In this column, I invite Drs. Rohit Om Parkash and Tushya Om Parkash to share their experience with stratified phacoemulsification, an evolution of nuclear management that emphasizes preservation of a protective nuclear scaffold during surgery.
Amar Agarwal, MS, FRCS, FRCOphth OSN Complications Consult Editor
In phacoemulsification, surgical maneuvers, ultrasound energy and surrounding structural integrity determine surgical outcomes. Preserving the outer nucleus or epinucleus helps protect the posterior capsule and improve safety in complex cataract phacoemulsification.
In the literature, Drs.

A 1-day-old boy born at 41 weeks and 2 days gestation was transferred from an outside hospital for ophthalmologic evaluation of bilateral cloudy corneas.
Pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated, with no history of birth trauma, maternal infections or intrauterine exposures. The infant was otherwise healthy aside from hypospadias. Family history was negative for ocular disease. Shortly after birth, bilateral corneal clouding was noted on routine examination, prompting transfer for subspecialty evaluation.
Ophthalmologic examination revealed blink-to-light visual responses in both eyes. IOP

Physical activity was linked to reduced risk for stroke and all-cause mortality to a similar extent in people with and without atrial fibrillation, researchers reported.
The health benefits of exercise were observed even at low levels of physical activity compared with inactivity and showed potential longevity benefits as well, according to study findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“The results from our study indicate that physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of stroke and death in individuals with and without atrial fibrillation. So,

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Incidental qualitative coronary artery calcium findings can identify which patients with psoriatic disease need their cardiovascular risk managed, researchers reported.
In a presentation that won the award for best oral abstract on the second day of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD Prevention, Brooke Bartley, MD, dermatology resident at University of Texas Medical Branch and UT Southwestern Medical Center, discussed findings from the STRATIFY-PsD project.
“This is a joint initiative between cardiology and dermatology, and it explores the

A diagnosis of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, even without apparent erythema, may ignore ongoing inflammatory disease that warrants proper treatment, particularly for people with darker skin types, researchers reported.
When applied properly, a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) diagnosis indicates that a previously inflamed lesion from a condition such as acne, eczema or lichen planus has completely resolved, and what remains is a residual darkening of the skin. Although this can be the case, several “clinical clues” can reveal whether inflammation continues to accompany

NEW YORK — Using a GLP-1 receptor agonist may lead to a wide range of psychiatric effects, and psychological support is an important part of patient management, according to a speaker.
Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS, FASMBS-IH, licensed psychologist and clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said there has been a rising number of psychological, behavioral and emotional changes tied to GLP-1 use as the medications have become more widely prescribed. Goldman said GLP-1s are not just leading to changes in body weight, but also emotional and

A class of medications widely prescribed to treat ADHD and narcolepsy can confer modest but consistent reductions in cancer-related fatigue, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
The benefits of methylphenidate-type psychostimulants increased over time, with clinically meaningful improvements in energy and function emerging after about 5 weeks of treatment.
“This could be one component of a broader approach to fatigue management, possibly as a bridging to other nonpharmacologic interventions that may take more time to demonstrate an effect,” lead

Percentages of adolescents who engaged in suicidal thoughts and behavior fell from 2021 to 2025, according to the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
“These are encouraging trends,” Brandon Johnson, MHS, MCHES, chief, suicide prevention branch, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, told Healio.
Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, the percentage with serious thoughts of suicide in the prior year fell from 12.9% (n = 3.4 million) in 2021 to 10.4% (n = 2.6 million) in 2025.
The 2025 cohort also included 7.2% (n = 1.8 million) who were unsure or who did not know if

Six-minute walk distance at hospital discharge in ICU patients with acute respiratory failure did not improve with daily in-bed cycling, amino acid supplementation and usual care vs. only usual care, according to study data.
These findings were published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
“Based on the findings of this study and on three prior large, randomized trials evaluating protein supplementation (without added exercise), higher protein intake (with or without added exercise) should not be used in the acute phase of critical illness,” Dale M. Needham, MD, PhD,

Children who achieved remission vs. desensitization alone after stopping peanut oral immunotherapy had a larger improvement in health-related quality of life at 3 years since treatment completion, according to data published in Allergy.
Additionally, fewer patients in the remission group had reactions to peanut at the 3-year mark, according to researchers.
“Children who achieved 8-week remission experienced greater protection against moderate and severe allergic reactions over the subsequent 3 years, with no moderate or severe reactions and no adrenaline use during the third-year post-treatment