Appropriateness of Questionnaires for the Diagnosis and Monitoring Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.

If questionnaires contributing to the diagnosis of dry eye disease are to be recommended as alternatives to existing questionnaires, they must be comparable, with similar repeatability and treatment sensitivity. Comparability was thus examined for three common dry eye questionnaires along with identifying the individual questions that most strongly predicted overall scores. Anonymised data ( = 329) collected via the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) and Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaires (including responses to individual questions) from consenting patients were drawn from real-world dry eye clinics/registries in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand; at follow-up, normalised changes were evaluated in 54 of these patients.

Feasibility of Silicon Quantum Dots as a Biomarker for the Bioimaging of Tear Film.

This study investigated the fluorescence and biocompatibility of hydrophilic silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) that are doped with scandium (Sc-SiQDs), copper (Cu-SiQDs), and zinc (Zn-SiQDs), indicating their feasibility for the bioimaging of tear film. SiQDs were investigated for fluorescence emission by the in vitro imaging of artificial tears (TheraTears), using an optical imaging system. A trypan blue exclusion test and MTT assay were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of SiQDs to cultured human corneal epithelial cells.

The incidence of falls after first and second eye cataract surgery: a longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To compare fall incidence, and visual acuity and refractive status, before surgery and after first and second eye cataract surgery.

Design, Setting: Prospective observational study in eight tertiary referral ophthalmology clinics in public hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

Participants: People aged 65 years or more referred for bilateral age-related cataract surgery during 2013-16, followed for maximum of 24 months after study entry or until six months after second eye surgery, whichever was shorter.

Association study of single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-10 and IL-17 genes with the severity of microbial keratitis.

Purpose: Exploratory analysis to assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin (IL) 10 and IL-17 genes with severity of contact lens keratitis.

Methods: This was a retrospective case control study of 88 contact lens keratitis cases (25 severe) and 185 healthy contact lens wearers recruited from studies conducted at Moorfields Eye Hospital and in Australia-wide during 2003-2005. Buccal swab samples were collected on Whatman FTA cards and mailed by post for DNA extraction and SNP genotyping.

The Asia Cornea Society Infectious Keratitis Study: A Prospective Multicenter Study of Infectious Keratitis in Asia.

Purpose: To survey the demographics, risk factors, microbiology, and outcomes for infectious keratitis in Asia.

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized clinical study.

Methods: Thirteen study centers and 30 sub-centers recruited consecutive subjects over 12-18 months, and performed standardized data collection.

Patient perspectives of cataract surgery: protocol and baseline findings of a cohort study.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are becoming increasingly recognised as a key component in assessing the relative effectiveness of cataract surgery. This manuscript presents the protocol methodology and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study investigating patient-centred predictors of cataract surgery outcomes.

Methods: Patients with bilateral cataract (aged ≥ 50 years) scheduled for their first eye cataract surgery were recruited at four public hospitals and three private ophthalmology clinics in Sydney, Australia.

A pilot study on corneal Langerhans cells in keratoconus.

Purpose: To report the density and morphology of cells that are analogous to corneal Langerhans cells and their associations in keratoconus.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of keratoconus subjects aged between 18-65 years. Corneal topography, assessment of ocular symptoms, tear variables, corneal sensitivity, in-vivo confocal microscopy were performed.

Are cataract surgery referrals to public hospitals in Australia poorly targeted?

Importance: Referral letters constitute the first step on the pathway to cataract surgery; however, little is known on how effective referral letters are in providing adequate information to triage patients and inform surgical prioritization.

Background: Benchmarking exercises are important to document referral processes and to identify areas where improvements can be made.

Design: Cross-sectional study with longitudinal follow-up conducted at two metropolitan public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia.

Differences in Tear Film Biochemistry of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Lens Wearers.

Significance: The concentration of selected proteins and inflammatory mediators in tears of symptomatic and asymptomatic contact lens wearers were quantified. The level of leukotriene B4 was higher in the symptomatic group. This may suggest that inflammation can be the cause of discomfort sensation at the end of day.

TFOS DEWS II Report Executive Summary.

This article presents an Executive Summary of the conclusions and recommendations of the 10-chapter TFOS DEWS II report. The entire TFOS DEWS II report was published in the July 2017 issue of The Ocular Surface. A downloadable version of the document and additional material, including videos of diagnostic and management techniques, are available on the TFOS website: www.

Infection control guidelines for optometrists 2016.

Background: This paper provides an updated version of the paper: Infection control guidelines for optometrists 2007.

Methods: Information from peer-reviewed journal articles, guidelines from professional societies, and government health department and other websites and instructions from equipment manufacturers were considered in determining infection risk factors in optometric practice. They were used to revise the recommendations on disinfection, sterilisation and reprocessing procedures for instrumentation and other equipment used in optometric practice as well as personal infection control measures to be undertaken by staff.

Pilot Study of Corneal Sensitivity and Its Association in Keratoconus.

Purpose: To evaluate corneal sensitivity and its association with other clinical parameters in keratoconus.

Methods: Twenty-four subjects with keratoconus aged between 18 and 65 years were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Ocular symptoms, corneal topography, tear variables such as tear osmolarity, volume and lower tear meniscus height, ocular surface staining, central sensitivity threshold (CST), and corneal subepithelial nerve mapping were obtained.

Contact Lens-Induced Discomfort and Protein Changes in Tears.

Purpose: Ocular discomfort is among the main causes of contact lens wear discontinuation. This study investigated the association between subjective ocular comfort ratings and diurnal changes in tear protein concentrations with and without contact lens wear.

Methods: The study was a prospective, open-label, single-group two-staged investigation.

Outcome of Keratoconus Management: Review of the Past 20 Years' Contemporary Treatment Modalities.

Objectives: To describe the past 20 years' contemporary management modalities for keratoconus (KC) and their outcomes and failures and to propose recommendations in reporting their outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature on KC management options for the last 20 years was performed. Original articles that reported the outcome of any form of KC management other than full-thickness or lamellar corneal graft were reviewed to collect information on their outcomes and complications and the level of scientific evidence of the study.

Application of clinical techniques relevant for glaucoma assessment by optometrists: concordance with guidelines.

Purpose: Guidelines for the screening, prognosis, diagnosis, management and prevention of glaucoma were released by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council in 2010. Comparable guidance has been made available by respective bodies in the USA and UK at a similar time. Key to successful translation of guidelines into clinical practice includes clinicians having the necessary skills to perform required tests.

Method development for quantification of five tear proteins using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry.

Purpose: To establish the use of selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry for quantification of tear proteins.

Methods: Tear samples were collected on multiple occasions (7-10 days) from healthy subjects with contact lens wear (CL = 3) and without contact lens wear (NCL = 4). Tear proteins were denatured using 8M urea, reduced with iodoacetamide, precipitated by acetone, and digested using trypsin.

Clinical outcomes of keratitis.

Objection: To analyse the patient, clinical and microbiological variables associated with poor outcomes from keratitis in patients presenting to a major public hospital in Australia.

Methods: A retrospective audit of the records of all patients who had a corneal scraping in 5 years at Princess Alexandra Hospital (Brisbane, Australia) was carried out. The outcome of a patient's episode of keratitis was classified as poor if they had final visual acuity of 6/60 or worse; had vision loss during treatment; or a complication of keratitis; or needed surgical intervention.