-
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology May 2023
Topics: Humans; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology
PubMed: 37202980
DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_222_23 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2023Like all United States physicians, ophthalmologists may be implicated in lawsuits claiming fraudulent medical practice. In order to educate, raise awareness, and...
INTRODUCTION
Like all United States physicians, ophthalmologists may be implicated in lawsuits claiming fraudulent medical practice. In order to educate, raise awareness, and mitigate fraudulent practice, we reviewed a legal database and analyzed fraud claims in ophthalmology lawsuits.
METHODS
A retrospective legal literature review was performed on jury verdicts and settlements from the online legal database LexisNexis Academic from 1985 through 2020 that were filed by or against an ophthalmologist, involved a fraud claim, and included a final decision or settlement. Cases were evaluated for factors including demographics of plaintiffs and defendants, type of fraud claim, ophthalmologist party status (plaintiff or defendant), decision outcome, and amount awarded (when applicable).
RESULTS
Of the 27 cases analyzed, all ophthalmologist defendants involved were male and the most common sub-specialty for an ophthalmologist defendant was refractive surgery. The most common fraud type was a fraud claim involving a malpractice lawsuit (12 of 27), followed by contract fraud and billing fraud. While the ophthalmologists in malpractice-related fraud cases experienced more rulings in favor of the defendant on the fraud claims (8 of 12), ophthalmologists in billing fraud cases experienced fewer rulings in their favor (0 of 5).
DISCUSSION
Ophthalmology lawsuits involving fraud claims occurred in various settings, including malpractice lawsuits, contract cases, and Medicare and Medicaid billing. Defendants were all male and most commonly refractive surgeons.
PubMed: 36718348
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S397014 -
Eye (London, England) Feb 2021Patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and glaucoma are increasingly reviewed in virtual clinics. As the clinician is not present during the patient's visit it is...
BACKGROUND
Patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and glaucoma are increasingly reviewed in virtual clinics. As the clinician is not present during the patient's visit it is important that measurements obtained are reliable. The aim of this study was to examine agreement between Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT) intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements (obtained by ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses) and a newer automated tonometer-the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA).
METHODS
A prospective study was conducted including 116 eyes of 116 patients with glaucoma and OHT. All subjects had GAT IOP obtained by a nurse and ophthalmologist and ORA IOP by a technician. The order of testing was randomised and previous measurements were masked. Agreement was examined using Bland-Altman plots and 95% limits of agreement (LoA). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of repeat GAT and ORA measurements were calculated.
RESULTS
Patients had a mean age of 70 ± 13 years. The 95% LoA between ophthalmologist (mean: 14.6 ± 4.3 mmHg) and nurse (mean: 15.0 ± 4.0 mmHg) GAT measurements was ±5.21 mmHg, whereas the 95% LoA between repeat ORA IOPg (mean: 13.8 ± 4.7 mmHg) was ±2.52 mmHg. There was no proportional bias. The ICC was 0.972 for repeat IOPg compared with 0.863 for repeat GAT.
CONCLUSIONS
There was only moderate agreement between GAT IOP measurements obtained by nurses working in the virtual clinic and ophthalmologists. Agreement between ORA IOP and ophthalmologists' GAT IOP was better and ORA produced more repeatable measurements, providing evidence it may be a more reliable tool for IOP assessment in virtual clinics.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cornea; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Middle Aged; Ocular Hypertension; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Tonometry, Ocular
PubMed: 32322017
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-0868-2 -
JAMA Ophthalmology Aug 2020The influence on the psychology and ocular surface of ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses in Wuhan, China, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is...
IMPORTANCE
The influence on the psychology and ocular surface of ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses in Wuhan, China, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is not yet fully understood.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize mental state and ocular surface state of ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses in Wuhan, China, and similar areas during the COVID-19 outbreak.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This survey study assessed ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses in Wuhan, China, and Jiangxi, China, a province approximately 300 km south of Wuhan. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Van Dream Anxiety Scale, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index were used to conduct questionnaire surveys via a messaging and social media app.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Mean scores from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (0-10 points), the Van Dream Anxiety Scale (0-100 points), and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (0-100 points).
RESULTS
Of 126 individuals, there were 42 ophthalmologists (33.3%) and 21 ophthalmic nurses (16.7%) from Wuhan and 42 ophthalmologists (33.3%) and 21 nurses (16.7%) from Jiangxi. The mean (SD) age of ophthalmologists was 36.1 (7.6) years in Wuhan and 41.2 (8.8) years in Jiangxi. For ophthalmic nurses, the mean (SD) age was 35.2 (7.4) years in Wuhan and 33.4 (7.9) years in Jiangxi. The response rate for ophthalmologists was 90.3% (84 of 93) and for nurses was 91.3% (42 of 46). The participation rate of ophthalmologists and nurses in Wuhan was 0.06% (42 of 70 000) and 0.07% (21 of 30 000), respectively; the participation rate in Jiangxi was 0.06% (42 of 70 000; 21 of 35 000) for both groups. In Wuhan, the mean (SD) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety and depression were counted as separate scores), Van Dream Anxiety Scale, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index scores were 6.90 (2.30), 7.38 (2.19), 24.52 (5.86), and 43.90 (3.74), respectively, in ophthalmologists and 8.67 (3.04), 9.38 (2.64), 21.48 (6.15), and 40.05 (6.67), respectively, in ophthalmic nurses. In Jiangxi, these scores were 5.67 (2.89), 4.90 (3.15), 12.76 (7.27), and 38.79 (7.78), respectively, in ophthalmologists and 4.67 (3.20), 4.33 (3.23), 10.10 (7.62), and 41.52 (5.92), respectively, in ophthalmic nurses. The difference (95% CI) between the 2 regions for these scores in ophthalmologists was 2.48 (95% CI, 1.30-3.65), 11.76 (95% CI, 8.90-14.63), 5.12 (95% CI, 2.45-7.79), and 5.12 (95% CI, 2.47-7.77), respectively, and in ophthalmic nurses was 4.16 (95% CI, 2.05-5.95), 5.05 (95% CI, 3.21-6.89), 11.38 (95% CI, 7.06-15.70), and -1.48 (95% CI, -5.41 to 2.25), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
These findings suggest that ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses in Wuhan experienced more anxiety and depression and reported greater ocular surface abnormalities than counterparts outside of Wuhan, but the wide CIs preclude concluding confidently that there were differences.
Topics: Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; China; Comorbidity; Coronavirus Infections; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eye Diseases; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 32644122
DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.2289 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Oct 2019
Topics: Eye Enucleation; Humans; Medical Errors; Ophthalmologists; Retinoblastoma; Safety Management
PubMed: 31546468
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1728_19 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Sep 2022Schematic diagrams have been important tools in Ophthalmology for ages. These are vital tools to document ocular pathologies, assist in the comparison of clinical... (Review)
Review
Schematic diagrams have been important tools in Ophthalmology for ages. These are vital tools to document ocular pathologies, assist in the comparison of clinical records on follow-up visits, serve as standardized means of communication between ophthalmologists, educating trainees and postgraduates, and helping in the easy follow-up of disease course over a period. There are standardized color codes for depicting different pathologies in the anterior and posterior segments. The understanding of these guidelines allows proper documentation of findings and helps in standardizing ophthalmic care. This method of documentation is beneficial as this is a less expensive tool, provides immediate records at a glance, allows distinctive marking of clinical findings not possible to document with clinical photographs, and can help in medico-legal cases as well. This article focuses on highlighting the standard guidelines that will be useful for training ophthalmologists. This article primarily focuses on various color-codings for anterior and posterior segment schematic representations, along with a brief touch on the importance of color-coding in glaucoma and standardized eye drop (vials) color codes as per the American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines. We believe this can be taken as a template for future reference by all trainees, postgraduates, fellows, and clinician ophthalmologists in their day-to-day clinical practice.
Topics: Clinical Competence; Education, Medical, Graduate; Humans; Internship and Residency; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology; United States
PubMed: 36018086
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_442_22 -
Archivos de La Sociedad Espanola de... Mar 2021
Topics: COVID-19; Clinical Competence; Ethics, Clinical; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Physician's Role; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33441274
DOI: 10.1016/j.oftal.2020.12.001 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia 2021
Topics: Developing Countries; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology
PubMed: 34037124
DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20210084 -
Journal of Current Ophthalmology 2022To explore how ophthalmologist productivity, wellness, and musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms are affected by heads-up display (HUD) use.
PURPOSE
To explore how ophthalmologist productivity, wellness, and musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms are affected by heads-up display (HUD) use.
METHODS
A digital survey was emailed to the United States ophthalmologists. Questions covered topics including MSK health, surgical output, work hours, wellness hours, and factors related to HUD use.
RESULTS
One hundred and forty-four ophthalmologists responded, and 99 completed all eligible questions. HUDs were utilized by 33 respondents, 29 of whom submitted complete surveys. HUD users worked 353 more hours annually ( = 0.01) and performed 673 more cases ( = 0.07) than nonusers. MSK symptom presence ( = 0.79), severity ( = 0.80), and frequency ( = 0.86) were independent of use. Over half (n = 16/29) of users identified symptomatic improvement attributable to the device, mostly in the cervical and lumbar regions. Mean job stress was moderate-severe for both users and nonusers ( = 0.10), and there was no significant difference in wellness hours ( = 0.44). Retina specialists ( = 0.02) and males ( = 0.03) were more likely to have operated with the technology. Nearly half of heads-up surgeons (n = 12/29) had obtained new equipment to target MSK symptoms, versus 1.4% of nonusers (n = 1/70; = 0.0009). Most of those who operated with HUDs would recommend them to others (69.0%, n = 20/29), but 44.8% (n = 13/29) indicated ergonomic challenges. Primary concerns included awkward viewing angles, setup difficulties, and a lack of access.
CONCLUSIONS
HUD surgeons reported greater work output versus nonusers without significant compromises in wellness or MSK health. User feedback suggests that the technology may lessen neck and low back pains, but barriers including cost and system inconveniences may impede adoption.
PubMed: 36644468
DOI: 10.4103/joco.joco_115_22 -
Eye (London, England) Jul 2023The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on many areas of biomedical research and there is concern that academic recovery will take several years. This survey aimed...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on many areas of biomedical research and there is concern that academic recovery will take several years. This survey aimed to define the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK ophthalmologists' research activities and understand the implications for recovery.
METHODS
An online survey comprising multiple choice and free-text questions was designed, piloted and then distributed to Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) members in January 2021. Respondent characteristics, research expectations and experiences through the pandemic were captured. Descriptive and comparative statistics were applied to quantitative data alongside content analysis of qualitative data.
RESULTS
In total, 148 respondents (3.7% of RCOphth membership) comprised 46 trainees (31.1%), 97 consultants (65.5%) and 5 SAS doctors (3.4%); 54 had clinical-academic roles (36.5%) and 65/94 (69.1%) ophthalmologists with fully clinical posts identified as research-active. Of 114 research-active respondents, 104 (91.2%) reported an impact on their research from COVID-19; negative impacts included loss of research time (n = 69), research delays (n = 96) and funding shortfalls (n = 63). Content analysis identified five common themes; type of research activity, clinical demands, institutional challenges, COVID-19 alignment and work-life balance.
CONCLUSIONS
UK ophthalmology research has been adversely impacted by the pandemic. A substantial proportion of UK ophthalmologists are research active, but 20.4% of those surveyed felt that the pandemic had made research less attractive. Strategic steps must be taken to nurture UK ophthalmologists' engagement with research, especially for those who currently do no research, if the profession is to align itself with the Government vision of 'Research for All'.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Ophthalmologists; Surveys and Questionnaires; Biomedical Research; United Kingdom
PubMed: 36316557
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-022-02293-y