply of ophthalmologists requires new models of healthcare provision integrating telemedicine to meet present day challenges, with the recent COVID-19 pandemic providing the catalyst for the widespread adoption and acceptance of teleophthalmology.

Tear film proteome changes following Tobradex therapy in anterior blepharitis.

Purpose: The management of blepharitis continues to challenge clinicians due to the poorly understood aetiology of the condition. We recently identified the family of intracellular plakin proteins as essential driving forces underlying anterior blepharitis. A large-scale protein analysis was used to study if a topical dexamethasone/tobramycin solution could be used to reverse the expression of plakin proteins.

Anterior blepharitis is associated with elevated plectin levels consistent with a pronounced intracellular response.

Purpose: Anterior blepharitis is a frequent ocular condition which may result in severe ocular surface disease. In this study, advanced proteome analysis was performed to elucidate biological mechanisms underlying anterior blepharitis.

Methods: All patients underwent full ophthalmological examination including Ocular Surface Disease Index score (OSDI).

Macular Edema in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Correlates With Aqueous Fibrinogen Alpha Chain.

Purpose: The global protein profile of the aqueous humor has been found to correlate with the severity of retinal vascular disease. Studying the aqueous humor in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with proteomic techniques may bring insights to the molecular mechanisms underlying the condition.

Methods: Aqueous humor samples from treatment naïve patients with CRVO complicated by macular edema (n = 28) and age-matched controls (n = 20) were analyzed by label-free quantification liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Amsler Grid Test for Detecting Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Patients with nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are encouraged to use the Amsler grid test for self-assessment to facilitate early diagnosis. The test is widely recommended, suggesting a belief that it signals worsening AMD, warranting its use in home monitoring.

Objective: To systematically review studies of the diagnostic test accuracy of the Amsler grid in the diagnosis of neovascular AMD and to perform diagnostic test accuracy meta-analyses.

A Modified Flanged Intrascleral Intraocular Lens Fixation Technique Using an Externalized Needle for Haptic Docking.

The Yamane intrascleral flanged haptic fixation technique has obviated the need for resources such as suture or glue. However, intraocular maneuvers to properly dock haptics into the needles for externalization can be difficult for even adept eye surgeons and is especially difficult when visualization through the cornea is poor. Additionally, one traditional resource, intraocular forceps, has been critical in both the original technique and proposed modifications since its inception.

Danish teleophthalmology platform reduces optometry referrals into the national eye care system.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stratification of follow-up and referral pathways after implementation of a systematic cloud-based electronic-referral teleophthalmological service for optometry-initiated ocular posterior segment disease referrals to the Danish national eye care system.

Methods And Analysis: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the period from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019. Patients with suspected ocular posterior segment disease reviewed by the telemedical ophthalmology service were included.

Aflibercept Intervention in Experimental Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Results in Upregulation of DnaJ Homolog Subfamily C Member 17.

Aflibercept is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) used to treat macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Despite well-documented efficacy, there is limited knowledge about proteome changes following aflibercept intervention in BRVO. Proteome changes may provide insights into mechanisms of action as well as aspects related to safety profile.

Correlation between retinal vein occlusion and cancer - a nationwide Danish cohort study.

Purpose: To explore the association between retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and incident cancer.

Methods: All Danish citizens with a first-time diagnosis of RVO and no previous diagnosis of cancer in the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2014 were included. Five likewise cancer-free, age- and gender-matched controls were included in a control cohort.

Cataract surgery education in member countries of the European Board of Ophthalmology.

Purpose: To address the use of and knowledge about skills assessment and competency-based training in cataract surgery in European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) member countries.

Methods: A survey was emailed directly to all directors of the European societies in ophthalmology. The survey included queries about criteria to undergo training in cataract surgery, regulation of education in cataract surgery, and skills assessment and training methods.

Paraneoplastic retinopathy associated with occult bladder cancer.

The aim was to report the first case of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) presenting before bladder cancer diagnosis. A 71-year-old woman with a history of bilateral vision loss underwent subsequent complete ophthalmic examination include a fluorescein angiography, full-field electroretinogram (ERG), serology including serum antibodies for CAR, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan. The patient was diagnosed with bladder carcinoma revealed by PET-CT.

[Bilateral scleritis and extra-ocular inflammation in a patient with undiagnosed chronic lymphatic leukaemia].

A 55-year-old healthy man presented with redness and pain in both eyes and was diagnosed with bilateral scleritis. A year later impairment of ocular movement and cervical adenopathy appeared. Laboratory tests revealed signs of inflammation: increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lymphocytosis, lactate dehydrogenase, S-ACE converting enzyme and interleukin-2-antibody.

Transcriptional dissection of human limbal niche compartments by massive parallel sequencing.

Corneal epithelium is maintained throughout life by well-orchestrated proliferation of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), followed by migration and maturation centripetally towards the ocular surface. Disturbance of LESCs can potentially lead to a blinding condition, which can be reversed by reconstitution of a functional LESC pool. The current clinical procedures are effective to some degree, however, deeper knowledge of the molecular interplay within the limbal niche is necessary to achieve a fully satisfactory patient outcome.

Hypoxia is a key regulator of limbal epithelial stem cell growth and differentiation.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the growth and differentiation of limbal epithelial stem cell cultures could be controlled through manipulation of the oxygen tension. Limbal epithelial cells were isolated from corneoscleral disks, and cultured using either feeder cells in a growth medium supplemented with serum (3T3 system) or without feeder cells in a dedicated serum-free medium (EpiLife). During the culture, the cells were maintained either at ambient oxygen tension (20%) or at different levels of hypoxia (15, 10, 5, and 2% oxygen).

A possible role of chitin in the pathogenesis of asthma and allergy.

Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in the world; it is found in insects, parasites and fungi. Chitinases break down chitin, and are a part of the defence mechanism against chitin-containing parasites in lower life forms. This review is based on the results of PubMed-searches using the search-terms: chitin, chitinase, allergy and asthma.

Precision and accuracy of the ICare tonometer - Peripheral and central IOP measurements by rebound tonometry.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ICare tonometers precision and accuracy and the extent to which intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements are influenced by measuring position.

Methods: This was carried out by comparing the central and peripheral ICare-IOP readings and comparing ICare- with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT)-IOP readings. IOP was measured using the ICare rebound tonometer on the right eye of 40 subjects, straight at the centre of the cornea (CS), straight 2 mm from the nasal and temporal limbus (NS and TS), and in 10 degrees nasally and temporally angled positions measured from the same location as CS (NA and TA).