Patient support to reduce risk diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of blindness in the western world resulting in damage to the blood vessels of the retina. This damage causes visual loss that can have a devastating effect on patients and their families, and is intensified by the loss of self-management abilities that may have physical and psychosocial implications. Nurses in both primary and secondary care settings need to understand the condition as they can play a vital role in reducing its incidence.

Study of clinical applications and safety for Pascal® laser photocoagulation in retinal vascular disorders.

Purpose: To establish safe laser parameter standards for 10-30 ms Pascal(®) laser in clinical practice and to evaluate clinical and visual outcomes using this 532-nm multi-spot photocoagulation system.

Methods: Retrospective observational case series of 313 patients treated between 2006 and 2008. Evaluation of eight groups: A - panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR); B - focal laser treatment for clinically significant diabetic macular oedema; C - grid laser for diffuse diabetic macular oedema; D - sector PRP for ischaemic branch retinal vein occlusions (I-BRVO); E - full PRP for ischaemic central retinal vein occlusions (I-CRVO); F - macular laser treatment for macular oedema secondary to non-ischaemic BRVO; G - full PRP for rubeosis iridis and/or neovascular glaucoma (NVG) secondary to I-BRVO, I - CRVO or PDR; H - laser retinopexy for retinal breaks/degenerations.

To posture or not to posture after macular hole surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the anatomic and functional success of phacovitrectomy and intraocular gas tamponade for macular hole surgery with only first night face down posturing.

Methods: This was a nonrandomized observational prospective trial over 9 months, with data collection on 28 eyes of 26 consecutive patients who underwent phacovitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peel, and intraocular gas tamponade (C2F6) for stage 2, 3, and 4 macular holes. Data included sex, age, hole latency and Gass stage, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and ocular coherence tomography, refractive outcome, ocular comorbidity, first postoperative day gas fill, and intraocular pressure.

Using research to improve ophthalmic nursing care.

This article focuses on the way in which the nursing care of patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery was developed as a result of an action research project. The research project is described and the following practice developments are discussed: the preoperative preparation of patients; the physiological effects of posturing; communication between patients, staff and the multidisciplinary team; and the knowledge base and clinical skills of nurses. These developments are evaluated and suggestions for future practice are made.