Ophthalmic Statistics Group (OSG) 3 July 2020 online meeting summary

The Ophthalmic Statistics Group met virtually for the first time for their summer meeting on the 3rd July 2020. The group had planned to meet face to face but because of the COVID pandemic a decision was made to meet virtually.

The history of the NIHR Statistics group and in particular the ophthalmology research section was briefly presented by Dr Bunce. This was followed by an open discussion where people spoke of their experiences of the COVID pandemic.

Dr Bunce indicated that it had made her question her approach to teaching evidence based medicine in that during an emergency situation action made need to be taken despite a lack of evidence. There was a discussion about publication of papers without peer review and Dr Bunce mentioned the ICNARC publication and the reaction by the scientific community to the early report.

There was discussion about data science versus statistics and Mr Wormald kindly shared a YouTube video.

Dr Irene Stratton spoke about the challenges in non-experts opining information about which they might have little expertise as she had witnessed this within diabetic screening. There was a discussion as to remote assessment of visual acuity and how this should be conducted.

Dr Czanner spoke about the planned data science session to be held at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists annual congress in 2021. This was a session planned in honour of Florence Nightingale and Dr Bunce spoke in relation to how they might need to modify the session and perhaps include the Rose Nightingale plots on COVID deaths that Dr Irene Stratton had been sharing on linked-in.

The group discussed ideas for future statistics notes and members were encouraged to get in touch with Dr Bunce or Ms Antra Zekite if they had in mind a statistics note that they would wish to lead on. It was agreed that this would be given greater discussion at the next meeting.

Suggestions for the next meeting were to invite statisticians from other countries who had specialised in ophthalmology to speak, to continue the importance of statistics in artificial intelligence and data science discussion and to critically review a paper published in an Ophthalmic Journal between now and the November meeting. Ms Elli Bourmpaki had very kindly commented on the value of this – particularly perhaps for those less familiar with statistical review.