JCRS HIGHLIGHTS

CATARACT SURGERY AFTER REFRACTIVE SURGERY INCREASING

The number of patients presenting for cataract surgery who have previously undergone corneal refractive surgery has been increasing steadily. These patients tend to be younger and are at increased risk of worse postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), a new study from the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO) database indicates. The review of 807,220 cataract cases reported over a five-year period showed a rate of 0.15 per cent of patients who had undergone previous corneal refractive surgery, with the rate increasing steadily. Postoperative CDVA was worse than preoperative CDVA in four per cent of corneal refractive patients, versus 1.5 per cent of non-refractive patients (P < .001). S Manning et al, JCRS, “Cataract surgery outcomes in corneal refractive surgery eyes: Study from the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery”, Volume 41, Issue 11, 2358-2365.

TABLET APP FOR GLARE TESTING

The Aston Halometer, a computer tablet based software app, provides a sensitive, repeatable way of quantifying a patient-recognised form of disability glare in multiple orientations, report British investigators. They evaluated the tool in a prospective study, which positioned 20 patients two meters from an iPad screen in a dark room, with the iPad controlled from an iPhone via Bluetooth. The halometer comprises a bright light-emitting-diode (LED) glare source in the centre of the tablet. Letters subtending 0.21° were moved centrifugally from the LED in 0.05 degree steps, in eight orientations separated by 45 degrees for each of four contrast levels. Bangerter occlusion foils were inserted in front of the right eye to simulate monocular glare conditions. Intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of the Aston Halometer was good and similar to the C-Quant straylight meter. The researchers believe this test could add objectivity to subjectively reported discomfort glare.PJ Buckhurst et al, JCRS, “Tablet App halometer for the assessment of dysphotopsia”, Volume 41, Issue 11, 2424-2429. 

TORIC PHAKIC LENS IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS

The toric phakic Visian ICL offers a safe and effective treatment option for refractory amblyopia due to anisometropic hyperopia or myopia in children who are non-compliant with conventional therapy, a new report suggests. A retrospective review found a total of 11 eyes (nine myopic, two hyperopic) of 11 patients aged five to 15 years. Six of the nine myopic eyes received spherical ICLs and three received toric ICLs. Both hyperopic eyes received spherical ICLs. The mean cycloplegic refractive spherical equivalent improved in both myopic and hyperopic cases at a follow-up of 16.8 months and 15 months, respectively. KE Emara et al, JCRS, “Implantation of spherical and toric copolymer phakic intraocular lens to manage amblyopia due to anisometropic hyperopia and myopia in paediatric patients”, Volume 41, Issue 11, 2458-2465.