VOLUME 88 - ISSUE 4

PURPOSE: Amblyopia is a cortical neurological disorder caused by abnormal visual experiences during the critical period for visual development. Recent works have shown that, in addition to the well-known visual alterations, such as changes in visual acuity, several perceptual aspects of vision are affected. This study aims to analyze and compare the effects of different types of amblyopia on visual color processing and determine whether these effects are correlated with visual acuity.
METHODS: Our study sample comprised 42 amblyopic individuals, aged 7-40 years, (strabismus, n=16; anisometropia, n=18; and mixed-cause, n=8) and 33 age-matched controls. Color vision was tested by measuring the chromaticity threshold of each patient on the protan, deutan, and tritan axes using version 02 of the Cambridge Color Test. Spatial stimulation cues were eliminated using spatial noise and luminance.
RESULTS: The color discrimination thresholds on the protan, deutan, and tritan axes were similar between control participants and amblyopic patients (p>0.05). There was no correlation between VA values and color thresholds (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: Patients with amblyopia have normal color vision in contexts that include luminance and spatial noise. Our results may be indicative of independent neural pathways for spatial and chromatic visual processing.

Keywords: Amblyopia; Anisometropia; Color vision; Strabismus; Vision disorders; Visual acuity

PURPOSE: Although the orthokeratology effects on corneal biomechanics have been proven with clinical trials, reports of stiffness parameter change are scarce. This study investigated the short-term orthokeratology effects in pediatric myopia and compared stiffness parameter changes to those published in recent clinical investigations. This prospective study aimed to investigate corneal biomechanics changes induced by short-term overnight orthokeratology treatment, focusing on stiffness parameter at A1 and stress-strain index
METHODS: Twenty-six children aged 8 to 18 were included in this study using orthokeratology lenses for two different durations: 1 day and 1 week. Corneal biomechanics were assessed using corneal visualization (Corvis) Scheimpflug technology. Measurements were taken at baseline and after each wearing session. Changes in corneal stiffness parameters and corneal curvature were analyzed.
RESULTS: All parameters changed significantly after 1 week of lens wear (p<0.05), except for velocity of corneal apex at the first and second applanation times highest concavity time, radius, stiffness parameter at A1 and stress-strain index. After 1 day, central corneal thickness, first applanation time, second applanation time, deformation amplitude ratio (2 mm), and Corvis biomechanical index (CBI) remained stable (p>0.05). After 1 week, central corneal thickness and first applanation time decreased, whereas second applanation time, deformation amplitude ratio, and Corvis Biomechanical Index significantly increased. With intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness as control variables, no significant correlation was found between stress-strain index and curvature changes (p>0.05). With age as the control variable, no significant correlation was found between stress-strain index and curvature changes (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Short-term orthokeratology treatment induced notable changes in several corneal biomechanical parameters. Stiffness parameter at A1 and stress-strain index are unaffected by increasing lens wear duration and do not influence the orthokeratology effect.

Keywords: Orthokeratologic procedures; Epithelium, corneal; Corneal topography; Myopia/therapy; Diagnostic techniques, ophthalmological; Biomechanical phenomena; Refraction, ocular; Visual acuity; Humans; Children; Adolescent

PURPOSE: Congenital epiphora can be related to anomalies of the nasolacrimal duct. This study aimed to assess the distal end of the nasolacrimal duct and the outcomes of endoscopic treatment in children older than 12 months with congenital epiphora.
METHODS: This retrospective analysis describes the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of symptomatic congenital lacrimal obstruction in 32 lacrimal systems of 23 children. Data was collected on the preoperative symptoms, age at the time of surgery, intraoperative findings, treatment modalities, and outcomes of the children in our cohort. All patients underwent a standard endoscopic lacrimal examination, including irrigation and diagnostic probing, viewed via the inferior meatus. Cases with complex anomalies characterized by obstructions in the canaliculi, nasolacrimal junction, or nasolacrimal duct were excluded.
RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 48.03 (±27.99) months. Four different types of distal nasolacrimal duct obstruction were diagnosed. These were obstructions by a membrane (n=12), ostium stenosis (n=15), impacted turbinate (n=3), and membranous residual flaps (n=2). They were all managed with inferior meatus microsurgery and nasal endoscopic probing without silicone intubation. After a mean follow-up period of 14.75 (±11.93) months, successful outcomes were achieved in all cases.
CONCLUSION. Microsurgery to the inferior meatus, performed under nasal endoscopy, is a safe and effective treatment for isolated anomalies of the distal end of the nasolacrimal duct in children older than 12 months. We do not recommend silicone intubation in the absence of complex lacrimal system anomalies.

Keywords: Lacrimal duct obstruction; Nasolacrimal duct; Silicone; Microsurgery; Endoscopy; Epiphora; Intubation; Child

PURPOSE: To evaluate if color Doppler can detect internal blood flow in circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined seven eyes of seven participants with circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas, with or without prior treatment. B-scan ultrasound and color Doppler were used to assess the dimensions, topographical distribution, and internal blood flow of the affected eyes.
RESULTS: The sample included seven patients (five female) with a median age of 61 (62.29 ± 13.83) years. There were seven eyes with circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas in the patient sample. Color Doppler detected internal vascular flow in all cases (100%). The lesions had an average diameter/thickness ratio of >2 mm and an average thickness of <5 mm and were predominantly located superiorly and supero-temporally.
CONCLUSION: Internal blood flow was detected in circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas using color Doppler. Detection was unaffected by the patient's treatment status.

Keywords: Ultrasonography, doppler, collor; Choroidal neoplasms; Hemangioma

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos as an educational resource about retinopathy of prematurity.
METHODS: Videos were sourced from YouTube using the search terms "retinopathy of prematurity" and "premature retinopathy" with the default settings. Each video was assessed on the following metrics: views, likes, dislikes, comments, upload source, country of origin, view ratio, like ratio, and video power index. The quality and reliability of the videos were evaluated by two independent researchers using the DISCERN questionnaire, the JAMA benchmarks, the Global Quality Score scale, the Health on the Net Code of Conduct, and the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients scale.
RESULTS: The study assessed 92 videos, the majority of which (42 videos, 45.7%) originated from the United States. Most of the videos focused on screening, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity (61.9%). The primary contributors were medical organizations (19 videos, 20.6%), nonacademic health channels (19 videos, 20.6%), and physicians (15 videos, 16.3%). Significant differences were found between the DISCERN (p=0.003), JAMA (p=0.001), Global Quality Score (p=0.003), Health on the Net Code of Conduct (p=0.006), and Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (p=0.001) scores among different video sources. However, the key video metrics did not differ. Using the DISCERN and Global Quality Score scales, the overall YouTube video content on retinopathy of prematurity was rated as moderate in quality. Using the Health On the Net Code of Conduct and Ensuring Quality Information for Patients scales, it was rated as high quality. Strong correlations were observed between the scores on all of the scales (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Videos from medical organizations and healthcare centers were of a higher quality than those from nonmedical sources. Despite the varied foci of each evaluation scale, the strong correlation between them indicates that they provide reliable and comprehensive assessments of the quality of informational content.

Keywords: Retinopathy of prematurity; YouTube; Information dissemination/methods; Online education; Internet access; Social media/instrumentation; Information seeking behavior; Internet/statistics & numerical data; Consumer health information; Social networking

PURPOSE: The volume of the vitreous chamber varies with the size of the eye. The space created in the vitreous cavity by a vitrectomy is called the vitrectomized space. The volume of the vitrectomized space is strongly correlated with the axial length of the eye. This study aims to present guidelines for estimating the using participants stratified by axial length, sex, and history of cataract surgery.
METHODS: This retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study included 144 randomly selected participants who underwent vitrectomies between 2013 and 2023. Before surgery, the axial lengths of participants' eyes were measured using optical biometrics. The axial lengths of the eyes in our sample were between 20-32 mm. In all cases, a complete vitrectomy was performed, followed by complete fluid-air exchange and injection of a balanced saline solution. The volume infused was recorded.
RESULTS: The median (interquartile range; range) volume of the vitrectomized space was 6.1 (3.8; 3.1-11.3) mL in men and 6.1 (3.3; 3.2-11.2) mL in women (p=0.811). The median volume of the vitrectomized space was 5.9 (3.6; 3.1-11.2) mL in patients with phakic lenses and 6.25 (3.6; 3.3-11.3) mL in those with pseudophakic lenses (p=0.533). A positive correlation was found between the axial length and the volume of the vitrectomized space in this sample (r=0.968; p<0.001). In a cubic polynomial regression, the coefficient of determination was 0.948. Similar results were observed in both sexes and in both phakic and pseudophakic patients. The estimated cubic polynomial regression equation for this sample was VVS = 0.000589052857847605 × AL³ - 0.025114926401582700 × AL² + 0.685961117595624000 × AL - 5.088226672620790000.
CONCLUSION: We developed this axial length estimation of the volume of vitrectomized space as a guideline for the determination of vitrectomized space volume using axial length.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Retinal perforations/surgery; Epiretinal membrane/surgery; Vitreous body; Axial length, eye; Vitrectomy; Biometry/methods; Diagnostic techniques, ophthalmological; Guidelines as topic.

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence rates of complications following pediatric cataract surgery between the limbal and pars plana approaches.
METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched for studies comparing the two surgical approaches. We pooled the incidence rates of postoperative complications using a random-effects model.
RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 375 eyes from 260 patients were included. No significant differences in complication rates were observed between the limbal and pars plana approaches. The pooled incidence rates (95% confidence Interval) of postoperative visual axis opacity (VAO), VAO treated with laser or surgery, secondary glaucoma, wound leakage, corneal edema, anterior chamber reaction, posterior iris synechiae, capsular phimosis, intraocular lens dislocation, posterior capsular rupture, and intravitreal lens fragmentation were 4.7% (0.8%10.8%), 3.9% (1.0%-8.1%) , 2.8% (0%-11.4%), 0 (0%-1.3%), 2.9% (0%-11.8%), 5.6% (0.1%-16.5%), 2.4% (0%-8.5%), 3.8% (0.6%-8.9%), 2.2% (0%-6.4%), 9.2% (4.1%-15.8%) and 1.3% (0%-6.3%), respectively. Both surgical approaches demonstrated improved visual acuity postoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric cataract surgery, performed via the limbal or pars plana approach, is effective and safe, with a low incidence of complications when conducted by trained surgeons. Neither method demonstrated a significant difference in the visual acuity improvement or complication rates.

Keywords: Pediatric cataract surgery; Postoperative complications; Limbal route; Pars plana routes; Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of orbital conditions in a tertiary ophthalmic outpatient hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a focus on the main diagnoses and their distribution.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted involving patients registered and admitted to the orbital disease unit at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo Medical School, from January 2004 to March 2018. A total of 838 medical charts were analyzed, of which 37 were excluded due to incomplete data. The remaining charts were categorized into eight diagnostic groups: Graves’ orbitopathy , inflammatory disorders, tumors, vascular lesions, acquired structural abnormalities, congenital structural abnormalities, infectious diseases, and others.
RESULTS: Of the 837,300 ophthalmological appointments, 3,372 (0.4%) were related to orbital diseases. The study included 801 patients, of whom 63.45% were women. The patients’ mean age was 42.86 years. Graves’ orbitopathy was the most common (55%), followed by tumor (17%), inflammatory disorders (9%), vascular lesions (7%), acquired structural abnormalities (5%), congenital structural abnormalities (4%), others (2%), and infectious diseases (1%). The study found significant differences in the incidence and types of orbital diseases, indicating the specialized nature of tertiary care and referral biases.
CONCLUSION: Published data on epidemiological orbital diseases is scarce. Therefore, this study focused on the diverse nature of orbital diseases and their low incidence among ophthalmology appointments. The major trends align with other epidemiological studies, demonstrating a preponderance of Graves’ orbitopathy in middle-aged adults and a bimodal distribution of tumors. These findings are essential in shaping resident training programs and healthcare policies, particularly in tertiary settings. Understanding the epidemiology of orbital diseases can improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment approaches, and patient outcomes as well as support future systemic prospective studies.

Keywords: Orbital diseases; Orbital tumors; Neoplasms; Inflammation; Graves’ ophthalmopathy; Outpatients

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 is a form of spinocerebellar ataxia, which is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of rare inherited neurodegenerative disorders. Among the spinocerebellar ataxias, the association between cerebellar ataxia and cone-rod retinal dystrophy is a strong indicator of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 cone-rod dystrophy is a progressive, disabling, and incurable form of hereditary retinopathy. However, the field of genetics has markedly progressed in the last decades, which resulted in improved understanding of multiple aspects of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 retinal degeneration and the emergence of new modalities of genetic therapies for other types of retinal dystrophies. This study aimed to evaluate the current knowledge on spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 retinal degeneration, including genetics and molecular mechanisms as well as their implications in pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and potential therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Cerebellar ataxia; Cone-rod dystrophies; Spinocerebellar ataxias; Retinal dystrophies; Retinal degeneration; Genetic therapy