Compensatory Cross-Modal Plasticity Persists After Sight Restoration

Background: Diseases affecting the cornea constitute a major cause of blindness. Corneal transplantation offers the potential for sight restoration. Due to non-availability of healthy cornea, many people continue to live in a dark world.Objectives: To assess the awareness and perception of undergraduate medical students towards eye donation.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of Kolkata on August 2010 using a pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Epi-info software package version 6.04.Results: Almost all (98.9%) participants knew that eyes can be donated and 70.8% were aware at the time of eye collection. However, only 43.7% respondents knew whom to approach for pledging their eyes for donation; 80.7% were either willing (76.0%) or had already pledged (4.7%) to donate their eyes. Television was the major source (78.1%) of information on eye donation. Nobility was the main motivation (87.7%) and 75.5% felt the need for helping the blind. Of these medical students, 19.3% were unaware and did not pledge eye donation due to objection by family members and dislike of the idea of separating their eyes.Conclusion: The present study revealed that medical students were well aware of eye donation with a favorable attitude towards it and most of them were inclined to pledge for eye donation. The perceived reasons for not donating eyes need to be considered while creating awareness about eye donation in the community. Students can be actively involved as volunteers in eye donation campaigns and after proper training in counselling techniques, they can act as counsellors for eye donation activities.

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Motion processing after sight restoration: No competition between visual recovery and auditory compensation

NeuroImage ◽

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.050 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 167 ◽

pp. 284-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Davide Bottari ◽

Ramesh Kekunnaya ◽

Marlene Hense ◽

Nikolaus F. Troje ◽

Suddha Sourav ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motion Processing ◽

Visual Recovery ◽

Sight Restoration

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A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of palliative care patients’ views on corneal donation and the timing of its discussion

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216318784210 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (8) ◽

pp. 1428-1437

Author(s):

Lucy Walker ◽

Karen Neoh ◽

Hazel Gilkes ◽

Clare Rayment

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Corneal Transplantation ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Illness Trajectory ◽

Face To Face ◽

Donor Shortage ◽

Corneal Donation ◽

Sight Restoration

Background: Corneal transplantation can lead to sight restoration, but globally there is a donor shortage. Many palliative care patients can donate their corneas but think they are ineligible due to comorbidities. Healthcare professionals are reluctant to broach the topic, but studies have shown that relatives would be upset if they were not offered this chance. There is no existing research involving patients. Aim: To understand the views and feelings of patients in palliative care settings towards corneal donation and explore their opinions regarding the timing of its discussion. Design: This is an exploratory study based at one UK palliative care unit. A census sampling method was used. Nine participants took part in semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: Themes found included altruistic motivation and the value of sight. Family views were important, but the influence on final decisions varied. The timing of discussion relative to the illness trajectory was important; patients want to be able to engage fully in conversations and had concerns about not being able to think clearly when closer to death. Participants also associated discussion of donation as an indication of a poor prognosis. Patients prefer face-to-face discussions with someone whom they had a close rapport. Many had misconceptions about eligibility. Conclusion: This is the first study to engage directly with palliative care patients and to establish their views on the timing of corneal donation discussions. Patients are willing to discuss donation, and further exploration of patient views in this area should be undertaken.

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Learning to see again: biological constraints on cortical plasticity and the implications for sight restoration technologies

Journal of Neural Engineering ◽

10.1088/1741-2552/aa795e ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 051003 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Michael Beyeler ◽

Ariel Rokem ◽

Geoffrey M Boynton ◽

Ione Fine

Keyword(s):

Cortical Plasticity ◽

Biological Constraints ◽

Sight Restoration

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Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness towards Corneal Donation in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

10.5742/mewfm.2021.94162 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Amri ◽

Faisal Misfer Alqahtani ◽

Hassan Abdullah Alqahtani ◽

Mansour Salem Alqahtani ◽

Mohammed Moshabbab Alqahtani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Corneal Transplantation ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Corneal Dystrophy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Corneal Transplants ◽

Level Of Knowledge ◽

Corneal Donation ◽

Sight Restoration

Background: Corneal transplantation is the mainstay procedure performed for sight restoration in patients with corneal blindness, which can be caused by infection, corneal dystrophy, degenerative disorders such as keratoconus or traumatic causes. Most corneal transplants in Saudi Arabia are performed using imported corneas. Aims: To determine the level of knowledge and awareness and the factors affecting corneal donation in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used targeting the population of Aseer region aged 18 years and above. The data were collected using electronic self-administered questionnaire. The tool covered the participants’ biodemographic data, knowledge related questions and willingness of corneal donation and factors affecting such attitudes. Results: Of the 641 participants, 66.1% were males, 47.6% were in the age group 20 – 30 years and 19.2% claimed to have enough knowledge about corneal donation. The mean knowledge score (SD) was 2.13 (1.757) out of 8. Regarding participants’ attitude, 26.7% were willing to donate their own cornea. The willingness was significantly associated with good level of knowledge (p = 0.008). Females were more inclined to donate their corneas than males (30.9% vs 24.5%, p = 0.025). Conclusion: The study revealed a low level of knowledge of corneal donation in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Approximately one quarter of the participants reported willingness of corneal donation. Lack of knowledge was the main barrier, as it was reported by almost two thirds. Key words: Cornea, Donation, Awareness, Penetrating Keratoplasty, Saudi Arabia

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Behavioral and neurophysiological correlates of sight restoration after longstanding visual deprivation

Multisensory Research ◽

10.1163/22134808-000s0051 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (1-2) ◽

pp. 75-76

Author(s):

Giulia Dormal ◽

Olivier Collignon ◽

Mona Harissi-Dagher ◽

Armando Bertone ◽

Alan Tucholska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Deprivation ◽

Sight Restoration

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Popular beliefs regarding the treatment of senile cataract

Revista de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/s0034-89102002000300014 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 343-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Edméa Rita Temporini ◽

Newton Kara Junior ◽

Newton Kara José ◽

Nilo Holzchuh

Keyword(s):

Senile Cataract ◽

Health Programs ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

God's Will ◽

Community Health Programs ◽

The Subject ◽

Sight Restoration ◽

Probabilistic Sample ◽

Interview Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To identify popular beliefs regarding the treatment of senile cataract in patients enrolled in the community health programs on eye rehabilitation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using an interview questionnaire that was applied to 776 subjects drawn from a non-probabilistic sample in five cities of the state of São Paulo. The sample was made up of 47.2% males and 52.8% females, aged 50 to 96 years (average age 71.6 years). RESULTS: Of the total of subjects studied, 41.9% had never attended school, and 78.5% were no longer in the employment market. Most (85.1%) credited the sight restoration to cataract surgery. Among those unconvinced, 47.4% asserted that sight restoration depended only on God's will. A greater proportion of women than men (p 0.0000) believed in the association of cataract and menopause, maternity, and menstrual periods and they admitted using herbal and rose teas for treating cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Misbeliefs related to the causes and treatment of senile cataract were identified, most probably of sociocultural basis, indicating the need of education on the subject.

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