Staining superiority. A systematic review examined the outcomes of surgery on children with primary cataracts when performed with and without trypan blue staining of the posterior lens capsule, considering both posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. The result? Staining of the capsule led to better outcomes, resulting in complete posterior capsulorhexis and optimal placement of the implant in over 90 percent of eyes. Link
Bedtime blues. Scientists used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to analyze the occurrence of clinically diagnosed insomnia following cataract surgery in pseudophakic eyes, comparing blue light-filtering and non-filtering intraocular lenses. They found no significant difference in the rate of insomnia between the two IOL groups when considering age, sex, and men with and without benign prostatic hyperplasia. Link
No distinction. A retrospective case-control study investigated the effect of phacoemulsification on best-corrected visual acuity and central corneal thickness in Fuchs’ dystrophy patients with evidence of corneal decompensation awaiting DMEK. Phacoemulsification did not lead to a significant increase in corneal thickness or deterioration of visual acuity, with some patients achieving satisfactory vision after cataract surgery and deferred endothelial keratoplasty. Link
Picking procedures. A research team compared one-year results of phacoemulsification alone versus phaco viscocanalostomy for managing visually significant cataract in mild-to-moderate open angle glaucoma (OAG) patients. Using a parallel-arm, single-masked, randomized controlled trial, the team found better success rates using phaco viscocanalostomy, leading them to recommend that surgeons with expertise in phaco viscocanalostomy offer it to this patient group. Link
Dissecting doubts. National data from the UK shows that fewer than 0.5 percent of NHS cataract patients undergo immediate sequential surgery (ISBCS). Although surgeon attitudes are a significant barrier to increasing ISBCS practice, little is known about patient perceptions of ISBCS. A new study found that significantly more patients within the NHS would undergo the procedure if given the option, suggesting that surgeon reluctance, as well as uninformed or misinformed patients, may be limiting its uptake. Link
In Other News…
Capturing cataracts. A retinal photograph-based screening tool for visually significant cataracts among older adults can provide more appropriate referrals to tertiary eye centers. Link
Connecting thread. In the past 50 years, there have been nine cases of bilateral simultaneous endophthalmitis immediately following sequential bilateral cataract surgery. Link
Valuable values. Residual astigmatism and vector absolute astigmatism prediction error values and standard deviations are useful, but require extremely large datasets to be statistically relevant. Link
Equally effective. Difluprednate taken twice per day had the same efficacy as prednisolone acetate administered four times per day in treating inflammation following cataract surgery. Link
Controlling inflammation. Topical NSAIDs are more effective for controlling CME, iritis, pain, and photophobia after cataract surgery than an intracanalicular dexamethasone insert. Link
