IMPORTANCE Although almost equal numbers of male and female medical students enter into ophthalmology residency programs, whether they have similar surgical experiences during training is unclear.OBJECTIVE To determine differences for cataract surgery and total procedural volume between male and female residents during ophthalmology residency.

Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate whether children with congenital esotropia are more likely than controls to develop mental illness by early adulthood. Design Retrospective, population-based cohort. Participants Children (<19 years) diagnosed with congenital esotropia while residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1, 1965, through December 31, 1994, and their one-to-one non-strabismic birth- and gender-matched controls. Methods The medical records of patients with esotropia and their controls were retrospectively reviewed for the subsequent development of psychiatric disease. Main Outcome Measures The development of mental illness and associated co-morbidities among patients with congenital esotropia and their controls. Results A mental health disorder was diagnosed in 42 (33%) of the 127 patients with congenital esotropia followed to a mean age of 20.4 years compared to 16% of controls (p=0.002). Congenital esotropia increased the odds of developing a psychiatric illness 2.6 times (Confidence interval: 1.5- 4.8) compared to controls. The number of mental health diagnoses (p=0.019) and the use of psychotropic medications (p= 0.015) were significantly more common among esotropic patients compared to non-strabismic controls. Conclusions Congenital esotropia, similar to those with intermittent exotropia or convergence insufficiency, increases the odds of devloping mental illness by early adulthood 2.6 times compared to controls. The etiology of this association does not appear to be associated with premature birth.

The prevalence of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is increasing as the population of elderly in the United States grows. Currently the pathogenesis is not fully understood, however oxidative injury is felt to play a significant role. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) established that a supplemental combination of dietary antioxidants of zinc, β-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E slowed progression of AMD. Recently lutein, zeaxanthin, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids have also been reported to decrease AMD progression, while vitamin E and β-carotene where found to increase the risk of late AMD. AREDS2 is currently underway, further examining the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, and the original AREDS formulation. While awaiting the results of AREDS2, it is important to understand the evidence currently available, so that physicians can safely advise patients today. This review examines the most current literature available exploring nutritional supplementation in age-related macular degeneration.

No abstract