Crouch, Eric R.

ABSTRACT Purpose To validate a custom smartphone application for at‐home visual acuity (VA) measurement in children. Methods A total of 452 children aged 3–17.5 years participated. Certified examiners measured in‐office test–retest VA (logMAR) using gold‐standard Amblyopia Treatment Study HOTV (3‐to‐6‐year‐olds, younger cohort) or electronic Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (7‐to‐17.5‐year‐olds, older cohort) protocols at 3–4.5 m and app‐based VA at 1.5 m. Caregivers measured at‐home app‐based VA at 1.5 m. Results Comparing at‐home app‐based with gold‐standard VA, in eyes 20/40 or better, 95% (143/151) and 93% (91/98) of the younger and older cohorts were within 2 lines, respectively (mean differences: younger = −0.03, older = −0.04; 95% limits‐of‐agreement half‐width (LOA): younger = ±0.26, older = ±0.22). In eyes 20/50 or worse, 66% (42/64) and 75% (76/101) of the younger and older cohorts were within 2 lines, respectively (mean differences: younger = 0.11, older = 0.13, LOA: younger = ±0.50, older = ±0.51). Comparing in‐office app‐based VA with gold‐standard VA, in eyes 20/40 or better, 98% (160/164) and 94% (99/105) of the younger and older cohorts were within 2 lines, respectively (mean differences: younger = −0.03, older = −0.03; LOA: younger = ±0.22; older = ±0.24). In eyes 20/50 or worse, 85% (60/71) and 91% (101/111) of the younger and older cohorts were within 2 lines, respectively (mean differences: younger = 0.04; older = 0.04; LOA: younger = ±0.39; older = ±0.24). For gold‐standard test–retest, in eyes 20/40 or better, 99% (163/164) and 99% (104/105) of the younger and older cohorts had retest within 2 lines, respectively (mean differences: younger = 0.00; older = 0.01; LOA: younger = ±0.17; older = ±0.11). For 20/50 or worse, 92% (66/72) and 100% (111/111) in the younger and older cohorts were within 2 lines, respectively (mean differences: younger = 0.01; older = 0.02; LOA: younger = ±0.35; older = ±0.15). Conclusions Our app demonstrated good concordance with the gold standard at home and in the office for eyes with VA of 20/40 or better. However, concordance decreased considerably for eyes with VA 20/50 or worse, particularly at home.

SIGNIFICANCE When exploring relationships among clinical measures and patient‐reported outcome measures in adults with convergence insufficiency, worse symptoms (Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey [CISS] score) seemed to be correlated with worse reading function domain score (Adult Strabismus‐20 quality‐of‐life questionnaire). After treatment, improved symptoms were associated with improved reading function quality of life. PURPOSE This study aimed to explore relationships between clinical measures and patient‐reported outcome measures in adults undergoing treatment for symptomatic convergence insufficiency. METHODS In a prospective multicenter observational study, we evaluated adults with symptomatic convergence insufficiency (i.e., clinical measures of near exodeviation, receded near point of convergence, reduced near positive fusional vergence; CISS score ≥21). Fifty‐seven participants treated with vision therapy/exercises (n = 35) or base‐in prism (n = 22) were analyzed. Spearman correlation coefficients ( R ) were used to assess associations among the three clinical measures and patient‐reported outcome measures (CISS, Diplopia Questionnaire, four Adult Strabismus‐20 quality‐of‐life domains) before treatment (baseline) and after 10 weeks and 1 year. Associations were interpreted to be present when the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) was moderate to strong ( R ≥ 0.4). RESULTS Among multiple exploratory analyses, the only moderate to strong baseline correlation was between worse CISS and worse Adult Strabismus‐20 reading function scores ( R = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.76). Regarding change in measures with treatment, the only moderate to strong correlations were between improved CISS and improved Adult Strabismus‐20 reading function scores for prism at 10 weeks ( R = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.91) and 1 year ( R = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94) and for vision therapy/exercises at 1 year ( R = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.89). CONCLUSIONS In exploratory analyses, we found positive correlations between CISS symptom scores and reading function quality‐of‐life scores. The absence of correlations between symptoms and individual clinical measures is consistent with clinical experience that, in convergence insufficiency, symptoms and clinical findings can be discordant.

Abstract Purpose To describe the clinical course of untreated intermittent exotropia (IXT) in children 12–35 months of age followed for 3 years. Methods We enrolled 97 children 12–35 months of age with previously untreated IXT who had been randomly assigned to the observation arm of a randomised trial of short‐term occlusion versus observation. Participants were observed unless deterioration criteria were met at a follow‐up visit occurring at 3 months, 6 months, and 6‐month intervals thereafter for 3 years. The primary outcome was deterioration of the IXT by 3 years, defined as (1) a constant exotropia ≥10 prism dioptres (∆) at distance and near (i.e., motor deterioration) or (2) treatment prescribed despite not having met motor deterioration. The primary analysis used the Kaplan‐Meier method to determine the cumulative proportion of participants meeting deterioration by three years and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The cumulative probability of deterioration by 3 years was 28% (95% CI = 20%–39%). Of the 24 participants meeting the primary outcome of deterioration, seven met motor deterioration and 17 were prescribed treatment without meeting motor deterioration. The cumulative probability of motor deterioration by 3 years was 10% (95% CI = 5%–19%). Conclusions Given the modest rate of motor deterioration over three years, watchful waiting may be a reasonable management approach in 12‐ to 35‐month‐old children with IXT. To confirm this recommendation would require a long‐term randomised trial of immediate treatment versus observation followed by deferred treatment if needed.

Purpose: To compare efficacy and safety of EX-PRESS mini glaucoma shunt (Alcon) and trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) in the management of pediatric glaucoma. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed patients from a single pediatric ophthalmology practice with either congenital or juvenile glaucoma who underwent surgical treatment with either trabeculectomy or EX-PRESS shunt insertion with MMC. Postoperative intraocular pressure at 6, 18, and 36 months, medication requirements, visual acuities, postoperative interventions, complications, and noncompliance with medications or follow-up was reviewed. Results: A total of 42 cases of glaucoma with either trabeculectomy or EX-PRESS shunt were identified for review (n trabeculectomy=25, n EX-PRESS=17). At 6 months, 62.5% of trabeculectomies and 94.1% of EX-PRESS shunts met criteria for success (P=0.0281). At 18 months, 38.1% of trabeculectomies and 81.3% of EX-PRESS shunts met criteria for success (P=0.0178). At 36 months, trabeculectomies had a success rate of 33.3% versus 66.7% for EX-PRESS shunts (P=0.321). The average decrease in medications postoperatively was 0.375 and 1.63 for trabeculectomy and EX-PRESS shunt, respectively (P=0.06). Preoperative visual acuities compared with postoperative best-corrected visual acuities before additional surgery demonstrated a slight average worsening of 0.11 logMAR in trabeculectomy patients and an average improvement of 0.56 logMAR in EX-PRESS shunt patients (P=0.0037). Conclusions: In this review, patients with pediatric glaucoma managed with EX-PRESS shunt with MMC compared with trabeculectomy with MMC appear to have better intraocular pressure control, better visual acuities, and fewer complications and reoperations.