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This abstract is assigned to session Free Paper Session IV: Infectious Disease II
Presentation preference Oral presentation
Title(EVICT) Study: Outcomes, Laboratory Analysis, and Vision Quality of Life (VRQoL) in Ebola Survivors
Accept poster if oral is not possible ?Yes
PurposeReport long-term visual acuity outcomes in Ebola (EVD)survivors undergoing cataract surgery, describe the lens analysis, and evaluate VRQoL in this unique cohort.
MethodsFifty EVD survivors were prospectively enrolled into the EVICT Study. Thirty-four underwent cataract surgery. Histopathology and in situ hybridization (ISH) using RNAscope® was performed to detect Ebolavirus (EBOV) in 8 uveitic cataracts. The NEI VFQ was administered pre and post cataract surgery. NEI-VFQ-25 scores and logMAR visual acuity (VA) were analyzed using paired and unpaired t-tests and linear regression to detect the changes from pre- to post-surgery and associations between NEI-VFQ-25 and final logMAR VA.
ResultsThere was a significant improvement in logMAR VA from 3 at baseline to 0.56 at 2 years (p< 0.05). The average pre and post-surgery NEI-VFQ-25 were 54 and 57 respectively, with no significant change in the composite score (p > 0.85). There was no association between the change in VFQ-25 composite score and the change in VA (p = 0.54). Posterior capsule opacity was very common with 65% of patients requiring YAG capsulotomy. Histopathology showed mineralization and thickening of lens capsules and vacuolation, clefts, and Morgagnian globules with lens fibers. All lens tissues were EBOV ISH negative.
ConclusionGood visual acuity was maintained in EVD survivors and no evidence of EBOV was observed in lens material. While no clear association between VA and VRQoL was observed, differences in quality-of-life metrics and activities in resource-limited settings may limit analyses.

Conflict of interestNo
Author 1
Last nameSHANTHA
Initials of first name(s)J
DepartmentEmory
CityAtlanta
CountryUnited States
Author 2
Last nameTaraborelli
Initials of first name(s)D
CityAtlanta
CountryUnited States
Author 3
Last nameSugar
Initials of first name(s)E
CityBaltimore
CountryUnited States
Author 4
Last nameYeh
Initials of first name(s)S
CityAtlanta
CountryUnited States