College of Optometrists in Vision Development announces online release of its journal, Optometry & Vision Development (OVD), Volume 42 #3
Aurora, OH, Sept 15, 2011 – In this edition of the journal, Dr. Dominick M. Maino writes in his editorial, The Number of Placebo Controlled, Double Blind, Prospective, and Randomized Strabismus Surgery Outcome Clinical Trials: None!, that the science behind surgical intervention for strabismus may not be as solid as we would like to believe. He discusses several Cochrane Reviews of clinical trials involving strabismus surgery. These critical reviews assessed the outcomes of using adjustable versus non-adjustable sutures (No reliable conclusions could be reached), Botulinum toxin for the treatment of strabismus (high rate of complications), and interventions for intermittent exotropia (mainly retrospective case reviews which are difficult to interpret and analyze). Unfortunately there appears to be no placebo controlled, double blind, prospective, and randomized strabismus surgery outcome clinical trials that support a single best surgical methodology for best outcomes when using strabismus surgery as an intervention.
Optometry & Vision Development’s influence reaches far beyond the shores of the United States. Articles, not only from American authors and researchers but also from Nepal, Israel, Italy, and Puerto Rico, are featured as well. These articles include:
A paper by Teri Lawton, PhD (Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego), Improving Magnocellular Function in the Dorsal Stream Remediates Reading Deficits, gives data that suggest improving magnocellular function improves reading skills, as well as figure/ground discrimination, attention, and processing speed. Could this be a new way to treat reading problems in children?
Kenneth C. Koslowe OD, MS and his colleagues from the Haddassah Academic College Department of Optometry in Israel in their article, The Blink Frequency Relationship between Reading from a Computer Screen and Reading from a Printed Page, found that no significant difference was noted between blink rate when reading from computer screen as opposed to a printed page. This would indicate the theory that dry eye associated with computer work is not caused by excessive staring and a lower blink rate and that the height of the computer screen may be a more important concern.
Nepalese optometrist, Nabin Paudel and colleagues, assessed ocular manifestations in children with cerebral palsy in Nepal and found that refractive error, strabismus, nystagmus, and cortical visual impairment were frequently encountered in this population. Early diagnosis and management of these conditions in this population of children with disability is essential.
Continuing the international flavor of this issue, Italian researcher Alessio Facchin and his coworkers looked at the validity of the Developmental Eye Movement test (DEM) for Italian schoolchildren. They found that the test was indeed valid as a measure of reading eye movements in schoolchildren and that the test reveals the developmental nature of every aspect of the DEM, and their work will form the basis of the creation of normative values for childhood age groups in Italy.
Angel F. Romero Ayala, OD (Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry), presents a case report on how cataract surgery can result in serious eye movement disruption (Diagnosis of a Superior Rectus Overaction after Cataract Surgery). Dr. Romero notes that “Even with the low risk for complications with cataract extraction surgery, there are possible … complications [that include]… peribulbar hemorrhaging … perforation of the globe … optic nerve damage and extraocular muscle involvement… [as well as] …vitreous loss, wound burn, corneal complications, and chamber collapse. Other complications noted are thermal burns, pupillary block, iris complications, and … vitreous hydration, [and]…capsule block syndrome….” The good news is that for this patient, appropriate co-management resulted in no strabismus and sensory fusion in primary gaze.
This issue of Optometry & Vision Development also includes the annual report for COVD’s Tour de Optometry program, a review of the current eye and vision science literature, and practice management articles on social media and developing sensational office personnel.
Don’t miss reading a single page of Optometry & Vision Development by going to www.covd.org today.
About Optometry & Vision Development
Optometry & Vision Development (OVD) is a peer-reviewed open access journal indexed in the online Directory of Open Access Journals. The full text of these articles is available free from www.covd.org. OVD is an official publication of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Any questions may be addressed to the editor, Dominick M. Maino, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD-A at dmaino@ico.org or 312-949-7282.
About COVD
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is an international, non-profit optometric membership organization that provides education, evaluation, and board certification programs in behavioral and developmental vision care, optometric vision therapy, and visual rehabilitation. The organization is comprised of doctors of optometry, vision therapists, and other vision specialists. For more information on learning-related vision problems, optometric vision therapy, and COVD please visit www.covd.org or call 888.268.3770.
CONTACT:
Pamela R. Happ, CAE
COVD Executive Director
Phone: 888.268.3770
Email: phapp@covd.org
Website: www.covd.org
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