Postoperative IOP prophylaxis practice following uncomplicated cataract surgery: a UK-wide consultant survey

BACKGROUND: In order to minimise postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) rise, after routine uncomplicated cataract surgery, prophylaxis may be adopted. Currently, there are no specific guidelines in this regard resulting in wide variation in practice across the UK. We sought to document these variations through a questionnaire survey. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all consultant ophthalmic surgeons in the UK. RESULTS: 62.6% of surgeons did not use any IOP lowering agents. 37.4% surgeons routinely prescribed some form of medication. The majority (86.8%) used oral diamox. 20.6% of surgeons said they based their practice on evidence, 43.3% on personal experience, and 17.6% on unit policy. Surprisingly, among the two groups of surgeons (those who gave routine prophylaxis, and those who did not) the percentages of surgeons quoting personal experience, unit policy, or presence of evidence was strikingly similar. The timing of the first postoperative IOP check varied from the same day to beyond 2 weeks. Only 20.2% of surgeons had ever seen an adverse event related to IOP rise; this complication is thus very rare. CONCLUSION: This survey highlights a wide variation in the practice and postoperative management of phacoemulsification cataract surgery. What is very striking is that there is a similar proportion of surgeons in the diametrically opposite groups (those who give or do not give routine IOP lowering prophylaxis) who believe that there practice is evidence based. The merits of this study suggests that consideration must be given to drafting a uniform guideline in this area of practice

\u3ci\u3eNomina dubia \u3c/i\u3eand faunistic issues with New Zealand spiders (Araneae)

Attempts to clarify the identity of obscure New Zealand spider taxa have lead to the conclusion that six species are best treated as nomina dubia [Philodromus rubrofrontus Urquhart 1891 (Philodromidae); Dictyna urquhartii Roewer 1951, (Dictynidae); Linyphia albiapiata Urquhart 1891, Linyphia cruenta Urquhart 1891, Linyphia multicolor Urquhart 1891, Linyphia pellos Urquhart 1891 (Linyphiidae)]. Four species currently listed in Araneus Clerck 1757 (Araneidae) are re-affirmed as synonyms [Araneus lineaacutus (Urquhart 1887) = Zealaranea crassa (Walckenaer 1842), Araneus powelli (Urquhart 1894) = Novaranea laevigata (Urquhart 1891), Araneus sublutius (Urquhart 1892b) = Zealaranea trinotata (Urquhart 1890), Araneus ventricosellus (Roewer 1942) = Eriophora heroine (L. Koch 1871)]. An old record of Araneus brisbanae (L. Koch 1867b) (Araneidae) from New Zealand is a misidentification of Eriophora decorosa Urquhart 1894. The family Philodromidae, the genera Dictyna Sundevall 1833 (Dictynidae) and Linyphia Latreille 1804 (Linyphiidae), as well as Tharpyna munda L. Koch 1875 (Thomisidae) and Araneus brisbanae (Araneidae) are absent from New Zealand

Nesticus eremita (Araneae: Nesticidae): redescription of a potentially invasive European spider found in New Zealand

Volume: 39Start Page: 511End Page: 51

Systematics of the New Asutralasian Orb-Weaving Spider Genus Backobourkia (Aranea: Araneidae: Araneinae)

Backobourkia, a new Australasian genus of orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae Clerck, 1758) is proposed with Backobourkia heroine (L. Koch, 1871) as type species. Two other species are included in the genus: B. brounii (Urquhart, 1885) comb. nov. (here removed from synonymy with B. heroine) and B. collina (Keyserling, 1886) comb. nov. (= Araneus reversus Hogg, 1914, new synonymy). A phylogenetic analysis places Backobourkia within the \u27coxal hook clade\u27 of the subfamily Araneinae Clerck, 1758 and close to Eriophora Simon, 1864; however, Backobourkia differs from other Australasian Araneinae by the proposed synapopomorphy of a long fl ange at the base of the median apophysis in males. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) supports the monophyly of Backobourkia in a limited dataset that includes exemplars of Australasian Araneidae and Eriophora ravilla (C.L. Koch, 1844) (type species of Eriophora Simon, 1864). Backobourkia brounii and B. heroine are sister taxa in this analysis. Backobourkia collina is unusual within the genus and amongst most Araneinae as it displays extreme sexual size dimorphism (SSD), with females on average more than four times the size of males. Comparison with the other two Backobourkia species (and other Araneinae) suggests male dwarfi sm rather than female gigantism for this SSD. Some morphological differences of B. collina males to its congeners are evident, possibly due to its reduced size. These include characters of putative phylogenetic signal at the genus level such as eye position, shape of male pedipalp sclerites and the absence or presence of endite teeth or coxal hooks. Backobourkia species are common throughout Australia, with B. heroine more prevalent in the western and B. brounii in the eastern parts of the country. Backobourkia collina is mainly found throughout the arid regions. Backobourkia brounii is also found in New Zealand and B. heroine in New Caledonia. Araneus felinus (Butler, 1876), originally described as \u27Allied to E. heroine\u27, is here considered a nomen dubium as the type specimen appears to be lost and an accurate identifi cation based on the original description is not possible. The New Zealand Eriophora decorosa (Urquhart, 1894) is transferred to Acroaspis Karsch, 1878, A. decorosa (Urquhart, 1894) comb. nov