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Introduction: This study aimed to determine patterns of screen viewing time (SVT) in preschool children with developmental, behavioural or emotional (DBE) issues, and to identify its relationship with social-emotional development., Method: This cross-sectional study involved children aged 0-5 years who were referred to a developmental paediatric clinic for DBE issues. Parents completed a screen time questionnaire, and the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment-Clinical (DECA-C) question-naire which assessed the social-emotional competence of the children. Data were analysed using logistic regression, correlational analyses and tests of comparison., Results: Among 225 children (mean age: 32.4 months), mean daily SVT was 138 minutes. More than half (51.1%) of the children had clinical features of language delay, while 26.6% had features suggestive of autism spectrum disorder. Screen time was first introduced at a mean age of 13.8 months, with 32.4% of children previously experiencing higher SVT. Compared to SVT introduction after 1 year of age, SVT in the first 12 months was primarily to facilitate feeding ( P <0.05). Children with higher past SVT had poorer attention, more aggression, and increased behavioural concerns. Children with DBE issues have significantly more screen time than same-aged peers., Conclusion: Children with DBE issues are exposed to SVT at a very young age and have significantly more screen time than their peers. It is crucial to guide parents to reduce SVT in early childhood, particularly around mealtimes.

Lay Abstract: Systematic screening for autism in early childhood has been suggested to improve eventual outcomes by facilitating earlier diagnosis and access to intervention. However, clinical implementation of screening has to take into account effectiveness and feasibility of use within a healthcare setting for accurate diagnosis of autism. In Singapore, autism screening using a structured screening tool is not currently employed as a part of routine well-child visits for children in primary care clinics. In this study, 5336 children (aged 17-20 months) were screened for autism using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) during their 18-month well-child visit in seven primary care clinics. Screening and follow-up interviews were administered by nursing staff at each clinic. Children screened positive and a portion of those screened negative then underwent diagnostic assessments to determine whether they met the diagnostic criteria for autism. In total, 113 (2.1%) were screened positive, of which 54 (1.0%) met the criteria for autism. Children who screened positive and received a diagnosis accessed autism-specific intervention at an average age of 22 months. Nurses and physicians rated the acceptability and practicality of the M-CHAT-R/F highly. Therefore, the M-CHAT-R/F questionnaire was an effective and feasible tool for autism screening among 18-month-old children in this study. Future studies will be designed to determine the optimal age of screening and role of repeated screening in Singapore, as well as to better understand any potential improved outcomes nationwide compared with pre-implementation of autism screening., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Children from low-income (LI) families often suffer from poor health, with sub-optimal health practices. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in health habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of LI preschool children compared to non-low-income preschool peers (PPG)., Method: Using data from the social-health Circle of Care-Health Development Screening Programme (CoC-HDSP) in Singapore, 118 LI children and 304 PPG children aged 18 months to 6 years old and their families were recruited from 13 government-funded preschools. Health practices examined included screen time habits, sleep, nutrition, dental health and the children's HRQoL using PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales., Results: Majority of the children were aged 4-6 years in kindergarten 1 and 2. There were more Malay children in the LI than the PPG (61.9% versus [vs] 29.3%, P<0.001). Low-income children were more likely to have lower-educated parents (P<0.001). The completed vaccination rate in the LI group was lower than those in PPG (84.7% vs 98.0%, P<0.001). More in the LI group utilised emergency services for acute illnesses (P<0.05). Fewer LI children had ever visited a dentist (47.4% vs 75.4%, P<0.001), and more LI children consumed sweetened drinks daily (33.3% vs 8.6%, P<0.001). The LI group reported poorer-quality sleep (48.3% vs 27.2%, P<0.001), though both groups exceeded the daily recommended screen viewing duration. The LI group scored higher in the social (mean 92.4±12.2 vs 84.3±15.3, P<0.001) and emotional (mean 85.2±15.1 vs 76.6±17.3, P<0.001) domains of the PedsQL 4.0 when compared to PPG., Conclusion: Low-income children have poorer health practices, receive less preventive paediatric care, and utilise more emergency services for acute illnesses. These findings are important for developing interventions that work towards improving the health of LI children., Competing Interests: None to declare.

Background: With more frail elderly living and likely to die in nursing homes, advance care planning (ACP) is critical in overall efforts to provide good palliative care. However, it is unclear how willing older, vulnerable residents in nursing homes are to take on an active role in care decisions., Aim: The objective of this pilot study was to examine nursing homes' healthcare professionals' and residents' views on ACP and the extent of similarities and differences in their views., Methods: Our sample of 24 healthcare professionals and 24 residents were identified and recruited through contacts established from existing collaborations with the nursing homes. Surveys were administered to the participants by a trained research assistant between April 2015 and August 2015., Results: Almost all the healthcare professionals (95.8%) would like to make an ACP for themselves in the future, while residents were divided in their choices (P<<0.01). Most residents (79.1%) felt that the most important guide for their surrogate in making decisions for them when they lose decision-making capacity should be based on their best interests. However, most healthcare professionals (75.0%) felt that it should be based on the resident's wishes and values., Conclusions: Healthcare professionals tended to overestimate the importance of patient autonomy compared to the residents. This study demonstrates that as much as advocacy and awareness are ongoing, nursing home residents' motivation to participate in ACP is lacking. The lack of motivation in ACP participation could be due to medical paternalism and familial determination, which have been a cultural norm for older Singaporeans. This study demonstrates there is a lack of cultural sensitivity in this group of healthcare professionals in approaching nursing home residents' end-of-life care decision-making.

Background: As the coronavirus 2019 pandemic continues, healthcare services need to adapt to continue providing optimal and safe services for patients. We detail our adaptive framework as a large Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics service in a tertiary academic institution in Singapore., Methods: The multidisciplinary team at our unit implemented various adaptations and workflow processes during this evolving pandemic in providing continued clinical care tailored to the challenges specific to our patient population. Services were continued via teleconsultation mode during the 'Circuit Breaker' (enhanced movement restriction) period. Specific workflow processes, IT infrastructure, and staff training were put in place to support smooth running of this service. Segregation of services into two teams based at two separate sites and implementation of stringent infection control measures surrounding the clinic visit by providers, patients and their families were incorporated to ensure safety. Measures were also taken to ensure providers' mental wellbeing., Results: The clinical service was continued for the majority of our patients with a lowest reduction in patient consultations to half of baseline during the 'Circuit Breaker' period. We received positive feedback from families for teleconsultation services provided., Conclusion: We have been able to continue services in our DBP clinics due to our dynamic reassessment of workflow processes and their prompt implementation in conjunction with the hospital and national public health response to the pandemic. Given that this pandemic is likely to be long drawn, our unit remains ready to constantly adjust these workflows and make adaptations as we go along, together with the support for mental health of patients, parents and staff. Continual improvements in workflows will be helpful even beyond the pandemic to ensure good continuity of care for our patients and families., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and has since become a global pandemic. Singapore was one of the first countries outside of China to be affected and reported its first case in January 2020. Strategies that were deployed successfully during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome have had to evolve to contain this novel coronavirus. Like the rest of the health care services in Singapore, the practice of ophthalmology has also had to adapt to this rapidly changing crisis. This article discusses the measures put in place by the 3 largest ophthalmology centers in Singapore's public sector in response to COVID-19, and the challenges of providing eye care in the face of stringent infection control directives, staff redeployments and "social distancing." The recently imposed "circuit breaker," effectively a partial lockdown of the country, has further limited our work to only the most essential of services. Our staff are also increasingly part of frontline efforts in the screening and care of patients with COVID-19. However, this crisis has also been an opportunity to push ahead with innovative practices and given momentum to the use of teleophthalmology and other digital technologies. Amidst this uncertainty, our centers are already planning for how ophthalmology in Singapore will be practiced in this next stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.

Introduction: This study aims to establish the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of the general population (people with and without diabetes) towards diabetes. The study will examine (a) recognition and understanding of causes, prevention and treatment strategies of diabetes; (b) identify the knowledge gaps and behavioural patterns that may hamper diabetes prevention and control; (c) stigma towards and stigma perceived by people with diabetes and (d) awareness of anti-diabetes campaigns., Methods and Analysis: The study is a nationwide, cross-sectional study of Singapore's general population aged 18 years and above (n=3000), comprising Chinese, Malay, Indian and other ethnic groups, who can understand English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil language. The sample was derived using a disproportionate stratified sampling using age and ethnicity. The proportion of respondents in each ethnic group (Chinese, Malay and Indian) was set to approximately 30%, while the proportion of respondents in each age group was set around 20% in order to ensure a sufficient sample size. The respondents will be administered questionnaires on diabetes KAP, stigma towards diabetes, lifestyle, diet and awareness of local anti-diabetes campaigns. The analysis will include descriptive statistics and multiple logistic and linear regression analyses to determine the socio-demographic correlates of correct recognition of diabetes, help-seeking preferences, as well as overall knowledge and attitudes among those with and without diabetes. We will consider a p value ≤0.05 as significant., Ethics and Dissemination: This study protocol has been reviewed by the Institutional Research Review Committee and the National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Review Board (NHG DSRB Ref 2018/00430). The results of the study will be shared with policymakers and other stakeholders. There will be a local mass media briefing to disseminate the findings online, in print and on television and radio. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented in scientific meetings., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Collaborative learning in interprofessional team care delivery across different healthcare courses and institutions is constrained by geographical locations and tedious scheduling. Three dimensional virtual environments (3D-VE) are a viable and innovative tool to bring diverse healthcare students to learn together., Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the development of a 3D-VE and to evaluate healthcare students' experiences of their collaborative learning in the environment., Method: A mixed methods study design was employed. Participants from six healthcare courses (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Medical Social Work) were recruited from three institutions to form six interprofessional teams to participate in team care delivery via a 3D-VE. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to evaluate the students' attitudes toward healthcare teams and interprofessional collaboration. Four focus groups were conducted with 27 healthcare students after they completed questionnaires to evaluate their perceived usability, the sociability of computer-supported collaborative learning, and senses of presence. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis., Result: The students demonstrated significant improvements in their attitudes toward healthcare teams (p < 0.05) and interprofessional collaboration (p < 0.001) after the collaborative learning. Four themes emerged from the focus group discussions: "feeling real", whereby the students felt immersed in their own roles; the virtual environment was perceived as "less threatening" compared to face-to-face interactions; "understanding each other's roles" among different healthcare professionals; and there were some "technical hiccups" related to sound quality and navigation. The participants reported positively on the usability (mean 3.48, SD 0.64), feasibility (mean 3.39, SD 0.60) and perceived sense of presence (mean 107.24, SD 17.78) of the 3D-VE in supporting collaborative learning., Conclusion: Given its flexibility, practicality, and scalability, this 3D-VE serves as a promising tool for collaborative learning across different healthcare courses and institutions in preparing for future collaborative-ready workforces., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the sleep patterns and dysfunctions in children with learning problems in comparison against a local population-based sample., Materials and Methods: Parents of 200 children with learning problems and 372 parents of a local population-based sample of typically developing (TD) children were recruited to complete a questionnaire on their child's sleep patterns and sleep problems. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) is a validated parent-reported sleep screening questionnaire that contains 54 items identifying sleep behaviours in children., Results: The mean age of the sample was 4.2 years (SD: 1.4; range, 2 to 6 years). Sleep duration was similar between the 2 groups. The difference in mean CSHQ subscale scores between children with learning problems and TD children was significant for sleep-disordered breathing (1.3 vs 1.2, P = 0.001). Among children with learning problems, 36.5% snored (vs 26.6% of TD children), 30.5% had noisy breathing (vs 18.8%), and 9.0% (vs 4.6%) experienced difficulty breathing 2 or more times a week. Children with learning problems woke up in a more irritable mood ( P = 0.01), had more difficulty in getting out of bed ( P <0.001), and took a longer time to be alert ( P <0.001). They exhibited fewer behaviours of daytime drowsiness ( P = 0.009). Among this group of children, 15.0% of parents reported that their child had a sleep problem compared to 9.0% in the TD group., Conclusion: Sleep breathing disorders and symptoms of morning sleepiness are more prevalent in children with learning problems. Symptoms of daytime lethargy are similar between the 2 groups. We suggest that a simple outpatient screening targeted at these problems be instituted in the initial workup of any child with learning difficulties.

Maternal antenatal mood is associated with negative infant temperament. This link has not been substantiated in Asian populations. We evaluated the association between antenatal maternal mood and infant temperament among Asian mother-infant pairs. Antenatal maternal depression and anxiety were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (J. Cox, J. Holden, & R. Sagovsky, 1987) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (C. Spielberger, R. Gorsuch, R. Lushene, P. Vagg, & G. Jacobs, 1983), respectively, at 26 weeks of pregnancy and 3 months' postnatally. Infant temperament was evaluated with the Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire (B. Medoff-Cooper, W.B. Carey, & S.C. McDevitt, 1993) at 3 months. Factor analysis was performed to extract culturally relevant categories of temperamental traits. Linear regression was performed to examine the influences of antenatal maternal mood on the factor-model-derived infant temperament. Of the 609 mothers, 11% met risk criteria for depression, 17% for state-anxiety, and 19% for trait-anxiety during pregnancy. Factor analysis yielded three infant temperament factors: Emotionality and Attentional Regulation, Sensory Reactivity, and Regularity and Motor Expression, Cronbach's αs = 0.613, 0.712, and 0.752, respectively. Maternal antenatal state-anxiety, p < .001, and trait anxiety, p = .005, were associated with negative emotionality and poor attentional regulation, especially among Chinese, whereas depression was not, p = .090. There was an association between maternal antenatal anxiety and negative infant temperamental traits in this Asian sample., (© 2016 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.)

The Academy of Medicine (AMS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) have developed the clinical practice guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to provide doctors and patients in Singapore with evidence-based treatment for ADHD. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary (with recommendations from the guidelines) from the MOH clinical practice guidelines on ADHD, for the information of SMJ readers. Chapters and page numbers mentioned in the reproduced extract refer to the full text of the guidelines, which are available from the Ministry of Health website: http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh&#95;web/healthprofessionalsportal/doctors/guidelines/cpg&#95;medical.html.The recommendations should be used with reference to the full text of the guidelines. Following this article are multiple choice questions based on the full text of the guidelines.

Objective: To examine the reliability of inexperienced observers in plotting optic disc contours on Heidelberg retinal tomography images before and after training., Design: Observational study., Participants: One hundred eyes that were randomly selected from the Singapore Indian Eye Study., Methods: Both eyes of subjects were imaged with Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3 (HRT-3; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). Optic disc contours were plotted on the same images by 2 new observers on 2 separate occasions, before and after 2-hour standardized training on the skills and tools available to accurately identify and delineate optic disc contours. These plottings were compared with an experienced, trained glaucoma expert (gold standard). Agreement and variability were analyzed by interclass correlation tests and Bland-Altman plots., Results: A total of 182 images (18 excluded because of poor quality) from 89 Indian subjects were included. The mean age was 53.27 ± 7.25 years and 54.8% were male. There was moderate-to-high agreement between pretraining (both new observers) and experienced observer's results (interclass correlation values range, 0.76-0.99). The interclass correlation improved for all the HRT-3 parameters after the 2 new observers were adequately trained. Comparing the interclass correlation values before and after training, the differences for mean retinal nerve fibre layer thickness for Observer 1 and all the HRT-3 parameters for Observer 2 were statistically significant., Conclusions: This study shows that it is easy to train a new inexperienced observer to plot optic disc contours on HRT images, which translates into improved and acceptable interobserver variability and agreement., (Copyright © 2014 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To examine the association between branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and quantitative optic disc topographic parameters., Methods: The Singapore Indian Eye Study (SINDI) is a population-based study of 3400 Singapore Indians aged 40+ years. BRVO was defined and graded from retinal photographs. Optic disc parameters were quantified using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph III (HRT III). Associations were evaluated for individual eyes; the generalised estimating equation was used to account for correlation between fellow eyes., Results: 6173 eyes (comprising 19 BRVO) had gradable retinal photographs and HRT images. After controlling for age, gender, and systemic (hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction) and ocular factors (intraocular pressure, glaucoma, central corneal thickness, axial length, previous laser photocoagulation), BRVO was associated with larger optic disc area (OR highest vs lowest tertile, 4.70; 95% CI 1.00 to 22.01; p=0.036), larger cup area (OR highest vs lowest tertile, 4.80; 95% CI 1.03 to 22.35; p=0.029) and larger cup-disc area ratio (OR highest vs lowest tertile, 4.44; 95% CI 0.95 to 20.66; p=0.037). After excluding glaucoma eyes, BRVO remained significantly associated with these parameters (p=0.027, p=0.018, p=0.024, respectively)., Conclusions: Quantitative optic disc parameters (optic cup and disc area) are associated with BRVO, even in non-glaucomatous eyes. Optic nerve head morphology may play a role in BRVO pathogenesis.

Introduction: To describe the optic disc, visual field and ocular characteristics of a consecutive cohort of Asian patients with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma (CPACG), and compare them with those having primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)., Methods: In a prospective comparative case series of new patients with POAG or CPACG in Singapore, all patients underwent visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp examination, tonometry, gonioscopy, refraction, Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) and Humphrey visual field (HVF) assessment., Results: 98 patients were enrolled (POAG n = 48; CPACG n = 50). CPACG patients were significantly older (66.5 ± 9.2 years vs. 64.1 ± 13.5 years; p = 0.027) and mostly female (p = 0.004). CPACG eyes had significantly higher intraocular pressure (26.9 ± 6.9 mmHg vs. 24.5 ± 3.3 mmHg; p = 0.03), shorter axial length (22.89 ± 0.97 mm vs. 24.26 ± 1.79 mm; p < 0.001) and shallower anterior chamber depth (2.60 ± 0.25 mm vs. 3.16 ± 0.48 mm; p < 0.001). HVF mean deviation or pattern standard deviation (PSD) did not differ significantly between POAG and CPACG eyes, but the latter had a lower PSD for a given mean deviation. HRT parameters between the two groups were not significantly different., Conclusion: In this study, CPACG eyes had significantly higher presenting intraocular pressure than POAG eyes, but there were no significant differences in optic disc topography. A majority of the patients in both groups had moderate field defects at the time of presentation, followed by severe and then mild defects. The field loss in CPACG eyes was more diffuse than that in POAG eyes.

Keratoconus is an ectatic corneal disorder for which exciting therapeutic and diagnostic technologies are emerging. However, its pathogenesis is still heterogeneous and elusive. We researched overlooked Asian keratoconus data by literature review of databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Ovid, Google Scholar, Cornea, and Cochrane) using key words "keratoconus, Asia, epidemiology, treatment, risk factors, genes" and names of Asian countries. Articles and their references were analyzed. Studies showed that keratoconus may be more prevalent, have earlier onset, and have greater disease progression in certain Asian and non-Asian ethnicities, particularly Indians, Pakistanis, Middle Easterners, and Polynesians, compared with white populations. Epidemiological risk factors include ethnicity, age (younger than 30 years), gender (male), positive family history, and eye rubbing. Genetic and disease risk factors include atopy, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, Down syndrome, pellucid marginal corneal degeneration, VSX1 (visual system homeobox 1) gene, and Leber congenital amaurosis. Differentiation of heterogeneous keratoconus subsets with detailed genotype-phenotype characterization may advance understanding. Comprehensive multiethnic population studies with valid large-scale data are needed. New effective treatments (deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, intrastromal corneal ring segments, and corneal collagen cross-linking with riboflavin) are succeeding previous treatments.

Objective: To investigate the agreement between scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Heidelberg retinal tomograph 3; HRT-3) and high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) for measurements of optic nerve head (ONH) parameters., Methods: As part of a population-based cross-sectional study, 913 consecutive Chinese subjects aged 40 years and older underwent HRT-3 and HD-OCT imaging of the ONH after pupillary dilation. Limits of agreement (LOA) derived from Bland-Altman analysis were calculated for ONH measurements., Results: The mean age (± SD) of study participants was 54.2 ± 7.2 years and 52.0% were men. The two instruments showed no difference in mean optic disc area measurements (1.98 ± 0.37 for HD-OCT vs 1.98 ± 0.39 mm for HRT-3, p=0.95). HD-OCT showed smaller rim area (1.29 ± 0.24 vs 1.46 ± 0.27 mm, p<0.001), but bigger cup-related parameters (p<0.001 for all) than HRT-3. The highest correlations between the instruments were observed for cup volume (r(2)=0.74, p<0.001) and disc area (r(2)=0.62, p<0.001). The correlations for cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), vertical CDR and rim area were lower (r(2)=0.59, 0.48 and 0.24, respectively, p<0.001 for all). The Bland-Altman plots demonstrated significant proportional bias for differences in all ONH parameters (p<0.01 for all), with LOA greater for disc-related parameters (0.98-1.0) than cup-related parameters (0.26-0.50)., Conclusions: There are substantial disagreements between HRT-3 and HD-OCT in ONH measurements. Although optic disc area measurements were similar, HD-OCT underestimates the rim area and overestimates cup parameters compared with HRT-3.

Introduction: Sleep problems are common in all ages, but may be particularly acute in urban Singapore. This study aims to describe the sleep behaviour of, and to identify any sleep problems in, preschool children., Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 372 children attending local childcare centers. The questionnaire was based on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), a validated parent-report sleep screening questionnaire that contains 54 items identifying sleep behaviours in children., Results: A total of 372 (40.0%) children participated. The mean age was 4.1 (SD 1.3) years (range, 2 to 6 years). Average total sleep duration was 10.8 hours (SD 1.1) with average night-time sleep duration of 8.5 hours (SD 0.6) and average nap duration of 1.6 hours (SD 1.0). Co-sleeping was common; 80.9% of children shared a room with someone else. The most common sleep problems were in the domains of sleep resistance and morning behaviour; namely: requiring company to fall asleep (n = 272, 73.1%), being afraid to sleep alone (n = 228, 61.6%) and diffi culty in waking up (n = 165, 44.4%). Among parents, 84.1 % (n = 313) perceived that their child's sleep duration was adequate., Conclusion: The duration of sleep in the Singaporean preschool population sampled is signifi cantly lower than recommended values and that of previously described Caucasian populations. Parental perception of sleep adequacy deviates from current recommendations. Given the clear relation of sleep duration with cognitive functioning, learning, and physical growth, this sleep deprivation should be addressed with parental education and opportunistic screening of sleep in well-child follow-ups.

Purpose: To examine the correlation and agreement of stereometric parameters between Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph version 2 (HRT-2) and HRT-3 in a normal Asian population., Methods: This was a population-based study using data from the Singapore Malay Eye Study. Participants underwent a standardized and complete ophthalmic examination. A confocal laser ophthalmoscope using HRT-2 was used to take retinal images by 2 trained operators. Disc contours were drawn by a single experienced ophthalmologist. Without modifying the contours, the exact images were then exported and analyzed with HRT-3 software. Paired t tests were used to compare mean differences, whereas interclass correlations and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement and trend of Moorfields regression analysis parameters between HRT-2 and HRT-3., Results: A total of 2960 Malay participants [mean age, 58.3 y (SD 10.9); 50.5% female] were included. Average disc size was 2.15 μm. Interclass correlations and Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement between HRT-2 and HRT-3. However, global disc area, rim area, cup area, cup-disc area ratio, rim-disc area ratio, and rim volume were significantly different between HRT-2 and HRT-3, with all area and rim volume measurements using HRT-2 were approximately 4% larger compared with HRT-3. Analysis of HRT-2 and HRT-3 parameters from different sectors of the scans showed an inconsistent change in measurement values. Cup shape measurement was significantly different in the temporal region compared with the nasal region of the optic nerve head., Conclusions: There was good correlation between the 2 HRT versions and conversion equations were possible to calibrate HRT-3 parameters from HRT-2 measurements in Asian eyes. However, HRT-2 and HRT-3 showed significant differences in stereometric parameters. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of such differences and in comparative accuracy of HRT-2 versus HRT-3 for diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma.

Purpose: To assess the determinants of image quality of Heidelberg Retina Tomography II (HRT II) and its association with optic disc parameters in a population-based setting., Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study involving 3280 (78.7% response) Asian Malays aged 40 to 80 years., Methods: Three thousand fifty-six participants completed the HRT II test. Image quality was assessed using the mean pixel height standard deviation generated by the HRT II, with lower mean pixel height standard deviation indicating higher quality. Participants underwent an interviewer-administered questionnaire and a standardized ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity, applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, refraction, automated perimetry, and lens and fundus photography., Results: The mean (standard deviation) and median of mean pixel height standard deviation in the study population were 34 (34) and 23 μm respectively. In multivariate regression models, older age and the presence of visual impairment, blindness, high myopia, and cataract were significantly associated with greater mean pixel height standard deviation (P<.05 for all). People with a higher mean pixel height standard deviation were more likely to have smaller rim area and greater cup depth., Conclusion: People who are older or have high myopia, visual impairment, blindness, or cataract are more likely to have poor HRT II image quality. Poorer image quality is in turn associated with smaller optic rim area and greater cup depth. These data provide useful information when the HRT instrument is used for diagnosing glaucoma in the general population., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To examine the relationship of central corneal thickness (CCT) with optic disc parameters measured by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoloscopy in a Malay population., Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study of Asian Malay adults aged 40-80 years living in Singapore. Participants had a standardized interview, examination, and imaging at a study clinic. CCT was measured with an ultrasound pachymeter. Confocal scanning laser imaging was performed on all participants to obtain optic disc parameters. Multivariate regression analyses controlling for age, sex, intraocular pressure, and other potentially confounding factors were conducted separately for disc area, rim area, cup-to-disc ratio, and mean cup depth., Results: Of the 3280 participants in the study, 2525 (77.0%) right eyes with reliable confocal scanning laser tomography images were included in this analysis, with 48 eyes defined to have primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). In POAG subjects, CCT was positively correlated with rim area (regression coefficient of 0.372 mm(2) per 100 μm CCT increase; P = 0.035) and negatively correlated with cup-to-disc area ratio (-0.160 per 100 μm CCT increase; P = 0.024). There was no relationship between CCT and disc size (P = 0.088). In the 2468 subjects without glaucoma, there were no associations between CCT and confocal scanning laser tomography parameters., Conclusions: In this population-based study, decreased CCT was associated with lower rim area and greater cup-to-disc area in subjects with POAG, but not in subjects without glaucoma.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) in diagnosing glaucoma in a population setting., Design: Population-based cross-sectional study., Participants: Of 3280 Malay persons aged 40 to 80 years who participated in the survey, 112 subjects (124 eyes) with glaucoma and a subset of 196 bilaterally normal subjects (392 eyes) were included for the evaluation of diagnostic ability of HRT II., Methods: All glaucomatous and normal eyes underwent standardized ophthalmic assessment (including automated perimetry) and HRT II. Glaucoma was defined according to International Society for Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology criteria. Area under the curve (AUC) receiver operating characteristic (ROC), sensitivity, and specificity were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of HRT II algorithms. Marginal logistic regression models were used to evaluate the influence of optic disc size on the results of HRT II algorithms., Main Outcome Measures: The HRT II algorithms: linear discriminant functions (LDFs) by Mikelberg et al (LDF1), Burk et al (LDF2), Bathija et al (LDF3), and Moorfields regression analysis (MRA). The MRA was subdivided into MRA1 with "borderline" outcomes as positive and MRA2 with "borderline" outcomes as negative., Results: Subjects with cataract, visual impairment, astigmatism, and greater negative spherical equivalent, and of older age were more likely to yield lower quality images. For analyses by eye, AUCs were 0.789, 0.704, 0.755, 0.754, and 0.762 for MRA1, MRA2, LDF1, LDF2, and LDF3, respectively. At 85% specificity, sensitivities were 62.1%, 65.3%, and 66.9% for LDF1, LDF2, and LDF3, respectively. At 95% specificity, these figures decreased to 31.5%, 42.7%, and 45.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 71.0% and 86.7% for MRA1 and 43.6% and 97.2% for MRA2, respectively. Similar estimates were found for analyses by person. Larger optic disc size was associated with increased sensitivity and false-positive rate for MRA1, LDF1, and LDF2. LDF1 and LDF3 were least affected by optic disc area, but the sensitivities were moderate and the false-positive rates were high across different optic disc areas., Conclusions: The current HRT II algorithms are of limited value for population-based glaucoma screening in the Malay population and do not account adequately for optic disc size., (Copyright (c) 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To test the reliability of the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III) cataract grading between observers at different levels of ophthalmology experience., Setting: Ophthalmology Department, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore., Methods: In this comparative study, a non-ophthalmology trainee, a basic ophthalmology trainee, and an ophthalmology consultant graded cataracts in 28 patients preoperatively. The observers had a meeting to discuss their interpretations of the LOCS III manual to standardize the grading system and then graded 37 additional patients., Results: There was a statistically significant increase in inter-observer agreement in all 3 LOCS III categories after standardization of the LOCS III system. The kappa values after standardization fell in the moderate (0.41 to 0.60) to substantial (0.61 to 0.80) range. There was no statistically significant relationship between the observer's experience and the kappa values., Conclusions: There was an increase in inter-observer agreement in all categories after standardization between operators.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and types of glaucoma in an Asian Malay population., Methods: The Singapore Malay Eye Study is a population-based, cross-sectional survey that examined 3280 (78.7% response) persons aged 40 to 80 years. Participants underwent a standardized clinical examination including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, and dilated optic disc assessment. Participants who were suspected to have glaucoma also underwent visual field examination (24-2 SITA standard, Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer II), gonioscopy, and repeat applanation tonometry. Glaucoma was defined according to International Society for Geographical and Epidemiologic Ophthalmology criteria., Results: Of the 3280 participants, 150 (4.6%) had diagnosed glaucoma, giving an age- and sex-standardized prevalence of 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3%-3.5%). The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma was 2.5% (95% CI, 2.4%-2.6%), primary angle-closure glaucoma 0.12% (95% CI, 0.10%-0.14%), and secondary glaucoma 0.61% (95% CI, 0.59%-0.63%). Of the 150 glaucoma cases, only 12 (8%) had a previous known history of glaucoma. Twenty-seven (18%) eyes had low vision (based on best corrected visual acuity logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution [logMAR] >0.30 to <1.00 in the eye with glaucoma for unilateral cases; and based on the better eye for bilateral cases) and 15 (10%) were blind (logMAR, >/=1.00)., Conclusions: The prevalence of glaucoma among Malay persons 40 years of age and older in Singapore is 3.4%, comparable to ethnic Chinese people in Singapore and other racial/ethnic groups in Asia. As in Chinese, Caucasians, and African people, primary open-angle glaucoma was the main form of glaucoma in this population. More than 90% of glaucoma cases were previously undetected.

Objective: To describe the prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in a Malay population., Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study of 3280 participants of Malay ethnicity, aged 40 to 79 years, was conducted. Participants underwent standardized ophthalmic assessments to determine (1) presenting and best-corrected visual acuity according to US and modified World Health Organization definitions of blindness and low vision and (2) the primary causes of visual impairment., Results: Of 4168 eligible individuals, 3280 participated in the study (78.7%). The population-weighted prevalence of bilateral blindness was 0.3% and of bilateral low vision, 4.4% (US definition of presenting visual acuity). After best-corrected visual acuity, the population-weighted prevalence of bilateral blindness was reduced to 0.1% and bilateral low vision to 1.0%. Cataract was the main cause of presenting unilateral (38.9%) and bilateral (65.2%) blindness, whereas undercorrected refractive error was the main cause of presenting unilateral (68.8%) and bilateral (52.2%) low vision. Diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma were the other leading causes of blindness and low vision., Conclusions: The age-standardized prevalences of bilateral blindness and low vision in a Malay population were lower when compared with other Asian studies. Undercorrected refractive error and cataract are the leading causes of visual impairment among the Malay adult population in Singapore.

Objective: To describe the distribution and determinants of the optic cup to disc ratio (CDR) in Malay adults in Singapore., Methods: This population-based, age-stratified study examined 3280 Malay people aged 40 to 80 years in Singapore. Participants underwent a standardized interview and an ocular examination. A slitlamp examination measured the vertical dimensions of the disc and cup, excluding areas of peripapillary atrophy and the Elschnig scleral ring., Results: Vertical CDR was recorded for 3228 right eyes and 3237 left eyes. The mean (SD) CDR was 0.40 (0.15) in both eyes. The CDR in the right eye increased with age (P < .001) and was greater in men vs women (age-adjusted CDR, 0.42 vs 0.39; P < .001). In multiple linear regression, significant determinants of greater CDR were increasing age, male sex, higher intraocular pressure (IOP), lower diastolic blood pressure, lower body mass index, and previous cataract surgery. Of these, higher IOP was the most important determinant of the CDR. After excluding 149 persons with glaucoma, male sex, higher IOP, lower diastolic blood pressure, lower body mass index, and diabetes mellitus were significant predictors of greater CDR., Conclusion: Greater vertical CDR was related to male sex, higher IOP, lower diastolic blood pressure, and lower body mass index.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationships in Singapore school children between optic nerve head parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness images by using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and determining optic disc tilt and refractive error., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 316 children 11 and 12 years of age (163 girls and 153 boys) selected randomly from one of the three schools in the Singapore Cohort study of Myopia. A total of 13 optic disc parameters were obtained from HRT images acquired before cycloplegia. Refractive errors were measured by cycloplegic autorefraction. The presence of optic disc tilt or otherwise was determined by two independent assessors using stereoscopic viewing of retinal photographs., Results: Of the 316 children, 142 had tilted discs. The tilting of optic discs was associated with a smaller disc, rim or cup area measurements, cup-to-disc area ratios, cup volumes or cup depths, but with a larger measured rim volume, rim-to-disc area ratios, height variation of the contour, retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses or volumes, and a more negative cup shape measure (all P < 0.001). Decreased maximum cup depths were significantly associated with longer axial lengths (P < 0.001), but were not associated with spherical equivalent (P = 0.693). These associations remained only in children without tilted discs, but were no longer significant in those with tilted discs. Other HRT parameters were not associated with axial lengths or myopic status., Conclusions: Optic nerve head parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by the current HRT algorithms are strongly influenced by the tilting of the optic nerve head, but not by refractive errors or axial length.

Purpose: Although there are approximately 200 million people of Malay ethnicity living in Asia, the burden and risk factors of blinding eye diseases in this ethnic group are unknown. This study summarizes the rationale and study design of a population-based study of eye diseases among adult Malays in Singapore., Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of Malays was designed in Singapore. The sampling frame consisted of all Malays aged 40-79 living in designated study areas in southwestern Singapore. From a list of 16,069 names provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, age-stratified random sampling was used to select 5,600 names (1,400 people from each decade of 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years). The target sample size for this study was 3,150 persons. Selected individuals were invited to a centralized clinic by letters, telephone calls, and home visits. Participants underwent standardized interview and assessment of blood pressure, anthropometry, presenting and best-corrected visual acuity, subjective refraction, ocular biometry, Goldmann tonometry, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, optic disc imaging, digital lens, and retinal photography. Blood and urine samples were collected for biochemical analyses and further stored for future studies. Selected participants also had gonioscopic examination, visual fields test, and assessment of ankle and brachial blood pressure to detect presence of peripheral vascular disease., Conclusions: This study provides population-based data on the prevalence of and risk factors for age-related eye diseases in people of Malay ethnicity in Singapore. Data from this study allow further understanding of the etiology and impact of eye diseases in this ethnic group.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between macular volume and thickness, as assessed by optic coherence tomography (OCT), with refraction and axial length (AL) in children., Methods: A total of 104 Chinese school children (51 girls and 53 boys) 11 to 12 years of age were randomly selected from one school during the 2005 examination in the Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors for Myopia (SCORM). Cycloplegic autorefraction was performed to obtain refraction (defined as spherical equivalent [SE]) and ultrasound biometry performed to obtain the AL. Macular volume and thickness were then measured (StratusOCT3; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA)., Results: Children with moderate myopia (SE at least -3.0 D) tended to have smaller total macular volume and thinner quadrant-specific macular thickness (except in the inferior and superior inner quadrants), followed by children with low myopia (-0.5-0.5 D). Total macular volume was positively associated with SE (beta=1.58, 95% CI, 0.84 to 2.32, standardized beta=0.14, P<0.001) and negatively associated with AL (beta=-1.20, 95% CI, -1.62 to -0.79, standardized beta=0.45, P<0.001) in multiple linear regression models controlling for age and gender., Conclusions: In children, increasing axial myopia was associated with reduced macular volume and thickness. These findings suggest that early anatomic changes may be present in the retinas of children with axial myopia.

Introduction: It has been noted that SARS transmission is characterised by a few super-spreading events (SSEs) giving rise to a disproportionate number of secondary cases. Clinical and environmental features surrounding the index cases involved were compared with cases in non- SSEs., Materials and Methods: Data on 231 cases of probable SARS admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) were used. Index cases directly causing 10 or more secondary cases were classified as having been involved in SSEs; all others were defined as non-SSEs., Results: Only 5 cases were involved in SSEs; all 5 were isolated on day 5 of illness or later, and spent at least a brief period in a non-isolation ward; in contrast, amongst the 226 non-SSE cases, only 40.7% and 4.0% were isolated late and admitted to non-isolation wards respectively, and only 3.1% had both these environmental features present; the differences were highly significant (P = 0.012, P <0.001 and P <0.001 by Fisher's Exact test). When compared to 7 non-SSE cases with delayed isolation and an admission to non-isolation wards, SSEs were more likely to have co-morbid disease or require ICU care at time of isolation (P = 0.045 for both factors)., Conclusion: SSEs were likely due to a conglomeration of environmental factors of delayed isolation and admission to a non-isolation ward, coupled with severe disease stage at time of isolation.