Functional impairment of reading in patients with dry eye

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the impact of dry eye on reading performance. METHODS: Out-loud and silent reading in patients with clinically significant dry eye (n=41) and controls (n=50) was evaluated using standardised texts. Dry eye measures included tear film break-up time, Schirmer's test and corneal epithelial staining. Symptoms were assessed by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). RESULTS: The dry eye group had a greater proportion of women as compared with the control group but did not differ in age, race, education level or visual acuity (p≥0.05 for all). Out-loud reading speed averaged 148 words per minute (wpm) in dry eye subjects and 163 wpm in controls (p=0.006). Prolonged silent reading speed averaged 199 wpm in dry eye subjects versus 226 wpm in controls (p=0.03). In multivariable regression models, out-loud and sustained silent reading speeds were 10 wpm (95% CI −20 to −1 wpm, p=0.039) and 14% (95% CI −25% to −2%, p=0.032) slower, respectively, in dry eye subjects as compared with controls. Greater corneal staining was associated with slower out-loud (−2 wpm/1 unit increase in staining score, 95% CI =−3 to −0.3 wpm) and silent (−2%, 95% CI −4 to −0.6 wpm) reading speeds (p<0.02 for both). Significant interactions were found between OSDI score and word-specific features (longer and less commonly used words) on out-loud reading speed (p<0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Dry eye is associated with slower out-loud and silent reading speeds, providing direct evidence regarding the functional impact of dry eye. Reading speed represents a measurable clinical finding that correlates directly with dry eye severity

Erratum

Utine CA. Update and critical appraisal of the use of topical azithromycin ophthalmic 1% (AzaSite&amp;reg;) solution in the treatment of ocular infections. Clin Ophthalmol. 2011;5:801-809.Table 2 inaccurately states that Bremond-Grignac used AzaSite&amp;reg; in their study. The ophthalmic preparation used was in fact Azyter&amp;reg;. Original Articl

Boston KPro Type I: Vitreoretinal Considerations

Posterior segment complications are seen in a significant number of eyes having a keratoprosthesis (KPro) and are associated with poor visual outcomes. As the use of KPro increases dramatically, so too does the frequency of posterior segment complications seen by the vitreoretinal surgeon in this patient population, as well as the importance of addressing them expeditiously. Special consideration in diagnostic imaging and surgical planning is required in addressing the most common complications: retroprosthetic membrane (RPM), retinal detachments (RD) and other vitreous pathology, hypotony, glaucoma, epiretinal membranes (ERM), endophthalmitis, and vascular complications. This chapter seeks to summarize the diagnosis and treatment of each of these entities in the setting of KPro