Purpose: To evaluate the astigmatic correction obtained with a toric intraocular lens using the keratometric readings (Ks) from a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer and the Barrett toric formula with its predicted posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) value and to compare the results with those expected by using the OCT Ks and a measured PCA from a scheimpflug topographer and by using the SimKs and the measured PCA from the Scheimpflug topographer. Setting: Private practice, Lynwood, California. Design: Retrospective observational study. Methods: All measurements were performed by the SS-OCT biometer and the Scheimpflug topographer and using the Barrett toric formula. Results: We evaluated 122 eyes of 122 patients. The mean absolute errors in predicted residual astigmatism for the entire series were 0.41 ± 0.19 diopters (D) (0.00 to 0.85 D) using the OCT Ks and predicted PCA, 0.45 ± 0.25 D (0.00 to 1.01 D) using the OCT Ks and measured PCA, and 0.49 ± 0.25 D (0.00 to 1.30 D) using the SimKs and measured PCA. The statistically significant differences between the errors had a P value of .062 for the entire series (n = 122), .26 for the subgroup with against-the-rule astigmatism (n = 68), .47 for the subgroup with oblique astigmatism (n = 11), and .05 for the subgroup with with-the-rule astigmatism (n = 43). The percentage of eyes within ±0.50 D were 74% (n = 90), 71% (n = 87) and 64% (n = 78) (P = .13) and within ±0.75 D were 99% (n = 121), 95% (n = 116) and 84% (n = 102) (P < .001), respectively. Conclusions: The Barrett toric formula and its predicted PCA performed better with the OCT K readings than with the topographer SimKs and a measured PCA.

In a randomized clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of different strategies for treating low-back pain in a managed-care setting, 681 adult patients presenting with low-back pain were randomized to four treatment groups: medical care with and without physical therapy; and chiropractic care with and without physical modalities. Follow-up information was obtained by questionnaires at two and six weeks, six, 12 and 18 months and by a telephone interview at four weeks. One outcome measurement at each follow-up is the patient’s self-report on the perception of low-back pain improvement from the previous survey, recorded as ‘A lot better,’ ‘A little better,’ ‘About the same’ and ‘Worse.’ Since the patient’s perception of improvement may be influenced by past experience, the outcome is analysed using a transition (first-order Markov) model. Although one could collapse categories to the point that logistic regression analysis with repeated measurements could be used, here we allow for multiple categories by relating transition probabilities to covariates and previous outcomes through a polytomous logistic regression model with Markov structure. This approach allows us to assess not only the effects of treatment assignment and baseline characteristics but also the effects of past outcomes in analysing longitudinal categorical data.

To benchmark the epidemiology of pediatric ocular surface inflammatory diseases (POSID). Retrospective cohort study. Patients ≤18 years with a medical claim for a diagnosis of POSID in the Optum Labs Data Warehouse between 2007 and 2020. Patients with claims of blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC), herpes simplex keratoconjunctivitis (HSK), or vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) were included. Those with 5 years (ORs 2.57 to 3.75, 95% CI: 2.17-4.34); male gender (OR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.26-1.50); Asian (OR 3.12, 95% CI: 2.70-3.60) and Black or African American descent (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.55) were associated with POSID development. This study provides the first estimate of the prevalence of POSID and its three common subtypes in the United States, with important epidemiological differences between them.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) as the only known modifiable risk factor. Trabecular meshwork (TM)-inducible myocilin (the MYOC gene) was the first to be identified and linked to juvenile and primary open-angle glaucoma. It has been suggested that mutations in the MYOC gene and the aggregation of mutant myocilin in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of TM may cause ER stress, resulting in a reduced outflow of aqueous humor and an increase in IOP. We selected 20 MYOC mutations with experimentally determined melting temperatures of mutated myocilin proteins. We included 40 published studies with at least one glaucoma patient with one of these 20 MYOC mutations and information on age at glaucoma diagnosis. Based on data from 458 patients, we found that a statistically significant but weak correlation was present between age and melting temperature based on various assumptions for age. We therefore conclude that genetic analysis of MYOC mutations alone cannot be used to accurately predict age at glaucoma diagnosis. However, it might be an important prognostic factor combined with other clinical factors for critical and early detection of glaucoma.