The relationship of distance learning with ocular surface disorders in students in the COVID-19 pandemic

Automated eyeball volume measurement based on CT images using neural network-based segmentation and simple estimation

With the increase in the dependency on digital devices, the incidence of myopia, a precursor of various ocular diseases, has risen significantly. Because myopia and eyeball volume are related, myopia progression can be monitored through eyeball volume estimation. However, existing methods are limited because the eyeball shape is disregarded during estimation. We propose an automated eyeball volume estimation method from computed tomography images that incorporates prior knowledge of the actual eyeball shape. This study involves data preprocessing, image segmentation, and volume estimation steps, which include the truncated cone formula and integral equation. We obtained eyeball image masks using U-Net, HFCN, DeepLab v3 +, SegNet, and HardNet-MSEG. Data from 200 subjects were used for volume estimation, and manually extracted eyeball volumes were used for validation. U-Net outperformed among the segmentation models, and the proposed volume estimation method outperformed comparative methods on all evaluation metrics, with a correlation coefficient of 0.819, mean absolute error of 0.640, and mean squared error of 0.554. The proposed method surpasses existing methods, provides an accurate eyeball volume estimation for monitoring the progression of myopia, and could potentially aid in the diagnosis of ocular diseases. It could be extended to volume estimation of other ocular structures.

Effects of insomnia on symptomatic dry eye during COVID-19 in China: An online survey

Sleep is an essential determinant of health and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate sleep disorders and symptomatic dry eye (DE) occurrence. This study was a cross-sectional survey of 1393 participants in China. The insomnia severity index (ISI) Questionnaire was used to evaluate sleep quality, and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire was used to assess DE symptoms. Subjects were divided into 2 groups based on subjects with and without symptomatic DE. The patients who had DE (10.48 ± 7.27) had substantially lower ISI scores compared to those without DE (3.57 ± 5.10) (P = .003). Furthermore, each ISI item and total ISI score was significantly correlated with OSDI dry eye severity and total OSDI dry eye score. Higher prevalence of insomnia was found in participants with symptomatic DE, and insomnia correlated significantly with DE symptoms. The present results suggest that clinicians and healthcare workers need to remember that DE and insomnia are highly co-existing health issues.

Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Dry Eye Parameters

PURPOSE

This study aims to compare dry eye parameters before and after COVID-19 infection in dry eye patients.

METHODS

We included 44 dry eye patients (88 eyes) from our existing dry eye cohort, with 22 belonging to the post-COVID-19 group due to a prior COVID-19 infection and the other 22 forming the non-COVID-19 group as they had no history of COVID-19. We examined and compared the dry eye parameters of the post-COVID-19 group, including the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer's test results (ST), non-invasive Keratography tear break-up time (NIKBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and the grading of papillae and follicles, both before and after the COVID-19 infection. We also compared the dry eye parameters difference of the post-COVID-19 group with the non-COVID-19 group.

RESULTS

The post-COVID-19 group was comprised of individuals with an average age of 38.36 ± 14.99 years, of which 82% were female. The time interval between the two tests was 16.92 ± 5.40 months, which did not differ significantly from the non-COVID-19 group. Compared to the pre-COVID-19 eyes, the post-COVID-19 eyes showed a significant decrease in the average LLT (52.86 ± 18.00 nm vs. 63.00 ± 22.40 nm, p < 0.001), as well as the maximum LLT (67.89 ± 20.81 nm vs. 78.48 ± 20.55 nm, p < 0.001). The MGD in both the upper (1.75 ± 0.84) and lower eyelids (1.43 ± 0.73) worsened after a COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the grading of papillae was worse following a COVID-19 infection (0.61 ± 0.69 vs. 0.16 ± 0.37, p < 0.001). The multivariate linear regression model revealed a negative association between COVID-19 infection and NIKBUT-average (β = -2.98, 95%CI: (-5.82, -0.15), p = 0.039), LLT-average (β = -14.12, 95%CI: (-22.66, -5.59), p = 0.001), and LLT max (β = -15.65, 95%CI: (-23.09, -8.20), p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

From preliminary results, we concluded that dry eye patients who have been infected with COVID-19 appear to have a more severe dry eye condition, as evidenced by lower LLT, worse papillae and MGD, and shorter NIKBUT. It is important to raise awareness of this potential long-term symptom of COVID-19, especially among existing dry eye patients.

The ocular symptoms and signs during the COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE

The aim of this cohort study was to describe the change in ocular surface signs and symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to associate changes with potential pandemic-related events.

METHODS

First-visit patients from 2019 to 2021 were examined for corneal staining, lacrimal function and refraction. We assessed the presence of seven common ocular symptoms. Patients with glaucoma and macular disease were excluded. Dry eye (DE) was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asia Dry Eye Society.

RESULTS

The mean age of 3,907 participants was 59.6±18.6y and 63.8% were female. Mean age and the prevalence of diagnosed DE and shortened tear break-up time decreased from 2019 to 2021. The prevalence of eye fatigue, blurring and photophobia decreased in 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of diagnosed DE did not increase among first-visit patients during the pandemic compared with 2019, despite many survey results suggesting that DE may have worsened due to frequent masking, increased screen time, mental stress, and depression under quarantine and social infection control. It might be considered however, that many elderly DE patients might have refrained from consulting an ophthalmologist and possibly delayed treatment of DE during the pandemic.