Distribution and viability of ocular and non-ocular Chlamydia trachomatis in households in a trachoma-endemic community in Oromia, Ethiopia.

Background: We aimed to determine the household distribution and viability of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) from the eyes, face, and hands during the initial two visits of a year-long fortnightly cohort study in geographically defined adjacent households.

Methods/findings: We enrolled 298 individuals from 68 neighbouring households in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. All individuals above 2 years of age residing in these households were examined for signs of trachoma.

Retinoblastoma with and without Extraocular Tumor Extension: A Global Comparative Study of 3435 Patients.

Purpose: To study the treatment and outcomes of children with retinoblastoma (RB) with extraocular tumor extension (RB-EOE) and compare them with RB without extraocular tumor extension (RB-w/o-EOE).

Design: Multicenter intercontinental collaborative prospective study from 2017 to 2020. RB-EOE cases included those with overt orbital tumor extension in treatment-naive patients.

Machine learning derived retinal pigment score from ophthalmic imaging shows ethnicity is not biology.

Few metrics exist to describe phenotypic diversity within ophthalmic imaging datasets, with researchers often using ethnicity as a surrogate marker for biological variability. We derived a continuous, measured metric, the retinal pigment score (RPS), that quantifies the degree of pigmentation from a colour fundus photograph of the eye. RPS was validated using two large epidemiological studies with demographic and genetic data (UK Biobank and EPIC-Norfolk Study) and reproduced in a Tanzanian, an Australian, and a Chinese dataset.

Case Finding and Management of Childhood Cataracts: The Role of a Child Eye Health Programme in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Objective: To evaluate the output of a child eye health programme in terms of identification, referral, and volume of paediatric cataract surgeries in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective review of the North-West Nigeria Child Eye Health Initiative programme referral registers at primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals in Kaduna State. Theatre registers of children 0-16 years who had cataract surgery at National Eye Centre Kaduna between 2016 and 2019 were also reviewed.

Mainstreaming control interventions for neglected tropical diseases into the health system: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: The WHO neglected tropical diseases (NTD) roadmap (2021-2030) proposed a shift in approach to addressing NTDs through accountability for impact, implementing integration across NTDs, mainstreaming in national health systems and ensuring country ownership. However, a major challenge has been the dearth of evidence on how to implement this shift in a resource-limited setting. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence on the mainstreaming or integration of programmes and/or interventions against NTDs into the national health system.

Evaluating the Effectiveness and Scalability of the World Health Organization MyopiaEd Digital Intervention: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The rapid rise of myopia worldwide, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, has implied environmental influences beyond genetics. To address this growing public health concern, the World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union launched the MyopiaEd program. South Korea, with its high rates of myopia and smartphone use, presented a suitable context for implementing and evaluating the MyopiaEd program.

Implementing an artificial intelligence system into a diabetic eye screening programme in Tanzania.

Tanzania has the highest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. Diabetic retinopathy, a common complication, is a significant cause of vision loss; but with effective screening and treatment this often can be prevented. However, with very few specialist eye care staff in Tanzania this is a major challenge.

The FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial: Study Design.

Purpose: To report the design of FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical therapy for TT surgery (FLAME) trial.

Design: Parallel design, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 1:1 randomization to fluorometholone 0.1% eye drops twice daily or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks in eyes undergoing trachomatous trichiasis (TT) surgery for assessing the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of fluorometholone 0.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' National Ophthalmology Database study of cataract surgery: report 19, a comparative study of the cost and carbon footprint of local anaesthesia techniques for cataract surgery.

Background: Understanding the financial and environmental impact of clinical pathways is important for designing sustainable services. This study aimed to compare the cost and carbon footprint of sub-Tenon's and topical anaesthesia for cataract surgery, benchmark minimum topical anaesthesia utilisation rates, and quantify the benefits of increased topical anaesthesia usage in the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS).

Methods: The cost and carbon footprint of products and staffing for topical and sub-Tenon's anaesthesia for cataract surgery were calculated and applied to National Ophthalmology Database audit data.

Role of traditional healers in the management of microbial keratitis in eastern Nepal.

Background: Microbial Keratitis (MK) is a leading cause of corneal blindness due to infection and its consequences, with a higher incidence in resource-limited nations. Hospital-based patient records from different parts of Nepal suggest patients often use traditional eye medicine to treat MK. Traditional healers (TH) within the community are often the first point of care for MK management.

Coverage of community-wide mass drug administration platforms for soil-transmitted helminths in Benin, India, and Malawi: findings from the DeWorm3 project.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) affect approximately 1.5 billion people globally. The current STH control strategy is annual or twice-annual preventive chemotherapy, typically school-based deworming targeting children and women of reproductive age.

2023 Global Survey of Optometry: Defining Variations of Practice, Regulation and Human Resources Between Countries.

Purpose: To provide information on the demographics of optometrists and regulation of the optometry profession in countries who were members of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) during the period 2022-2023.

Methods: A non-random, purposive sampling and a key informant strategy was employed to conduct a survey-based cross-sectional study on the professional landscape and distribution of optometrists; educational landscape; legislative aspects of the profession; and the scope of optometry practice in countries who were members of WCO during the period 2022-2023. Key informants were identified by WCO country members' leadership.

Eye health knowledge, attitude, and practice among special school managers and barriers to eye health programmes in special schools in Hyderabad, India.

Background: Children with special education needs (SEN) are at high risk of developing vision problems. In India, there is no data available on the awareness level of eye health needs of children with SEN among special school managers (SSM) and on the barriers to providing eye care for these children in schools. This study aimed to identify the awareness level among SSM and the barriers to organizing School Eye Health (SEH) programmes in special schools, as reported by the eye health program organizers.

Research about eye health and eye health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: a scoping review.

Background: We aimed to summarise the extent and nature of published research about eye health and eye health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories since 1980.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, Global Health and Cochrane Library to identify publications about eye health and eye health services in 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories from 1 January 1980 to 26 January 2024. Study selection and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently.

Screening Strategies and Methodologies.

Prcis: While glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, it presents technical challenges in the design and implementation of screening. New technologies such as PRS and AI offer potential improvements in our ability to identify people at high risk of sight loss from glaucoma and may improve the viability of screening for this important disease.

Purpose: To review the current evidence and concepts around screening for glaucoma.