Objectives. To assess whether there are shared exposures associated with Sjogren’s syndrome (SS), dry eye syndrome (DES), and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), in order to determine whether they are etiologically related. Methods. In a clinic-based case-control study, 702 participants (91 SS, 120 DES, 211 (age and sex frequency-matched) controls, and 280 B-NHL cases) were recruited and interviewed regarding exposures, medical history, and family history. Results. Female predominance was noted in SS (ratio 9.2 : 1). Eye dryness was severest in SS compared to DES and controls (P<0.001). Compared to controls, alcohol consumption was inversely associated with NHL, DES, and SS (odds ratio OR=0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31-0.71; OR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.33-0.88; and OR=0.26, 95% CI: 0.14-0.49, respectively), while a previous history of infection requiring hospitalization was positively associated with all three conditions: NHL (OR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.23-2.99), DES (OR=3.29; 95% CI: 1.97-5.47), and SS (OR=4.74; 95% CI: 2.66-8.44). NHL patients were more likely to report first-degree relatives with hematologic cancer, while having first-degree relatives with an autoimmune disease (AID) was associated with SS (OR=5.25; 95% CI: 2.59-10.63) and DES (OR=3.55; 95% CI: 1.83-6.91) compared to controls. Conclusions. Some exposures are associated with all three conditions (such as an inverse association with alcohol consumption and a positive association with serious past infection), while a family history of AID appears to be shared by DES and SS, but not NHL subjects. Shared risk factors for all three conditions indicate possible mutual etiological pathways.

Cataract surgery is among the most common medical procedures, and accurate ocular biometry measurements are key for successful visual outcome. The current study evaluated data obtained by the Eyestar 900, Anterion, IOLMaster700 biometers and the Pentacam corneal topographer. Compared values were axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), steep- and flat-K, cylinder and axis. Clinical impact was assessed by calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power using the mean values of every parameter and the Barrett and Kane formulas, stratified by device and amount of cylinder. IOL was re-calculated for each device substituting Pentacam K-values. This study included 196 eyes (98 participants) of cataract surgery candidates. When comparing the IOLMaster to the Eyestar (157 eyes), no difference was found in mean AL or ACD measurements (P > 0.05). Steep-K measurements differed between these devices and the Pentacam (P = 0.01). AL and ACD measurements differed between the IOLMaster and Anterion (38 eyes; P < 0.05). Strong correlations (range 0.72–0.99) were found between all four devices. Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated excellent agreement between biometry devices other than ACD between the IOLMaster and Eyestar. Calculated IOL power was 0.50–1.00 diopter (D) lower with the IOLMaster. Cylinder power was 0.75D higher in all biometers when Pentacam K-values were substituted.

Preschool vision screening is essential for the early detection and treatment of eye and vision problems.The rate of parental adherence to referrals for comprehensive examination was assessed and f...

Cataract surgery, a common procedure for vision restoration, exhibits variable outcomes based on patient demographics. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of age and sex on risk factors, intraoperative complications, and postoperative outcomes of cataract surgery. A single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed 691 eyes from 589 individuals who underwent surgery at a tertiary referral center, using electronic medical records to assess preoperative risk factors, intraoperative complications, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) pre- and post-operatively, alongside demographic data. The study found that males aged 65–75 years had significantly higher rates of functional postoperative BCVA (91% for males vs. 79% for females, p = 0.007), a disparity not attributable to differences in surgical complications or risk factor prevalence. Age-specific thresholds were identified where BCVA improvements significantly declined beyond 65 years for females and 75 years for males. The likelihood of worsened BCVA post-surgery increased with age for both sexes, with a notable decline in BCVA improvement between the 55–65 years and 65–75 years age groups. These findings underscore the critical influence of sex and age on cataract surgery outcomes, advocating for the integration of these factors into preoperative evaluations to better tailor the timing and planning of cataract surgery and optimize clinical outcomes.

Background: There are many causes of visual impairment, and even blindness, which are treatable or at least preventable. Two such conditions are strabismus (crossed-eye, squint) and refractive error (visual image not focused on the most sensitive part of the retina). If these are not detected and corrected at an early age, they can lead to an irreversible impairment known as amblyopia (lazy eye). Pediatric vision screening and subsequent treatment for amblyopia and amblyogenic risk factors are thus key to preventing vision loss. Furthermore, vision screening can detect moderate to high hyperopia, which has been found to be associated with poor school readiness.Evidence-based recommendations call for screening children at 3–5 years of age; they are old enough to cooperate, but still within the window of effective intervention. However, these recommendations have yet to be universally implemented as the standard of care.Methods: This paper integrates a review of the literature and the international experience of preschool vision screening with the findings from a preliminary feasibility study of expanded screening in Israel to formulate a discussion of the current health policy challenge in Israel and the options for addressing it. The advantages and disadvantages of various venues for vision screening are discussed.Findings: Screening by optometrists in Mother and Child Health Centers, as implemented in a recent pilot project in the Jerusalem District, would allow the most comprehensive testing. Photo-screening in preschools would reach the most children, but at the cost of missing hyperopia (farsightedness). Either approach would probably constitute improvements over the current situation. The relative strengths of the two approaches depends in part on the ability to purchase automatic screening equipment (and the efficacy of that equipment) vs. the ongoing cost of paying trained personnel.Conclusions: Further research should be conducted in Israel to determine the prevalence of refractive errors, so that best practices can be established for Israel’s population and social needs. In the interim, the Ministry of Health should promptly implement the inclusion of preschool visions screening for children in the approved “basket of services” covered by the National Health Insurance Laws, using photo-screening, including collection of the clinical data.

Cytokines are known to be key players in dry eye syndrome (DES) and Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) pathogenesis. In this study we compared single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variations in genes encoding cytokine levels among SS and DES patients in Israel. We recruited 180 subjects, 82 with SS and 98 with DES. Using a candidate gene approach and allele-specific PCR technique for genotyping, proportions of risk alleles in Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) (rs1800629), IinterLeukin-10 (IL-10) (rs1800896) and TNFAIP3 (rs2230926) SNPs were compared between study groups. Allelic distribution was found very similar to Caucasian (CEU – Utah residents with Northern and Western European roots) population distributions in these SNPs. While none of the SNPs’ variants were significantly associated with SS or DES in a recessive model, in an additive model the TNFα G risk allele was found higher among SS patients compared to DES (Homozygote-G: 84.2% vs. 70.8%; Heterozygote: 26.9% vs. 11.2%, respectively, p = 0.02). After adjustment for age, gender and ethnicity, these variants weren’t associated with SS. Genetic scoring reveals that SS patients are more likely to present variants of all three SNPs than DES subjects. This is the first study evaluating these SNP variations among both patients with DES and patients with SS. We found the allelic distribution in each SNP to be very similar to that found in healthy Caucasian populations presented in the HapMap project. We found the TNFα allele significantly associated with DES for homozygotes, and associated with SS for heterozygotes in the additive model.