Ophthalmology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Intraocular pressure elevation within the first 24 hours after cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma or exfoliation syndrome.
To investigate whether eyes with glaucoma or exfoliation syndrome without glaucoma are prone to exhibit intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation shortly after cataract surgery and, if so, whether timolol maleate 0.5% reduces these spikes. ⋯ Medically well-controlled glaucoma patients and patients with exfoliation syndrome may experience IOP elevation shortly after cataract surgery. Instillation of timolol maleate 0.5% at the end of the procedure in this series eliminated IOP > 30 mmHg, but IOP elevation below that level can still occur.
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To determine the incidence of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1980 to 2002, determine the associated risk factors for CSC based on previously reported risk factors, investigate for any new risk factors not previously reported, and determine a population-based recurrence rate. ⋯ The incidence of CSC has not previously been reported in a population-based study. In accordance with previous studies, we found that CSC occurs more frequently in men than in women.
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness and severe visual impairment among the elderly in the United States. This study aims to assess eye-related Medicare costs from 1995 to 1999 in patients with both nonneovascular and neovascular AMD as compared with controls, and to delineate whether variations exist across demographic and clinical subgroups in eye-related Medicare costs over 5 years. ⋯ Age-related macular degeneration represented a significant economic burden to the U.S. health care system for a single ophthalmic disease entity based on Medicare reimbursed eye-related costs before the availability of photodynamic therapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Given that direct eye-related costs associated with the treatment of neovascular AMD are estimated at $569 million annually before the availability of therapy for subfoveal lesions, effective therapeutic measures may be associated with substantial cost offsets.
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To evaluate the incidence of burnout in chairs of academic departments of ophthalmology, identify stressors, and propose methods for reducing and preventing burnout in our academic leaders. ⋯ The overall prevalence of burnout in chairs of academic departments of ophthalmology is similar to burnout rates seen in chairs of other academic departments. The MBI-HSS scores for ophthalmology chairs showed high levels of emotional exhaustion, moderate levels of depersonalization, and moderate levels of personal accomplishment. Because the cost of burnout can be high, both in terms of a chair's psychological well-being and the actual cost associated with replacing a chair, it is important that strategies are put in place to reduce burnout in our academic leaders.