An Initiative to Improve Follow-up of Patients with Glaucoma

Purpose

This study describes the implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR)-based initiative aimed at reducing the number of patients with glaucoma-related diagnoses lost to follow-up (LTF) and reviews its short-term outcomes.

Design

Retrospective, comparative case series.

Participants

Patients with glaucoma-related diagnoses seen 1 year prior at the Lahey Medical Center and who had not returned within the 6-month period between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, which spanned the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States.

Methods

An EMR-based tool was designed to identify patients suspected of being LTF with glaucoma-related diagnoses. Providers were enlisted to review the EMR for each of these patients and re-engage them, as appropriate. One month later, the initiative was evaluated by means of a retrospective chart review. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify demographic, clinical, and sociomedical factors associated with being LTF.

Main Outcome Measures

Patients who completed a telemedicine or in-person appointment, or had a future scheduled or ordered return appointment, were considered re-engaged.

Results

Of the 3551 patients seen during the study period, 384 patients were identified as LTF (11%), with 60 identifying COVID-19 as the reason for canceling their visit (16%). Patients who lived farther from the eye clinic (P < 0.001) or who had a history of canceling or missing an appointment (P < 0.001) were more likely to be LTF. Patients with open-angle glaucoma (P = 0.042) or who had completed a visual field (P < 0.001) or ophthalmic imaging (P < 0.001) within the past year were less likely to be LTF. One month after the re-engagement initiative, 124 LTF patients (32%) had been re-engaged (40% through telemedicine), 238 patients (62%) had future scheduling orders in place, and 22 patients (6%) had no active plan for future follow-up.

Conclusions

An EMR-based tool is an effective method for identifying patients at risk of being LTF and provides an opportunity for providers to recall and re-engage patients. Use of telemedicine to recontact LTF patients shows promise of improving the management of glaucoma, enhancing clinical productivity, and documenting treatment plans, thereby potentially reducing medicolegal liability.

Anterior-segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography in epidermolysis bullosa

PURPOSE

Assess epidermolysis bullosa (EB)-related corneal pathology using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and correlate imaging with clinical metrics in EB patients versus age-matched controls.

METHODS

EB patients and controls were recruited during an EB conference (July 2018) and at Tufts Medical Center (June-August 2019). Subjects completed a questionnaire, had best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) tested, and underwent AS-OCT scanning. Stromal and epithelial thickness were measured. Depth, length, and type of the three largest lesions were assessed by a masked examiner using a novel pathology grading system. Multivariate analysis of AS-OCT findings and clinical metrics was performed.

RESULTS

62 EB patients and 60 age-matched controls were enrolled. Mean BCVA was 1.8 lines worse in patients (p < 0.001). Vision loss was associated with increased stromal thickness. Discrete lesions were seen in 60.2% of patient eyes, averaging 1.71 ± 1.75 lesions in patients and 0.14 ± 0.42 in controls (p < 0.001). Mean primary lesion depth was 151.88 ± 97.49 μm in patients. Patients showed significant stromal thickening versus controls and lesions were most common in the periphery and inferiorly. Differences in frequency and duration of abrasions and severity of pain were all statistically and clinically significant in patients versus controls (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

AS-OCT can visualize and quantify differences in the corneas of EB patients compared with age-matched controls. Novel findings include quantification of average depth, length, and severity of discrete lesions, and sparing of the superior quadrant from stromal thickening in EB patients. These results support use of AS-OCT and a questionnaire in clinical trials for new EB therapies.

Culture-Negative C acnes Endophthalmitis Following Implantation of a Phakic Implantable Collamer Lens

Purpose:

This work describes a case of Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) endophthalmitis following a posterior-chamber, phakic, Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery.

Methods:

A 34-year-old previously healthy woman presented with chronic unilateral iritis 8 months after bilateral ICL surgery. Original testing revealed no cause for the iritis with normal culture, serology, and autoimmune testing results.

Results:

Follow-up revealed C acnes by polymerase chain reaction on vitrectomy samples. Complete resolution of symptoms was achieved following removal of the implant, lensectomy, and intravitreal antibiotics.

Conclusions:

We believe this is the first reported case of postphakic ICL C acnes endophthalmitis. It highlights the utility of polymerase chain reaction in cases of chronic uveitis.