Rate Of Blindness Research Articles

Nationwide trends and incidence of blindness in patients with diabetic retinopathy identified using an age-period-cohort analysis.

To estimate the epidemiologic trends of blindness in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and investigate the age-, period-, and cohort-specific effects on blindness. A total of 2.5 million patients with DR aged 20 years or older were included from the Korean National Health Claims database from 2005 to 2019. Non-proliferative DR/ proliferative DR (NPDR/PDR) cohorts were constructed separately. Participants were identified as having a blindness in at least one eye. The incidence of blindness were calculated using a log-linear Poisson age-period-cohort (APC) analysis model, each effect on blindness were estimated for each study group. The incidence of blindness was 1326.62 per 100,000 in the NPDR group and 3397.57 in the PDR group. The blindness rate sharply decreased after 2011, with annual decreases of 5.6% and 4.4% in the NPDR and the PDR groups, respectively. People born between 1920 and 1930 had the highest overall risk of blindness, with the risk decreasing rapidly after that. For those born after 1980, the risk started to increase in both sexes. Among the APC models, the combination model of age, period, and cohort effects showed the highest explanatory power (0.96). In this nationwide long-term study, blindness in DR was not due to a single epidemiologic cause but rather a combination of biological age, social determinants, and healthcare policies. The increased risk of blindness in individuals in their 20 s and 30 s may even increase in the future and should not be ignored. Therefore, vigilance of younger patients is recommended.

Paediatric visual impairment in Western Australia: Results and lessons from a registry analysis.

Clinical registries are an important research tool to enhance our understanding of vision loss in the Australian paediatric population. We aim to provide an update on the epidemiology of visual impairment among Western Australian children using registry data analysis, and to highlight the challenges of registry data collection. This is a retrospective study of visual impairment and blindness registrations of children aged 0-16 years in Western Australia from 1996 to 2015. Blindness was defined as visual acuity ≤6/60 in the better-seeing eye or binocular visual field ≤20° diameter, with all other certifications labelled as visual impairment. Certificates were assessed for primary causes of vision loss by age strata and sex. Registration rate trends were analysed across three discrete registration periods. Of 11 800 certificates issued between 1996 and 2015, 728 certificates (6.2%) were issued to 710 children. Five hundred and twenty-nine (74.5%) certificates were issued for visual impairment and 181 (25.5%) for blindness. The leading cause of certification was inherited retinal disease (73, 10.3%), followed by cortical visual impairment (57, 8.0%) and albinism (56, 7.9%). The annual registration rate of visual impairment increased from 0.5 to 9.8 per 100 000 person-years across the study period, whereas blindness rates fell from 2.7 to 1.3. Overall registration rates of paediatric visual impairment in Western Australia are increasing, but these trends should be interpreted with caution given the known limitations of registry data. Enhancements of the registration process could be achieved through digitisation, inclusion of patient outcome data, and incentives for greater practitioner engagement.

Challenges and Barriers to Utilizing Eye Care Services Among Urban Population Globally: A Scoping Review

Objective: Eye health is crucial for overall well-being, relying on eye care services for the prevention and treatment of vision disorders. Increasing blindness rates underscore the need for early detection. Despite known urban-rural disparities in eye care utilization, urban challenges are underexplored. This scoping review summarized and determined the challenges and barriers to utilizing eye care services specifications in urban populations globallyMaterial and Methods: A search was conducted on multiple databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, WOS, PubMed, and Google Scholar, covering the period of 2000 to 2023. The criteria were selected based on the PRISMA statements. The search focuses on challenges and barriers in utilizing eye care services.Results: The search identified 464 studies, and 18 were included in the final review. Person-related and service-related barriers can be distinguished from the review. The most common challenges were lack of felt need the eye care services and cost. Person-related barriers were found to be higher compared to service-related barriers among urban populations. Conclusion: The scoping review highlights significant person-related and service-related barriers to utilizing eye care services in urban populations globally. Despite the availability of services, person-related barriers were more pronounced, indicating a critical need for targeted interventions. Addressing these barriers is essential to enhance eye care services and reduce the prevalence of vision disorders in urban settings.

An epidemiological survey of visual impairment in rural populations aged 30 and above: the Handan Eye Study

Objective: To investigate the changes in prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment over six years among rural populations aged 30 and above in Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, a pilot area in northern China for blindness prevention and treatment, and to study the incidence of common blinding eye diseases. Methods: This population-based prospective cohort study included a baseline survey conducted from 2006 to 2007 using stratified cluster sampling, targeting 6 830 Han Chinese individuals aged 30 and above, with a response rate of 90.4%, and a follow-up survey conducted from 2012 to 2013 with 5 394 participants, maintaining a response rate of 85.3%. Visual impairment was defined according to World Health Organization standards as visual acuity<20/60 but ≥20/400, and blindness as visual acuity<20/400. Age-and gender-standardized prevalence rates of blindness and visual impairment, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), were estimated. The six-year incidence rates of primary glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and myopic maculopathy, along with their 95%CI, were reported. Results: At baseline, the standardized prevalence of bilateral blindness in individuals aged 30 and above was 0.6% (41/6 799) for presenting visual acuity and 0.5% (31/6 799) for best-corrected visual acuity. These rates were higher than those found in the follow-up survey, 0.5% (27/5 293) and 0.3% (17/5 276). Conversely, the standardized prevalence of bilateral visual impairment increased from 4.7% (361/6 799) and 1.0% (85/6 799) at baseline to 6.5% (355/5 293) and 1.4% (74/5 276) at follow-up, respectively. The leading cause of bilateral blindness was cataract in both baseline (13/31, 41.9%) and follow-up (7/17) surveys. Other major causes included myopic retinal degeneration (5/31, 16.1% at baseline; 2/17 at follow-up), glaucoma (3/31, 9.7% at baseline; 2/17 at follow-up), and corneal opacity (3/31, 9.7% at baseline; 2/17 at follow-up). Over six years, the incidence rates for primary glaucoma, early and late age-related macular degeneration, and myopic maculopathy in individuals aged 35 and above were 1.6% (95%CI: 1.2%-1.9%), 4.2% (95%CI: 3.8%-4.7%), 0.2% (95%CI: 0.2%-0.3%), and 0.1% (95%CI: 0.0%-0.2%), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of bilateral blindness in the rural population of Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, decreased over six years due to blindness prevention and treatment efforts but remained higher than in urban areas. Meanwhile, the prevalence of bilateral visual impairment increased since the baseline survey. Cataracts continued to be the primary cause of blindness, followed by myopic retinal degeneration, glaucoma, and corneal opacity.

Differential intestinal microbes and metabolites between Behcet's uveitis and Fuchs syndrome

ObjectiveBehcet's uveitis (BU) is a type of uveitis with a high rate of blindness, characterized by anterior segment inflammation, vitreous opacity, and retinal vasculitis. Its pathogenesis is still unclear. Fuchs syndrome (Fuchs) is another common type of uveitis, which clinically presents with anterior segment inflammation and vitreous opacity, but rarely causes blindness. This study aims to compare the gut microbiota and metabolites of two different types of uveitis to clarify whether the differences in clinical manifestations are relevant to the alterations in gut microbiota. MethodsFaecal samples were collected from new-onset BU (n = 11) patients without systemic treatment and other diseases. 16S rRNA and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were performed to analyze gut microbes and metabolites. Fuchs (n = 15) was used as the disease control, and healthy controls (n = 18) without autoimmune diseases and systemic medication were included. ResultsMicrobial composition and metabolite profiles differed significantly among the three groups. Compared to controls, Fusicatenibacter and eight metabolites were specifically altered in BU patients, and Pantoea and five metabolites in Fuchs. Pathways involving delta-tocopherol, palmitic acid, and serotonin are significantly disrupted in BU patients. Pathways involving linoleic acid are dysregulated considerably in Fuchs. Microbial markers consisting of 4 genera and 7 metabolites can respectively distinguish BU patients from controls. AUC values of metabolite markers were greater than those of microbial markers. Furthermore, serum zonulin levels were significantly elevated in both types of uveitis, with no difference between them. Correlation analysis revealed correlations between zonulin levels and multiple microbes. ConclusionsPatients with BU and Fuchs syndrome showed significant differences in gut microbiota and metabolites. Disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier was observed in both types of uveitis. However, the mechanism of different intestinal microbiota causing different clinical manifestations needs to be studied in the future.

Addressing Africa's High Rate of Blindness: The Urgent Need for Ophthalmologists

Addressing Africa's High Rate of Blindness: The Urgent Need for Ophthalmologists

Molecular mechanisms of Buqing granule for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Its blindness rate is high; therefore, finding a reasonable and safe treatment plan to prevent and control DR is crucial. Currently, there are abundant and diverse research results on the treatment of DR by Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine compounds are potentially advantageous for DR prevention and treatment because of its safe and effective therapeutic effects. To investigate the effects of Buqing granule (BQKL) on DR and its mechanism from a systemic perspective and at the molecular level by combining network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. This study collected information on the drug targets of BQKL and the therapeutic targets of DR for intersecting target gene analysis and protein-protein interactions (PPI), identified various biological pathways related to DR treatment by BQKL through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses, and preliminarily validated the screened core targets by molecular docking. Furthermore, we constructed a diabetic rat model with a high-fat and high-sugar diet and intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection, and administered the appropriate drugs for 12 weeks after the model was successfully induced. Body mass and fasting blood glucose and lipid levels were measured, and pathological changes in retinal tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. ELISA was used to detect the oxidative stress index expression in serum and retinal tissue, and immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and western blotting were used to verify the changes in the expression of core targets. Six potential therapeutic targets of BQKL for DR treatment, including Caspase-3, c-Jun, TP53, AKT1, MAPK1, and MAPK3, were screened using PPI. Enrichment analysis indicated that the MAPK signaling pathway might be the core target pathway of BQKL in DR treatment. Molecular docking prediction indicated that BQKL stably bound to these core targets. In vivo experiments have shown that compared with those in the Control group, rats in the Model group had statistically significant (P < 0.05) severe retinal histopathological damage; elevated blood glucose, lipid, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; increased Caspase-3, c-Jun, and TP53 protein expression; and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels, ganglion cell number, AKT1, MAPK1, and MAPK3 protein expression. Compared with the Model group, BQKL group had reduced histopathological retinal damage and the expression of blood glucose and lipids, MDA level, Caspase-3, c-Jun and TP53 proteins were reduced, while the expression of SOD, GSH-Px level, the number of ganglion cells, AKT1, MAPK1, and MAPK3 proteins were elevated. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). BQKL can delay DR onset and progression by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and regulating Caspase-3, c-Jun, TP53, AKT1, MAPK1, and MAPK3 proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway mediates these alterations.

Modified tectonic corneoscleral graft technique for treating devastating corneoscleral infections

BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes and efficacy of a modified tectonic corneoscleral graft (TCG) in patients suffering from devastating corneoscleral infections.MethodsThirty-eight eyes from 38 patients who underwent the modified TCG were included in this study. The outcomes measured were recurrence rates, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular surface stability, postoperative complications, and graft survival.ResultsAmong the 38 patients, 23 had fungal infections, 9 had bacterial infections and 6 had Pythium insidiosum infections. At the final follow-up, with an average duration of 25.1 ± 8.6 months, the rate of monocular blindness decreased from 100 to 58%. Significant improvements in LogMAR BCVA were observed from preoperative to postoperative measurements (P < 0.001). Thirty-two eyes (84.2%) maintained a stable ocular surface. The survival rate of ocular surface stability was 84.2%±5.9% at one year and 57.7%±9.7% at three years post-surgery. Twenty eyes (52.6%) retained a clear graft, with a survival rate for graft clarity was 81.6%±6.3% at one year and 36.0%±10.8% at three years post-surgery. The incidence of immune rejection was 36.8%. Corneal epithelial defects were observed in ten patients, and choroidal detachment occurred in four patients. No cases of elevated intraocular pressure were detected.ConclusionsThe modified TCG is effective in eradicating infections, preserving the eyeball, and maintaining useful vision in cases of devastating corneoscleral infections. Regular use of tacrolimus, timely administration of glucocorticoids, and good patient compliance can help mitigate postoperative challenges.

Thirty-Year Trends in the Prevalence and Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy at the First Visit in Patients with Untreated Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT Purpose Although the rate of diabetic retinopathy (DR)-related blindness has decreased in developed countries in recent years, the reasons for this decrease have remained unclear. The prevalence/severity trends of DR at the first visit in patients with untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients seen between the1986s and 2018s were assessed. Methods A total of 1979 Japanese T2DM patients diagnosed between 1986 and 2018 were divided into four groups by the decade of their first visit: the 1986 years (1986–1987), the 1996 years (1996–1997), the 2006 years (2006–2008), the 2016 years (2016–2018). The DR prevalence/severity trends were assessed. Results A significant decrease in the rate of prevalence of DR from the 1986s to 2016s was observed among previously untreated T2DM patients visiting our hospital for the first time (1986s: 25.5%; 1996s: 26.2%; 2006s: 22.2%; and 2016s: 15.6%). The prevalence was significantly higher in females (30.2%) than in males (21.3%). Although the severity trend of DR did not differ significantly among the four measurement years, the rate of simple DR was the highest in the 2016s. Conclusion We found, for the first time, a significant decrease in the rate of prevalence of DR from the 1986s to 2016s in patients with untreated T2DM visiting our hospital for the first time. A decrease in the rate of DR prevalence could explain, at least in part, the observed reduction in the rate of blindness in patients with T2DM.

Impact of Social Vulnerability Index on the Development of Severe Visual Impairment or Blindness From Glaucoma

PurposeTo evaluate whether geocoded social risk factor data predict the development of severe visual impairment or blindness due to glaucoma during follow-up using a large electronic health record (EHR) database. DesignCohort study. MethodsPatients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) at a tertiary care institution. All eyes had glaucomatous visual field defects at baseline. Sociodemographic and ocular data were extracted from EHR, including age, gender, self-reported race and ethnicity, insurance status, OAG type, prior glaucoma laser or surgery, baseline disease severity using Hodapp-Anderson-Parrish criteria, mean intraocular pressure (IOP) during follow-up, and central corneal thickness. Social vulnerability index (SVIndex) data at the census tract level were obtained using geocoded patient residences. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazard models were completed to assess for the development of severe visual impairment or blindness during follow-up, defined as BCVA ≤20/200 at the last two clinic visits or standard automated perimetry (SAP) mean deviation (MD) ≤-22dB confirmed on two tests. ResultsA total of 4,046 eyes from 2,826 patients met inclusion criteria and were followed for an average of 4.3±2.2 years. Severe visual impairment or blindness developed in 79 eyes (2.0%) from 76 patients (2.7%) after an average of 3.4±1.8 years, leading to an incidence rate of severe visual impairment or blindness of 0.5% per year. Older age (adjusted hazards ratio (HR) 1.36 per decade, p=0.007), residence in areas with higher SVIndex (HR 1.56 per 25% increase, p<0.001), higher IOP during follow-up (HR 3.01 per 5 mmHg increase, p<0.001), and moderate or severe glaucoma at baseline (HR 7.31 and 26.87, p<0.001) were risk factors for developing severe visual impairment or blindness. Concordance index of the model was 0.87. Socioeconomic, minority status/language, and housing type/transportation SVIndex themes were key contributors to developing severe visual impairment or blindness. ConclusionsRisk factors for developing glaucoma-related severe visual impairment or blindness included older age, elevated IOP during follow-up, moderate or severe disease at baseline, and residence in areas associated with greater social vulnerability. In addition to ocular risk factors, geocoded EHR data regarding social risk factors could help identify patients at high risk of developing glaucoma-related visual impairment.

Patterns of ocular morbidity among patients attending leprosy clinic, Siliguri, West Bengal

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and pattern of ocular morbidity among patients attending the leprosy clinic in Siliguri, West Bengal, and identify the risk factors associated with it, if any. Methods: It was a clinic-based observational study with a cross-sectional design conducted at Leprosy Clinic, Siliguri, West Bengal among leprosy patients for 1 year from August 2022 to July 2023. Leprosy patients who had completed multi-drug therapy and consented to the study were enrolled. Convenience sampling was performed and the sample size was 117. After a detailed ophthalmic evaluation, the socio-demographic profile of participants and their ocular morbidities were documented and analyzed. A Chi-square test was performed to identify the factors associated with leprosy complications. P value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Overall ocular morbidity for any eye observed was 58.1%. Major findings were cataract (35.9%), aphakia (11.1%), diminished corneal sensation (7.7%), lagophthalmos (7.7%), mild corneal opacity (5.2%), chronic iritis (3.4%), and impaired lid closure (2.6%). Ectropion was present in 2.6% bilaterally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for blindness, 11.1% of patients were blind in both eyes. Ocular complications were significantly associated with the respondent’s age, duration of disease, classification of disease, and decreased vision. Conclusions: The present study shows a significant rate of ocular complications and blindness among leprosy patients. Lid abnormalities, corneal abnormalities, and cataracts were the commonly encountered ocular morbidities among treated leprosy patients.

The Recent Advances in the Function and Mechanism of Caveolin-1 in Retinal Neovascularization.

Retinal neovascularization diseases have relatively high rates of evitable blindness. Abnormal retinal neovascularization is their main hallmark, which can damage the structure and function of the eye and lead to impaired vision. Caveolin-1 is a membrane protein that is expressed in many types of retinal cells and is involved in retinal neovascularization. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of global research on specific functions of caveolin-1 in retinal neovascularization. We believe that the mechanism of action of caveolin-1 might be related to the regulation of relevant signal pathways and looked ahead the application prospects of modulating caveolin- 1 in retinal neovascularization diseases.

Barriers to Eye Care for Adults in the United States and Solutions for It: A Literature Review.

Vision loss and blindness is a significant public health concern that has had a profound impact on various communities in the United States. Both anticipated and unforeseen barriers have been linked to the rising rates of vision loss and blindness in the country. Extensive research has identified numerous barriers that put many Americans at a disadvantage when trying to seek high-quality eye care services. Not only do the barriers to eye care services create problems for eye health, but also create a poor quality of life. Therefore, understanding and identifying barriers to eye healthcare services is incredibly important. In addition to understanding and identifying barriers, it is also important to identify solutions to the problems created by these barriers. A systematic review of articles characterizing the barriers to eye care was completed which resulted in the identification of the major barriers that affect Americans. The review of previous research was also used to identify available solutions for problems associated with the barriers to eye care services. The major barriers identified were cost, insurance, transport and accessibility, eye health care literacy, and communication. Because of the identification of the major barriers, solutions were also identified. Health education and increased vision screenings were found to be the most used forms of solutions by healthcare professionals promoting good eye health. Telemedicine has also been cited as a possible solution to the growing problem of visual impairment and blindness within the American population.

Nationwide Incidence and Trends in Central Retinal Arterial Occlusion Management: A 5000-Patient Analysis.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare and visually debilitating vascular condition characterized by sudden and severe vision loss. CRAO is a compelling target for intravenous alteplase (tPA) and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) due to pathophysiological similarities with acute ischemic stroke; however, the utility of these interventions in CRAO remains dubious due to limited sample sizes and potential risks. To assess usage and outcomes of tPA and MT in CRAO, we queried the National Inpatient Sample database using International Classification of Disease, Ninth and Tenth edition for patients with CRAO and acute ischemic stroke between 2010 and 2019. Our cohort of 5009 CRAO patients were younger with higher rates of obesity, hypertension, long-term anticoagulant use, and tobacco use compared to acute ischemic stroke patients. CRAO patients had lower rates of tPA administration (3.41% vs 6.21%) and endovascular MT (0.38% vs 1.31%) but fewer complications, including deep vein thrombosis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, and acute myocardial infarction (all P < 0.01). CRAO patients had lower rates of poor functional outcome (31.74% vs 58.1%) and in-hospital mortality (1.2% vs 5.64%), but higher rates of profound blindness (9.24% vs 0.58%). A multivariate regression showed no relationship between tPA and MT and profound blindness, although the limited sample size of patients receiving interventions may have contributed to this apparent insignificance. Further investigation of larger patient cohorts and alternative treatment modalities could provide valuable insights for revascularization therapies in CRAO to optimize visual restoration and clinical outcomes.

Kurarinone regulates Th17/Treg balance and ameliorates autoimmune uveitis via Rac1 inhibition

IntroductionAutoimmune uveitis (AU) is a severe intraocular autoimmune disorder with a chronic disease course and a high rate of blindness. Kurarinone (KU), a major component of the traditional Chinese medicine Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, possesses a wide spectrum of activities and has been used to treat several inflammation-related diseases. ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the effects of KU on AU and its modulatory mechanisms. MethodsWe used an experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) animal model and characterized the comprehensive immune landscape of KU-treated EAU mice using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). The retina and lymph nodes were analyzed. The siRNAs and selective inhibitors were used to study the signaling pathway. The effect of KU on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from uveitis patients was also examined. ResultsWe found that KU relieved chorioretinal lesions and immune cell infiltration in EAU model mice. Subsequent single-cell analysis revealed that KU downregulated the EAU-upregulated expression of inflammatory and autoimmune-related genes and suppressed pathways associated with immune cell differentiation, activation, and migration in a cell-specific manner. KU was implicated in restoring T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cell balance by alleviating inflammatory injury and elevating the expression of modulatory mediators in Tregs, while simultaneously ameliorating excessive inflammation by Th17 cells. Furthermore, Rac1 and the Id2/Pim1 axis potentiated the pathogenicity of Th17 cells during EAU, which was inhibited by KU treatment, contributing to the amelioration of EAU-induced inflammation and treatment of AU. In addition, KU suppressed inflammatory cytokine production in activated human PBMCs by inhibiting Rac1. Integration of the glucocorticoid-treated transcriptome suggests that KU has immunomodulatory effects on lymphocytes. ConclusionOur study constructed a high-resolution atlas of the immunoregulatory effects of KU treatment on EAU and identified its potential therapeutic mechanisms, which hold great promise in treating autoimmune disorders.

Looks can be deceiving: Investigating change blindness in an online setting.

In the real world, we often fail to notice changes in our environment. In some cases, such as not noticing a car moving into our lane, the results can be catastrophic. This so-called change blindness has been seen experimentally both through failing to notice changes to images on-screen as well as failing to notice a change in other people's identity. However, less is known regarding how change blindness manifests in virtual settings varying in visual clutter or with varying types of interaction with someone prior to the change. Across two studies (n = 134), participants engaged in an online video chat with a confederate, with two levels of visual clutter (none, a lot) and three levels of interaction (none, light conversations about weather/TV, deeper conversations about goals/greatest regrets). We found no modulation of change blindness rates across perceptual clutter. Curiously, we found a large discrepancy in change blindness rates in Experiment 1 (79%; 52/66) versus Experiment 2 (16%; 11/68) that we explored, leading to some evidence that increasing the level of interaction led to greater change blindness rates, but only for pairs who identified as belonging to different ethnicities. Taken together, our work suggests that we may pay attention to people differently in virtual settings compared to in-person, that in-group and out-group biases may have an effect on change blindness rates, and that while clutter does not seem to affect change blindness rates, one's level of interaction just might. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PREVALENCE OF COLOR BLINDNESS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN PATIENTS AT KUTIME HEALTH CENTER, TOLIKARA DISTRICT, PAPUA PEGUNUNGAN

Introduction &amp; ObjectivesColor blindness is a genetic disorder in the form of an inability or decreased ability to see colordifferences. Incidents of ignorance are widely reported in aspects of everyday life, such as in thelearning process, further education, and career determination. Causing disappointment in children'saspirations because it was not detected early.&#x0D; MethodsThis research is descriptive with cross-sectional design and total sampling technique. The sample forthis study were all pediatric patients aged 6-12 years who went to the Kutime Health Center whowere familiar with numbers and were carried out from June to December 2022. The method used apseudoisochromatic plate (Ishihara).&#x0D; ResultsThere were 105 children who participated in the study, while only 55 children met the inclusioncriteria. Of these, there were 32 boys (58.1%) and 23 girls (41.8%). The number of cases of colorblindness in children who went to the Kutime Health Center was 1 child (1.85%). Color blindpatients were boys (3.2%), there were no color blind girls in this study (0%).&#x0D; ConclusionThe prevalence rate of color blindness in the Kutime Health Center (1.85%) is still above that inPapua Province (1.39%) and nationally (0.7%). Color blindness affects more men than women,especially anyone with family history of color blindness. This research invites early detection so thatthey understand about the child's condition, the aspirations children instill can be accommodatedearlier so that there will be no disappointment regarding the choice of further education or theirfuture career.

Navigating Uncharted Waters: Comparative Analysis of Clinical Progression and Outcomes in Vestibular Schwannoma Patients with Papilledema and without Hydrocephalus, Versus Those without Papilledema and Hydrocephalus: A Comprehensive Institutional Insight

Papilledema's association with hydrocephalus (HCP)-linked larger vestibular schwannoma (VS) is established but cases lacking concurrent HCP require further investigation. This retrospective comparative observational study, conducted from July 2018 to July 2023, examined 120 VS patients undergoing surgery. Patients were categorized into Group 1 (papilledema without HCP) and Group 2 (no papilledema or HCP), with comprehensive data analyzed. In this study, Group 1 (14 patients with papilledema) and Group 2 (106 patients without papilledema or HCP) were compared. Group 1 was younger (mean age 27.21±11.73years) than Group 2 (mean age 54.66±11.44years). Both groups had similar symptom durations and tumor detection times. Group 1 had increased vascularity (P= 0.001), elevated cisterna magna protein levels (P= 0.001), and a higher incidence of neurofibromatosis 2 (P= 0.003). They also experienced longer surgeries (P= 0.001) and more blood loss (P= 0.001), leading to extended postoperative complications. Group 2 showed improved postsurgery visual outcomes (P= 0.001), better Glasgow Outcome Scores (P= 0.001), enhanced facial nerve preservation (P= 0.002), and improved hearing on follow-up (P= 0.003). Logistic regression analysis highlighted prolonged surgery duration (P= 0.057) and papilledema (P= 0.0001) as significant factors influencing visual improvement. Patients with VS require preoperative fundoscopy evaluation due to potential visual loss and papilledema, even without HCP. Early treatment initiation enhances visual and hearing outcomes. Meticulous surgery is vital given the lesion's hypervascular nature and adherence to surrounding structures. Preoperative embolization may aid in preserving neurovascular structures. In developing countries with higher blindness rates, judicious noncontrast computed tomography brain evaluation is crucial for timely detection and treatment initiation of lesions like VS.

Prevalence of Cataracts in Adults in Kawiley Village, Kauditan District North Sulawesi

The sense of sight or eyes is an important part of the human body system so that people can carry out daily life activities optimally. Disturbances in the sense of sight will reduce a person's quality of life. One of the eye disorders is clouding of the eye lens which is called cataract. Cataract is a degenerative disease that is influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors include age, gender and genetic factors, while extrinsic factors that influence include education, work and environmental factors in relation to exposure to ultraviolet light. The prevalence of cataracts is quite high in the elderly population and is one of the most common causes of blindness in Indonesia. Cataracts cause the highest rate of blindness at around 81%. A survey in 15 provinces, namely in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, Bali, NTT, NTB, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua with a target population over the age of 50 years, it is known that the blindness rate reaches 3 percent. This research aims to determine the prevalence of cataracts in adults in Kawiley village. The research method is to examine the respondents' eyes using opthalmoscope without using midriatic agents. The data currently obtained consists of 21 men and 28 women, with an average age of 66.7 years. Left ocular examination (OS) revealed 21 cataracts and 11 post cataracts with an intra-ocular lens (IOL). In the dextra oculi (OD) there were 20 respondents have cataracts, 11 post cataracts with IOL. Respondents with eyes that did not have cataracts were 17 in OS and 18 in OD, so that the total number of respondents with eyes that had cataracts was 32 (65%) respondents for OS and 31 (64%) respondents for OD. Based on gender, there were 14 (44%) men and 18 (56%) women with cataracts.

Retinal lesions classification for diabetic retinopathy using custom ResNet-based classifier

&lt;span&gt;Failure to diagnose and treat retinal illnesses on time might lead to irreversible blindness. The focus is on three common retinal lesions associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR): microaneurysms (MAs), haemorrhages, and exudates. The proposed solution leverages deep learning, employing a customized residual network (ResNet) based classifier trained on real-time retinal images meticulously annotated and graded by ophthalmologists. Annotation noise was a significant obstacle addressed by downsampling and augmenting the data. Compared to cutting-edge techniques, this one performs better with test-set accuracy of 93.34% across all classes. This approach holds great promise for enhancing early detection and treatment of DR by automating the recognition of these vital retinal abnormalities. The ability to automatically classify these symptoms can aid clinicians in making more precise diagnosis and starting treatments sooner. This research shows that deep learning-based approaches are highly effective, especially when combined with a customised ResNet-based classifier and thorough pre-processing steps. We observed that this method provides the ability to better the lives of patients and lower the rate of permanent blindness resulting from retinal disorders.&lt;/span&gt;