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weekly e-journal by Art Epstein, OD, FAAO
Off the Cuff: Customer Service vs. Disservice: A Tale of Diametric Opposites
Many of you followed our journey to South Africa this past summer. During one of the most amazing and inspirational travel experiences of our lives, Shannon and I made friends, connected with colleagues and saw nature and the world differently than ever before. We also learned how powerful both good and bad customer service can be in shaping an overall experience. As soon as I discovered the error, I called Amex travel. I was connected to Lauren, a pleasant and efficient young lady who shared that she loved her job and would be happy to help straighten out BA’s error. She placed me on hold and cautioned it might take a while. It did. Forty-five minutes later, a clearly flustered, but still pleasant, Lauren apologized for the delay. She had spoken to five different BA agents, and only the very last one was willing to help fix what was their mistake in the first place. The problem was she would have to rebook our entire return. She assured me that she would take care of it first thing in the morning and wished me a pleasant Saturday night.
While American Express is known for exceptional customer service, this was so far above the norm, I recognized it as a true learning moment, one that I've shared with my staff many times since. No extreme is too great to make things right or to take good care of a patient. I can tell you that attitude has made a difference in our practice. A sincere thank-you to American Express and especially to Lauren for making things right and reminding me how important it is to go above and beyond. As for British Airways, next time, I'll walk.
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Myopia Growth Chart Based on a Population-based Survey | ||||
This study included 7,695 Korean participants, ages 5 to 20 years, from a population-based health survey (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-V) to introduce a novel myopia growth chart, based on a population-based survey for the prediction of myopic progression. The authors collected spherical equivalent (SE) data converted from non-cycloplegic refraction data. To create a myopia growth chart, data were arranged in the order of SE from hyperopia to myopia to acquire specific percentiles of the SE by age. Myopia progression rates were calculated between two specific ages in each percentile.
The mean age of the participants was 11.8 years, and the mean SE was -1.82D. The SE of the 10th percentile was +0.72D for participants age 5, and -0.25D for those age 20, resulting in a total change in refraction of -0.97D. In contrast, the SE of the 90th percentile was -0.75D for participants age 5, and -6.73 D for those age 20, showing myopia progression of -5.98D. The myopia progression rate from 5 to 20 years of age was estimated as -0.06D, -0.15D and -0.40D/year in the 10th, 50th and 90th percentile groups, respectively. Researchers suggested that the myopia growth chart might be used to diagnose the severity or estimate the progression of myopia. A patient in a higher percentile of myopia for his or her age might have myopia progressing at a faster rate and, thus, require close observation. |
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SOURCE: Kim DH, Lim HT. Myopia growth chart based on a population-based survey (KNHANES IV-V): a novel prediction model of myopic progression in childhood. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018; Oct 26. [Epub ahead of print]. |
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The Underestimated Role of Refractive Error and Strabismus in Children With ADHD | ||||
This study examined the association of refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) and strabismus with ADHD. Based on data from the large, representative, epidemiological sample of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) study (n=13,488), the associations of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and strabismus with ADHD were examined, with and without consideration of other common ADHD risk factors.
In single logistic regression models, all examined forms of refractive error and strabismus showed an association with ADHD. After controlling for confounding variables, results remained stable and showed an increased risk for ADHD in children with hyperopia, astigmatism and strabismus compared with the control group. Only the association between myopia and ADHD in children was not significant. Investigators wrote that hyperopia, astigmatism and strabismus seemed to be independently associated with ADHD. They added that health care professionals in different medical fields should consider this association to adequately diagnose and treat affected children. |
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SOURCE: Reimelt C, Wolff N, Hölling H, et al. The underestimated role of refractive error (hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism) and strabismus in children with ADHD. J Atten Disord 2018; Oct 29. [Epub ahead of print]. |
Anterior Segment Scheimpflug Imaging for Detecting Primary-angle Closure Disease | ||||
This study evaluated the capability of anterior segment Scheimpflug imaging for detecting primary angle closure disease (PACD): primary angle closure suspect, primary angle closure and primary angle closure glaucoma, using cutoff points derived from reference databases of healthy subjects. Eighty-seven patients with PACD and 49 age-matched control subjects were included. Researchers evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV) and anterior chamber angle (ACA) to differentiate patients with PACD from controls. Additionally, the study's raw data was analyzed via receiver operating characteristic curves for comparison.
One standard deviation from the normative data's mean values was used as the cutoff point and yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 96.2% and 92.6% for ACD, 97.1% and 75.9% for ACV, and 93.3% and 72.2% for ACA, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the raw data showed the area under the curve to be 0.984, 0.975 and 0.931 for ACD, ACV and ACA, respectively. Researchers found that the study demonstrated that the parameters of anterior segment Scheimpflug imaging, particularly ACD, accurately discriminated PACD. This was the first study to validate the device's normative data in a separate population. Researchers wrote that anterior segment Scheimpflug imaging was a potentially powerful screening tool for PACD, with its high reproducibility, ease of use, non-invasiveness and speed. |
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SOURCE: Winegarner A, Miki A, Kumoi M, et al. Anterior segment Scheimpflug imaging for detecting primary angle closure disease. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2018; Oct 30. [Epub ahead of print]. |
News & Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnson & Johnson Vision to Showcase New Data and Interactive Experiences at
2018 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting
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STAIRWAY Study Shows Potential for Extended Durability With Faricimab in Wet AMD Genentech announced positive results from the Phase II STAIRWAY study, which explored the extended durability of faricimab (RG7716) in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. At 52 weeks, faricimab subjects dosed either every 16 weeks or every 12 weeks demonstrated sustained vision outcomes comparable with ranibizumab dosed every four weeks. Results of the study were presented as an oral presentation during the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting in Chicago. Read more. |
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