THE CURIOUS CASE OF ‘PSYCHO-OPHTHALMOLOGY’: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) deals with the interface shared between psychiatry and various other disciplines of medicine. The interface shared by psychiatry and ophthalmology is among the lesser discussed ones in the field of CLP, despite the fact that it holds clinical relevance in the evaluation, management and outcomes of both psychiatric and ophthalmological disorders. This narrative review focusses on the ophthalmological aspects of psychiatric disorders, with respect to their manifestations, assessment, and management. Psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, affective disorders, ‘functional’ disorders, and substance use disorders, have numerous ophthalmic manifestations, which can have clinical implications for the patients. Even the psychotropic drugs given for psychiatric disorders can lead to side effects affecting the eye, but these are among the lesser-discussed side effects. Some psychiatric disorders can be investigated using various ophthalmic functions, the assessments ranging from simple physical examination to the use of instruments like a fundoscope, which can be useful for a psychiatrist in their routine practice. Lastly, eye functions can also be used in the treatment of psychiatric conditions, as is seen in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This review reiterates the fact that more attention needs to be given to the field of ‘psycho-ophthalmology’, which holds great promise in the coming days

Impact of videoconferencing applications on mental health

Under the circumstances of the current COVID-19 pandemic, videoconferencing applications (apps) have come into the mainstream across the world. Owing to their easy availability and cost-effectiveness, they are used in personal as well as professional lives to communicate. They have been very helpful for students and professionals to ensure that their routine work did not halt when various countries imposed lockdown rules restricting travel, social gatherings and other measures that resulted in reduced in-person meetings. However, they have their own set of disadvantages, aptly called 'Zoom gloom/fatigue', named after a popular videoconferencing platform. Users are also noted to have anxiety while using these apps. Therefore, immediate attention is warranted to ensure cautious usage and to reduce the distress associated with videoconferencing apps while maintaining the obvious advantages that these methods have rapidly spread all over the world

Psychiatric aspects of ophthalmic disorders: A narrative review

Ophthalmic disorders have psychiatric aspects associated with them at various levels. Psychological factors have a well-documented role in the causation, aggravation, and maintenance of various ophthalmic conditions, including glaucoma, central serous retinopathy, dry eye disease, and retinitis pigmentosa. Many ophthalmic conditions, including blindness, have psychological manifestations as well, which need to be addressed, in addition to the ophthalmic pathology. There is also significant overlap in the treatment of the two disciplines in many ways. For instance, many ophthalmic drugs have psychiatric side effects. Even ophthalmological surgeries have psychiatric aspects associated with them, which primarily include black patch psychosis and anxiety in the operation theater. This review will be useful for psychiatrists and ophthalmologists, for their clinical practice and research. Future research should focus on this interface to give it its well-deserved attention