Establishing Vitreoretinal Surgery Capacity in Sierra Leone: Challenges and Opportunities to Address Retinal Health Disparities in Resource-limited Settings.

A range of challenges exists regarding vitreoretinal (VR) surgical services in resource-limited settings, including Sierra Leone. As a result, retinal pathologies may contribute to vision loss and blindness. In the wake of the 2013 to 2016 outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, gaps in ophthalmic care were underscored as survivors were experiencing a constellation of sequelae, including uveitis and VR disease.

Temporary Keratoprosthesis and Primary Corneal Graft for Ocular Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: When severe retinal and corneal injury occur together, a temporary keratoprosthesis (TKP) is often a last resort to allow posterior segment visualization to enable vitreoretinal surgery, followed by a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) which can restore corneal clarity in a single operation. We aimed to assess visual outcomes following combined PKP and vitreoretinal surgery with the use of a TKP for cases of ocular trauma.

Design: A systematic literature review was performed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023423518).

Advances in the management of intraocular foreign bodies.

Intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) remain a severe complication of ocular trauma commonly encountered worldwide. This literature review aimed to discuss current practice patterns, areas of controversy, and advances in the management of IOFBs. Injuries involving IOFBs carry significant ocular morbidity and management can be extremely challenging.

Open Globe Injury Repairs Among Medicare Beneficiaries from 2011 to 2020.

Purpose: To explore patient and surgeon characteristics for open globe injury repairs (OGRs) and rates of subsequent operations.

Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, eyes of patients ≥18 years who underwent OGR among 100% Medicare Fee-For-Service dataset from 2011 to 2020 were included. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes were used to identify OGR.

Exploring the role of viscosity-vaso-occlusion and haemolysis-endothelial dysfunction in pain sensitization among Jamaicans with sickle cell disease.

Viscosity-vaso-occlusion (VVO) and haemolysis-endothelial dysfunction (HED) are pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical subphenotypes of sickle cell disease (SCD). Recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) may lead to neuroplastic changes and pain sensitization. Among 257 SCD participants, we assessed the relationship of subphenotypes with pain sensitivity using quantitative sensory testing to identify heat pain thresholds (HPT) and pressure pain thresholds (PPT).

A multi-center analysis of visual outcomes following open globe injury.

The purpose of this study was to examine how demographics, etiology, and clinical examination findings are related to visual outcomes in subjects with open globe injury (OGI) across a large and generalizable sample. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using data collected from the electronic medical records of four tertiary university centers for subjects with OGI presenting from 2018 to 2021. Demographic information, injury mechanisms, clinical exam findings, visual acuity (VA) at presentation and most recent follow-up were recorded.

Resident Vitreoretinal Procedure Volume: Effect of Intravitreal Injections, Region, Program Size, and Vitreoretinal Fellowship and Veterans Affairs Affiliation.

 To analyze resident vitreoretinal procedure volume across Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited ophthalmology residency programs. We assessed the effect of the increase in intravitreal injections (IVI), geographic region, program size, and Veterans Affairs (VA) and vitreoretinal fellowship affiliation on vitreoretinal procedures.  A request was sent to all residency programs in 2018 for their graduating residents' ACGME case logs.

An Analysis of Solicitations From Predatory Journals in Ophthalmology.

Purpose: To evaluate trends associated with email communication from potentially predatory publishers to faculty in ophthalmology.

Design: Cross-sectional study METHODS: Ophthalmologists (n = 14) from various subspecialties and institutions were recruited to participate. Participants identified unsolicited emails that they had received originating from publishers in May 2021.

Childhood vision impairment and blindness in West Africa: public health measures and implications for systemic health.

Childhood blindness is an issue of global health impact, affecting approximately 2 million children worldwide. Vision 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals previously identified childhood blindness as a key issue in the twentieth century, and while public health measures are underway, the precise etiologies and management require ongoing investigation and care, particularly within resource-limited settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. We systematically reviewed the literature on childhood blindness in West Africa to identify the anatomic classification and etiologies, particularly those causes of childhood blindness with systemic health implications.

Transabdominal Fetal Ultrasound Before Early-Term Planned Delivery for Norrie Disease.

To describe a case of early-term planned delivery of a fetus with Norrie disease. A retrospective chart review was performed. A fetus with an older sibling with bilateral blindness from Norrie disease had positive genetic testing on chorionic villus sampling.

Utilizing a composite citation index for evaluating clinical ophthalmology research: insights into gender, nationality, and self-citation among top ophthalmology researchers.

Objectives: To compare the performance of a composite citation score (c-score) and its six constituent citation indices, including H-index, in predicting winners of the Weisenfeld Award in ophthalmologic research. Secondary objectives were to explore career and demographic characteristics of the most highly cited researchers in ophthalmology.

Methods: A publicly available database was accessed to compile a set of top researchers in the field of clinical ophthalmology and optometry based on Scopus data from 1996 to 2021.

The Risk of Sympathetic Ophthalmia Associated with Open-Globe Injury Management Strategies: A Meta-analysis.

Topic: Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a sight-threatening granulomatous panuveitis caused by a sensitizing event. Primary enucleation or primary evisceration, versus primary repair, as a risk management strategy after open-globe injury (OGI) remains controversial.

Clinical Relevance: This systematic review was conducted to report the incidence of SO after primary repair compared with that of after primary enucleation or primary evisceration.

Epidemiology of ophthalmic trauma in the United States from 2009-2018: A Nationwide Emergency Department Sample Analysis.

Purpose: To determine the incidence, characteristics, disposition, and economic burden of emergency department (ED) visits for ophthalmic trauma in the United States (US).

Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was used to calculate and characterize ED visits for ophthalmic trauma in the US from 2009 to 2018.

Disability-Adjusted Life Years Resulting from Ocular Injury among Deployed Service Members, 2001-2020.

Purpose: To quantify the burden of ocular injuries on deployed US service members by calculating disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Participants: US service members with ocular injuries sustained in combat zones from January 1, 2001 to May 19, 2020.

Perspectives of Resident and Attending Ophthalmologists on Common Ethical Dilemmas in Research.

 To assess how resident and attending ophthalmologists perceive and evaluate ethically controversial scenarios regarding mentorship, authorship, and ethics compliance that may occur during research involving residents.  An online survey was developed and contained 14 controversial vignettes based on common research scenarios that can occur when conducting research with trainees. The scenarios were designed to capture issues regarding three themes: mentorship, authorship, and compliance with ethical guidelines.

Ophthalmic manifestations and management considerations for emerging chemical threats.

Chemical agents have been utilized for centuries in warfare and pose a health threat to civilians and military personnel during armed conflict. Despite treaties and regulations against their use, chemical agent exposure remains a threat and measures to understand their effects and countermeasures for systemic and organ-specific health are needed. Many of these agents have ocular complications, both acute and chronic.

Bilateral Panuveitis in an Adolescent with Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome Due to CTLA4 Haploinsufficiency.

Purpose: To describe a case of bilateral panuveitis in an 11-year-old girl with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) due to haploinsufficiency.

Case Description: A 5-year-old girl developed cervical adenopathy, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia consistent with Evan's Syndrome. She was subsequently diagnosed with autosomal dominant haploinsuffciency and treated with immunosuppressants.