Expanding the scope of an eConsult service: acceptability and feasibility of an optometry-ophthalmology pilot project.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of connecting optometrists to ophthalmologists on an eConsult service.

Design: Descriptive analysis of utilization data and an anonymous survey.

Participants: All eConsult cases sent by optometrists between March 2019 and February 2020 (utilization data); optometrists and ophthalmologists participating in the eConsult Vision Pilot Project (survey).

Surgical Outcomes among Focused versus Diversified Cataract Surgeons.

Purpose: Narrowly focused surgical practice has become increasingly common in ophthalmology and may have an effect on surgical outcomes. Previous research evaluating the influence of surgical focus on cataract surgical outcomes has been lacking. This study aimed to evaluate whether surgeons' exclusive surgical focus on cataract surgery influences the risk of cataract surgical adverse events.

Validating the use of a stereoscopic robotized teleophthalmic drone slit lamp.

Objective: To validate the use of a mechanized remotely operated stereoscopic drone slit lamp (DSL) in assessing anterior segment pathology in ophthalmology patients compared with conventional slit lamp (CSL).

Methods: Patients were recruited from eye clinics at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Each patient was assessed by 2 examiners.

Exclusive cataract surgical focus among ophthalmologists: a population-based analysis.

Objective: An important potential unintended consequence of the growth of surgical subspecialization is the narrowing of surgical practice among comprehensive ophthalmologists. We investigated trends in the narrowing of surgical practice and the exclusive provision of cataract surgery.

Design: Population-based, retrospective study.

Drug-Induced Intracranial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Critical Assessment of Drug-Induced Causes.

Background: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition with increased intracranial pressure of unknown etiology. Its presenting symptoms include persistent headache, pulsatile tinnitus, and visual obscuration. It tends to occur in obese women of childbearing age, and its greatest risk is irreversible loss of vision.

Intraocular calcidiol: Uncovering a role for vitamin D in the eye.

Unlabelled: Vitamin D has emerged as a potentially important molecule in ophthalmology. To date, all ophthalmic data pertaining to vitamin D has been restricted primarily to tear and serum analysis in human patients. Considering the isolated nature of the eye, we sought to determine the presence of intraocular vitamin D in ocular disease.

Cataract Surgery Quality and Capacity.

Cataract surgery is the most common operation performed in most developed countries, including Canada. Nuanced, evidence-driven policies are needed to ensure appropriate access to this sight-saving operation while maintaining the highest standards in quality of care. The Vision Health Services Research Program at Queen's University, in partnership with members of the Ontario Provincial Vision Task Force, has developed evidence to inform policies aimed at optimizing both access and quality across the eye care spectrum.

Neural network and logistic regression diagnostic prediction models for giant cell arteritis: development and validation.

Purpose: To develop and validate neural network (NN) vs logistic regression (LR) diagnostic prediction models in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA). Design: Multicenter retrospective chart review.

Methods: An audit of consecutive patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy (TABx) for suspected GCA was conducted at 14 international medical centers.

The incidence of giant cell arteritis in Ontario, Canada.

Objective: The incidence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) is insufficiently documented for Canada, but important to ascertain for public health planning. We estimate the incidence of biopsy-proven GCA (BPGCA) in Kingston, Ontario, and for the province of Ontario.

Method: The number of cases of BPGCA was tabulated from retrospective chart review of all temporal artery biopsies (TABx) in Kingston, Ontario from 2011-15.

Evolution in the Risk of Cataract Surgical Complications among Patients Exposed to Tamsulosin: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: Tamsulosin is associated with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS), an important risk factor for complications during cataract surgery. Significant efforts have been made to increase awareness of the risks associated with tamsulosin, and educational initiatives have fostered the uptake of technical adjustments to decrease adverse event rates among tamsulosin-exposed patients. However, the effectiveness of these efforts at the population level has not been studied.

Association of Cataract Surgical Outcomes With Late Surgeon Career Stages: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Importance: Evidence suggests that the quality of some aspects of care provided by physicians may decrease during their late career stage. However, to our knowledge, data regarding the association of advancing surgeon career phase with cataract surgical outcomes have been lacking.

Objective: To investigate whether an increase in cataract surgical adverse events occurs during later surgeon career stages.

Multivariable prediction model for suspected giant cell arteritis: development and validation.

Purpose: To develop and validate a diagnostic prediction model for patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: A retrospective review of records of consecutive adult patients undergoing temporal artery biopsy (TABx) for suspected GCA was conducted at seven university centers. The pathologic diagnosis was considered the final diagnosis.

Three-Dimensional Printing of a Transconjunctival Vitrectomy Trocar-Cannula System.

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to study the feasibility of manufacturing a customizable trocar-cannula system for vitreoretinal surgery utilizing commercially available three-dimensional (3D) printing technology.

Methods: A digital model of a trocar-cannula system for vitreoretinal surgery was created using computer-aided design (CAD) software and printed utilizing a laser-sintering 3D printer in modified ABS thermoplastic material. The trocar-cannula prototypes were tested in pig eyes.

New Surgeon Outcomes and the Effectiveness of Surgical Training: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: Reports have questioned the technical proficiency of newly graduating surgeons. However, objective data supporting these concerns are limited. Surgical outcomes among recent graduates are an important indicator of residency programs' ability to graduate surgeons who are ready to meet the needs of their patients.

Effect of cataract surgery volume constraints on recently graduated ophthalmologists: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Across Canada, graduates from several medical and surgical specialties have recently had difficulty securing practice opportunities, especially in specialties dependent on limited resources such as ophthalmology. We aimed to investigate whether resource constraints in the health care system have a greater impact on the volume of cataract surgery performed by recent graduates than on established physicians.

Methods: We used population-based administrative data from Ontario for the period Jan.

Safety and Tolerability of Acetazolamide in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial.

Objective: To examine the tolerability and adverse events reported in the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial (IIHTT).

Methods: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Trial participants (n = 165) with mild visual loss concurrently receiving low-sodium weight-reduction diet plus the maximally tolerated dosage of acetazolamide (up to 4 g/d) or placebo for 6 months.

Delayed Development of Intracranial Hypertension After Discontinuation of Tetracycline Treatment for Acne Vulgaris.

A 14-year-old girl presented with a history of left-sided headache and acute bilateral blurred vision. She had a remote history of oral tetracycline use for the treatment of acne vulgaris, which had been discontinued for 1 month. The patient was diagnosed with drug-induced intracranial hypertension (IH) and treated with oral acetazolamide with subsequent resolution of symptoms.

Strabismus surgical subspecialization: a population-based analysis.

Importance: The growing complexity of medical and surgical care has resulted in increasing subspecialization. To date, data have been lacking regarding the degree to which subspecialization has affected the provision of strabismus surgical services. This gap is important to address given the implications for health care human resources planning and educational programs.