Are ethnic differences in the F‐M 100 scores related to macular pigmentation?

Background: It is known that the macular pigment can significantly affect colour matching and other aspects of colour vision tests. The difference in macular pigmentation between Asians and Caucasians may lead to different colour discrimination. Methods: This study compared chromatic discrimination between Asians and Caucasians using the Farnsworth‐Munsell 100 Hue test. Fifty Asians who were ethnically Chinese and 50 Caucasians served as subjects, ranging in age from 30 to 59 years. Results: The partial blue‐yellow square root error score of the Asian subjects was signifi‐cantiy higher than diat of the Caucasian subjects (p = 0.022) and die difference appeared to increase with age. Discussion: There was a difference in die F‐M 100 scores between the two groups. The difference was confined in die blue‐yellow region, producing a tritan‐like bias for the Asian group in die test.     

Astrocytic hamartoma: a case report

A 13‐year‐old Romanian boy presented to the eye clinic with a chief complaint of blurred distance and near vision. The patient reported a history of a boil on his neck that was removed in Russia one year ago. Cover testing demonstrated bilateral end point nystagmus and exotropia. Ocular health evaluation revealed an astrocytic hamartoma and oculo‐rotary nystagmus. Referral to a retinal specialist helped confirm the diagnosis of astrocytic hamartoma but did not elucidate on the possible aetiology of the lesion or rule out tuberous sclerosis as the causative agent, as the patient was lost to follow‐up. Based on fundus signs along with the nystagmus, neuro‐imaging studies are indicated to rule out any intracranial masses that may be present. The most important differential diagnosis that must excluded is retinoblastoma, which can closely resemble astrocytic hamartoma. The suspicion of tuberous sclerosis was also considered as a potential cause of the retinal lesion, based on clinical signs. The prognosis for astrocytic hamartomas is relatively good, although until tuberous sclerosis is ruled out, caution should be exercised and serial ophthalmic evaluations should continue.     

A healthy birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection by using immotile testicular spermatozoa in a case with totally immotile ejaculated spermatozoa before and after Percoll gradients

Total asthenozoospermia is a severe problem, as only a micromanipulation technique can assist the couple, and even then fertilization and pregnancy rates are very low. The first healthy birth, achieved by using testicular immotile spermatozoa in a case with total asthenozoospermia before and after Percoll gradient preparation, is reported.      

A review of proximal inputs to the near response

Maddox proposed that the perceived nearness of a target could influence the ocular vergence response. Proximal inputs have been used to refer to all static and dynamic cues to depth other than disparity and blur. In this paper, we review a number of studies in which proximal influences have been assessed. While general agreement exists that proximal contributions are significant when blur and disparity cues are absent (open‐loop conditions), there are conflicting reports on the role of proximal vergence and accommodation under closed‐loop conditions.     

Clinical outcomes with distance‐dominant multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses in post‐LASIK cataract surgery planned using an intraoperative aberrometer

Importance

Studies evaluating the clinical benefits of intraoperative aberrometry (IA) in cataract surgery are limited.

Background

The study was designed to determine whether IA improved clinical outcomes of post‐laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) cataract surgery with different intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted.

Design

A retrospective chart review of clinical outcomes from one surgeon at one surgical centre was conducted. It included post‐LASIK cataract surgeries where IA was used for the confirmation of IOL power, with either a distant‐dominant multifocal IOL or a monofocal IOL implanted.

Participants

Records for 44 eyes of 31 patients were analysed.

Methods

Differences in visual acuity (VA) and refractions by lens type were compared, and the effects of IA were evaluated.

Main Outcome Measures

Uncorrected distance VA and the percentage of eyes with a spherical equivalent refraction within 0.5D of the intended correction were the primary outcome measures.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of eyes with uncorrected distance VA of 20/25 or better between IOL groups (P = 0.41). More eyes in the multifocal group had a refraction within 0.50D of intended (P = 0.03). In 39% of cases, the preoperative and IA power calculations suggested the same IOL power. When not equal, the IA results were not significantly more likely to be ‘best’ (P = 0.08).

Conclusions and Relevance

Results suggest that a history of previous LASIK is not a contraindication to use of distant‐dominant multifocal IOLs. IA did not appear to improve clinical outcomes in post‐LASIK eyes, although a positive trend was evident.     

The effect of prism on preferred retinal locus

Background

Whether prism, especially base‐up prism, affects the area of the retina used for fixation in a patient with central scotoma has been a controversial subject for 35 years. Our pilot study employed microperimetry to evaluate the effect of base‐up prism on the fixation locus, or preferred retinal locus (PRL), in subjects with central scotoma.

Methods

We used a microperimeter to assess the PRL in 13 visually impaired subjects with central scotoma under four conditions: no lens, a lens with no prism (control lens), 6^Δ base‐up, and 10^Δ base‐up. The PRL was measured in degrees in horizontal and vertical co‐ordinates from the centre of the optic disc using graphical analysis.

Results

The PRL with the control lens was not significantly different from the PRL with no lens. The preferred retinal loci with the two powers of prism were compared to the control lens and showed a superior shift in 22 of 26 cases (84.6 per cent). The amount of movement was significantly different from zero (p = 0.001 for 6^Δ and p = 0.004 for 10^Δ). The vertical movement with the 10^Δ prism (1.73 ± 1.73 degrees) was not significantly greater (p = 0.562) than with the 6^Δ prism (1.37 ± 1.08 degrees). The shift was significantly less than the prism powers used (p < 0.001), and the amount of vertical relocation was not significantly different from the amount of horizontal movement.

Conclusion

In our study, base‐up prism appears to shift the PRL in the direction of the prism base most of the time, but our findings do not support the use of prism as a way of predictably relocating the PRL. More study is indicated to evaluate whether such a small shift is clinically or functionally significant.

     

Sighting ocular dominance magnitude varies with test distance

Background

Ocular dominance can be defined as the preference of an individual for viewing with one eye over the other for particular visual tasks. It is relevant to monovision contact lens wear, cataract surgery and sports vision. Clinically, the measurement of ocular dominance is typically done at an arbitrary distance using a sighting test, such as the hole‐in‐card method that has a binary outcome. We investigated the effect of test distance on ocular dominance measured using a binocular sighting test that provided a continuous measurement of dominance.

Methods

Ten participants with normal binocular vision took part in this study. Their binocular sighting ocular dominance and phorias were measured at one, two, four, eight and 10 metres. During the dominance tests participants made a binocular alignment judgment and then were asked to indicate the relative alignment of each eye using a visual analogue scale as a reference.

Results

Eight participants had strong ocular dominance (five right, three left). For these participants, there was a significant increase in the magnitude of dominance with increasing test distance (p < 0.001). This could not be fully explained by changes in convergence demand. Two participants showed very weak ocular dominance across all test distances (p > 0.05), despite changes in convergence demand.

Conclusion

When ocular dominance is present, its magnitude varies significantly with test distance. This has significant implications for the accurate measurement of ocular dominance in the clinic and may reflect the neural processes that influence eye preference.

     

The benefits,challenges, and best practice for patient and public involvement in evidence synthesis: A systematic review and thematic synthesis

Introduction

Despite the growing evidence on patient and public involvement (PPI) in health research, little emphasis has been placed on understanding its quality and appropriateness to evidence synthesis (ES) and systematic reviews (SR). This study aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on the benefits, challenges, and best practices for PPI in ES/SR projects from the perspectives of patients/public and researchers.

Methods

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL Plus. We also searched relevant grey literature and conducted hand-searching to identify qualitative studies which report the benefits and challenges of PPI in individual ES/SR projects. Studies were independently screened by two reviewers for inclusion and appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Qualitative Tool. Included studies were synthesised narratively using thematic synthesis.

Results

The literature search retrieved 9923 articles, of which eight studies were included in this review. Five themes on benefits emerged: two from patients'/public's perspective—gaining knowledge, and empowerment; and three from researchers' perspective—enhancing relevance, improving quality, and enhancing dissemination of findings. Six themes on challenges were identified: three from patients'/public's perspective—poor communication, time and low self-esteem; and three from researchers' perspective—balancing inputs and managing relations, time, and resources and training. Concerning recommendations for best practice, four themes emerged: provision of sufficient time and resources, developing a clear recruitment plan, provision of sufficient training and support, and the need to foster positive working relationships.

Conclusion

Highlighting the benefits and challenges of PPI in ES/SR projects from different stakeholder perspectives is essential to understand the process and contextual factors and facilitate meaningful PPI in ES/SR projects. Future research should focus on the utilisation of existing frameworks (e.g., Authors and Consumers Together Impacting on eVidencE [ACTIVE] framework) by researchers to help describe and/or report the best approaches and methods for involving patients/public in ES/SRs projects.

Patient and Public Contribution

This review received great contributions from a recognised PPI partner, the Chair of the Cochrane Consumer Network Executive, to inform the final stage of the review (i.e., interpretation, publication and dissemination of findings). The PPI partner has been included as an author of this review.