First, Let Me Take a Selfie…and Make a Diagnosis of Corneal Abrasion?
Spoon Feed
A smartphone app was developed to provide cobalt blue lighting in selfie mode to diagnose corneal injuries. See images below!
Ophthalmology
Quality Versus Comfort: Does Tegaderm Get in the Way of Ocular Ultrasound?
Spoon Feed
Using Tegaderm™ during ocular ultrasound was associated with poorer image quality and had no effect on patient comfort. If you’re using ocular ultrasound as a modality, consider if using a Tegaderm™ will get in the way of a good diagnosis.
Source
Covered or uncovered: A randomized control trial of Tegaderm versus no Tegaderm for ocular ultrasound. Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Aug 28;61:87-89. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.08.044. Online ahead of print.
How to Distinguish Bacterial vs. Viral Conjunctivitis
Spoon Feed
The presence of certain clinical findings can help clinicians gauge the likelihood of bacterial versus viral conjunctivitis, although data are limited.
Topical Pain Relief for Corneal Abrasion – A Systematic Review
Spoon Feed
Topical NSAIDs improved pain from corneal abrasion. The jury is out on other options per this review.
Topical Tetracaine for Corneal Abrasions
Spoon Feed
Short-term use of topical tetracaine for uncomplicated corneal abrasions was associated with significant pain reduction and decreased need for opioid medications, with no difference in wound healing or serious complications. However, larger studies are needed to definitively demonstrate safety and rule out rare adverse events.
You Glued the Eye Shut – What Now?
Spoon Feed
If you accidentally glue someone’s eye shut, soaking the eye in dexamethasone, polymyxin B, neomycin antibiotic drops was most effective at loosening histoacryl tissue adhesive.
You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid – Really!
Spoon Feed
style=”white-space:pre-wrap;”>The rate of non-powder firearm (i.e. BB, airsoft, paintball) injuries has decreased overall in the past few decades, but eye injuries have increased – many of the them quite severe.
Time to Take an Ax to the Wood’s Lamp?
The overall sensitivity of the Wood’s lamp, compared to the gold standard slit lamp, to establish the diagnosis of common corneal and conjunctival abnormalities was found to be an abysmal 52%.
Do Topical Antibiotics Help Conjunctivitis?
Topical antibiotic use for bacterial conjunctivitis was associated with improved rate of clinical cure compared to placebo. For early and late clinical cure with topical antibiotics, the NNT was 9 and 11, respectively.
POCUS for Retinal Detachment – Be Careful
In less experienced sonographers, ocular ultrasound for retinal detachment was specific but not sensitive. It’s useful to rule it in, but don’t use it as the sole means to rule it out.