Ophthalmology

TabPFN ML model predicts concurrent dry eye among patients with refractive error

A TabPFN model trained on 114,579 outpatient records predicted concurrent dry eye in patients with refractive error with specificity 0.945 and accuracy 0.945. Longer refractive-error duration, older age, and female sex were associated with higher predicted risk. Model explanations used SHAP and partial dependence plots and an online calculator was deployed for clinical use. Applicability is to clinicians assessing dry eye risk in refractive-error patients, but external validation in other populations was not reported. 1

Smartphone app reduced same-day cataract surgery delays versus printed instructions

In 200 randomized patients (mean age 69), the Sharp Health Companion app reduced same-day surgery delays to 1% vs 10% (P=.01). Cancellation rates and 30-day visual outcomes were similar between groups. Self-reported adherence favored printed instructions, while objective antibiotic-drop adherence favored the app. The app may improve logistics and reduce delays in older adults undergoing cataract surgery. 2

Trabeculectomy slows monocular VF decline but does not change VFQ-25 over five years

In 453 adults with newly diagnosed advanced open-angle glaucoma, trabeculectomy reduced index-eye VF loss rate to -0.37 dB/year versus -0.75 dB/year with medical therapy (p=0.002). Differences in binocular integrated VF decline and VFQ-25 quality-of-life change were not statistically significant. Binocular VF correlated more strongly with QoL than monocular VF for both baseline and change measures. Clinicians should weigh the objective VF benefit of trabeculectomy against the lack of measured QoL change at five years. 3