Associated factors of the co-occurrence of trachoma and soil-transmitted helminthiases in children 1 to 9 years old in rural communities of the Amazon basin in Loreto Department, Peru: Results from a population-based survey.

Background: There is evidence of the occurrence of trachoma in Peru, and studies have shown that soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are affecting rural communities in the Amazon basin in Loreto Department. This study was done to estimate trachoma prevalence, STH prevalence, and the associated factors for both diseases in children aged 1-9 years in rural communities of Peru.

Methodology: A population-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in rural communities of Loreto.

Risk of seroconversion and seroreversion of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis pgp3 in a longitudinal cohort of children in a low trachoma prevalence district in Tanzania.

Background: Serologic testing for chlamydial antibodies is one potential tool for trachoma monitoring. Understanding the dynamics of seroconversion and seroreversion in low endemic districts is critical for determining the value of using serology.

Methodology/principal Findings: We surveyed a random sample of 2536 children aged 1-9 years in Kongwa, Tanzania, over three years; 1719 (67.

The Impact of Image Quality and Trachomatous Inflammation on Using Photography for Trachoma Prevalence Surveys.

Purpose: Graded images can be used for trachoma prevalence surveys, but there is concern for mismatch between image and field grades of the upper tarsal conjunctiva. We aimed to determine if poor photograph quality and/or inflammation may contribute to differential grading of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) between field and photograph graders.

Methods: We developed a simplified and expanded image quality grading tool.

Noncycloplegic Compared with Cycloplegic Refraction in a Chicago School-Aged Population.

Purpose: To evaluate differences between autorefraction measurements with and without cycloplegia among school-aged individuals and to explore factors associated with significant differences.

Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective study.

Participants: Individuals between 3 and 22 years of age evaluated at the Illinois College of Optometry from September 2016 through June 2019 who underwent same-day noncycloplegic and cycloplegic autorefraction of the right eye.

An observational assessment of the safety of mass drug administration for trachoma in Ethiopian children.

Background: The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) provides azithromycin for mass drug administration (MDA) to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Azithromycin is given as tablets for adults and powder for oral suspension (POS) is recommended for children aged <7 y, children <120 cm in height (regardless of age) or anyone who reports difficulty in swallowing tablets. An observational assessment of MDA for trachoma was conducted to determine the frequency with which children aged 6 mo through 14 y received the recommended dose and form of azithromycin according to current dosing guidelines and to assess risk factors for choking and adverse swallowing events (ASEs).

Grand Challenges in global eye health: a global prioritisation process using Delphi method.

Background: We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations.

Methods: Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists.

Effect of Mass Azithromycin Distributions on Childhood Growth in Niger: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Importance: Mass azithromycin distributions may decrease childhood mortality, although the causal pathway is unclear. The potential for antibiotics to function as growth promoters may explain some of the mortality benefit.

Objective: To investigate whether biannual mass azithromycin distributions are associated with increased childhood growth.

Risk factors for the progression of trachomatous scarring in a cohort of women in a trachoma low endemic district in Tanzania.

Background: Trachoma, a chronic conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Trachoma has been targeted for elimination as a public health problem which includes reducing trachomatous inflammation-follicular prevalence in children and reducing trachomatous trichiasis prevalence in adults. The rate of development of trachomatous trichiasis, the potentially blinding late-stage trachoma sequelae, depends on the rate of trachomatous scarring development and progression.

Parental Trust in School-Based Health Care: A Systematic Review.

Background: Health care delivery in schools is a frequently adopted approach to reduce health care inequalities. Lack of parental trust has been identified as impacting participation in school-based health care programs (SBHPs). The aim of our systematic review is to outline themes related to parental trust in SBHPs.

Visual acuity and refractive findings in children prescribed glasses from a school-based vision program.

Purpose: We report visual acuity improvement and refractive profiles in children prescribed glasses by a school-based vision program (SBVP) in Baltimore, Maryland.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students who failed vision screening underwent an eye examination. Students prescribed glasses are included.

Evaluation of photography using head-mounted display technology (ICAPS) for district Trachoma surveys.

Background: As the prevalence of trachoma declines worldwide, it is becoming increasingly expensive and challenging to standardize graders in the field for surveys to document elimination. Photography of the tarsal conjunctiva and remote interpretation may help alleviate these challenges. The purpose of this study was to develop, and field test an Image Capture and Processing System (ICAPS) to acquire hands-free images of the tarsal conjunctiva for upload to a virtual reading center for remote grading.

Environmental factors and hygiene behaviors associated with facial cleanliness and trachoma in Kongwa, Tanzania.

Background: Having a clean face is protective against trachoma. In the past, long distances to water were associated with unclean faces and increased trachoma. Other environmental factors have not been extensively explored.

Causes of death after biannual azithromycin treatment: A community-level randomized clinical trial.

The MORDOR study, a masked, community-level randomized clinical trial conducted in Niger, Malawi and Tanzania (2015 to 2017), showed that biannual administration of single-dose azithromycin to preschool children reduced all-cause mortality. We sought to evaluate its impact on causes of death in children aged 1-59 months in Tanzania. A random sampling of 614 communities was conducted in Kilosa District, Tanzania, with simple random assignment of communities to receive either azithromycin or placebo.

Effect of a Randomized Interventional School-Based Vision Program on Academic Performance of Students in Grades 3 to 7: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Uncorrected refractive error in school-aged children may affect learning.

Objective: To assess the effect of a school-based vision program on academic achievement among students in grades 3 to 7.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted in Baltimore City Public Schools during school years from 2016 to 2019 among 2304 students in grades 3 to 7 who received eye examinations and eyeglasses.

Utility of photography for trachoma surveys: A systematic review.

As trachoma prevalence declines worldwide, performing field surveys with trained trachoma graders to validate its elimination becomes challenging. Graded conjunctival images could be used to train graders, validate field grades, and replace field grading. We review the use of photography to capture conjunctival images for the detection of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and -intense (TI), Trachomatous trichiasis (TT), and eyelid contour abnormalities.

Lessons Learned From 2 Large Community-based Glaucoma Screening Studies.

Community-based screening programs have had limited success in preventing vision loss from glaucoma due to overall low prevalence of glaucoma, screening limitations, and barriers to follow-up appointments. This editorial highlights lessons learned from 2 large prospective trials: the Philadelphia Telemedicine Glaucoma Detection and Follow-up Study and the Screening To Prevent Glaucoma Study. While some lessons are specific to ophthalmology, many lessons are applicable to screening for asymptomatic diseases in underserved, vulnerable communities.

Refractive Error Findings in Students Who Failed School-based Vision Screening.

Purpose: To report refractive error findings in Baltimore City schoolchildren who failed school-based vision screenings.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, students pre-kindergarten through 8 grade who failed screenings during school years 2016-2019 received an eye examination, including non-cycloplegic autorefraction and visual acuity (VA) measurements. Refractive error was identified when there was at least: -0.

Teacher and school staff perspectives on their role in school-based vision programs.

Objective: School-based vision programs (SBVPs) are one approach to increase access to vision care by providing vision screenings, eye examinations, and eyeglasses directly in schools. Few studies report on the perspectives of teachers and staff, who are important stakeholders, on SBVPs. We examined teacher and staff perspectives on their involvement in SBVPs.

Stakeholders' Perceptions of a School-Based Eye Care Programme in Baltimore, MD.

Purpose: To explore stakeholders' perceptions of a school-based vision programme (SBVP).

Methods: We conducted 20 focus groups with 105 parents and teachers at schools in Baltimore, MD, that participated in a SBVP. Facilitators used a semi-structured interview guide to discuss participants' perceptions of the SBVP.

Teaching Ethics and Professionalism: A National Survey of Ophthalmology Residency Program Directors.

 While ethics and professionalism are important components of graduate medical education, there is limited data about how ethics and professionalism curricula are taught or assessed in ophthalmology residency programs.  This study aimed to determine how U.S.

Knowledge of patient emotional health status: impact on clinical care in glaucoma and retinal services.

Objective: Knowledge of a patient's emotional health status and using patient-centred communication may be key to providing early intervention and referral to appropriate treatment/support services for ophthalmology patients. This study aims to determine if and how ophthalmologists use anxiety and depression scores to determine clinical care of patients with chronic eye disease.

Methods And Analysis: This cross-sectional study included 10 ophthalmologists and a convenience sample of 100 of their patients (>18 years).

Serology, infection, and clinical trachoma as tools in prevalence surveys for re-emergence of trachoma in a formerly hyperendemic district.

Background: To eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, countries must achieve a district-level prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) <5% in children ages 1-9 years. Re-emergence of TF could trigger additional rounds of mass drug/antibiotic administration (MDA), so accurate tools for use in surveys assessing trachoma prevalence are essential.

Methodology & Principal Findings: We surveyed 2401 children ages 1-9 years from 50 villages in Kongwa, Tanzania, 2 years post-MDA and 1.

Baltimore Reading and Eye Disease Study: vision outcomes of school-based eye care.

Objective: There are unmet needs for refractive correction in the pediatric population, especially in high-poverty communities. We reported the impact of refractive correction on vision outcomes over a 2-year follow-up in the Baltimore Reading and Eye Disease Study.

Design: Prospective, school-based cohort study.

Baseline vision results from the Baltimore Reading and Eye Disease Study.

Objective: We describe the Baltimore Reading and Eye Disease Study, report baseline ocular findings, and explore the feasibility of eye examinations in the school setting.

Design: Prospective, school-based cohort study.

Participants: Students in second and third grades.