6 JAMA resources for ophthalmologists to share with patients

Patients frequently ask about cataracts, the benefits and risks of lower blepharoplasty, and other ophthalmology concerns. Here’s a resource from the JAMA Network to help guide those conversations.

The JAMA Network® has published Patient Pages since 1998 to distill high-quality evidence and make it more accessible for patient education and help guide patient decisions. Patient Pages provide a definition of the condition or issue, along with symptoms, consequences, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. These resources, illustrated by JAMA medical illustrators, are always freely accessible online.

As part of a series of news articles curating these outstanding resources, the AMA is highlighting recently published Patient Page resources of relevance to various physician specialties. This article highlights some resources relevant to ophthalmology.

AMA members can explore a range of peer-reviewed research and clinical information published by the JAMA Network, which brings JAMA^® together with JAMA Network Open and 11 specialty journals. Published continuously since 1883, JAMA is one of the most widely circulated, peer-reviewed, general medical journals in the world. If you are a member or interested in becoming one, learn how to access these educational materials and innovative tools. 

1. “What Are Cataracts?”

   1. This JAMA Patient Page describes cataracts, their risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
   2. From the Patient Page: “Progressive clouding of the natural lens of the eye is called a cataract.
   3. “Worldwide, cataracts were responsible for approximately 15 million cases of blindness and 79 million cases of moderate to severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or older in 2020. In the U.S., the number of people with cataracts is expected to increase to 50 million by 2050.”
   4. This article covers the major risk factors, symptoms, how cataracts are diagnosed and managed, when surgery should be considered, and follow-up care and prognosis.

2. “What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?”

   1. This JAMA Patient Page describes age-related macular degeneration development and progression; symptoms and risk factors; and diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.
   2. From the Patient Page: “Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes severe vision impairment in older adults.”
   3. It affects about 20 million individuals in the U.S. and 196 million people worldwide. Although it “does not typically cause complete vision loss, it accounts for 6% to 9% of legal blindness globally. Patients with late-stage AMD may lose their ability to drive, read and recognize faces.”
   4. The page also describes how AMD develops and progresses, its symptoms and risk factors, and how it is diagnosed, monitored and treated.

3. “What Is Glaucoma?”

   1. This JAMA Patient Page describes the eye disease glaucoma, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
   2. From the Patient Page: “Glaucoma is an eye disease that can cause blindness.” It is a “chronic, progressive disease involving damage to nerve fibers in the eye and the optic nerve, which transmits visual signals to the brain. Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting about 3 million people in the U.S.”
   3. It covers who is at increased risk for glaucoma, its common types and their symptoms, who should be screened for it, how often it causes blindness and how it is diagnosed and treated.

4. “What Is Strabismus?”

   1. This JAMA Patient Page describes the eye condition of strabismus, its signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
   2. From the Patient Page: “Strabismus is a condition involving misalignment of the eyes.
   3. “Strabismus may cause an affected eye to cross inward or outward or, less commonly, to turn up or down. Strabismus is most commonly diagnosed in children but can occur at any age. Worldwide, strabismus affects approximately one in 50 individuals. In addition to causing problems with vision, strabismus has been associated with social anxiety and low self-esteem in both children and adults.”
   4. The article examines the signs and symptoms of strabismus in children and adults, what causes it, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated.

5. “Lower Blepharoplasty”

   1. This JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery Patient Page describes the risks and benefits of lower blepharoplasty, or “the surgical removal and/or repositioning of redundant skin, fat and muscle of the lower eyelid and undereye area.”
   2. From the Patient Page: “The eyes and surrounding area are an important part of facial appearance. They are also one of the first areas to show signs of aging. This is due to a combination of facial bone aging, use of the eye muscles, sun exposure and genetics. Patients might notice their eyes look tired, puffy or droopy. Lower blepharoplasty can improve this appearance for certain people.”
   3. It explains whether lower blepharoplasty is right for a patient, how it is performed, the risks of surgery and what to expect during recovery.

6. “Safe Viewing of Solar Eclipses”

   1. This JAMA Patient Page describes solar eclipses and how to view them safely. From the Patient Page: “A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the view of the sun for people in a narrow path across the earth’s surface. In a partial solar eclipse, the moon only partially blocks the sun, so it can be observed an area that is thousands of kilometers wide.”
   2. The article explains the dangers of watching a solar eclipse, the safe ways to watch one, and what to do if vision loss follows viewing a solar eclipse.

In addition to the Patient Page feature, here are other ways physicians can leverage resources from the JAMA Network to help them in their clinical practice:

• Take CME courses and earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
• Fulfill maintenance of licensure (MOL) and CME requirements on JN Learning™, the home for all JAMA Network CME.
• Read concise summaries of clinical guidelines and recommendations in a format designed for today’s busy physicians.

The subscription cost of JAMA is included with your AMA membership, plus unlimited digital access to all JAMA Network journals, including JAMA Ophthalmology and these other journals: JAMA Cardiology, JAMA Dermatology, JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Network Open, JAMA Neurology, JAMA Oncology, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, JAMA Pediatrics, JAMA Psychiatry and JAMA Surgery.

The journals include many helpful features for students, residents and fellows, including full-text PDFs, clinical challenges, archived editions, audio and video author interviews where authors give their perspectives on a study’s objectives, findings and implications.