Analysis of cataract referrals from community optometrists and general practitioners and subsequent clinic visit outcomes in a university hospital in the west of Ireland.

Background: Studies published from hospitals in other countries have reported rates of between 69 and 90% of cataract referrals being listed for surgery (1-3). This potentially represents unnecessary outpatient appointments, time off work and transport costs for patients and carers (2).

Aims: Our first primary endpoint was to assess the number of cataract referrals listed for surgery.

Hip pain attributable to a ganglion of the psoas tendon: a common cyst in an uncommon region-the first case reported in a child.

Ganglion cysts of the psoas tendon are uncommon and rarely reported in the literature. Often they remain asymptomatic and are found incidentally or can be a cause of atypical groin/hip pain. We present a rare case of ganglion cyst in a child arising from the psoas tendon, causing symptomatic hip pain, which failed non-surgical treatment and eventually successfully treated with surgical excision.

Fibrotic interstitial lung disease - palliative care needs: a World-Café qualitative study.

Objectives: The importance of palliative care in those with advanced fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (F-ILD) is recognised, but the palliative care requirements of patients and caregivers affected by F-ILD regardless of disease course are not established. We set out to explore this and identify optimal solutions in meeting the needs of a F-ILD population in Ireland.

Methods: Implementing a World-Café qualitative research approach, we captured insights evolving, iteratively in interactive small group discussions in response to six predefined topics on palliative care and planning for the future.

Lyme neuroborreliosis causing unilateral cerebellitis presenting as horizontal nystagmus in a 7-year-old: an unusual presentation to an ophthalmology service.

Acute cerebellitis is a rare condition with a highly heterogenous clinical course, ranging from self-limiting mild symptoms to a fulminant presentation. Symptoms include headache, vomiting, fever, ataxia, dysarthria, intention tremor, meningism, seizures, and altered level of consciousness. It warrants a high level of suspicion because of the risk of intracranial hypertension and acute hydrocephalus due to compression of the posterior fossa.

Community optometrist-led post-operative cataract care: how many patients re-present to the hospital ophthalmic department?

Background: Cataract surgery represents a significant workload for ophthalmologists in Ireland. Post-operative shared care with community optometrists can reduce the need for hospital follow-up appointments.

Aims: Eight years after the introduction of a shared-care pathway, we wished to quantify the proportion of patients discharged to the community for post-operative follow-up, and the number that re-present to the hospital due to cataract-related issues.