Clinical Profile and Demographic Distribution of Synchysis Scintillans: An Electronic Medical Record-Driven Big Data Analytics From an Eye Care Network in India

Introduction: To describe the demographics and clinical profile of synchysis scintillans in patients presenting to a multitier ophthalmology hospital network in India. Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 3,082,727 new patients presenting between August 2010 and December 2021. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of synchysis scintillans in at least one eye were included as cases. The data were collected using an electronic medical record system. Results: Overall, 93 (0.003%) patients were diagnosed with synchysis scintillans. About half of the patients were male (50.54%) and had unilateral (81.72%) affliction. The most common age group at presentation was during the seventh decade of life with 38 (40.86%) patients. The overall prevalence was higher in patients from a higher socioeconomic status (0.003%) presenting from the metropolitan geography (0.005%) and in retired individuals (0.018%). A systemic history of diabetes mellitus was documented in 13 (13.98%) patients and hypertension was documented in 15 (16.13%) patients. The majority of the eyes had mild or no visual impairment (<20/70) in 74 (67.27%) eyes. The most commonly associated ocular comorbidity was cataract in 61 (55.45%) eyes followed by glaucoma in eight (7.27%) eyes. Among the surgical interventions performed for the ocular comorbidities, cataract surgery was performed in nine (8.18%) eyes, and vitreoretinal surgery and trabeculectomy were performed in two (1.82%) eyes each. Conclusion: Synchysis scintillans equally affect males and females presenting during the seventh decade of life and is predominantly unilateral. The majority of the eyes have mild or no visual impairment and over half of the eyes have an associated cataract.