Development of a web-based patient decision aid for myopia laser correction method.

Background: In the context of healthcare centered on the patient, Patient Decision Aids (PtDAs) acts as an essential instrument, promoting shared decision-making (SDM). Considering the prevalent occurrence of myopia, the objective of this study is to furnish exhaustive and easily comprehensible information to assist patients in making well-informed decisions about their options for myopia laser correction.

Method: The research team developed a decision guide for myopia patients considering laser correction, aiming to facilitate informed decisions.

A New Technique for Harvesting Limbal Stem Cell Tissue for Transplantation Using an Automated Microkeratome and a Novel Globe-Fixation System.

Purpose: To introduce an unprecedented technique, instrumentation, and setup for the superficial limbus harvest from the human cadaver donor whole globe.

Methods: We studied several superficial limbus harvest alternatives, developed a preferred approach with our available instruments, and optimized it on a handful of (seropositive) cadaver donors of whole globes.

Results/technique: The globe was pressurized to about normal intraocular pressure by viscoelastic injection through the optic nerve stump.

Evaluation of the effect of artificial tears on corneal epithelial thickness changes after photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the corneal epithelial thickness changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and the impact of long-term artificial tear usage on epithelial thickness changes in these patients.

Methods: This study was performed on 71 patients (142 eyes) without dry eye disease who received PRK for myopic refractive correction. The corneal epithelial thickness profile was obtained before, one, three, and six months after surgery using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

From the diagnosis of infectious keratitis to discriminating fungal subtypes; a deep learning-based study.

Infectious keratitis (IK) is a major cause of corneal opacity. IK can be caused by a variety of microorganisms. Typically, fungal ulcers carry the worst prognosis.

A joinpoint and age-period-cohort analysis of ocular cancer secular trends in Iran from 2004 to 2016.

Investigating secular trends of ocular cancer registration in Iran. After acquiring Iranian national population-based cancer registry data, trends of age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) of ocular cancers and annual percent changes (APC) between 2004 and 2016 were analysed in age groups, gender, topography and morphology types with joinpoint regression analysis. Age, period, and cohort effects on incidence rates were estimated by age-period-cohort model.

Associated factors and distribution of posterior corneal astigmatism in a middle-aged population.

Clinical Relevance: Posterior corneal astigmatism has an important role in diagnosis and treatment of astigmatism, but it is usually overlooked.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the distribution of posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) and its associated factors in a middle-aged population that participated in the Shahroud Eye Cohort Study (ShECS) phase II.

Methods: Anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA) and PCA values were measured using rotating Scheimpflug System (Pentacam HR, Oculus).

Applications of Haptic Technology, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence in Medical Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This paper examines how haptic technology, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence help to reduce the physical contact in medical training during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Notably, any mistake made by the trainees during the education process might lead to undesired complications for the patient. Therefore, training of the medical skills to the trainees have always been a challenging issue for the expert surgeons, and this is even more challenging in pandemics.

Tonometry by Ocular Response Analyzer in Keratoconic and Warpage Eyes in Comparison with Normal Eyes.

Purpose: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) values measured by ocular response analyzer (ORA) in contact lens-induced corneal warpage, normal, and keratoconic eyes.

Methods: In a prospective, observational case-control study, 94 eyes of 47 warpage-suspected cases and 46 eyes of 23 keratoconic patients were enrolled. Warpage-suspected cases were followed until a definite diagnosis was made (warpage, nonwarpage normal, or keratoconus).

Cost-effectiveness analysis of tele-retinopathy of prematurity screening in Iran.

Aim: To conduct a cost-utility analysis of the tele-retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening program against no screening.

Methods: A decision tree model was developed to identify and treat the infants with threshold ROP through the tele-screening system compared with no screening program from the societal perspective. We used the quality adjusted life years (QALY) index to measure the scenarios' effectiveness, which was discounted for the future years by 0.

National and sub national prevalence of Amblyopia and its trends from 1990 to 2018 in Iran.

Purpose: To determine the national and subnational prevalence of amblyopia and the respective provincial distribution and trend during 1990-2018 in Iran.

Methods: Amblyopia data retrieved from 26 original studies, systematic reviews, Data has been cleaned by STATA and a linear mixed effect spatio-temporal model was used to calculate Gaussian process regression mean functions. Using a Bayesian approach, by pooling empirical data based on the assumed prior, a posterior distribution obtained for age and sex specific prevalence prediction nationally during the study time and provincially.

Ophthalmic Care Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure in Iran: Kurdistan Eye Health and Economics Survey-2015.

Background: Due to lack of information about ophthalmic economics in Iran, health policy makers unable to distribute resources optimally in terms of efficiency and equity. Therefore, we estimated the total and eye care utilization, out-of-pocket expenditures, and its association with social determinants of health in Iran in 2015.

Methods: A multi-stage population-based, cross-sectional study in a random sample aged 50 yr or older in Kurdistan Province, Northwest Iran was used.

Posterior corneal astigmatism: a review article.

Most human eyes show at least a small degree of corneal astigmatism and it can arise from both surfaces of the cornea. The shape of the anterior corneal surface provides no definitive basis for knowing the toricity of the posterior surface. In the previous studies, average astigmatism of the posterior corneal surface was -0.

Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness in Kurdistan, Iran.

Purpose: To determine the magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment (VI) in Kurdistan, using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology.

Methods: In this population-based cross sectional study, 99 clusters were selected through probability proportional to size sampling. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using a standard tumbling "E" chart.

Geographical inequality in cataract surgery among Iranians between 2006 and 2011.

Background: Cataract surgery is a highly cost-effective intervention for sight restoration but inequalities exist in its use which health care systems should aim to reduce.

Aims: This study aimed to measure the level of inequality in cataract surgery use and the changes in inequality between 2006 and 2011 in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Methods: A number of metrics, including ranges and indexes based on Lorenz curves (Gini, concentration and dissimilarity indexes), were used to measure the inequality in cataract surgery use among Iranians in 2006 and 2011.

Refractive surgery: the most cost-saving technique in refractive errors correction.

Aim: To compare the lifetime and annual economic burden of spectacles, contact lenses, and refractive surgery in correction of refractive errors.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling which 120 patients were interviewed in a tertiary referral hospital in the Iranian health care system. The bottom-up based cost of illness approach was estimated using a face-to-face interview to assess the direct and indirect cost of different refractive errors correction of any correction technologies.

Prevalence and Major Causes of Visual Impairment in Iranian Adults: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a pooled estimate of moderate-to-severe visual impairment (MSVI) and blindness in Iran for people 50 years and over and to identify the major causes through systematic review.

Materials And Methods: International (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus) and national databases (Scientific Information Database, Barakat Knowledge Network System, Iran Databank of Ophthalmology Research, and Magiran) databases were searched. Following relevance assessment and critical appraisal, eight studies were included.