The Patient's Clinical Profile From a Neuro-Ophthalmology Center in Brazil: A Retrospective Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Neuro-ophthalmology

Background:

• Neuro-ophthalmology (NO) is a critical subspecialty at the intersection of Ophthalmology and Neurology.
• This report underscores the growing significance of NO in Brazil.
• It presents a retrospective analysis of patient profiles at a dedicated NO reference center.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze neuro-ophthalmic cases from a Brazilian reference center.
• To investigate the clinical profiles and diagnostic concordance in neuro-ophthalmology.
• To assess the importance of NO services within the public health system.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 903 neuro-ophthalmic cases (August 2013 - March 2022).
• Analysis of initial diagnostic impressions versus final diagnoses and referral sources.
• Calculation of kappa concordance coefficient to assess diagnostic agreement.

Main Results:

• The study included 903 patients (56.4% female), with a mean age of 51.48 years.
• Common initial diagnoses included optic atrophy, non-neuro-ophthalmic disease, optic disc abnormalities, and ischemic optic neuropathies.
• Moderate diagnostic concordance (kappa=0.53) was observed, with lower agreement for specific conditions like optic atrophy and optic neuritis.

Conclusions:

• The findings emphasize the importance of dedicated neuro-ophthalmology services in Brazil's public health system.
• Improved diagnostic strategies and healthcare management can result from specialized NO care.
• This study encourages further research into the unique aspects of neuro-ophthalmology globally.