Repeatability and Reproducibility of a New Partial Coherence Interferometer; AL-Scan Optic Biometer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra-observer repeatability and inter-observer reproducibility of the ocular parameter measurements in cataract eyes using the new partial coherence interferometer, AL-Scan. Eighty-six eyes with cataracts were included in this prospective study. Axial length, average keratometry, anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, white-to-white distance and intraocular lens power calculation with the SRK-T formula were determined by two observers. The measurements were repeated by the same observers using the same AL-Scan unit on the same eye approximately 2 weeks later, just before surgery. Inter-observer reproducibility was excellent, with very high interclass correlation coefficients (˃0.984) for all measured parameters. Standard deviations (Sw) and coefficients of variation (CV) of the repeated measurements were low, which demonstrated high intra-observer repeatability, except for the central corneal thickness and white-to-white distance measurements (Sw≤0.224 ∞CV≤ 1.072). The precision of the measurements obtained by the AL-Scan biometer is highly reliable and observer-independent. [Med-Science 2016; 5(1.000): 222-32

Perceptions of Dry Eye Disease Management in Current Clinical Practice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceptions of eye care providers regarding the clinical management of dry eye. METHODS: Invitations to complete a 17-question online survey were mailed to 400 members of the North Carolina Ophthalmology and Optometry Associations including community optometrists, comprehensive ophthalmologists, and cornea specialists. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 100 eye care providers (25% response rate). Providers reported burning (46.5%) as the most frequent symptom described by patients, followed by foreign body sensation (30.3%) and tearing (17.2%). Most respondents (80.8%) listed artificial tears as the recommended first-line treatment, even though providers reported high failure rates for both artificial tears and cyclosporine A (Restasis). Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, affective disorders such as anxiety and depression, history of photorefractive surgery, smoking, and thyroid disease were acknowledged as common comorbid conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The survey provided an informative snapshot into the preferences of eye care providers concerning the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease. Overall, burning was the most common symptom reported by patients. Providers relied more on patient history in guiding their clinical decisions than objective signs. The survey underscores the incongruence when comparing subjective symptoms with objective signs, thereby highlighting the urgent need for the development of reliable metrics to better quantify dry eye symptoms and also the development of a more sensitive and specific test that can be used as the gold standard to diagnose dry eye

Tear function in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

Objectives: To evaluate dry eye symptoms and clinical tear film alterations in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Materials and methods: Thirty-five non-diabetic CRF patients undergoing hemodialysis, and 31 healthy individuals were enrolled. An ocular surface disease index questionnaire (OSDI) was administered, and after a complete ocular examination, Schirmer and tear break-up time (TBUT) tests were performed. Results: OSDI scores were significantly higher (p < 0.01) and TBUT tests were significantly lower (p = 0.01) in CRF patients than in the control group. Schirmer test results were also lower in the CRF patients group, but lacked statistical significance (p = 0.20). Conclusion: Patients with CRF should be advised to obtain an ophthalmic examination, especially for dry eye