Waste and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Produced from Ophthalmic Surgeries: A Scoping Review.

(1) Background: Healthcare is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially within the surgical suite. Ophthalmologists play a role, since they frequently perform high-volume procedures, such as cataract surgery. This review aims to summarize the current literature on surgical waste and GHG emissions in ophthalmology and proposes a framework to standardize future studies.

Healthcare Utilization Patterns in Sickle Cell Patients and Their Association With Sickle Cell Retinopathy.

Background/aim: A few shave identified systemic and hematologic risk factors for Proliferative Sickle Cell Retinopathy (PSR) development. The relevance of healthcare utilization as a risk factor for PSR has not been defined. This study evaluates patterns of healthcare utilization among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and retinopathy.

In a Large Healthcare System in the Bronx, Teleretinal Triaging Was Found to Increase Screening and Healthcare Access for an Underserved Population with a High Incidence of T2DM and Retinopathy.

The early treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevents vision-threatening proliferative retinopathy (PDR) and macular edema (DME). Our study evaluates telemedicine (teleretinal) screening for DR in an inner-city healthcare network with a high ethnic diversity and disease burden. Fundus photographs were obtained and graded in a centralized reading center between 2014 and 2016.

Routine Ophthalmological Examination Rates in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Are Low and Must Be Improved.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommend patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) undergo dilated funduscopic exams (DFE) every 1-2 years to screen for sickle retinopathy. There is a paucity of data on the adherence rate to these guidelines; a retrospective study was performed to evaluate our institution's adherence. A chart review of 842 adults with SCD, seen 3/2017-3/2021 in the Montefiore healthcare system (), was done.

Premature infants with gestational age less than 25 weeks require increased ophthalmology resources for retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: It is unclear how increasing survival of low gestational age (GA) infants affects ophthalmologic screening and treatment rates for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study compared the examination and treatment rates of infants born at GA of <25 weeks and those born at GA of at least 25 weeks.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who met institutional ROP screening criteria and were admitted to two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) from January 2017 to June 2020.

The Cost-Effectiveness of a Telemedicine Screening Program for Diabetic Retinopathy in New York City.

Background: A telemedicine screening initiative was implemented by the Montefiore Health System to improve access to eyecare for a multi-ethnic, at-risk population of diabetic patients in a largely underserved urban community in the Bronx, New York. This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis evaluates the societal benefit and financial sustainability of this program by analyzing both cost and revenue generation based on current standard Medicare reimbursement rates.

Methods: Non-mydriatic fundus cameras were placed in collaboration with a vendor in eight outpatient primary care sites throughout the Montefiore Health Care System, and data was collected between June 2014 and July 2016.

The time and financial ramifications of providing services for retinopathy of prematurity at a single inner-city institution in the United States: a pilot study.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a sight-threatening disease that requires strict, scheduled screening and timely treatment. Examining infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) confers an added burden for ophthalmologists whose practices are predominantly outpatient. We sought to evaluate the time required for ROP services and to approximate compensation to better understand the implications of providing this crucial service.

Associations with retinal vascular occlusions in a diverse, urban population.

Purpose: Retinal vascular occlusions can lead to sudden and permanent visual impairment or blindness. Few epidemiological studies on retinal vascular occlusions have been conducted, especially on diverse populations.

Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study of all incident retinal vascular occlusions occurring during a three and one-half year study period at Montefiore Medical Center, capturing all potential cases by diagnosis codes.

Trends in retinopathy of prematurity over a 5-year period in a racially diverse population.

Background And Objective: Retinopathy of prematurity presents differently in developing versus developed countries, which may be due to environmental as well as racial differences.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective chart review of infants screened for ROP at a single neonatal intensive care unit. Risk factors were reviewed.

A typical bilateral Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in a bone marrow transplant patient with negative serum titers.

Background: Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis can have an atypical presentation and be difficult to diagnose in immunocompromised patients. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment is important since the disease can be aggressive in these patients. This paper is a case report with literature review, emphasizing on the diagnosis and treatment of Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis.

Patent ductus arteriosus and indomethacin treatment as independent risk factors for plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To examine whether clinically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or indomethacin treatment are associated with plus disease or retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment.

Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Charts were reviewed for gestational age, birth weight, birth head circumference, birth length, maternal characteristics, gender, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, neurologic comorbidities, PDA and its treatments, gastrointestinal comorbidities, blood transfusions, and sepsis.

Optical coherence tomography findings in idiopathic macular holes.

Purpose. To describe the characteristics of idiopathic macular holes (MH) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and correlate OCT with clinical assessment. Design.

Effect of partial posterior vitreous detachment on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of partially attached posterior vitreous detachments (pPVDs) at the optic disc on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using stored Stratus optical coherence tomography III scans of patients with suspected glaucoma from January 2003 to September 2006 at the Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York. All scans were evaluated for vitreous attachments at the disc and were divided into control (without pPVD) and pPVD groups.