Science, pseudoscience, evidence-based practice and post truth

[Excerpt] We live a time when it is easier to question the value of statins to fight cholesterol or the efficacy of vaccination and replace these treatments with homeopathic substances that lack any demonstrated therapeutic effect, promoting BILIEF to the category of PSEUDO-SCIENCE, than rely on evidence-based facts supported by the SCIENTIFIC METHOD. These are challenging times for clinicians and we need to be aware of the “siren songs”, question easy TRUTH even when it looks EVIDENT and the recent so-called POST TRUTH where beliefs seem to be stronger than FACTS, and find the path for safe EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE. This brief paragraph contains several terms and constructs that we often use, hear or read but the definitions of which require more careful reflection, the goal of this editorial. [...](undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cinco años compartiendo la optometría con un público global y multidisciplinar

[Excerpt] The clinical and scientific activity in the field of optometry has experienced a rapid expansion in the last decades.1 In many places around the World, where this specialty was not developed in the middle of the 20th century, Optometry is now flourishing with new schools, training centers and other structures. This made possible to provide eye care to millions of people who otherwise would not be served. These strategies have been particularly important in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Besides the publication of mainstream state of the art research results in the field of optometry and visual sciences,2, 3, 4 the Journal of Optometry has been committed to be a platform for sharing with a Global Audience the scientific and clinical information coming from or related with developing countries in those areas. The issue being published now is a good example, with a significant proportion of its information arising directly or indirectly from populations whose ocular characteristics and ocular morbidity are now better known. [...](undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Technical Note: Accuracy and repeatability of a new portable ultrasound pachymeter

Purpose: To assess the accuracy and repeatability of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements taken with a new portable ultrasound (US) pachymeter.Methods: Central thickness measurements were taken with a portable pachymeter (SP-100 Handy; Tomey, Nagoya, Japan) and a conventional US pachymeter (Nidek UP-1000; Nidek Technologies, Gamagori, Japan) from 57 right corneas of 57 young adults (19 males, 38 females) aged 18-44 years (mean +/- S.D., 22.95 +/- 3.92). Three repeated measures were obtained and then compared to obtain the repeatability of each instrument and the agreement between the pachymeters. The three readings taken with the portable pachymeter were compared against each other in order to evaluate intra-session repeatability and bias of each individual measurement with respect to the mean of three.Results: Mean values of CCT were 537 +/- 35 mu m for conventional and 534 +/- 35 mu m for the new portable pachymeter. A high agreement was found between the two instruments (mean difference = 2.58 mu m; 95% CI 1.41-3.75 mu m) with only two eyes presenting differences larger than +/- 8.6 mu m which represents 95% CI in the Bland-Altman plots which represents 1.6% of the mean CCT. The first reading taken showed the highest agreement with the mean value for the portable pachymeter.Conclusions: The instrument tested in this study is able to take reliable measurements of corneal thickness even if a single reading is considered. Intra-session repeatability was very high, as was also the agreement between the average of three readings taken with the two US pachymeters.- (undefined

IOP variations in the sitting and supine positions

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the position (upright vs. supine) in the intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with a non-contact portable tonometer. Methods: Fifty university students with a mean age of 22.3±4.2 years (mean±SD) were recruited to participate in this study. IOP was measured with the non-contact tonometer Keeler, Pulsair EasyEye. Measurements in upright and supine positions were randomly obtained. In the upright position, 2 series of 3 measures (UP1 and UP2) and a series of 3 measures in the supine position were performed. Results: The values obtained in the positions UP1 and UP2 were compared, as well as the values of the upright and supine positions. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the values obtained in the upright position (P>0.05). Instead, when the subjects were in the supine position, IOP increased 2.47±2.12mm Hg (mean±SD), as opposed to the value obtained in the upright position (P<0.001). Conclusions: Results from this study showed that IOP increased when measured in the supine position and that the Pulsair EasyEye tonometer can determine those variations in a healthy young population

Radiometric characterization of a novel LED array system for visual assessment

Light that enters the eye can be distorted due to several factors leading to a poor visual performance. The purpose of this paper is to describe and characterize the light-emitting diode (LED) display system to be used in a new device to assess visual quality under high glare conditions. The device has a central white LED and surrounding white LEDs distributed in a radial manner. Each LED is controlled independently using special designed software. The spectral power distribution and color of the LEDs were assessed at different voltage intensities to test the response in terms of output luminance and spectral distribution. It was found that the typical maximum luminance was about 2800 cd/m2 and 6 cd/m2 for the central and surrounding LEDs, respectively. Their color was found to be within the ΔE⁄ ab range of 2.6 and 0.23, respectively, if the minimum and maximum intensities are considered. The characterization of this device was proved successfully, which might indicate its usefulness in future visual assessments.This study has been funded by FEDER through the COMPTETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of projects PTDC/SAU-BEB/098391/2008, PTDC/SAU-BEB/098392/2008 and the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2011

Estratégia institucional para a gestão dos dados de investigação: estudo e recomendações

O presente relatório apresenta o estudo e as recomendações para o desenvolvimento de uma estratégia institucional na Universidade do Minho para a gestão de dados de investigação. O relatório foi preparado pelo grupo de trabalho nomeado pelo Senhor Reitor da UMinho a 12 de abril de 2017 no despacho nº RT-27/2017. O Grupo iniciou os seus trabalhos no mês de maio com o mandato de “produzir um estudo e recomendações que sustentem a formulação de uma estratégia institucional relativa aos dados de investigação, incluindo a identificação de políticas, infraestruturas e serviços para a gestão dos dados de investigação na UMinho”. A metodologia adotada passou pela realização de duas reuniões presenciais, correspondendo às duas fases do trabalho – inicialmente diagnóstico e posteriormente desenho de soluções e formulação de recomendações –, e pela redação deste documento, de forma assíncrona e não presencial. O relatório reflete a metodologia adotada e encontra-se estruturado em duas partes: 1ª) estudo e análise e 2ª) recomendações. Para a primeira parte, o grupo de trabalho tomou como base o estudo realizado em 2014 pelos Serviços de Documentação da UMinho (SDUM) que fornece informação relevante sobre os dados gerados no âmbito da investigação realizada na UMinho e sobre as práticas de gestão desses dados. Esta parte do estudo foi complementada com a análise dos primeiros resultados do programa de diagnóstico iniciado pelos SDUM e aplicado a seis comunidades piloto no primeiro semestre de 2017 com o intuito de caracterizar os processos de gestão dos dados e avaliar papéis e responsabilidade associados. Neste relatório analisam-se ainda as políticas para dados dos financiadores de ciência e inovação, com particular enfoque para os requisitos dos dados de investigação abertos no Horizonte 2020 e princípios FAIR para a gestão de dados. Reflete-se ainda sobre a Política Nacional de Ciência Aberta e o desenvolvimento de estratégias institucionais nas universidades. A secção prospetiva do presente relatório apresenta recomendações estruturadas em cinco tópicos: 1) Política, 2) Infraestrutura e sistemas para dados, 3) Serviços e ferramentas de apoio à gestão dos dados, 4) Capacitação e 5) Questões legais, de proteção de dados e de propriedade intelectual. O relatório desenvolve os componentes e detalhes das seguintes recomendações: 1. Definição de uma política institucional da Universidade do Minho relativa à gestão e partilha dos dados de investigação. 2. Disponibilização de uma infraestrutura de sistemas e serviços integrados a disponibilizar à comunidade da UMinho para a gestão de dados ao longo do ciclo de vida da investigação. 3. Criação de ferramentas de apoio à gestão de dados que assegurem a interligação e utilização dos componentes da infraestrutura institucional de dados. 4. Desenvolvimento de ações e programas integrados que promovam e valorizem as competências dos investigadores em matéria de gestão e partilha de dados de investigação. 5. Disponibilização e reforço de serviços de apoio e consultoria no domínio da proteção de dados, licenciamento e reutilização de dados e propriedade intelectual

Global trends in myopia management attitudes and strategies in clinical practice – 2019 Update

Purpose: A survey in 2015 identified a high level of eye care practitioner concern about myopia with a reported moderately high level of activity, but the vast majority still prescribed single vision interventions to young myopes. This research aimed to update these findings 4 years later. Methods: A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed in eight languages, through professional bodies to eye care practitioners globally. The questions examined: awareness of increasing myopia prevalence, perceived efficacy of available strategies and adoption levels of such strategies, and reasons for not adopting specific strategies. Results: Of the 1336 respondents, concern was highest (9.0 ± 1.6; p < 0.001) in Asia and lowest (7.6 ± 2.2; p < 0.001) in Australasia. Practitioners from Asia also considered their clinical practice of myopia control to be the most active (7.7 ± 2.3; p < 0.001), the North American practitioners being the least active (6.3 ± 2.9; p < 0.001). Orthokeratology was perceived to be the most effective method of myopia control, followed by pharmaceutical approaches and approved myopia control soft contact lenses (p < 0.001). Although significant intra-regional differences existed, overall, most practitioners did not consider single-vision distance under-correction to be an effective strategy for attenuating myopia progression (79.6 %), but prescribed single vision spectacles or contact lenses as the primary mode of correction for myopic patients (63.6 ± 21.8 %). The main justifications for their reluctance to prescribe alternatives to single vision refractive corrections were increased cost (20.6 %) and inadequate information (17.6 %). Conclusions: While practitioner concern about myopia and the reported level of activity have increased over the last 4 years, the vast majority of eye care clinicians still prescribe single vision interventions to young myopes. With recent global consensus evidence-based guidelines having been published, it is hoped that this will inform the practice of myopia management in future