Publications by authors named "Elflein H"
Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of strabismus and nystagmus and to analyse associated factors in preterm and full-term infants in adulthood.
Methods: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmological examination of participants born preterm and full-term (aged 18-52 years). Perinatal data were carefully assessed for risk factors and comprehensive ophthalmological examinations were conducted.
Context: Inhibition of the neonatal fragment crystallizable receptor (FcRn) reduces pathogenic thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TSH-R-Ab) that drive pathology in thyroid eye disease (TED).
Objective: We report the first clinical studies of an FcRn inhibitor, batoclimab, in TED.
Design: Proof-of-concept (POC) and randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates ocular health and care in adults who were either preterm or full-term babies, focusing on those born between 1969 and 2002.
- It shows that higher rates of strabismus (crossed eyes) and lower rates of recent eye exams are found in those born extremely preterm, with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
- The findings suggest a need for improved ophthalmological care and monitoring for individuals who were born preterm, especially those with a history of ROP.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the ophthalmologic care received by preterm and full-term infants during childhood and adolescence, based on feedback from their parents.
- It involved a retrospective cohort study where parents of individuals, now aged 18 to 52, were interviewed about the eye care their children received, with participants categorized based on gestational age and presence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
- Results showed high satisfaction with the eye care provided, particularly for children with ROP, noting that most parents felt the treatment was adequate, although some reported changing ophthalmologists due to dissatisfaction.
Thyroid eye disease (TED) involves several pathogenic pathways and a battery of infiltrating mononuclear cells, cytokines, and chemokines in the orbit. Revealing the main molecules, which play a major role in the pathogenesis of TED, will help developing novel treatment strategies. In a multicenter, single-blind, case-control study, 60 tissue samples were collected during orbital decompression (44 TED patients) or non-TED related oculoplastic (16 controls) surgeries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study investigated the effects of prematurity and ROP on visual acuity and VRQoL in adults (18-52 years).
Methods: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination. Preterm and full-term participants at an age from 18 to 52 years were included.
Purpose: To determine whether prematurity and associated factors affect the anterior chamber angle (ACA) width in adulthood.
Methods: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination of adults (age 18-52 years) in Germany. All participants were examined with Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) using linear regression analysis to assess the associations of ACA in the different sectors with gestational age (GA), birth weight, birth weight percentile, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), ROP treatment, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, and breastfeeding.
Background: By identifying diseases of the anterior segment of the eye associated with exposure to UV light, recommendations for action can be derived.
Aim: After reading this review, the reader should be familiar with UV light-associated diseases of the anterior segment of the eye.
Method: Using a selective literature search, UV light-associated diseases of the anterior segment of the eye were identified and protective mechanisms are described.
Purpose: To evaluate teprotumumab safety/efficacy in patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) who were nonresponsive or who experienced a disease flare.
Design: The Treatment of Graves' Orbitopathy to Reduce Proptosis with Teprotumumab Infusions in an Open-Label Clinical Extension Study (OPTIC-X) is a teprotumumab treatment and re-treatment trial following the placebo-controlled teprotumumab Phase 3 Treatment of Graves' Orbitopathy (Thyroid Eye Disease) to Reduce Proptosis with Teprotumumab Infusions in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study (OPTIC) trial.
Participants: Patients who previously received placebo (n = 37) or teprotumumab (n = 14) in OPTIC.
Background: Myopia (near-sightedness) is increasing worldwide, especially in Asia. The aim of this study was to describe trends in the prevalence of myopia in Germany.
Methods: We analyzed data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS; baseline survey 2003-2006, N = 17 640; wave 2, 2014-2017, N = 15 023).
Background: Within the framework of the German pediatric screening examinations, the checks include visual functions. There is no ophthalmological screening examination in childhood in Germany. This study investigated whether participation in the pediatric screening examinations U8 (at the end of the fourth year of life) and U9 (at the beginning of the sixth year of life) is associated with the results of visual acuity, which are compiled at the school entry examinations (SEU).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The newly introduced German pediatric screening examination at the end of the third year of life (U7a) incorporates visual function testing in particular; there is no ophthalmic screening during childhood in Germany. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between participation in U7a and visual function at the preschool health examination (PHE) in the sixth year of life.
Methods: This study evaluated PHE data from school enrollment years 2009/2010 to 2014/2015 of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Purpose: This study investigates the prevalence of manifest strabismus and its subtypes in adulthood and analyzes the risk factors and its impact on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL).
Design: The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, observational cohort study. A cross-sectional analysis of the baseline examination was conducted.
Background: Endocrine orbitopathy (EO) encompasses functional and cosmetic limitations. The aim of this study was to assess the health services situation of patients with EO treated at a multidisciplinary specialized center.
Methods: The medical records pertaining to the clinical spectrum, access route, and medical specialty of the referring physician of patients who were treated within a period of 5 years at a tertiary referral orbit center were systematically assessed.
Intact Visuospatial Cognition in Amblyopia: Results From the Gutenberg Health Study.
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
November 2019
Purpose: To determine whether amblyopia interferes with cognitive functions requiring visuospatial processing, measured by the Tower of London (ToL) test.
Methods: The current study was based on a sub-cohort from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study and included 1,569 participants aged 35 to 44 years. Amblyopia was defined as a visual acuity of 0.
: Recession and resection of rectus muscles for correction of strabismus in Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is relatively unpopular as it is assumed to enhance the restriction of ocular ductions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare ductions of recession only and recess/resect procedures. : We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 119 patients who underwent strabismus surgery for TED from 1991 to 2015, of which 102 were included in the present study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisorders of the visual pathway can be due to pathological processes that cannot be directly assessed or visualized by ophthalmological examinations. Cross-sectional diagnostic imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are frequently used to further assess the visual pathway. This article provides an overview of the principles of CT and MRI for the anatomical and technical assessment of ophthalmological disease processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The distribution of visual impairment is an indicator of the health status of the population and for the frequency of diseases of the eye.
Methods: The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based cohort study in Germany concerning adults aged 35 to 74. 15 010 subjects from the Mainz-Bingen region underwent general medical and ophthalmological examination, with measurement of the distance-corrected visual acuity in each eye separately.
Purpose: Most definitions of visual impairment focus on the status of the better-seeing eye only, but this approach might underestimate the influence of the worse-seeing eye on the vision-related quality of life (VRQoL).
Methods: We assessed distance-corrected visual acuity in both eyes and VRQoL using the "National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire" (NEI VFQ-25) in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study. We calculated the Rasch-based visual functioning scale (VFS) and socioemotional scale (SES).
Background: To estimate the effect of strabismus (squinting) on mental health and health-related quality of life aspects in children and adolescents.
Methods: Data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents KiGGS (2003-2006 baseline survey; N = 14,835, aged 3 to 17 years, 49% girls) were examined. The presence of strabismus was derived by parental questionnaire, and health-related quality of life and mental health were investigated with the KINDL-R and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
Introduction: Strabismus is a common cause for amblyopia and affected children need regular ophthalmic care. This study evaluated the frequency of ophthalmic care in children suffering from strabismus and analyzed associated factors.
Methods: The data of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents from the Robert Koch Institute (KiGGS, baseline survey 2003-2006, N = 17,640) were analyzed.
Importance: Low birth weight is associated with altered ocular organ development in childhood, including the morphology of the eye. However, no population-based data exist about this association in adulthood.
Objective: To evaluate whether low birth weight has a long-term association with anterior segment anatomy and axial length in adulthood.
Background: Each child in Germany undergoes a preschool health examination including vision screening and recommendations for further ophthalmic care. This study investigated the frequency of and adherence to these recommendations.
Methods: A population-based prospective cohort study was performed in the area of Mainz-Bingen (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany).
Background: Vision-relevant refractive errors in children require regular ophthalmological control examinations. In this study we estimated the prevalence of wearing glasses for children and adolescents in Germany and the frequency of ophthalmological care.
Methods: We analyzed data of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS, baseline survey 2003-2006, N = 17,640).