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Evaluation of Tear Film Interference Patterns and Measures of Tear Break-Up Time

2002; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 79; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00006324-200206000-00009

1538-9235

Jason J. Nichols, Kelly K. Nichols, BRIAN D. PUENT, Mario Saracino, G. Lynn Mitchell,

Nasal Surgery and Airway Studies

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare the agreement within and between examiners when evaluating real-time and digital photographs of TearScope Plus tear film interference patterns. We also evaluated between-examiner agreement of noninvasive digital tear break-up time (NITBUT) using the TearScope, the relation between NITBUT and tear film interference patterns, and the relation between NITBUT and tear break-up time (TBUT). Methods. Forty nondry eye patients were seen for digital imaging of the tear film using the TearScope Plus mounted on a slit-lamp with the EyeCap Ophthalmic Image Capture System. Two independent examiners first assessed the tear interference pattern in real-time and then captured the patterns and NITBUT digitally for a period of approximately 60 s. Each image series was later graded for interference pattern and NITBUT by the two independent, masked examiners. Results. Within-examiner comparisons of real-time and digital tear pattern photograph grading showed moderate to substantial agreement for experienced examiners (kappa for examiner 1 = 0.76 and kappa for examiner 2 = 0.55). Between-examiner agreement when grading tear patterns was also substantial in real-time (kappa = 0.72) and moderate when using digital photography (kappa = 0.59). The between-examiner mean NITBUT was 11.2 ± 6.8 s and the 95% limits of agreement between examiners were −19.2 to +9.2 s. The mean TBUT was 7.6 ± 10.4 s, and it was on average 3.7 ± 12.0 s shorter than NITBUT (p = 0.06). Thicker tear film interference patterns graded photographically were associated with longer NITBUTs for both examiners (p = 0.001). Conclusions. There is moderate to substantial within- and between-examiner agreement when comparing real-time and digital tear interference patterns photographs when using the TearScope. Although there is considerable between-examiner variability with the NITBUT test, the thicker lipid layer tear patterns tend to be associated with longer NITBUTs.