Visual risk factors for falls in older adults: a case-control study.

Background: Falls are the second leading  cause of accidental deaths worldwide mainly in older people. Older people have poor vision and published evidence suggests that it is a risk factor for falls. Less than half of falls clinics assess vision as part of the multi-factorial assessment of older adults at risk of falls despite vision being an essential input for postural stability.

The Use of the Saccadometer to Identify Saccadic Characteristics in Myasthenia Gravis: A Pilot Study.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) often presents with ocular signs that mimic other forms of ocular defects, such as isolated cranial nerve palsy. Normal velocity or even hyperfast saccadic eye movements in the presence of deficits of smooth pursuit have been well described in the literature in myasthenic patients. The reason for these paradoxical clinical findings has been reported to be due to increased postsynaptic folding of the fast-twitch fibers responsible for the execution of a saccade which is absent in those fibers responsible for slower, smooth eye movement.

Outcomes of the Harada-Ito Procedure.

Purpose: Fell's modification of the Harada-Ito (HI) procedure is often used to tackle subjective torsion usually following superior oblique palsy. There is limited published data on the longer-term outcomes and the effect on horizontal incomitance of the procedure. The purpose of this study is to report on the medium to long-term outcomes of the HI procedure.

The Normal Accommodative Convergence/Accommodation (AC/A) Ratio.

Background And Purpose: To measure the Accommodative Convergence (PD)/Accommodation ratio (D) (AC/A) in a cohort of visually normal participants using common clinical methods.

Patients And Methods: AC/A ratios of 50 visually normal subjects were measured using the distance gradient (DG), near gradient (NG), gradient using synoptophore, (SG) and heterophoria (H) methods in line with current clinical practice.

Results: Median AC/A ratios for NG, DG, SG, and H were 2.

Incidence, risk factors and management of intractable diplopia.

Aims: There is a paucity of literature concerning intractable diplopia. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of intractable diplopia in the UK, identify the causes and any associated risk factors, establish how cases are managed and if the treatment is successful and tolerated.

Methods: A 1-year prospective observational study was undertaken via the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU).

Assessment of the Density of Suppression to Identify Risk of Intractable Diplopia in the United Kingdom.

Background/aims: Occlusion used to treat amblyopia towards the end of the developmental component of the critical period gives a risk of inducing intractable diplopia. In the United Kingdom, the density of suppression is assessed via the Sbisa/Bagolini filter bar, but there is very little research evidence to guide clinical practice or interpretation of the tests used. The aims of this study were to determine current practice and estimate the incidence of intractable diplopia following amblyopia treatment.

Fiat Lux: the effect of illuminance on acuity testing.

Purpose: To determine the effect of changing illuminance on visual and stereo acuity.

Methods: Twenty-eight subjects aged 21 to 60 years were assessed. Monocular visual acuity (ETDRS) of emmetropic subjects was assessed under 15 different illuminance levels (50-8000 lux), provided by a computer controlled halogen lighting rig.

A pilot study examining density of suppression measurement in strabismus.

Purpose: Establish whether the Sbisa bar, Bagolini filter (BF) bar, and neutral density filter (NDF) bar, used to measure density of suppression, are equivalent and possess test-retest reliability. Determine whether density of suppression is altered when measurement equipment/testing conditions are changed.

Methods: Our pilot study had 10 subjects aged ≥18 years with childhood-onset strabismus, no ocular pathologies, and no binocular vision when manifest.

Use of atropine penalization to treat amblyopia in UK orthoptic practice.

Purpose: To compare clinical practice patterns regarding atropine penalization use by UK orthoptists to the current evidence base and identify any existing barriers against use of AP as first-line treatment.

Methods: An online survey was designed to assess current practice patterns of UK orthoptists using atropine penalization. They were asked to identify issues limiting their use of atropine penalization and give opinions on its effectiveness compared to occlusion.

eHealth in North America.

Objective: The overall objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the current status of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and implementation in Canada and the United States.

Methods: A review and synthesis of the empirical and grey literature about adoption of electronic health records in Canada and the United States was undertaken.

Results: Both Canada and the United States have experienced increases in their adoption rates.

Differences in the stability of zirconium(IV) complexes related to catalytic phosphine dehydrocoupling reactions.

Relating to the catalytic dehydrocoupling of secondary phosphine substrates, zirconium phosphide complexes supported by triamidoamine and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands exhibit different stability that is attributed to β-hydride elimination.

The effect of recent amblyopia research on current practice in the UK.

Background/aims: Several studies have recently provided insights into how amblyopia may be most effectively managed. Despite the new evidence, a US study reported that a recent randomised controlled trial had made little influence on clinical practice. The aims of this research are to assess current practice of amblyopia management in the UK and to determine the comparability with the evidence-based recommendations.

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) inhibits myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidant production and biological damage at therapeutically achievable concentrations.

The heme peroxidase enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) is released by activated neutrophils and monocytes, where it uses hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) to catalyze the production of the potent oxidants hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hypobromous acid (HOBr) and hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) from halide and pseudohalide (SCN(-)) ions. These oxidants have been implicated as key mediators of tissue damage in many human inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis and some cancers. It is shown here that acetaminophen (paracetamol), a phenol-based drug with analgesic and antipyretic actions, is an efficient inhibitor of HOCl and HOBr generation by isolated MPO-H(2)O(2)-halide systems.

Oculomotor control in children who were born very prematurely.

Purpose: Preterm infants are at increased risk of a variety of cerebral lesions, involving the white matter, cortex, cerebellum, thalamus, and caudate nucleus, many of which could compromise the control of eye movement. Visual problems and disorders of binocularity and alignment have been reported, but little if any quantitative assessment of oculomotor control has been undertaken. The purpose of this study was to extend the initial pilot study and quantitatively examine the control of saccades, smooth pursuit, and antisaccades in children who were born very prematurely.

Ophthalmic impairment at 7 years of age in children born very preterm.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of ophthalmic impairments in very preterm compared with term infants, the relation between impairments and cerebral ultrasound appearances and retinopathy, and the correlation with visual perception and motor and cognitive measures.

Subjects: 279 children at 7 years of age born before 32 weeks gestation within Liverpool during 1991-92 and attending mainstream schools, and 210 term controls.

Methods: Visual acuity was assessed by Snellen chart, and strabismus by the cover test.

Oculomotor control in a group of very low birth weight (VLBW) children.

VLBW infants are at risk of lesions including intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia. Those with normal IQ still present with reading difficulties. Oculomotor performance was assessed on 14 VLBWs (IQ > 85) and 15 full-term age-matched controls.

A randomised controlled trial of written information: the effect on parental non-concordance with occlusion therapy.

Background/aims: It is well documented that non-concordance with occlusion therapy is both substantial and a major factor leading to treatment failure. Parental understanding in previous work has been found to be poor in key areas such as the critical period and effect of age on prognosis. Research in other areas of medicine has shown that the level of understanding can have a direct effect on the level of concordance.

Parental non-concordance with occlusion therapy.

Background/aims: Non-concordance has often been reported as a major contributor to the failure of occlusion therapy for amblyopia. In other fields of medicine the extent of a patient's understanding in areas of the disease and treatment has been shown to have both a direct and indirect effect on subsequent concordance. The aims of this study were to determine the extent of parental non-concordance, to assess their level of understanding in key areas of amblyopia, occlusion therapy, critical period and prognosis, and to discover the parent's own reasons for failing to concord.

Catalase activity in electrically stimulated muscle.

10 min of electrical stimulation resulted in a significant rise in gastrocnemius catalase activity.