No abstract

We examined the feasibility of a low-bandwidth, Internet-based tele-ophthalmology system for consultation in an ophthalmic emergency room. Forty-nine patients (98 eyes) with complicated cases were seen during night shifts in the ophthalmic emergency room. Ocular images were taken using a slit-lamp connected to a video camera, processed and transmitted to a senior physician by email. A telephone was used for real-time audio communication. Each case was re-examined by the same senior physician the following day. The time needed to capture and to process the images was 5 min (SD 2). Each case was given a feasibility score (0-100%), which was defined as the contribution made by the transmitted images in presenting clinical details which could not have been described verbally. High feasibility scores (mean scores ranging from 85 to 90) were found for the following images: ocular surface, anterior chamber, anterior chamber angle, pupils, lens, optic nerve and macula. In contrast, images of vitreous and peripheral retina received low feasibility scores (mean score 65). There was 100% agreement between the diagnosis made during consultation and the on-site examination made by the senior ophthalmologist later on. Ninety-eight percent of the patients stated that they would prefer being examined under the telemedicine system on their next emergency room visit, rather than the traditional resident on-site examination.

Purpose To evaluate astigmatism outcomes after congenital cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation using clear corneal or scleral tunnel incisions. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 46 children (67 eyes), aged 2 months to 12 years, who had undergone nontraumatic cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation between 1996 and 2001, using a scleral tunnel incision (group 1), or a clear corneal incision (group 2). Refractive astigmatism was measured at 1 week, 3 months, and 5 months after surgery. Paired t-test was used to compare those variables, and Spearman's correlation was used to determine their relation to patient's age. Results Mean7SD astigmatism at 1 week postoperatively was 3.172.8 Diopter (D) and 2.171.7 D in groups 1 and 2, respectively. It significantly reduced to 1.171.2 D and 0.971.0 D, respectively, in the two groups at 5 months postoperatively (Po0.007). In both groups patients' age was significantly correlated with 1-week postoperative astigmatism (group 1: r ¼ 0.64; P ¼ 0.001; group 2: r ¼ À0.58; P ¼ 0.003), and with the change in cylinder magnitude between 1 week and 3 months postoperatively (group 1: r ¼ À0.67; P ¼ 0.001; group 2: r ¼ 0.50; P ¼ 0.013). Conclusion Children who underwent congenital cataract surgery using clear corneal or scleral tunnel incisions showed high postoperative astigmatism at 1 week postoperatively, which spontaneously reduced during 5 months follow-up. Therefore, suture removal is not necessary in those cases.