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Clinical & Experimental Optometry Sep 2020Temporal arteritis (TA), or giant cell arteritis, is a systemic autoimmune vasculitis affecting patients over 50 years of age. It can cause rapid, irreversible... (Review)
Review
Temporal arteritis (TA), or giant cell arteritis, is a systemic autoimmune vasculitis affecting patients over 50 years of age. It can cause rapid, irreversible bilateral vision loss in older adults and is therefore considered an ophthalmological emergency. Many of the symptoms and signs of TA can be vague, non-specific and gradual in onset, often leading to a delayed or inaccurate diagnosis. As such, it is important for a wide variety of primary optometrists and health practitioners to maintain a robust understanding of the clinical presentation, key investigations and time-sensitive management of this disease, as early initiation of treatment for TA can be vision- and life-saving.
Topics: Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease Management; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Temporal Arteries
PubMed: 31663193
DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12975 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Aug 2019Dry eye disease is a frequent reason for patients to seek help. In our experience, it is an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. (Review)
Review
Dry eye disease is a frequent reason for patients to seek help. In our experience, it is an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition.
Topics: Dry Eye Syndromes; General Practitioners; Humans; Meibomian Glands; Ophthalmologists; Optometrists
PubMed: 31429248
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.18.0752 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Sep 2021A gap exists between best evidence and actual clinical care provided to patients. The advent of evidence-based practice was meant to address this gap by providing... (Review)
Review
A gap exists between best evidence and actual clinical care provided to patients. The advent of evidence-based practice was meant to address this gap by providing practitioners with a method to search, evaluate and incorporate evidence into practice. However, the gap continues to exist. The health research fields of and have evolved over the last few decades to assist practitioners in embedding research findings and best evidence into routine practice. Knowledge translation seeks to improve public health outcomes by facilitating the movement of best evidence from the bench to clinical practice. Implementation science is the study of methods to integrate research findings and evidence-based practice into routine practice. This literature review aims to revisit the concepts of evidence-based practice and to introduce knowledge translation and implementation science by exploring their roles and influences in the delivery of appropriate glaucoma care by optometrists.
Topics: Evidence-Based Practice; Humans; Implementation Science; Optometrists; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 33831335
DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1898275 -
Microorganisms Aug 2023Since its emergence in early 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 infection has had a significant impact on the entire eye care system. Ophthalmologists have been categorized as a... (Review)
Review
Since its emergence in early 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 infection has had a significant impact on the entire eye care system. Ophthalmologists have been categorized as a high-risk group for contracting the virus due to the belief that the eye may be a site of inoculation and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a result, clinical ophthalmologists, optometrists, and eyecare professionals have had to familiarize themselves with the ocular manifestations of COVID-19, as well as its treatments and vaccines. The implementation of measures to prevent the transmission of the virus, such as restrictions, lockdowns, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI), have led to substantial and potentially irreversible changes in routine clinical practice, education, and research. This has resulted in the emergence of a new mode of managing patients in a routine clinical setting. This brief review aims to provide an overview of various aspects of COVID-19 in ophthalmology, including the ocular manifestations related to the disease, the modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, precautions taken in ophthalmic practice to prevent the spread of the virus, drugs, and vaccines used in the treatment of COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic on patients, clinicians, and the eye care system as a whole, and the future of ophthalmology conditioned by this global pandemic experience.
PubMed: 37764064
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092220 -
Clinical Optometry 2020To determine the current scope of practice with regards to cycloplegic examinations, specifically in the pediatric population. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To determine the current scope of practice with regards to cycloplegic examinations, specifically in the pediatric population.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and Google Scholar databases using keywords such as "cyclopentolate"; "tropicamide"; "pediatric"; "cycloplegia"; "atropine"; and "cycloplegic" from inception to October 2019.
RESULTS
Atropine has the strongest cycloplegic effect and is recommended for cases of large accommodative esotropia. Because of the undesired side effects and risks from atropine, cyclopentolate has been found to offer a very effective cycloplegia even for moderate to high hyperopia and has become the standard of care for traditional pediatric cycloplegic exams. Tropicamide has also been shown to offer adequate cycloplegia with less toxicity and side effects. Of all agents, tropicamide presents the least side effects and toxicity, whereas atropine presents the greatest. Cyclopentolate is a very safe cycloplegic agent that has risk of toxicity which increases with higher doses and concentrations.
CONCLUSION
The American Optometric Association's current pediatric cycloplegic guidelines have proven both safe and effective, as they recommend a conservative approach of using cyclopentolate 0.5% in infants and cyclopentolate 1% in those older than one-year old to avoid undesired side effects. Topical ophthalmic drops and spray instillation have both proved equally efficacious and therefore each have their place within a clinical setting. Using Cycolmydril under six months old and cyclopentolate 1% over 6 months old as recommended by the AAO, also provides a safe and effective guideline for cycloplegic examinations within the pediatric population.
PubMed: 32904515
DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S217645 -
Journal of Optometry 2022In recent past, major pandemics and epidemics have occurred due to the emergence and resurgence of the novel strains of viruses like Influenza [HINI-A "Spanish Flu",... (Review)
Review
In recent past, major pandemics and epidemics have occurred due to the emergence and resurgence of the novel strains of viruses like Influenza [HINI-A "Spanish Flu", H1N1-Novel A "Swine flu"], Corona [Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2)] and Ebola virus [Ebola virus disease]. These infectious diseases may have several ocular manifestations and rarely might be the presenting symptom of the underlying disease. The eyes can act as a portal of entry and/or route of viral transmission for these pathogens. Therefore, an ophthalmologist/optometrist needs to act with ample preparedness and responsibility. Establishing a standard of care in ophthalmic practice by modifying the conventional examination techniques and adopting tele-ophthalmology model to triage the patients can control the community spread of the disease. This article aims to elucidate the ocular manifestations in these pandemics and measures that should be adopted in ophthalmic practice to prevent the disease transmission.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Ophthalmologists; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33422421
DOI: 10.1016/j.optom.2020.10.005 -
Journal of Optometry 2023This work seeks to identify the most impactful journals, papers, authors, institutions, and countries that cite optometry journal articles.
PURPOSE
This work seeks to identify the most impactful journals, papers, authors, institutions, and countries that cite optometry journal articles.
METHODS
The Scopus database was searched for papers citing at least one article published in any of the 18 optometry journals included in that database (i.e. 'optometry articles'). The 10 most highly cited papers that cite optometry journal articles were determined from 82,830 papers found. A h-index for "optometry journal citations" (the h-index) was derived for each entity in the categories of journals, papers, authors, institutions and countries to serve as a measure of impact.
RESULTS
The h-index of the body of papers citing optometry journal articles is 370. Papers citing optometry journal articles have themselves been cited 2,054,816 times. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (h = 154) is the most impactful journal citing optometry articles and Optometry and Vision Science the most prolific (5310 papers). The most impactful paper citing optometry journal articles (5725 citations) was published in Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. Ophthalmologist Seang Mei Saw (h = 69) is the most impactful author and optometrist Nathan Efron is the most prolific (288 papers). Harvard University (h = 127) is the most impactful and UNSW Sydney is the most prolific institution (1761 papers). The United States is the most impactful and prolific nation (h = 313; 28,485 papers).
CONCLUSIONS
Optometry journal articles are cited extensively by optometrists, ophthalmologists, and vision scientists world-wide, as well as authors from a broad spectrum of non-ophthalmic research domains. This work confirms the utility and influence of optometry journals.
Topics: Humans; United States; Optometry; Periodicals as Topic; Bibliometrics; Ophthalmology; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 37271623
DOI: 10.1016/j.optom.2023.05.002 -
Medical Hypothesis, Discovery &... 2023Keen vision is one of the most important qualities required of athletes. It enables players to perform sports-related drills and apply decision-making skills. To... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Keen vision is one of the most important qualities required of athletes. It enables players to perform sports-related drills and apply decision-making skills. To accurately measure the visual ability of athletes, it is important to first identify the variety of visual skills involved in the particular sport. The objectives of this novel review are to identify the most important visual skills required for rugby, and to create a reference point for further studies to include visual skills essential to rugby players.
METHODS
We conducted an electronic search with various combinations of relevant keywords using the following databases: Sport Discuss, Ovid's Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, PubMed/MEDLINE, Current Contents, Science Direct, the National Research Council's Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Google Scholar, and international electronic catalogues to assess the scientific literature related to the visual skills required for rugby. Only the records published in English were included. We extracted data on the relationship between vision and match performance, the defined problem or purpose of the study, and the inclusion of theoretical definitions of tactical behaviors.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 80 records, 51 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The most important visual skills in rugby are classified based on whether they meet the requirements for visual hardware or visual software skills. Visual hardware skills include visual acuity, depth perception, fusion flexibility, and contrast sensitivity; visual software skills include eye tracking, hand-eye coordination, eye focusing, peripheral vision, speed and span of recognition, visual response time, and visual memory.
CONCLUSIONS
Rugby players must use both visual hardware and software skills to reliably observe their teammates' positions, understand their opponents' actions and tactics, handle the ball, analyze the immediate circumstances, and anticipate what will occur. Further studies are needed to verify the significance of each visual skill in actual competition to determine a relationship between vision and the results of a championship.
PubMed: 37641672
DOI: 10.51329/mehdiophthal1469 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry May 2021: Clinical optometric practice is underpinned by a rigorous research base, the primary evidence for which is publications in refereed scientific journals. Leading...
: Clinical optometric practice is underpinned by a rigorous research base, the primary evidence for which is publications in refereed scientific journals. Leading optometrists who publish this work should be identified and celebrated.: This work aims to derive publication metrics of the leading optometric researchers worldwide.: An extensive global search was conducted to discover leading optometric researchers; 480 names were identified. A custom-designed bibliographic search tool was developed to interrogate the Scopus database (Elsevier) and extract publication metrics using the unique Scopus Author Identifier number for each optometrist. On 13 January 2021, the full list was reduced to 200 optometrists (the 'Top 200') ranked by h-index - the 'Global Optometrist Top 200 Research Ranking'. The output from the custom tool automatically updates every 24 hours and is available at www.optomrankings.com.: The Top 200 have h-indices ranging from 20 to 67 and have published between 28 and 440 papers. Sixty one (30.5%) are women. Konrad Pesudovs has the highest h-index (67) and citations (51,193). The most prolific author is Robert Hess (442 papers). David Piñero is publishing at the fastest rate (17.6 papers per year). The Top 200 work in 13 nations, of whom 172 (86.0%) work in four nations: USA - 76 (38.0%), Australia - 43 (21.5%), UK - 41 (20.5%) and Canada - 16 (8.0%). Of the 72 institutions represented, the University of California, Berkeley, USA is home to the most Top 200 optometrists (17) and has the highest combined h-index of Top 200 optometrists (132).: The optometric profession is supported by a robust research base, prosecuted by a large international cohort of optometric researchers who publish extensively on a broad range of ophthalmic issues and whose work is highly cited. The 200 most impactful optometrists in the world are identified.
Topics: Australia; Bibliometrics; Databases, Factual; Female; Humans; Optometrists; Optometry
PubMed: 33689668
DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1878863