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Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the time-savings associated with introduction of Streamlight™ (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX, USA) transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in surface corneal ablations., Methods: All refractive surgeries were performed using the Alcon WaveLight® EX500 at the ArtLife Clinic, Gdańsk, Poland. The study included patients treated for refractive errors with transepithelial PRK between April 2019 and October 2021, who were matched with patients treated with alcohol-assisted PRK during the same period. Only results for the left eye were analyzed., Results: One-hundred-five patients underwent transepithelial PRK (age 33.42 ± 8.67 years) and were matched with 105 patients that underwent alcohol-assisted PRK (age 33.05 ± 10.16 years; p = 0.11). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was - 2.04 ± 2.28 D, and - 1.9 ± 1.71 D for the transepithelial and alcohol-assisted PRK group, respectively (p = 0.20). The total surgery time was non-significantly shorter in transepithelial PRK (349.46 ± 47.83 s) than in alcohol-assisted PRK (354.93 ± 137.63 s; p = 0.7); however, the variance of surgical time was significantly lower in transepithelial PRK (p < 0.001). The laser treatment duration was greater in transepithelial PRK (41.78 ± 17.2 s) than in alcohol-assisted PRK (8.48 ± 6.12 s; p < 0.001), and so was the number of breaks during the laser treatment (0.95 ± 0.63 vs. 0.53 ± 0.88, respectively; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The introduction of transepithelial PRK did not bring significant time-associated savings into the refractive surgery suite., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aim of global ophthalmology is to maximize vision, ocular health and functional ability, thereby contributing to overall health and well-being, social inclusion and quality of life of every individual worldwide. Currently, an estimated 1.1 billion people live with visual impairment, 90% of which can be prevented or cured through largely cost-effective interventions. At the same time, 90% of people affected live in regions with insufficient eye health coverage. This challenge drove the World Health Organization (WHO) and a group of nongovernmental organizations to launch "VISION 2020: the Right to Sight", a global campaign which recently concluded after 20 years. The achievements, challenges and lessons learned were identified and incorporated into the current campaign "2030 IN SIGHT"., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Albinism is a group of genetic disorders that includes several conditions related to a defect in melanin production. There is a broad phenotypic and genotypic variability between the different forms. The aim of this study was to assess the ophthalmologic characteristics according to patients' genotypes in a cohort followed in the Reference Center for oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) of Bordeaux University Hospital, France., Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a cohort of patients with OCA seen in consultation in the ophthalmology department between 2017 and 2021 in whom a genetic analysis was performed., Results: In total, 127 patients with OCA were included in this study and matched with the results of the genetic analysis. In the population aged over 6 years, there was no statistical difference in binocular visual acuity between the OCA1, OCA2, and OCA4 forms (P = 0.27). There was difference in ametropia between the three forms (P = 0.003). A two-by-two comparison using the Bonferroni correction showed a significant difference in ametropia between the OCA2 and OCA4 forms (P = 0.007) and between the OCA1 and OCA2 forms (P = 0.0075). Regardless of the form, most patients (75.4%) had grade 4 foveal hypoplasia. There was no association between the grade of foveal hypoplasia and the gene involved (P = 0.87)., Conclusions: We described a genotype-phenotype correlation for the three most represented forms of albinism in our cohort. This study allowed assessing the degree of visual deficiency in young children with OCA.

Purpose: To determine the pattern of pediatric ocular morbidities in western India., Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal study that included all consecutive children aged ≤15 years who presented to the outpatient department of a tertiary eye center for the first time. Patient demographics, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and ocular examination data were compiled. Subgroup analysis was also performed based on age group (years): ≤5, 5-10, and >10-15., Results: A total of 11,126 eyes of 5563 children were included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 5.15 (±3.32) years with males (57.07%) being predominant. Approximately half of the patients (50.19%) were under the age of 5 years, followed by those aged 5-10 years (45.1%) and >10-15 years (4.71%). Among the study eyes, the BCVA was ≥20/60 in 58.57%, indeterminable in 35.16%, and <20/60 in 6.71%. The commonest ocular morbidity noted was refractive error (28.97%) followed by allergic conjunctivitis (7.64%) and strabismus (4.95%) in the total study cohort and also after age stratification., Conclusion: Refractive error, allergic conjunctivitis, and strabismus are the major causes of ocular morbidity in pediatric eyes at a tertiary care center. Planning screening programs at the regional and national levels is crucial to decreasing the burden of eye disorders. These programs also need to have a suitable referral mechanism established and be smoothly connected to primary and secondary health-care centers. This will help to assure quality eye care delivery, while also reducing the strain of overworked tertiary centers., Competing Interests: None

Background: Describing the pattern of pediatric eye diseases is necessary for appropriate eye care in children. This study explored the spectrum and characteristics of pediatric ophthalmic diseases in a typical tertiary ophthalmology hospital in China., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary ophthalmology hospital between 2010 and 2019 in Guangzhou, China. This study included 44,552 inpatients who were younger than 18 years old. Demographic and diagnostic data were collected from the electronic medical record system. Multiphase regression analysis was used to estimate trends in the annual percentages of ten common ophthalmic diseases., Results: From 2010 to 2019, 44,552 inpatients met the inclusion criteria. The majority were male (61.9%), aged 7 to 12 years (30.3%) and self-paying (56.6%). The top ten conditions were refractive error (41.2%), strabismus (36.1%), cataract (13.6%), trauma (11.8%), congenital ptosis (8.8%), tumor (8.1%), amblyopia (7.1%), glaucoma (7.0%), entropion and trichiasis of eyelid (7.0%), and retinal detachment (6.5%). The annual percentage changes (APCs) for refractive error, strabismus, and retinal detachment were 9.3% (95% CI, 8.1-10.5%), 4.7% (95% CI, 3.8-5.6%) and - 2.8% (95% CI, - 5.1% to - 0.4%) respectively. For trauma, the average APC (AAPC = -9.2%, (95% CI, - 12.1% to - 6.2%) decreased gradually from 2010 to 2015 (APC = -4.2% (95% CI, - 8.8-0.7%)) and decreased rapidly from 2015 to 2019 (APC = -15.1% (95% CI, - 21.0% to - 8.7%))., Conclusions: Pediatric ophthalmic diseases are common in China. Preventive strategies and health education aimed at the prevention of refractive error, strabismus, and entropion and trichiasis of eyelid will be crucial in reducing the burden of pediatric ophthalmic diseases on health care systems and human development., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that refractive stabilization occurs rapidly following small incision cataract surgery. Nonetheless, many guidelines still suggest waiting four to 6 weeks before prescribing corrective lenses. This study was undertaken to supplement the existing literature regarding refractive stabilization, and evaluate multiple contributing factors that could dissuade clinicians from confidently correcting refractive error in the early post-operative course following routine cataract surgeries., Methods: Adult patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery with uncomplicated surgeries and post-surgical courses at the Calgary Ophthalmology Centre (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) were included in this prospective observational case series. Exclusion criteria included known corneal dystrophies, infectious keratitis, complicated surgery or toric/multifocal IOLs. Data was collected at weekly intervals for a total of 6 weeks. Collected data included autorefraction, visual acuity, corneal pachymetry, and effective lens position., Results: One hundred six eyes of 104 patients were included in this study. Post-operative sphere, cylinder and spherical equivalent were not significantly different at any post-operative week compared with week six, and 80-86% of patients were within 0.5D of last follow-up spherical equivalent at any week. The secondary outcomes of central corneal thickness, effective lens position and visual acuity did, however, exhibit significant differences between early post-operative weeks and last follow-up values., Conclusions: These data suggest that refractive error can be effectively measured and corrected as early as one-week post-operatively in the majority of patients, though other measures of post-operative stability including central corneal thickness, effective lens position and visual acuity can require up to 4 weeks to stabilize. Thus a conservative and pragmatic approach may be to wait until 4 weeks post-operatively prior to obtaining refractive correction following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Global estimate reported that 1.4 million children are blind of which three-quarters live in developing countries. Childhood Visual Impairment is a major public health problem globally especially in rural areas of developing countries., Objective: To review barriers to accessing paediatric eye care services in African countries., Methods: The studies in this review were searched in online databases (PubMed, Web of Sciences, ProQuest, Scopus, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus and Medline) for studies published between January 2000 and April 2020. The articles included in this review, which was conducted in Africa to assess the barriers for accessing paediatric eye care services with regards availability, accessibility, affordability, socio cultural barriers of parents/caregivers and community., Results: Of 22 705 articles screened, the study found 29 publications from 10 African countries which met the inclusion criteria. The main barriers were non-availability, non-accessibility, and non-affordability of paediatric eye care services. The studies reviewed revealed that there are other factors affecting the utilization of paediatric eye services which include the primary health system, geographic barriers, health beliefs, perception of parents; lack of knowledge, attitudes and practices about paediatric eye care. Furthermore, environmental, demographic barriers and socio-economic status has negative impact on accessing paediatric eye care services in African counties., Conclusion: The main barriers to accessing paediatric eye care services in Africa were affordability, accessibility and availability. There is therefore a need for all relevant stakeholders to play a significant role in addressing barriers to child eye care in African countries., (© 2021 Alrasheed SH.)

Description of a simple accessory for the slit lamp which enables the presbyopic or ametropic examiner to align the applanation conus and apply contact glasses without having to wear spectacles.

Background: Uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia are reported as the two main causes of childhood visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Our purpose was to evaluate refractive status, ocular alignment and effective refractive error coverage (eREC) of school-aged children from low-income areas of Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Methods: Data from the "Ver na Escola" Project were used for the current study. Children enrolled in the selected schools had an ophthalmic exam including eye alignment assessed by cover test, automatized and subjective dynamic and static refraction. The associations of demographic variables with occurrence and magnitude of refractive errors and eREC were investigated by multiple logistic regressions and multilevel mixed effect models. Results: A total of 17,973 children (51.12% females) with mean ± sd age 8.24 ± 3.54 years old examined from July 2018 to July 2019, were included in the study. Most of the participants (73%) showed orthoposition of the visual axis for both distance and near. Heterophoria was found in about 25% of participants (N = 4,498), with 71.7% of them (N= 3,222) classified as exophoria. Less than 2% (N = 232) showed strabismus, most of them (N = 160) esotropia. Overall, 1,370 (7.70%) of participants had myopia and 577 (3.24%) had hyperopia. Age was found to be significantly associated with increasing static subjective refraction spherical equivalent (Coefficient: -0.18; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.21 to -0.16; p < 0.001). Female sex (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.13; 95%CI: 1.01–1.27; p = 0.027) and older age (OR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.16–1.19; p < 0,001) were significantly associated with myopia diagnosis. Older age decreased the odds of hyperopia (OR = 0.95; 95%CI: 0.93–0.98; p < 0.001). The overall effective refractive coverage was 51.76% and was significantly associated with age group, ranging from 32.25% in children aged 3 to 7 years to 61.35% in children aged 8 to 12 years. Conclusions: Most children have shown eye alignment for both distance and near assessments and no refractive error. Myopia was observed in 7.70% of the population and it was associated with older age and female sex. Hyperopia was observed in 3.24% and was associated with younger age. The overall eREC was 51.76%, significantly associated with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia are reported as the two main causes of childhood visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Our purpose was to evaluate refractive status, ocular alignment and effective refractive error coverage (eREC) of school-aged children from low-income areas of Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Methods Data from the “Ver na Escola” Project were used for the current study. Children enrolled in the selected schools had an ophthalmic exam including eye alignment assessed by cover test, automatized and subjective dynamic and static refraction. The associations of demographic variables with occurrence and magnitude of refractive errors and eREC were investigated by multiple logistic regressions and multilevel mixed effect models. Results A total of 17,973 children (51.12% females) with mean ± sd age 8.24 ± 3.54 years old examined from July 2018 to July 2019, were included in the study. Most of the participants (73%) showed orthoposition of the visual axis for both distance and near. Heterophoria was found in about 25% of participants (N = 4,498), with 71.7% of them (N= 3,222) classified as exophoria. Less than 2% (N = 232) showed strabismus, most of them (N = 160) esotropia. Overall, 1,370 (7.70%) of participants had myopia and 577 (3.24%) had hyperopia. Age was found to be significantly associated with increasing static subjective refraction spherical equivalent (Coefficient: -0.18; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.21 to -0.16; p

AIM: To describe the distribution of refractive errors by age and sex among schoolchildren in Soacha, Colombia. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in five urban public schools in the municipality of Soacha. A total of 1161 school-aged and pre-adolescent children, aged 5-12y were examined during the school year 2021-2022. Examinations included visual acuity and static refraction. Spherical equivalent (SE) was analysed as follows: myopia SE≤-0.50 D and uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 or worse; high myopia SE≤-6.00 D; hyperopia SE≥+1.00 D (≥7y) or SE≥+2.00 D (5-6y); significant hyperopia SE≥+3.00 D. Astigmatism was defined as a cylinder in at least one eye ≥1.00 D (≥7y) or ≥1.75 D (5-6y). If at least one eye was ametropic, children were classified according to the refractive error found. RESULTS: Of the 1139 schoolchildren included, 50.6% were male, 58.8% were aged between 5 and 9y, and 12.1% were already using optical correction. The most common refractive error was astigmatism (31.1%), followed by myopia (20.8%) and hyperopia (13.1%). There was no significant relationship between refractive error and sex. There was a significant increase in astigmatism (P

Abstract Purpose: The possible effects of refractive errors on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) has been a conflicting issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of induced myopia on VOR using the ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (oVEMP). Methods: In this cross-sectional quasi-experimental study, 35 emmetropic and normal subjects with the mean age of 23.89 ± 3.93 (range, 20–40 years) without any ocular, nervous system, and vestibular disorders, underwent the oVEMP test in the comprehensive rehabilitation center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The oVEMP was performed under five different conditions of testing binocularly, monocularly, and when myopia was induced with the use of spherical lenses of +1.00, +3.00, and +5.00 diopters, respectively. There were 2 to 5 min of rest with closed eyes after each condition to avoid adaptation, fatigue, and any other sources of bias. Mean latencies of oVEMP waves (N1 and P1) and amplitudes of N1–P1 complex were measured. Results: There was no significant difference between the right and left sides (P > 0.05). The induced myopia significantly increased the N1 and P1 latencies using lenses of +1.00, +3.00, and +5.00 diopters but the amplitudes of N1–P1 complex were not influenced by the different amounts of induced myopia. There was no significant difference among the different conditions of induced myopia either (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Induced myopia could affect the VOR due to prolonging the latencies of oVEMP waves. However, the amplitudes were not affected and the effects of multiple degrees of induced myopia were not significantly different.

Abstract Background and Aim Refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, and low vision are more common among children with hearing impairments in comparison with their hearing peers. Neglecting visual disorders can pose educational and social problems for these children. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, and low vision among hearing-impaired and deaf students in Kermanshah. Materials and methods A total of 79 deaf and hearing impaired students within the age range of 7–20 years (mean age of 15.01 ± 2.72) underwent optometric examinations, including autorefractometry, retinoscopy, ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp, visual acuity measurement, and cover-uncover test. Those who needed further evaluation were referred to the Ophthalmology Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital. Results Regarding the prevalence of refractive errors, 32 (40.5%) subjects had one or a combination of refractive errors, the most common of which was astigmatism (36.7%), followed by amblyopia (15.1%). The most common type of strabismus was latent strabismus (heterophoria) (88.6%), followed by exophoria (81%). Moreover, 3 (3.7%) cases had nystagmus. A significant difference was observed between the prevalence of amblyopia and the degree of hearing loss (P = 0.026), and no significant difference was detected in other cases. Conclusion As evidenced by the obtained results, refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, and low vision are more prevalent among deaf and hearing-impaired children compared to normal children because deaf and hearing-impaired children are not able to convey their vision problems and need to compensate for their poor hearing with an enhanced sense of sight, inattention to these disorders can present these children with serious educational and social problems. Therefore, eye screening examinations are of paramount importance in deaf and hearing-impaired children.

Background: Refractive errors are the most prevalent ocular conditions among adolescents and children. Aim: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prevalence of refractive error (RE) among children aged 5–17 years in the Middle East Region. Method: The research adhered to the Preferred Reporting Criteria for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (2020) in conducting the study. A comprehensive search for relevant studies was conducted on multiple databases. The analysed dataset was classified based on gender and the methods employed to estimate REs. Results: The meta-analysis included data from 38 population-based studies in 11 countries, covering 103 053 children. The overall pooled prevalence rates of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism were 5.74%, 5.35% and 13.16%, respectively. Females had slightly higher prevalence rates at 7.25%, 5.54% and 15.50%, compared to males at 6.09%, 5.07% and 12.20%, respectively. The prevalence of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism was higher with cycloplegic refraction at 6.33%, 6.36% and 14.39%, respectively, compared with non-cycloplegic refraction at 4.07%, 2.73% and 9.64%, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed between the reviewed studies (p 0.0001). Conclusion: This meta-analysis revealed that astigmatism was the most common RE in Middle Eastern children aged 5–17 years, followed by myopia and hyperopia. There was no significant difference in the pooled prevalence of RE between genders. The findings indicated that myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism measurements varied between cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic refractions. Contribution: These findings concur with the global trend and emphasise the need for deliberate action to address childhood REs in the Middle East.

Background: The American Optometric Association (AOA), in its 2017 Recommendation for Clinical Practice, proposed cycloplegic testing when initially screening preschool children to detect potential vision-impairing diseases such as strabismus, amblyopia and anisometropia. Aim: This study aims to detect the effect of cycloplegia on the measurement of refractive errors in children. Setting: Ophthalmology department, Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Methods: This retrospective interventional study included 388 children with refractive error attending our outpatient clinic in the ophthalmology department, at Al-Azhar University between January 2020 and April 2022. Cycloplegia was induced in each child with topical eye drops of 1% cyclopentolate instilled two times at 5-min intervals. The same optometrist repeated an auto-refraction 30 min after the last eye drop was applied. Results: We compared the pre- and post-cycloplegic refractions and found that the sphere, spherical equivalence and cylinder had significant hypermetropic shift after cycloplegia (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Cycloplegic refractions are more accurate and eliminate the risk of inaccurate refractive error findings, which is essential when managing children. Contribution: This article provides valuable insight, which may inform public health policy.

Background: South Africa has a high mortality rate because of road traffic accidents (RTAs) compared to other countries. Aim: To determine the visual functions and their association with the occurrence of RTAs among vehicle drivers in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Setting: Eight driver’s license testing centres (DLTCs) in the Gauteng province. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving a multi-stage random sampling approach was conducted. Data collected using the questionnaire included participants’ demographic details. Ocular health examination included the measurement of visual acuity (VA), refractive errors, visual fields, colour vision, stereopsis, contrast and glare sensitivity. Results: A total of 579 motor vehicle drivers were enrolled in this study. Drivers who reported daily alcohol consumption had a higher risk of being involved in RTAs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.09–2.99, P = 0.02). Visual acuity (OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 0.99–2.06, P = 0.05), refractive errors (P = 0.03, χ2 = 61.57), abnormal contrast sensitivity (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.31–0.93, P = 0.03) and deutan colour vision defects (P = 0.002, χ2 = 31.42) were significantly associated with RTAs. Visual field defects (OR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.97–1.00, P = 0.09), stereopsis anomaly (OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.99–1.00, P = 0.35) and abnormal glare sensitivity (OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.99–1.01, P = 0.32) were not significantly associated with the occurrence of RTAs. Conclusion: These results suggest reviewing the visual requirements for obtaining a driver’s license by incorporating colour vision and contrast sensitivity assessment. Contribution: The study addresses a gap in the country’s current vision testing standards for driving.

Abstract Purpose To understand the ocular biometric parameters characteristics and refractive errors in 3-to 6-year-old preschool children in Chengdu, China, and to investigate the prevalence of refractive errors. Method A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Chengdu from 2020 to2022 with a total of 666 kindergartens. All children were measured by non-cycloplegic autorefraction and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and ocular biometric parameters. Finally, univariate linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between ocular biometric parameters and refraction. Results A total of 108,578 preschool children aged 3–6 underwent examinations, revealing a myopia prevalence of 6.1%. The mean axial length (AL), keratometry (K), corneal radius (CR), axial length/corneal radius (AL/CR) Ratio, central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and vitreous chamber depth (VCD) were 22.35 ± 0.69 mm, 43.35 ± 1.58 D, 7.80 ± 0.28 mm, 2.87 ± 0.08, 533.31 ± 32.51 μm, 2.70 ± 0.28 mm, 3.91 ± 0.27 mm, and 15.20 ± 0.68 mm, respectively. With increasing age, AL, CR, AL/CR ratio, CCT, ACD, LT, and VCD also increased. Regardless of age, males consistently exhibited longer AL, flatter corneal curvature, shallower ACD, thicker CCT, thinner LT, and longer VCD compared to females. AL, K, CR, LT, and VCD all showed significant linear relationships with SE (all P

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of visual impairment (VI) and provide an estimation of uncorrected refractive errors in school-aged children, conducted by optometry students as a community service. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional. Totally 3343 participants were included in the study. The initial examination involved assessing the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and visual acuity (VA) while using a +2.00 D lens. The inclusion criteria for a subsequent comprehensive cycloplegic eye examination, performed by an optometrist, were as follows: a UDVA

Abstract Introduction Photoscreeners have been shown to provide excellent measurements of the refractive error. However, whether they could be used for assessing cycloplegic refraction has not been examied. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic measurements obtained using a photoscreener and stationary autorefractor, respectively. Methods This study included all patients undergoing routine ophthalmic examination at the Hygeia Clinic (Poland) from June to July 2022. Each patient underwent non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic refraction assessments using the 2WIN photoscreener (Adaptica SRL, Padova, Italy) and an ARK-1 stationary autorefractor ARK-1 (Nidek Co Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), respectively. Each pair of assessments was conducted in random order, and all values were determined at a vertical distance of 12 mm. The agreement between cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic measurements was assessed using paired t-tests, Bland-Altman and ABCD ellipsoids. Results This analysis included 82 patients, of which 52 were female. Their mean age was 34.39 ± 13.13 years. The non-cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) did not differ significantly between the 2WIN (− 1.22 ± 2.45) and ARK-1 (− 1.19 ± 2.96) devices (p = 0.580). However, the cycloplegic SE values demonstrated more negative values with the 2WIN device (− 1.13 ± 2.19) than with the ARK-1 device (− 0.75 ± 3.03; p = 0.007). The non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic measurements were strongly correlated between the devices (r = 0.9473 and 0.9411, respectively). However, the correlation between their cycloplegic shifts in SE was low (r = 0.2645). Ellipsoid refraction aligned better non-cycloplegic (ARK-1 = 1.00; 2WIN = 1.74) than with cycloplegic refraction (ARK-1 = 1.43; 2WIN = 1.90). Conclusion While the cycloplegic measurements obtained with the 2WIN photoscreener were strongly correlated with those obtained with the ARK-1 stationary autorefractor for most of the analyzed parameters, they should not be considered interchangeable.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of potential non‐strabismic accommodative–vergence anomalies (NSAVA) and investigate associations between NSAVA, refractive errors and age among children attending a paediatric ophthalmology clinic. Methods: This study included children and adolescents aged 5–19 years attending an ophthalmology clinic with at least two follow‐up visits. At their first visit, children had a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including refractive error measurement by cycloplegic autorefraction and spectacles were prescribed if necessary. At the second visit, children had an examination of best‐corrected visual acuity, convergence and accommodation to identify potential NSAVA. The relationship between age, sex, heterophoria and refractive error and potential NSAVA was assessed by a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 384 children and adolescents were evaluated. Their mean age was 10.97 ± 3.07 years and 58.9% were females. Forty‐two per cent of children failed the NSAVA tests and 34.1% had myopia (≤−0.50 D). Children who failed NSAVA tests self‐reported a higher proportion of reading problems (73.7%) compared to those who passed the tests (26.3%; p < 0.001). Children with self‐reported reading problems were more likely to have accommodative infacility (57.9%) compared with children without (42.1%; p < 0.001). Refractive error and age were not associated with failure in NSAVA tests (p > 0.05). Conclusions: NSAVA was a frequent cause of vision problems found in a sample of children from an ophthalmology paediatric clinic. Thus, further research is necessary to understand the potential of public health policies to prevent, refer, diagnose and treat those conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophthalmological conditions are underreported in patients with KBG syndrome, which is classically described as presenting with dental, developmental, intellectual, skeletal, and craniofacial abnormalities. This study analyzed the prevalence of four ophthalmological conditions (strabismus, astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) in 43 patients with KBG syndrome carrying variants in ANKRD11 or deletions in 16q24.3 and compared it to the literature. Forty‐three patients were recruited via self‐referral or a private Facebook group hosted by the KBG Foundation, with 40 of them having pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Virtual interviews were conducted to collect a comprehensive medical history verified by medical records. From these records, data analysis was performed to calculate the prevalence of ophthalmological conditions. Out of the 40 participants with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, strabismus was reported in 9 (22.5%) participants, while astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia were reported in 11 (27.5%), 6 (15.0%), and 8 (20.0%) participants, respectively. Other reported conditions include anisometropia, amblyopia, and nystagmus. When compared to the literature, the prevalence of strabismus and refractive errors is higher than other studies. However, more research is needed to determine if variants in ANKRD11 play a role in abnormal development of the visual system. In patients with established KBG syndrome, screening for misalignment or refractive errors should be done, as interventions in patients with these conditions can improve functioning and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodsResultsConclusionsTo estimate the prevalence and demographic characteristics of uncorrected refractive errors (URE) in people who attended eye care consultations in Colombia between 2015 and 2019, using the National Health Registry data.We identified ICD codes for myopia (H-52.1), degenerative myopia (H-44.2), hyperopia (H-52.0), and astigmatism (H-52.2) from the Integrated Social Protection Information System. Crude prevalence rates by age and sex were calculated for the population attending eye care services during these years. Additionally, we developed a standardized morbidity map across county departments.In Colombia, the prevalence of URE among eye care consultations was 30.26%, increasing from 30.39% in 2015 to 35.14% in 2019. Of the 1,579,778 cases analyzed, 60.9% were females. Astigmatism emerged as the most prevalent URE, predominantly seen in individuals under 40 years old. Myopia showed the highest prevalence in the 10–30 age group, whereas hyperopia was most prevalent in the first decade of life. Geographically, the Andean region recorded most of URE cases, while more remote areas have seen a rising morbidity risk in recent years.The rising trend of URE in Colombia and its demographic and geographical variations underscores the urgent need for health professionals and government authorities to acknowledge and address this issue. This study provides crucial insights into the refractive error landscape across the country, highlighting the necessity for prevention programs specifically designed to cater to the country’s unique needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate intraocular lens power calculation and postoperative refractive errors in patients with high myopia undergoing cataract surgery, comparing predicted target refraction and actual postoperative refraction measured 30 days after surgery with SRK/T formula. Methods This retrospective analysis comprised 39 eyes of 31 patients undergoing cataract surgery through phacoemulsification with in-the-bag IOL implantation. Axial length was measured by partial coherence interferometry or immersion ultrasound biometry, with measurements greater than 26 mm and preoperative myopia greater than -6.0 D Manifest refraction was performed at the 1-month postoperative visit, and the spherical equivalent was analyzed. Results After analysis of 39 eyes of 31 patients undergoing cataract surgery with a mean axial length of 30.4 (standard deviation of 2.2) mm, the mean preoperative refractive spherical equivalent was -15.6 (standard deviation of 7.6) D, ranging from -24.0 to -13.4 D. At 30 days postoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent was -0.35 (standard deviation of 1.1) D, ranging from -2.4 to 2.50 D. Conclusion We encountered a correlation between the absolute refractive error and the dioptric power of the intraocular lens. Against expectations, in our study, ultrasound biometry yielded better results than the optical biometer device, probably due to the small number of patients undergoing optical biometry, suggesting that well-performed immersion biometry can still produce satisfactory results.

Background: Non-cycloplegic subjective refraction (NCSR) is useful to measure refractive errors with active ocular accommodation. Aim: This study aimed to compare annual NCSR distributions between January 2018 and December 2019. Setting: The study was conducted in the Optometry Clinic at Sekororo Hospital in Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: Data, extracted retrospectively from the clinical archive, were randomly stratified into two strata (2018 and 2019) for analysis. Stereo-pair scatter plots and polar plots of variance were used to better understand the samples concerned. Results: Clinic patients were mostly females of African descent. Mean ages and standard deviations (± SD) for the 2018 and 2019 samples were similar (48.35 ± 20.86 years and 46.22 ± 20.36 years, respectively). For the 2018 sample, the clinical means for NCSR for the right and left eyes, respectively, were similar (R −0.44 ‒0.15 × 86 and L ‒0.46 ‒0.16 × 75) and similar for the 2019 samples (R ‒0.38 ‒0.17 × 77 and L ‒0.14 ‒0.05 × 99). Samples were not normally distributed and outliers were present, although uncommon. Sample variances were mainly spherical rather than astigmatic. Conclusion: Non-cycloplegic subjective refractions were mostly classified as mild ([−2: 2 D]) compound myopic astigmatism. Severe myopia (|6 D|) and hyperopia were uncommon. Contribution: This article adds to current scientific knowledge of multivariate methods for the analysis of refractive states, especially when applied within rural environments. Such multivariate methods are ideally suited for the analysis of distributions of refractive state.

ABSTRACT Objective: To study vertex-optical distance variation and estimate its impact on manifest refraction. Methods: Prospective study in a private clinic using the Vision-S™ 700 with five forehead positions. Forehead on the third position showed the closest vertex-optical distance of 12mm. Results: Analysis of 52 eyes from 26 patients revealed mean differences in vertex-optical distance of 12.25mm (right eye) and 11.75mm (left eye). A 2mm change in vertex-optical distance resulted in a 0.05D change for a 5D spherical equivalent and 0.20D for a 10D equivalent. Conclusion: Vertex-optical distance varies among patients and is influenced by forehead adjustment. These variations impact refraction accuracy and treatment evaluation. Adjusting the forehead to the third position on the Vision-S™ 700 is recommended.

Background: Refractive errors are common vision disorders globally. Advancements in refractive surgeries have provided new options for vision correction. However, uptake depends on awareness and personal attitudes. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the awareness, attitudes, and preferences regarding refractive procedures among medical undergraduates. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 medical students. A prevalidated questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, spectacles/contact lens use, awareness of procedures, willingness to undergo surgery, and recommend it to others. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: Most students (92.5%) were aware of refractive surgeries. Spectacles were used by 70.7% and contact lenses by 57.9%. Most users were comfortable with their method. Less than half (47.4%) planned to undergo refractive surgery themselves, although 63.2% would recommend it to family/friends. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) was the preferred choice (44.4%). Those willing to undergo surgery were more likely to advise it to others (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study found a high awareness but lower personal acceptance of refractive surgery among medical students. LASIK was the most preferred procedure. Updated education about advances in refractive correction is needed in the medical curriculum. This can enable future physicians to better counsel patients regarding vision correction options.

Abstract Background To investigate and compare the vision-related quality of life (QOL) in different types of refractive error (RE). Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 200 subjects, categorized into four groups of 50 each, consisting of subjects with myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and emmetropia, the latter being the control group. The mean age of the participants was 23.88 ± 5.87 (range, 15 to 38: 110 females and 90 males). RE was defined as myopia, spherical equivalent (SE) < -0.25 diopters (D), hyperopia, SE > + 0.25 D, astigmatism, cylinder < -0.25 D, and emmetropia (-0.25 ≤ SE(D) ≤ + 0.25, cylinder ≥ -0.25). Groups are subdivided into very low magnitudes of RE (0.50 and 0.75) and significant RE (1.00 ≤). Vision-related QOL was assessed using the Persian version of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). The NEI-VFQ was scored as visual function and socioemotional scales using Rasch analysis. Results Corrected myopia, astigmatism, uncorrected myopia, and hyperopia had a lower vision-related QOL than emmetropes. (P

Background Spectacles are one of the corrective measures for different errors of refraction. A great proportion of people worldwide are blind due to having a high-refractive error while they neglect using the appropriate corrective measures. The aim is to study the prevalence of noncompliance to spectacle wear and its predisposing factors among adults with refractive errors in Menoufia and Gharbeya Governorates. Patients and methods A cross-sectional study performed in Menoufia and Gharbeya Governorates included 290 adults recruited from government and private ophthalmological centers. Data were collected through a predesigned questionnaire asking about personal data, ophthalmological data, measures of compliance, and predisposing factors to noncompliance. Results About 38% of the participants were noncompliant to eyeglasses wearing. Among noncompliant, personal causes represented 63.1%, followed by spectacle-related causes (22.5%) and financial causes (14.4%). Rural residence and illiteracy were significantly higher among noncompliant participants. Multivariate analysis revealed that secondary and higher education were independent protective factors against noncompliance. Conclusion Noncompliance to spectacle wear was high and was significantly related to rural residence and higher levels of education.

Ocular morbidity usually are caused by both visual and non visual pathology. According to WHO as on 2020, 235 million people are visually impaired, of which 43.3 million are blind, major cause are uncorrected refractive error and cataract. However not much details are available regarding non visual ocular morbidity, as primary focus is always on visual Impairment and blindness. But it is a unavoidable fact that many patients are suffering from non visual morbidity and some needs surgical intervention as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the performance of a portable autorefractor as refractor and screening tool for refractive errors in schoolchildren. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. Refractometric measurements of children between 5 and 10 years old were obtained through four methods: 2WIN under non-cycloplegic conditions, and 2WIN, conventional autorefractor, and retinoscopy, under cycloplegic conditions. Correlations and agreement between the methods and accuracy of the portable autorefractor to define whether to prescribe glasses were assessed. Results: The mean age ± standard deviation was 6.87 ± 1.42 years. The portable autorefractor without cycloplegia showed a high correlation with retinoscopy (0.77) but tended to underestimate hyperopia and overestimate high astigmatism. Regarding screening for prescription of glasses in comparison with the reference method “retinoscopy,” the sensitivity of the portable autorefractor without cycloplegia was calculated to be 100,00% and the specificity, 34.3%. Conclusion: The portable autorefractor should be used as a screening tool and, when prescribing glasses, the tendency of underestimating hyperopia and overestimating high astigmatism should be kept in mind.

Background: Refractive errors are common eye disorders affecting people of all age groups worldwide. Aim: To determine the prevalence and determinants of refractive errors among patients attending a rural-based optometry clinic from January 2018 to December 2019. Setting: The study was conducted at Sekororo District Hospital in Mopani District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study comprising two stratified random samples (2018 and 2019) was conducted based on the clinical records of patients who consulted the clinic. Data were analysed with Statistics or Data Analysis software, STATA ed. 15. Determinants of refractive errors were identified using regression analysis and reported as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: In the 2018 sample, the prevalence of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in the right eyes was 10% (95% CI: 7.0–14.2), 7.5% (95% CI: 4.5–1.3) and 43.4% (95% CI: 37.6–49.3), respectively. Left eyes had myopia 16.1% (95% CI: 12.2–21.0), hyperopia 7.5% (95% CI: 4.5–1.3) and astigmatism 40.1% (95% CI: 34.5–46.0). For the 2019 sample, the prevalence of myopia in right eyes was 13.3% (95% CI: 9.5–18.3), hyperopia 3.8% (95% CI: 2.0–7.3) and astigmatism 33.8% (95% CI: 28.0–40.1). Left eyes had myopia 17.5% (95% CI: 13.1–23.0), hyperopia 8.1% (95% CI: 5.2–12.4) and astigmatism 26.9% (95% CI: 21.6–33.0). Conclusion: Across the samples (2018 and 2019) and to laterality (right and left eyes), myopia prevalence ranged from 10% to 17.5% while hyperopia ranged from 3.8% to 8.1%. Astigmatism was most prevalent (ranging from 26.9% to 43.4%). Contribution: This article provides useful information about the prevalence of REs in the district hospital setting. The Department of Health Authority may use the results for policy decisions.

Nawaf Osaywid Alrashidi,1 Wafy Abdulrahman Albrak,1 Shaker Osaywid Alreshidi,2 Lama Abdulrahman Alaradi,3 Hatim Adam Nagi Adam,3 Naif Mamdouh Alali,4 Faris Hashem,4 Hani Basher Albalawi,4 Ahmed Yousef Alothman,5 Shaima Sulaiman Alharbi2 1College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia; 4Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 5Ophthalmology Department, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Faris Hashem, Email fhashem@ut.edu.saPurpose: The study aims to assess the perception of optical spectacles use among the Ha’il region population in Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed via various social media applications to the residents of the Ha’il region. An online questionnaire was designed and included informed consent and questions assessing the participants’ perceptions about wearing eyeglasses, contact lenses, and general eye health.Results: 32.4% of the participants think that long-term eyeglasses wearing worsens vision, and 43% think eyeglasses wearing improves vision. 75.2% believe that long-term use of glasses could cause lifetime dependency on eyeglasses. Regarding contact lenses, 45.9% believe that long-term wearing worsens vision, and 24.1% think long-term wearing of contact lenses improves vision. 60% think long-term use of lenses causes lifetime dependency on those contact lenses.Conclusion: Our results highlighted the misconceptions among the study population regarding wearing prescribed eyeglasses and contact lenses. Thus, education programs and media are warranted to correct the misconceptions about spectacles and raise the awareness about refractive errors and treatment options.Keywords: refractive errors, vision impairment, eyeglasses, contact lenses