Optic disc pit maculopathy: Covering or filling technique with human amniotic membrane patch to treat the optic disc pit maculopathy?

Purpose: To describe two patients affected by optic disk pit-maculopathy ODP-M surgically treated with pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) and the apposition of a human Amniotic Membrane (hAM) patch.

Methods: Patients underwent a PPV with the apposition of a hAM patch to cover the ODP. In case 1, a 2 surgery was necessary to push the hAM patch inside the pit, whereas in case 2 the patch was pulled inside the pit following the pressure gradient when infusion was turned on.

Development of Measures for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma: Introduction to the Special Supplement on Stigma Measurement Tools.

People who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) often experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives. Qualitative research describing their lived experiences has provided useful, in-depth insights into the pervasiveness of stigma. Quantitative measures could facilitate further investigation of the scope of this phenomenon.

Routine Hearing Screening for Older Adults in Primary Care: Insights of Patients and Clinic Personnel.

Background And Objectives: Hearing loss frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated, with serious sequelae. Hearing screening facilitates diagnosis and treatment but is not routinely conducted in primary care. This study addresses the attitudes and insights of patients and primary care clinic personnel relative to the routinization of hearing screening in primary care for older adults.

Newborn and infant hearing screening for early detection of hearing loss in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Early detection of hearing loss and subsequent intervention leads to better speech, language and educational outcomes giving way to improved social economic prospects in adult life. This can be achieved through establishing newborn and infant hearing screening programs.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hearing loss in newborns and infants in Nairobi, Kenya.

Towards universal access: A review of global efforts in ear and hearing care.

Hearing loss affects 1.6 billion people worldwide and disproportionately affects those in low- and middle-income countries. Despite being largely preventable or treatable, ear and hearing conditions result in significant and lifelong morbidity such as delayed language development, reduced educational attainment, and diminished social well-being.

Increasing incidence of contact-lens-related keratitis in a tertiary ophthalmology department in an Italian population.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the increasing incidence of contact-lens related keratitis (AK) in a tertiary ophthalmology department in Umbria, central Italy.

Methods: Observational and retrospective case series were carried out. A total of nine eyes with a diagnosis of AK were examined.

Priorities for hearing loss prevention and estimates of global cause-specific burdens of hearing loss: a systematic rapid review.

Background: Hearing loss affects approximately 1·6 billion individuals worldwide. Many cases are preventable. We aimed to estimate the annual number of new hearing loss cases that could be attributed to meningitis, otitis media, congenital rubella syndrome, cytomegalovirus, and ototoxic medications, specifically aminoglycosides, platinum-based chemotherapeutics, and antimalarials.

Bilateral evolution of OCT biomarkers in dry AMD: Long-term follow up study.

Purpose: To report the emergence and progress of four late-stage characteristics: incomplete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy (iRORA) and complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA), drusen ooze and drusen collapse in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of eyes with non-exudative AMD. Multimodal imaging was done at follow up visits ≤ 12 months.

A Pragmatic Clinical Trial of Hearing Screening in Primary Care Clinics: Effect of Setting and Provider Encouragement.

Objectives: The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age. Untreated hearing loss is associated with poorer communication abilities and negative health consequences, such as increased risk of dementia, increased odds of falling, and depression. Nonetheless, evidence is insufficient to support the benefits of universal hearing screening in asymptomatic older adults.

Ocular-Surface Regeneration Therapies for Eye Disorders: The State of the Art.

The ocular surface is a complex structure that includes cornea, conjunctiva, limbus, and tear film, and is critical for maintaining visual function. When the ocular-surface integrity is altered by a disease, conventional therapies usually rely on topical drops or tissue replacement with more invasive procedures, such as corneal transplants. However, in the last years, regeneration therapies have emerged as a promising approach to repair the damaged ocular surface by stimulating cell proliferation and restoring the eye homeostasis and function.

NIDCD's 5-Year Strategic Plan Describes Scientific Priorities and Commitment to Basic Science.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) recently issued a new strategic plan that describes the institute's scientific priorities over the next five years. Developed in collaboration with informed stakeholders, the 2023-2027 NIDCD Strategic Plan: Advancing the Science of Communication to Improve Lives creates a unified vision to stimulate discoveries in basic research, model systems, innovative technologies, individualized treatment approaches, scientific data sharing, and translation of research findings into clinical practice. To further accelerate scientific discoveries, the institute encourages collaborations and information sharing among interdisciplinary teams conducting research in these priority areas, and advocates for the utilization of biomedical databases to share scientific findings.

The Impact of Hearing Loss and Its Treatment on Health-Related Quality of Life Utility: a Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.

Background: Hearing loss significantly impacts health-related quality of life (QoL), yet the effects of current treatments on QoL utility remain uncertain. Our objective was to describe the impact of untreated and treated hearing loss on QoL utility to inform hearing healthcare policy.

Methods: We searched databases for articles published through 02/01/2021.

Evaluation of warm compresses and topical cyclosporine treatment in meibomian gland dysfunction by confocal scanning laser microscopy.

Purpose: The aim of our study is to confirm the utility of warm compresses (WC) and artificial tears (AT) in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) management and to understand if its association with topical cyclosporine A (CsA) improves outcomes.

Methods: Patients with diagnosis of MGD-related dry eye were evaluated. In this prospective, randomized, double-masked study, patients were randomized in two treatments: AT plus WC (group A), and AT plus WC plus CsA 0.

Primary small gauge pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil endotamponade for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: Clinical and OCT findings.

Background: Retrospective analysis of morphological and functional outcomes after pars-plana vitrectomy and Silicone-Oil (SO) endotamponade in acute postoperative endophthalmitis (APOE).

Methods: Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Every included patient received best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessment, pre-operatively and at last follow-up.

Validation of the Decision model of the Burden of Hearing loss Across the Lifespan (DeciBHAL) in Chile, India, and Nigeria.

Background: There is no published decision model for informing hearing health care resource allocation across the lifespan in low- and middle-income countries. We sought to validate the Decision model of the Burden of Hearing loss Across the Lifespan International (DeciBHAL-I) in Chile, India, and Nigeria.

Methods: DeciBHAL-I simulates bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and conductive hearing loss (CHL) acquisition, SNHL progression, and hearing loss treatment.

A pragmatic clinical trial of hearing screening in primary care clinics: cost-effectiveness of hearing screening.

Background: Hearing loss is a high prevalence condition among older adults, is associated with higher-than-average risk for poor health outcomes and quality of life, and is a public health concern to individuals, families, communities, professionals, governments, and policy makers. Although low-cost hearing screening (HS) is widely available, most older adults are not asked about hearing during health care visits. A promising approach to addressing unmet needs in hearing health care is HS in primary care (PC) clinics; most PC providers (PCPs) do not inquire about hearing loss.

Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Otolaryngology and the Communication Sciences.

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning field in otolaryngology and the communication sciences. A virtual symposium on the topic was convened from Duke University on October 26, 2020, and was attended by more than 170 participants worldwide. This review presents summaries of all but one of the talks presented during the symposium; recordings of all the talks, along with the discussions for the talks, are available at https://www.

Development and validation of DeciBHAL-US: A novel microsimulation model of hearing loss across the lifespan in the United States.

Background: Hearing loss affects over 50% of people in the US across their lifespan and there is a lack of decision modeling frameworks to inform optimal hearing healthcare delivery. Our objective was to develop and validate a microsimulation model of hearing loss across the lifespan in the US.

Methods: We collaborated with the Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss to outline model structure, identify input data sources, and calibrate/validate DeciBHAL-US (Decision model of the Burden of Hearing loss Across the Lifespan).

Vitamin B12 levels in patients with retinal vein occlusion and their relation with clinical outcome: a retrospective study.

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disorder, after diabetic retinopathy. Most patients suffering RVO develop some degree of visual loss consequent to retinal complications such as edema and microhemorrhages. Even if some risk factors for RVO have been identified, the clinical outcome of RVO remains highly unpredictable because studies investigating potential prognostic markers for visual improvement are lacking.

Optical coherence tomography predictors of progression of non-exudative age-related macular degeneration to advanced atrophic and exudative disease.

Purpose: To study the natural history of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging-based findings seen in non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (neAMD) and model their relative likelihood in predicting development of incomplete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy (iRORA), complete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA), and neovascular AMD (nAMD).

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed at two academic practices. Patients diagnosed with neAMD for whom yearly OCT scans were obtained for at least 4 consecutive years were included.