Until now, venous pressure within the eye has widely been equated with intraocular pressure (IOP). Measurements with dynamometers calibrated in instrument units or in force showed that the retinal venous pressure (RVP) may be higher than the IOP in glaucoma patients. In this study, the RVP was measured with a contact lens dynamometer calibrated in mmHg. Fifty consecutive patients ages 69 ± 8 years with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who underwent diurnal curve measurement under medication were included. RVP was measured via contact lens dynamometry, and IOP measurement was measured via dynamic contour tonometry.

In all 50 patients, the IOP was 15.9 mmHg [median (Q1; Q3)] (13.6 mmHg; 17.1 mmHg), and the RVP was 17.4 mmHg (14.8 mmHg; 27.2 mmHg). The distribution of the IOP was normal, and that of the RVP was right skewed. In the subgroup of 34 patients with spontaneous pulsation of the central retinal vein (SVP), the IOP and therefore, by definition, the RVP was 16.5 mmHg (13.7 mmHg; 17.4 mmHg). In the subgroup of 16 patients without SVP, the IOP was 14.8 mmHg (13.3 mmHg; 16.4 mmHg), and the RVP was 31.3 mmHg (26.2 mmHg; 38.8 mmHg). In systemic treatment, the number of patients for the prescribed drugs were: ACE inhibitors (20), β-blockers (17), angiotensin II-receptor blockers (13), calcium channel blockers (12), diuretics (7). No difference in RVP was observed between patients receiving these drugs and not receiving them, except in the β-blocker group. Here, the 17 patients with systemic β-blockers had a median RVP of 15.6 mmHg and 20.2 mmHg without. In the 16 patients with a higher RVP than IOP, only one patient received a systemic β-blocker. The median IOP was 15.7 mmHg with systemic β-blockers and 16.1 mmHg without.

In a subgroup of 16 of the 50 patients studied, the RVP was greater than the IOP by a highly statistically and clinically significant degree. According to the widely accepted thinking on the pathophysiology of retinal and optic nerve head circulation, the blood flow in these tissues may be much more compromised in this group of patients than has been assumed, the researchers wrote. They may be identified by a missing SVP. Topical and systemic medications showed no statistically significant influence on the RVP, except for the systemic β-blockers, in which the RVP was lower by 4.6 mmHg than for the patients who did not receive these drugs.

These researchers evaluated the visual outcomes of patients with presbyopic hyperopia, comparing the current standard of monovision treatment with a novel bilateral presbyopic LASIK (Custom-Q mode) technique. This prospective comparative study of consecutive eligible patients with presbyopic hyperopia undergoing a bilateral presbyopic laser in situ keratomileusis technique was conducted between January 2018 and February 2019. After contact lens-simulated monovision measurements were obtained, the non-dominant eyes had a negative aspheric ablation profile planned using the Custom-Q nomogram (Alcon Laboratories). The dominant eye was operated on with a positive aspheric ablation profile. Visual acuity testing, refraction, corneal asphericity (▵Q), higher order aberrations and a satisfaction questionnaire (National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life) were evaluated after the monovision trial and postoperatively.

Twenty-eight patients, with a mean age of 56.03 ± 4.31 years, were included in the study. At six months, 100% of patients achieved 20/20 or better binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) vs. 57% in the monovision group, 100% of patients achieved 20/25 or better binocular uncorrected intermediate visual acuity vs. 32% in the monovision group, and 92.86% of patients achieved 20/25 or better binocular uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) in both groups. In contact lens monovision simulation, no patient reached a UDVA of 20/50 or better, with only 3.6% having a UNVA of 20/40 or better. The questionnaire demonstrated high patient satisfaction.

The outcomes confirmed the superiority of increased depth of focus using negative spherical aberration modulation in the non-dominant eye compared with contact lens monovision. They also demonstrated the effectiveness of positive spherical aberration induction to improve intermediate and near vision in the dominant eye.

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder globally and locally in Saudi Arabia. Individuals with chronic conditions are more liable to develop depression. Keratoconus is a chronic progressive corneal disorder that markedly affects the vision and quality of life, making its sufferers liable to developing depression. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted using 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to screen for depression among adults ages 18 to 60 years old only. The participants in this study were patients who were previously diagnosed with keratoconus by their ophthalmologists. The structured questionnaire was distributed using Google Forms through various social media platforms. After extracting the data, it was revised, coded and then analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 (IBM Corp.).

A total of 330 keratoconus patients living in Saudi Arabia were recruited in this study. The modal age group was 31 to 40 years old (44.5%), and the male to female ratio was 3:2. The most frequently reported concurrent eye diseases of the patients were astigmatism (48.5%) and myopia (36.7%). The prevalence of depression among patients with keratoconus was 40.6% (n=134). The use of corrective contact lenses (both: hybrid and rigid lens) in both eyes contributed to a significantly higher depression rate among its wearers compared to users in one eye and non-users.

Researchers wrote that depression is highly prevalent among keratoconus patients. They added that this is especially true among corrective contact lens wearers of both eyes. Keratoconus is associated with depression regardless of disease severity and socio-demographic characteristics.