Artificial intelligence holds promise for addressing the uneven distribution of medical resources across different regions. Compared with convolutional neural network models, foundation models offer significant advantages: on one hand, their pre-training does not rely on massive labeled data; on the other hand, they possess the capability to fuse multimodal images with clinical metadata. This review systematically searched PubMed and IEEE databases to select five representative foundation models for ophthalmology. We focus on analyzing their core architectural design strategies and diagnostic performance, while summarizing technical approaches for enhancing generalization capabilities and explainability across different models. Foundation models typically employ masked autoencoders techniques for self-supervised learning. This paradigm expands diagnostic coverage from common ophthalmic diseases to rare conditions and even systemic diseases. However, challenges persist: homogeneity in training data can lead to unstable performance, and more prospective trials are required to validate their efficacy in real clinical settings.

Malignant otitis externa (MOE), necrotizing otitis externa (NOE), or skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is a severe ear infection, primarily caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 5%–20% of cases due to fungal species. Fungal NOE affects immunocompromised patients. This study systematically reviews fungal NOE management, addressing: (1) when to suspect it and start treatment; (2) the most appropriate anti-fungal; (3) treatment duration. We searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase for English articles up to June 2024, supplemented by Google Scholar and manual reference checks. Using PRISMA, 516 articles were identified in which 387 were screened, 54 full texts reviewed, and 32 included after excluding duplicates and irrelevant studies. Fungal NOE is hard to diagnose. Suspect it with aggressive symptoms and sterile cultures unresponsive to antibiotics. Voriconazole is effective due to bone penetration. Treatment should be continued for > 12 weeks with multiple swabs, aural toileting, and thorough examinations.

Background: Specific facial changes are known to occur in microgravity. A higher lower eyelid position has been observed during short-term microgravity but has not been analyzed in astronauts during spaceflight.

Purpose: To describe the effect of spaceflight on lower eyelid position.

Method: Images of astronauts captured on Earth and in space were collected from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration online image library. For each astronaut, at least 6 front-facing portraits (at least 3 captured on Earth and at least 3 in space) were selected. Measurements from the center of the pupil to the lower eyelid margin (margin reflex distance 2 [MRD2]) were determined digitally for each image and compared between Earth and space images using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Additionally, per-astronaut pooled mean values were descriptively compared with reference values from parabolic flight.

Results: 115 photographs (52 Earth, 63 space) from 13 astronauts (12 men, 1 woman; mean age 46 ± 7 years, range 35–60) were retrieved from the database. Microgravity induced a mean MRD2 decrease of 1.0 mm (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Spaceflight led to a significant decrease in MRD2. These findings are comparable to those obtained from short-term microgravity experiments on parabolic flights. Further studies implementing standardized imaging techniques are needed to uncover the mechanism and health implications.

Background: Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and contact lenses are commonly used to correct refractive errors, but their effects on quality of life, patient satisfaction, and dry eye disease remain variable. This study compares these outcomes between LASIK and contact lens users.

Objective: This study aims to bridge the knowledge gaps by evaluating the effects of LASIK versus contact lenses on vision-related quality of life, patient satisfaction, and dry eye disease.

Methods: Our protocol was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42025636623). A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library) to find eligible articles. The primary outcome assessed was quality of life, while the secondary outcomes included the prevalence of dry eyes and patient satisfaction. A meta-analysis was conducted using R Statistical Software (version 2024.04.2 Build 764) and the “meta” package (version 7.0-0). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results: Of 1806 initial records, four studies met the inclusion criteria, enrolling 2141 participants, and were included in our meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed moderate improvement in quality of life for LASIK users (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.45; p < 0.0001), while patient satisfaction was notably higher in the LASIK group (88% vs. 54% for contact lenses). Complication rates were lower in LASIK patients (6.7% vs. 19.9% for contact lenses), although LASIK was associated with a higher incidence of acute dry eye disease.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that LASIK significantly enhances quality of life compared to contact lens use and yields markedly higher patient satisfaction. Moreover, LASIK was associated with lower overall complication rates, though it carried a greater risk of acute dry eye disease.

Background: Bilateral congenital cataracts are a major cause of preventable childhood blindness. Although delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS) has traditionally been the preferred approach, immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) is increasingly being considered to reduce anesthesia exposure and healthcare burden.

Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on four studies involving 224 patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect. Analysis was conducted on RevMan 5.4. Moreover, the risk of bias was assessed via RoB 2.0. The primary outcomes were operating room (OR) time, procedure time, anesthesia-related complications, number of follow-up visits, and incidence of postoperative glaucoma.

Results: ISBCS was associated with significantly shorter OR time compared with DSBCS (mean difference, −34.69 min; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in procedure time or anesthesia-related complications between groups. Postoperative glaucoma incidence was significantly lower in the ISBCS group (odds ratio, 0.34; p = 0.02). Follow-up visit burden was comparable between the two approaches.

Conclusion: In pediatric patients with bilateral congenital cataracts, ISBCS was associated with reduced OR time and a lower risk of postoperative glaucoma without increasing intraoperative risks. These findings support the consideration of ISBCS as a safe and effective surgical option in appropriately selected pediatric cases. However, these results should be considered with caution due to heterogeneity and lack of prospective cohort studies and further research in this field is warranted.

Background: Contact lenses (CLs) are increasingly used worldwide for refractive error correction because of their optical, cosmetic, and functional advantages over spectacles. However, although their safe and effective use depends on adequate knowledge and proper hygiene practices, there is limited evidence on contact lens-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among university students in Ghana.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to CL wear among students in selected schools at the College of Health Sciences (CHS), University of Ghana.

Method: A cross-sectional study among CHS students on the Korle Bu campus, University of Ghana, from April 21 to May 19, 2023. The sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, and education) of the participants were documented using a predesigned questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the data using SPSS version 26. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Data from 236 students were analyzed, with the majority (83.1%, 196) aged 18–24 years. Females made up 58.9% (139). The highest education level among participants was a university degree (171, 72.5%). A significant relationship was found between education level and overall acceptability of CLs (p = 0.007). Although 231 (97.9%) participants knew about CLs, only 5 (2.7%) actually used them. Overall understanding of proper contact lens care and usage was 26.8% (64). Spectacle wearers mainly hesitated to switch to CLs due to concerns about maintenance.

Conclusion: The overall knowledge of the proper care and usage of CLs was low (26.8%), and the prevalence in the study population was low (2.7%). Most individuals who wear glasses are reluctant to use CLs, mainly due to the extensive maintenance they require.

Background: Hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people globally, with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) linked to hypertension. Hypertension affects 1.39 billion people worldwide and its prevalence is rising sharply in Sub-Saharan Africa. While 12% of Tanzanian population has cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and recent studies showed 28% of adults from the northern parts have hypertension. However, data on SNHL in this population are scarce. This study examines SNHL prevalence and associated factors among hypertensive adults in Northern Tanzania.

Objective: This study aims to determine the magnitude, patterns and factors associated with SNHL among hypertensive adults at a tertiary hospital in northern Tanzania.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study involved 201 hypertensive adults attending Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center clinics from October 2023 to May 2024. Data on demographics, hypertension duration, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, ototoxic drug history, otoscopic findings, and SNHL by pure-tone audiometry were collected. Analysis was done using SPSS version 26, with logistic regression assessing risk factors for SNHL.

Results: SNHL prevalence was 23.9%. Risk factors included female gender, prolonged hypertension, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and ototoxic drug use.

Conclusion: SNHL, predominantly bilateral and mild, was common among hypertensive adults. Older age, female gender, long-standing hypertension, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and ototoxic drugs increased SNHL risk. Addressing modifiable risk factors may reduce SNHL prevalence.