Week in Review: 3D System for Surgical Training, Amblyopia and Cardiometabolic Issues, Medicare Charges for Ophthalmic Services

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

A 3D heads-up system shows potential for vitreoretinal surgery training. A team of 10 experienced ophthalmologists and 10 clinical nurses at a Chinese academic hospital was assembled to teach 30 medical students, nurses, and ophthalmology trainees on both a 3D heads-up system and a traditional microscopic system for vitreoretinal surgery. After performing the surgeries, all participants were asked to assess their satisfaction with the 2 systems. Both the clinical teaching group and the trainee group gave higher overall satisfaction scores to the 3D system than to the traditional microscopic system. However, the residents and trainee ophthalmologists found instrument adjustments easier to make on the traditional microscopic system. BMC Medical Education

Childhood amblyopia may lead to cardiometabolic morbidity in middle age. Using data from 21,702 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank study, a cross-sectional analysis assessed whether having childhood amblyopia that persisted into adulthood increased the risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, angina). Based on eye examinations, 15% of the participants had confirmed amblyopia; 82% of that group were considered to have “persisting amblyopia” (visual acuity deficits despite childhood treatments). Those with persisting amblyopia had greater odds of having diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure than participants never diagnosed with amblyopia. Having any amblyopia also increased the risk of myocardial infarction. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these findings. eClinicalMedicine

Excess Medicare charges for ophthalmic services are lower than for other specialties, but continue to increase, according to a cross-sectional study that analyzed 2015–2020 charge-to-payment ratio data from a 100% final-action physician/supplier Part B Medicare fee-for-service population (N = 17,631 ophthalmologists). The median charge-to-payment ratio for ophthalmic procedures and consultations was 2.00 in 2015 and 2.23 in 2020, translating to a 2.76% average annual increase. However, this was lower than the median 2.5 charge-to-payment ratio for all medical specialties. Only small geographic/regional variations in charge-to-payment ratios were noted. Regarding their findings, the authors conclude that “Because excess charges may financially affect uninsured or out-of-network patients, this information could be important for healthcare policymakers.” Clinical Ophthalmology

Ocular injuries incurred during motor vehicle accidents may have lasting effects. A survey of 40 patients who presented to an Israeli level 1 trauma center with motor vehicle accident–associated ocular injuries found that the majority were male and young (median age 26.5 years). The most common injuries were fractures, particularly of the lateral orbit wall and the orbital roof. In the year following the accident, 70% of respondents had returned to driving and 63% had returned to work or studies. The authors recommend conducting additional studies to see if these findings are also seen in larger populations. International Ophthalmology