Cataract surgery is a transformative procedure, rapidly restoring vision and improving quality of life with minimal complications. This study evaluates the social return on investment (SROI) of bilateral cataract surgeries performed by different nonprofit organizations across Latin America. By analyzing the experiences of patients and caregivers –including increased autonomy, confidence, and reduced caregiving burdens – this research provides an estimate of the associated social and economic benefits of these interventions. The average SROI ratios under the baseline scenario are 12:1 for patients, 11:1 for caregivers, and 9:1 for patient-caregiver pairs. Sensitivity analysis reinforces these results, with SROI ratios ranging from 3:1 to 18:1 under various assumptions about outcome duration, discount rates, and valuation of time, among other scenarios. Reduced caregiving responsibilities may create conditions for young female caregivers to pursue economic activities, potentially enhancing labor force participation. These findings suggest that nonprofits may play an important part in addressing healthcare gaps and complementing public services, particularly in underserved regions. Furthermore, by helping to address healthcare access disparities and reduce economic burdens, nonprofit cataract surgeries may represent a promising approach to improving lives across Latin America. While the study focuses on seven nonprofit organizations and a specific intervention, its results demonstrate the potential for broader applications in nonprofit healthcare delivery. Lastly, the research highlights the importance of understanding and valuing both direct and indirect benefits of healthcare interventions.
PURPOSE:The objective of this study was to report optical coherence tomography angiography findings in syphilitic outer retinopathy, a singular clinical manifestation of ocular syphilis. METHODS:This was a case report. RESULTS:Multimodal imaging including optical coherence tomography angiography was performed in a patient presenting syphilitic outer retinopathy. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed multifocal areas of flow deficit at the choriocapillaris level at presentation, whereas no vascular abnormalities were observed at deep and superficial capillary plexuses. After a 1-year follow-up period, choriocapillaris flow showed an almost complete recovery. CONCLUSION:Syphilitic outer retinopathy represents a singular clinical manifestation of ocular syphilis. The almost complete recovery of initial ischemic changes at 1 year of follow-up suggests that this entity may have a good prognosis with timely and proper antibiotic treatment.
Background: Dry eye is common in older people and this condition is believed to be normal in young people.Objective: To evaluate abnormal dry eye test frequency in young population.Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on healthcare students (University of Chile) for the evaluation of dry eye disease (DED).Each student answered the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and underwent evaluation by the Schirmer test (with or without anaesthesia) and the tear Ferning test (TFT).Patients with normal DED results were further studied with tear break-up time (TBUT) and ocular surface staining.Five participants failed to complete the full assessment.Results: A total of 149 subjects (298 eyes) were enrolled in the study, of whom 64 (43.0%) were female.The mean age was 20.6 (SD 2.2) years and the OSDI was abnormal in 30.2% (n = 45) of the participants.Schirmer without anaesthesia and with anaesthesia were abnormal in 26.2% (n = 39) and 22.1% (n = 33), respectively.TFT had the highest abnormal results (71.8%; n = 107).Only 36 (24.2%) students had normal values in all tests.This subset of students was further assessed with TBUT and staining, finding abnormal results in 5.5% (2/36) and 0% (0/36), respectively.Overall, the frequency of students with at least one abnormal test was as high as 77.2% (115/149).However, the correlation between tests was poor.Conclusion: Abnormal DED diagnostic tests were found in a rather high percentage of students.Therefore, finding subjects with normal tests may be a major difficulty, even in a young population.
En el presente trabajo se realiza una breve exposición de las principales concepciones que se han ido generando acerca del fenómeno salud-enfermedad a lo largo de la historia, destacando sus características en cada período analizado, para posteriormente centrarnos en la sociedad actual y la mentalidad asociada los problemas de salud que presenta, así como en el marco legal internacional que sirve de referente para valorar la protección del derecho a la salud en el nuevo contexto, en el cual las enfermedades mentales y en particular las profesionales o del trabajo devienen predominantes, enfocándonos en una de ellas, el Síndrome de Burnout, y sus efectos.
Purpose To analyze the recovery course of foveal microstructures in eyes with nonsurgical healing of full-thickness macular hole (FTMH). Methods By serial OCT scans, the temporal healing sequences were analyzed in ocular trauma, vitreomacular traction (VMT), cystoid macular edema (CME), and the remaining group. We evaluated correlations between the final best-corrected spectacle visual acuity and reconstruction time of external limiting membrane (ELM), and inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS). Results The healing (mean±standard deviation in months) most involved fusion at the level of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) (6.3±10.5) followed by restoration of ELM (9.1±13.8), and lastly, by IS/OS regeneration (13.1±19.5). In severe blunt ocular trauma, healing was fast and involved subretinal zipper glue-like reapposition with resulting outer retinal atrophy. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity correlated with normalization of the clivus ( p =0.012), faster ELM ( p =0.006), and IS/OS reconstitution ( p =0.024). Recurrence of FTMH occurred when the healing was halted (3 eyes) or was aberrant by lamellar hole epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) (3 eyes) or by the persistence of VMT (1 eye). Conclusion Recovery sequences proceeded from the ONL to the deeper layers with BCVA correlating absolutely and temporally with the restoration of outer retinal layer integrity.
