Brien Holden Vision Institute.

Brien Holden Vision Institute.

Summary Background To contribute to the WHO initiative, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, an assessment of global vision impairment in 2020 and temporal change is needed. We aimed to extensively update estimates of global vision loss burden, presenting estimates for 2020, temporal change over three decades between 1990–2020, and forecasts for 2050. Methods We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based surveys of eye disease from January, 1980, to October, 2018. Only studies with samples representative of the population and with clearly defined visual acuity testing protocols were included. We fitted hierarchical models to estimate 2020 prevalence (with 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs]) of mild vision impairment (presenting visual acuity ≥6/18 and <6/12), moderate and severe vision impairment (<6/18 to 3/60), and blindness (<3/60 or less than 10° visual field around central fixation); and vision impairment from uncorrected presbyopia (presenting near vision

SUMMARYObjective: Determine incidence of posttraumatic seizure (PTS) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) among individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI requiring rehabilitation and surviving at least 5 years. Methods: Using the prospective TBI Model Systems National Database, we calculated PTS incidence during acute hospitalization, and at years 1, 2, and 5 postinjury in a continuously followed cohort enrolled from 1989 to 2000 (n = 795). Incidence rates were stratified by risk factors, and adjusted relative risk (RR) was calculated. Late PTS associations with immediate (<24 h), early (24 h-7 day), or late seizures (>7 day) versus no seizure prior to discharge from acute hospitalization was also examined. Results: PTS incidence during acute hospitalization was highest immediately (<24 h) post-TBI (8.9%). New onset PTS incidence was greatest between discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and year 1 (9.2%). Late PTS cumulative incidence from injury to year 1 was 11.9%, and reached 20.5% by year 5. Immediate/early PTS RR (2.04) was increased for those undergoing surgical evacuation procedures. Late PTS RR was significantly greater for individuals who self-identified as a race other than black/white (year 1 RR = 2.22), and for black individuals (year 5 RR = 3.02) versus white individuals. Late PTS was greater for individuals with subarachnoid hemorrhage (year 1 RR = 2.06) and individuals age 23-32 (year 5 RR = 2.43) and 33-44 (year 5 RR = 3.02). Late PTS RR years 1 and 5 was significantly higher for those undergoing surgical evacuation procedures (RR: 3.05 and 2.72, respectively).

Introduction/Purpose To determine the associations between medical, demographic, socioeconomic, and ocular factors and adherence to topical glaucoma ocular hypotensive therapy. Methods One-hundred and sixteen patients with ocular hypertension or open angle glaucoma from two tertiary glaucoma services participated in this prospective study. Adherence to ocular hypotensive therapy was measured using an electronic dose monitor (Travatan Dosing Aid, Alcon Laboratories Inc., Fort Worth, TX) and collected data at 3-months after enrollment. We used 3 different definitions of adherence: 1) Definition 1: the proportion of days taking the prescribed number of drops within 3 hours of the prescribed dosing time; 2) Definition 2: the proportion of days taking any drops within 3 hours of the prescribed dosing time; and 3) Definition 3: the proportion of days taking any drops within 6 hours of the prescribed dosing time. Univariate and multivariate models were used to determine the association between the three adherence definitions, medical, demographic, socioeconomic, and ocular factors at 3-month follow-up. The main outcome measures for this study were risk factors for poor objective medication adherence. Results Adherence, using Definition 1, Definition 2, and Definition 3, was 64%, 75%, and 80%, respectively. Age, total number of other eye diseases, and race were significantly associated with full treatment adherence (Definition 1), with race alone significantly predicting 11% of full treatment adherence. For Definition 2, age, income, level of education, and total number of eye diseases were significantly associated with partial adherence (3 hours), again race alone significantly predicted 15% of partial adherence (any drops within 3 hours). For Definition 3, race, income, level of education, and total number of other eye diseases significantly predicted partial adherence (any drops within 6 hours), both race and income predicted 19% of partial treatment adherence. Significant differences for adherence rates between patients of European descent and those of African descent were found for all three definitions with those who were less adherent more likely to be of African descent. Conclusions Electronic dose monitors provide important information regarding adherence to topical ocular hypotensive medications in glaucoma patients. Electronic dose monitors show low adherence in a significant number of participants. Future studies are needed to determine the reasons for these differences in health behaviors related to glaucoma treatment which should guide treatment of poor adherence with glaucoma therapy.

Purpose To examine the prevalence of persons at risk for depression among family caregivers of visually impaired persons and the extent to which social problem-solving abilities are associated with caregiver depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction. Methods Family caregivers were defined as adults who accompanied their adult relative to an appointment at a low-vision rehabilitation clinic and self-identified themselves as the primary family caregiver responsible for providing some form of assistance for their relative due to vision impairment. Demographic variables, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, caregiver burden, and social problem-solving abilities were assessed in caregivers. The patient’s visual acuity and depressive symptoms and their relationship to the caregiver’s depressive symptoms and life satisfaction were also examined. Results Ninety-six family caregivers were enrolled. Of those, 35.4% were identified as at risk for depression. Among caregivers, dysfunctional or ineffective social problem-solving abilities were significantly associated with greater depressive symptomatology and decreased life satisfaction after adjustment for caregiver burden and demographic and medical variables for both the caregiver and the visually impaired patient. Problem orientation or motivation to solving problems was also significantly associated with caregiver depression and satisfaction with life. Conclusions A substantial number of caregivers of visually impaired adults experience psychosocial distress, particularly among those who possess poor social problem-solving abilities. These results underscore the need for routine screening and treatment of emotional distress among individuals caring for relatives with vision impairments. Future research should examine the extent to which psychosocial interventions targeting caregiver social problem-solving skills may be useful not only in improving caregiver quality of life but also in subsequently enhancing rehabilitation outcomes for the visually impaired care recipient.

Objective To identify cognitive predictors of medical decision-making capacity (MDC) in participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at time of acute injury (baseline) and at six-month follow-up. Participants At baseline, participants were 34 adults with moderate to severe TBI and 20 healthy adults. At six-month follow-up, participants were 24 adults with moderate to severe TBI and 20 normal adults. Main Outcome Measures Participants were administered a consent capacity instrument (Capacity to Consent to Treatment Instrument: CCTI) and neuropsychological test measures. In the TBI group, univariate and multivariate cognitive predictor models were developed at baseline and six-month follow-up for clinically relevant CCTI consent abilities/standards (S) of understanding (S5); reasoning (S4); and appreciation (S3). Results At baseline, measures of short-term verbal memory and semantic fluency predicted TBI group performance on understanding (S5); short-term verbal memory and attention predicted performance on reasoning (S4); and working memory predicted performance on appreciation (S3). Regarding six-month follow-up models, measures of basic executive function, verbal processing speed, and working memory predicted TBI performance on understanding (S5); working memory and short-term memory predicted reasoning (S4); and basic executive functioning predicted appreciation (S3). Conclusions Multiple cognitive functions are associated with acute impairment and partial recovery of MDC in patients with moderate to severe TBI. Short-term verbal memory was strongly associated with impairments in consent capacity in TBI participants at the time of acute inpatient hospitalization. As patients experience cognitive and functional recovery post-hospitalization, executive functioning and working memory abilities were associated with improved capacity at six-month follow-up. The results offer insight into the relationship between different standards of competency and cognitive changes and recovery following acute TBI.

Objective-To determine the percentage of family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) with probable depression and to test the hypothesis that dysfunctional problem-solving abilities would be significantly predictive of risk status after taking into account important demographic characteristics and caregiver health.Design-Correlational and logistic regression analyses of data collected in a cross-sectional design.Participants-Eighteen men and 103 women caregivers (mean age of caregivers = 45.66 years, SD = 12.88) of individuals with SCI. Main Outcome Measure-The Inventory to Diagnose Depression.Results-Nineteen caregivers (15.7%) met criteria on the Inventory to Diagnose Depression for a major depressive disorder. A dysfunctional problem-solving style was significantly predictive of caregiver depression, regardless of the severity of physical impairment of the care recipient or the physical health of the caregiver and caregiver demographic variables.Conclusions-The percentage of caregivers with probable depressive disorder may parallel that observed among persons with SCI, using a more conservative self-report measure designed to assess symptoms associated with a depressive syndrome. Family caregivers with a dysfunctional problemsolving style and assisting individuals with more severe injuries may have probable depression. As a result of recent advances in medical technology, persons surviving a spinal cord injury (SCI) are living longer lives and often require varied degrees of assistance over their life span (DeVivo & Stover, 1995;Eisenberg & Saltz, 1991;Lasfargues, Custis, Carswell, & Nguyen, 1995). In response, family members often become the primary sources of assistance for various activities of daily living, such as feeding, dressing, transfers, and bowel and bladder care (Robinson-Whelen & Rintala, 2003;Weitzenkamp, Gerhart, Charlifue, Whiteneck, & Savic, 1997). However, caregivers enter into this new role without formal preparation or training . As a result, family caregivers of persons with severe disabilities encounter a host of problems, including role overload, lack of information, financial strain, impaired quality of life, changes in health status, and emotional problems Vitaliano, Zhang, & Scanlan, 2003). Caregiver depression has been consistently associated with poor quality of life and other adverse outcomes (Covinsky, Fortinsky, Palmer, Kresevic, & Landefeld, 1997;Han & Haley, 1999;Schulz & Beach, 1999).For many individuals, the traumatic onset of a severe physical disability may be experienced as an "off time," nonnormative life event (Neugarten, 1979) that abruptly interferes with the routine pursuit of normative personal, social, and vocational roles (Moen, Robison, & Dempster-McClain, 1995). Family caregivers of persons with SCI may experience a wide range of lifestyle and quality of life changes after assuming the role as primary caregiver (Boschen, Tonack, & Gargaro, 2005;Kolakowsky-Hayner & Kishore, 1999;Unalan et al., 2001). Although descriptive studies have found...