Ophthalmology
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Comparative Study
Resident and fellow participation in strabismus surgery: effect of level of training and number of assistants on operative time and cost.
To investigate the effect of the level of training and number of assistants on operative time for uncomplicated, 2-muscle, horizontal strabismus surgery at an academic institution. ⋯ Operative time in strabismus surgery increased with PGY3 participation and further increased with both assistants over either assistant alone. Operative times earlier in the year did not vary from those later in the year for PGY3 or PGY5 assistants. The difference in quarterly and individual PGY3 but not PGY5 assistant operative times suggests that efficiency in strabismus surgery varies by assistants with less experience or interest.
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To examine the reliability of clinical examination and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in distinguishing ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) from benign conjunctival lesions. ⋯ In East Africa, conjunctival pathology is relatively common and can present significant diagnostic challenges for the clinician. In this study, neither clinical examination nor IVCM was found to reliably distinguish OSSN from benign conjunctival pathology because of an overlap in the features of these groups. Therefore, IVCM cannot currently replace histopathology, and management decisions should continue to rely on careful clinical assessment supported by histopathology as indicated.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Glaucoma diagnostic ability of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness differs according to the location of visual field loss.
To determine whether the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) or circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) is better at distinguishing eyes with early glaucoma from normal eyes on the basis of the the initial location of the visual field (VF) damage. ⋯ The GCIPL parameters were more valuable than the cpRNFL parameters for detecting glaucoma in eyes with parafoveal VF loss, and the cpRNFL parameters were better than the GCIPL parameters for detecting glaucoma in eyes with peripheral VF loss. Clinicians should know that the diagnostic capability of macular GCIPL parameters depends largely on the location of the VF loss.
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The association between scholarly impact and National Institutes of Health funding in ophthalmology.
To examine whether there is an association between scholarly impact, as measured by the h-index, academic rank, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards in academic ophthalmology. ⋯ The h-index increases with increasing academic rank among NIH-funded and non-NIH-funded faculty in ophthalmology departments. This bibliometric is associated strongly with NIH funding because NIH-funded PIs had higher scholarly impact than their non-NIH-funded colleagues, and increasing impact was noted with higher funding. The h-index is an objective and easily calculable measure that may be valuable as an adjunct in assessing research productivity, a significant factor for academic promotion in academic ophthalmology.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intravitreal aflibercept injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: ninety-six-week results of the VIEW studies.
To determine efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) during a second year of variable dosing after a first-year fixed-dosing period. ⋯ All aflibercept and ranibizumab groups were equally effective in improving BCVA and preventing BCVA loss at 96 weeks. The 2q8 aflibercept group was similar to ranibizumab in visual acuity outcomes during 96 weeks, but with an average of 5 fewer injections. Small losses at 96 weeks in the visual and anatomic gains seen at 52 weeks in all arms were in the range of losses commonly observed with variable dosing.