AIM: To investigate the number of hypertensive patients, the optometrist is able to identify by routinely taking blood pressure(BP) measurements for patients in "at-risk" groups, and to sample patients’ opi...AIM: To investigate the number of hypertensive patients, the optometrist is able to identify by routinely taking blood pressure(BP) measurements for patients in "at-risk" groups, and to sample patients’ opinions regarding in-office BP measurement. Many of the optometrists in Saudi Arabia practice in optical stores.These stores are wide spread, easily accessible and seldom need appointments. The expanding role of the optometrist as a primary health care provider(PHCP) and the increasing global prevalence of hypertension,highlight the need for an integrated approach towards detecting and monitoring hypertension.METHODS: Automated BP measurements were made twice(during the same session) at five selected optometry practices using a validated BP monitor(Omron M6) to assess the number of patients with high BP(HBP)- in at-risk groups-visiting the eye clinic routinely. Prior to data collection, practitioners underwent a two-day training workshop by a cardiologist on hypertension and how to obtain accurate BP readings. A protocol for BP measurement was distributed and retained in all participating clinics. The general,,.,attitude towards cardiovascular health of 480 patients aged 37.2(±12.4)y and their opinion towards in-office BP measurement was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.RESULTS: A response rate of 83.6% was obtained for the survey. Ninety-three of the 443 patients(21.0%)tested for BP in this study had HBP. Of these,(62subjects) 67.7% were unaware of their HBP status. Thirty of the 105 subjects(28.6%) who had previously been diagnosed with HBP, still had HBP at the time of this study, and only 22(73.3%) of these patients were on medication. Also, only 25% of the diagnosed hypertensive patients owned a BP monitor.CONCLUSION: Taking BP measurements in optometry practices, we were able to identify one previously undiagnosed patient with HBP for every 8 adults tested.We also identified 30 of 105 previously diagnosed patients whose BP was poorly controlled, twenty-two of whom were on medication. The patients who participated in this study were positively disposed toward the routine measurement of BP by optometrists.展开更多
AIM： To examine the prevalence of dyslexia and Meares-Irlen syndrome（MIS） among female students and determine their level of visual stress in comparison with normal subjects.·METHODS： A random sample of 450 f...AIM： To examine the prevalence of dyslexia and Meares-Irlen syndrome（MIS） among female students and determine their level of visual stress in comparison with normal subjects.·METHODS： A random sample of 450 female medical students of King Saud University Riyadh（age range, 18-30y） responded to a wide range of questions designed to accomplish the aims of this study. The detailed questionnaire consisted of 54 questions with 12 questions enquiring on ocular history and demography of participants while 42 questions were on visual symptoms. Items were categorized into critical and non-critical questions（CQ and NCQ） and were rated on four point Likert scale. Based on the responses obtained, the subjects were grouped into normal（control）, dyslexic with or without MIS（Group 1） and subjects with MIS only（Group 2）. Responses were analysed as averages and mean scores were calculated and compared between groups using one way analysis of variance to evaluate total visual stress score（TVSS =NCQ ＋CQ）, critical and non-critical visual stress scores. The relationship between categorical variables such as age, handedness and condition were assessed with Chi-square test.·RESULTS： The completion rate was 97.6% and majority of the respondents（92%） were normal readers, 2%dyslexic and 6% had MIS. They were age-matched. More than half of the participants had visited an eye care practitioner in the last 2y. About 13% were recommendedeye exercises and one participant experienced pattern glare. Hand preference was not associated with any condition but Group 1 subjects（3/9, 33%） were significantly more likely to be diagnosed of lazy eye than Group 2（2/27, 7%） and control（27/414, 7%） subjects. The mean±SD of TVSS responses were 63±14 and it was 44±9for CQ and 19 ±5 for NCQ. Responses from all three variables were normally distributed but the CQ responses were on the average more positive（82%） in Group 2 and less positive（46%） in Group 1 than control. With NCQ,the responses were equally less positive in Group 1 and2 than control. Group 2 subjects showed significantly higher TVSS（P =0.002）, NCQ（P =0.006） and CQ（P =0.008）visual stress scores than control but no difference between Group 1 and control subjects, was observed for all scores（P 〉0.05, for all comparisons）.·CONCLUSION： The prevalence of dyslexia and MIS among Saudi female students was 2% and 6%,respectively. Critical questions performed best for assessing visual stress symptoms in dyslexic and MIS subjects. Generally, students with MIS were more sensitive to visual stress than normal students but dyslexics were more likely to present with a lazy eye than MIS and normal readers.展开更多
AIM: To assess the effects of eye rubbing on corneal thickness(CT) and intraocular pressure(IOP)measurements obtained 0-30 min after habitual eye rubbing in symptomatic patients.METHODS: Measurements of IOP and CT wer...AIM: To assess the effects of eye rubbing on corneal thickness(CT) and intraocular pressure(IOP)measurements obtained 0-30 min after habitual eye rubbing in symptomatic patients.METHODS: Measurements of IOP and CT were obtained at five locations(central, temporal, superior,nasal and inferior) before, and every 5min for 30 min interval after 30 s of eye rubbing, for 25 randomly selected eyes of 14 subjects with ocular allergy and 11age-matched normals. Differences in measurements were calculated in each group [Baseline measurements minus measurements recorded at each time interval after eye rubbing(for IOP), and for each corneal location(for CT)]and comparison were then made between groups(allergic versus control) for differences in any observed effects.RESULTS: Within groups, baseline mean IOPs in the allergic patient-group(14.2 ±3.0 mm Hg) and in the control group(13.1±1.9 mm Hg) were similar at all times,after eye rubbing(P 】0.05, for all). The maximum reduction in IOP was 0.8 mm Hg in the control subjects and the maximum increase was also 0.8 mm Hg in the allergic subjects. Between groups(allergic versus control), the changes in IOP remained under 1 mm Hg at all times(P =0.2) after 30 min of eye rubbing. Between 0and 30 min of CT measurements after eye rubbing, the mean central CT(CCT), inferior CT(ICT), superior CT(SCT), temporal CT(TCT) and nasal CT(NCT) did not vary significantly from baseline values in the control and allergic-subject groups(P 】0.05, for both). Between both groups, changes in CT were similar at all locations(P 】0.05)except for the TC which was minimally thinner by about4.4 μm(P =0.001) in the allergic subjects than in the control subjects, 30 min following 30 s of eye rubbing.CONCLUSION: IOP measured in allergic subjects after30 s of habitual eye rubbing was comparable with that obtained in normal subjects at all times between 0 and30 min. Although, CT in the allergic subjects were similar to those of the control subjects at all times, it varied between +10 and-7.5 μm following eye rubbing, with the temporal cornea showing consistent reductions in thickness in the subjects with allergy. However, this reduction was minimal and was considered to not be clinically relevant.展开更多
基金the Research Centre, College of Applied Medical Sciences and the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this research
文摘AIM: To investigate the number of hypertensive patients, the optometrist is able to identify by routinely taking blood pressure(BP) measurements for patients in "at-risk" groups, and to sample patients’ opinions regarding in-office BP measurement. Many of the optometrists in Saudi Arabia practice in optical stores.These stores are wide spread, easily accessible and seldom need appointments. The expanding role of the optometrist as a primary health care provider(PHCP) and the increasing global prevalence of hypertension,highlight the need for an integrated approach towards detecting and monitoring hypertension.METHODS: Automated BP measurements were made twice(during the same session) at five selected optometry practices using a validated BP monitor(Omron M6) to assess the number of patients with high BP(HBP)- in at-risk groups-visiting the eye clinic routinely. Prior to data collection, practitioners underwent a two-day training workshop by a cardiologist on hypertension and how to obtain accurate BP readings. A protocol for BP measurement was distributed and retained in all participating clinics. The general,,.,attitude towards cardiovascular health of 480 patients aged 37.2(±12.4)y and their opinion towards in-office BP measurement was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.RESULTS: A response rate of 83.6% was obtained for the survey. Ninety-three of the 443 patients(21.0%)tested for BP in this study had HBP. Of these,(62subjects) 67.7% were unaware of their HBP status. Thirty of the 105 subjects(28.6%) who had previously been diagnosed with HBP, still had HBP at the time of this study, and only 22(73.3%) of these patients were on medication. Also, only 25% of the diagnosed hypertensive patients owned a BP monitor.CONCLUSION: Taking BP measurements in optometry practices, we were able to identify one previously undiagnosed patient with HBP for every 8 adults tested.We also identified 30 of 105 previously diagnosed patients whose BP was poorly controlled, twenty-two of whom were on medication. The patients who participated in this study were positively disposed toward the routine measurement of BP by optometrists.
基金Supported by the Research Centre,College of Applied Medical Sciences and the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University
文摘AIM： To examine the prevalence of dyslexia and Meares-Irlen syndrome（MIS） among female students and determine their level of visual stress in comparison with normal subjects.·METHODS： A random sample of 450 female medical students of King Saud University Riyadh（age range, 18-30y） responded to a wide range of questions designed to accomplish the aims of this study. The detailed questionnaire consisted of 54 questions with 12 questions enquiring on ocular history and demography of participants while 42 questions were on visual symptoms. Items were categorized into critical and non-critical questions（CQ and NCQ） and were rated on four point Likert scale. Based on the responses obtained, the subjects were grouped into normal（control）, dyslexic with or without MIS（Group 1） and subjects with MIS only（Group 2）. Responses were analysed as averages and mean scores were calculated and compared between groups using one way analysis of variance to evaluate total visual stress score（TVSS =NCQ ＋CQ）, critical and non-critical visual stress scores. The relationship between categorical variables such as age, handedness and condition were assessed with Chi-square test.·RESULTS： The completion rate was 97.6% and majority of the respondents（92%） were normal readers, 2%dyslexic and 6% had MIS. They were age-matched. More than half of the participants had visited an eye care practitioner in the last 2y. About 13% were recommendedeye exercises and one participant experienced pattern glare. Hand preference was not associated with any condition but Group 1 subjects（3/9, 33%） were significantly more likely to be diagnosed of lazy eye than Group 2（2/27, 7%） and control（27/414, 7%） subjects. The mean±SD of TVSS responses were 63±14 and it was 44±9for CQ and 19 ±5 for NCQ. Responses from all three variables were normally distributed but the CQ responses were on the average more positive（82%） in Group 2 and less positive（46%） in Group 1 than control. With NCQ,the responses were equally less positive in Group 1 and2 than control. Group 2 subjects showed significantly higher TVSS（P =0.002）, NCQ（P =0.006） and CQ（P =0.008）visual stress scores than control but no difference between Group 1 and control subjects, was observed for all scores（P 〉0.05, for all comparisons）.·CONCLUSION： The prevalence of dyslexia and MIS among Saudi female students was 2% and 6%,respectively. Critical questions performed best for assessing visual stress symptoms in dyslexic and MIS subjects. Generally, students with MIS were more sensitive to visual stress than normal students but dyslexics were more likely to present with a lazy eye than MIS and normal readers.
基金Research Centre,College of Applied Medical Sciences and the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this research
文摘AIM: To assess the effects of eye rubbing on corneal thickness(CT) and intraocular pressure(IOP)measurements obtained 0-30 min after habitual eye rubbing in symptomatic patients.METHODS: Measurements of IOP and CT were obtained at five locations(central, temporal, superior,nasal and inferior) before, and every 5min for 30 min interval after 30 s of eye rubbing, for 25 randomly selected eyes of 14 subjects with ocular allergy and 11age-matched normals. Differences in measurements were calculated in each group [Baseline measurements minus measurements recorded at each time interval after eye rubbing(for IOP), and for each corneal location(for CT)]and comparison were then made between groups(allergic versus control) for differences in any observed effects.RESULTS: Within groups, baseline mean IOPs in the allergic patient-group(14.2 ±3.0 mm Hg) and in the control group(13.1±1.9 mm Hg) were similar at all times,after eye rubbing(P 】0.05, for all). The maximum reduction in IOP was 0.8 mm Hg in the control subjects and the maximum increase was also 0.8 mm Hg in the allergic subjects. Between groups(allergic versus control), the changes in IOP remained under 1 mm Hg at all times(P =0.2) after 30 min of eye rubbing. Between 0and 30 min of CT measurements after eye rubbing, the mean central CT(CCT), inferior CT(ICT), superior CT(SCT), temporal CT(TCT) and nasal CT(NCT) did not vary significantly from baseline values in the control and allergic-subject groups(P 】0.05, for both). Between both groups, changes in CT were similar at all locations(P 】0.05)except for the TC which was minimally thinner by about4.4 μm(P =0.001) in the allergic subjects than in the control subjects, 30 min following 30 s of eye rubbing.CONCLUSION: IOP measured in allergic subjects after30 s of habitual eye rubbing was comparable with that obtained in normal subjects at all times between 0 and30 min. Although, CT in the allergic subjects were similar to those of the control subjects at all times, it varied between +10 and-7.5 μm following eye rubbing, with the temporal cornea showing consistent reductions in thickness in the subjects with allergy. However, this reduction was minimal and was considered to not be clinically relevant.
