Objective: This study determined the prevalence of depression among young ophthalmologists during the COVID-19 pandemic and determined their access to mental healthcare. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, members of the Philippine Network of Young Ophthalmologists were surveyed using an online Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a short self-administered tool which included questions related to their current work to assess depression. The respondents were also asked if there was available, accessible, affordable, adequate, and acceptable mental healthcare to them answerable by yes, no, or maybe. Results: Seventy (70) respondents were included in the analysis. The mean age was 33±5 years with 54% being female. Forty-five (45) or 64% were resident trainees with a mean number of years in the training of 2±1 years. The median score for the PHQ-9 was 6.5 (3,12). Forty-two (42) or 60% of the respondents had some degree of depression. Nine (9) or 13% of the respondents had no available service, 6 (9%) had no accessible service, 7 (10%) had no affordable service, and 4 (6%) had no adequate service for mental healthcare for them. Conclusion More than half of the ophthalmologists-in-training and newly practicing suffered from some degree of depression based on the PHQ-9 questionnaire. A significant proportion was either not sure or do not have available, accessible, affordable, and adequate mental healthcare services for them.
Mental Health ; COVID-19 ; Patient Health Questionnaire

Massive retinal gliosis (MRG) is a rare, benign intraocular condition resulting from reactive glial cells undergoing exaggerated repair phenomenon. A 52-year-old male presented with 6-year history of enlarging mass in the right eye, associated with progressive vision loss and worsening proptosis. He reported history of trauma to that eye secondary to a vehicular crash one year prior. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbits revealed an intraocular lesion with calcifications raising the possibility of a malignant tumor. Enucleation of the right globe was performed and histopathologic examination revealed the entire vitreous cavity and retina replaced by glial cells arranged in interlacing bundles and whorls with foci of calcifications, highly suspicious of MRG. This was further confirmed by a positive, diffuse, and robust cytoplasmic expression of glial fibrillary protein (GFAP). The disease is known to have favorable outcomes as no complications, such as reemergence of the mass, active bleeding, and secondary infection, were observed from the patient during subsequent visits. Distinction of MRG from other intraocular neoplasms is clinically challenging, hence biopsy is necessary. MRG should be considered as a differential diagnosis when encountering intraocular tumors, especially if there is a history of eye trauma. This is the first reported case of MRG in the Philippines.
Human ; Female ; Middle Aged: 45-64 yrs old ; retinal tumor ; retinal neoplasms