Our Library and Information Services Manager, Shirley Hart, identifies the most viewed journal articles in our collection, and the ones that are optometrists are talking about.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eye strain and dry eye symptoms
In this large-scale online survey of patients with dry eye during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, findings show that screen/reading time generally doubled and almost half of the respondents experienced a decrease in work efficiency. In addition, dry eye discomfort symptoms worsened during the pandemic, which was greatest in those with moderate dry eye, particularly in the setting of Sjögren's syndrome. Respondents with severe dry eye had the greatest difficulty with access to dry-eye related treatments.
This evaluation of a non-referred population seen in primary care CUES supports the view that the service is clinically safe. The false-negative rate of 0.23% for moderate-to-high risk of sight loss cases in the cohort reviewed may be regarded as low within the context of: first, the pandemic and emphasis on telemedicine at the material time; second, CUES evolving to accommodate a higher proportion of face-to-face assessments and with the potential for further guidance for participating optometrists about the importance of a thorough history and symptoms evaluation; and finally, CUES comparing favourably with currently commissioned primary care services where false-negative rate evidence is available. The study concludes that this additional analysis, alongside an earlier evaluation, strongly supports the ongoing commissioning of CUES in primary care.
As society continues to open up, the Optometry in Practice editorial board thought it opportune to reflect on the experiences of the pandemic to date and assess the impact on both eyecare professionals and our patients.
It is rare for respiratory viruses to cause eye infections, writes Kim Thomas, but they may use the eye as a portal of entry. And what is the mechanism behind their travel to the respiratory system?