Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C A Webers

Publications and source records attributed to C A Webers.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Determinants of patient satisfaction after cataract surgery in 3 settings.

PURPOSE: To analyze the determinants of satisfaction and postoperative visual function after cataract surgery in 3 settings in The Netherlands. SETTING: University Hospital Maastricht (outpatient care), Atrium Medical Center Heerlen (inpatient care), and Medical Center Maastricht Annadal (outpatient care), Maastricht, The Netherlands. METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 150 patients of 50 years and older who had first-eye phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Data were collected by a written questionnaire. The following parameters were measured: medical outcome, postoperative function, patient satisfaction with medical outcome and hospital care, and overall patient satisfaction. RESULTS: In general, patients were very satisfied (mean score 8.43 on a 10-point scale ranging from 1 = very bad to 10 = excellent). The 3 centers did not differ regarding the patient satisfaction (P =.092). However, postoperative visual function (P =.012), counseling (P =.010), and waiting time (P <.001) were different among the settings. Patient satisfaction with hospital care had a stronger correlation with overall satisfaction than patient satisfaction with the medical outcome (r = 0.669 versus r = 0.543, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A causal model of patient satisfaction was tested, indicating that satisfaction was related to the patient's preoperative expectations and the quality of care given during the hospital stay and follow-up at the outpatient clinic. This emphasizes the relevance of patient education (to set realistic expectations) and counseling (need for care) by hospital staff in a cataract surgery setting.

Aged↗

Phacotrabeculectomy.

The outcome of combined same-site phacoemulsification, posterior chamber lens implantation and trabeculectomy was retrospectively studied in patients with cataract and moderately controlled glaucoma, with a follow-up of at least 6 months. Primary phacotrabeculectomy without antimetabolites was performed in 74 patients. Mean IOP decreased from 22.8 to 14.3 mm Hg (35.3%). A maximum IOP of 19 mm Hg without glaucoma medication was reached in 66.2%. Mean logMAR visual acuity increased from 0.58 to 0.30. Primary phacotrabeculectomy has been shown to be a safe and effective procedure with good IOP control and rapid visual rehabilitation.

Aged↗

Non-invasive assessment of ocular pharmacokinetics using Confocal Raman Spectroscopy.

A Laser Scanning Confocal Raman Spectroscopy (LSCRS) system was applied for the non-invasive quantification of the transport of a drug through the rabbit cornea in vivo. Employing LSCRS, the changes in the amplitude of a drug-specific Raman signal were assessed over time in the tearfilm and corneal epithelium of the living rabbit eye (n = 6), after topical application of 25 microL Trusopt 2%. This allowed for quantification of pharmacokinetic variables. The effect of the drug on corneal hydration was also monitored. LSCRS demonstrated adequate sensitivity and reproducibility, for continuous real-time monitoring of the Trusopt concentration. Each concentration-time curve had a bi-phasic trend; the rapid initial phase (t<8 min.) corresponds to the nonproductive losses of Trusopt from the tears (k10 = 0.24+/-0.04 min(-1), and the slower later phase (t>20 min.) is the result of transfer of the drug from the corneal epithelium to the stroma (k23 = 0.0047+/-0.0004 min(-1). Drug absorption into the corneal epithelium occurred at a rate of k12 = 0.034+/-0.006 min(-1). Trusopt caused an acute dehydrating effect, with a maximum decrease in corneal hydration of approximately 15% at approximately 60 min. following application of the drug. LSCRS has the specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and spatial resolution for employment as a potentially valuable tool for the study of ocular pharmacokinetics.

Animals↗

Mitomycin C primary trabeculectomy in primary glaucoma of white patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of eyes which underwent primary trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C (MMC) for primary glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of 25 eyes in 23 patients who underwent primary trabeculectomy with MMC for primary glaucoma was performed. Clinical outcome measures including postoperative intraocular pressure, change in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) visual acuity, and incidence of complications were measured up to 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 26.0 +/- 4.4 mmHg preoperatively to 12.5 +/- 3.9 mmHg (p < 0.0001) 1 year postoperatively. The mean LogMAR visual acuity changed from 0.23 +/- 0.19 preoperatively to 0.23 +/- 0.20 1 year postoperatively (p = 1.0). One eye developed a temporary hypotonous maculopathy and 4 eyes progressed in cataract formation. CONCLUSION: Primary trabeculectomy with MMC in eyes with primary glaucoma showed excellent pressure reduction. There were no cases of persistent hypotonous maculopathy or bleb endophthalmitis.

Antimetabolites↗

Hyperhomocysteinemia in retinal artery and retinal vein occlusion.

In 19 patients who had retinal vein occlusion or retinal artery occlusion before the age of 50 years, the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia, as observed in heterozygosity for homocystinuria, was studied by the performance of a standardized, oral methionine-loading test. In four of the 19 patients (21%), two with retinal artery occlusion and two with central retinal vein occlusion, the after-load peak levels of homocysteine exceeded the mean level, established in normal control subjects, by more than two standard deviations and were as well within the ranges established in obligate heterozygotes for homocystinuria. Because the frequency of heterozygosity for homocystinuria in the normal population is one in 70 (1.4%) at the most, we conclude that hyperhomocysteinemia predisposes to the development of premature retinal artery and retinal vein occlusion (P < .01; chi 2 test).

Adult↗