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Discrepancies in assessing anterior chamber activity among uveitis specialists

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate current practices in anterior chamber (AC) inflammation assessment among uveitis specialists.

Methods

Uveitis specialists were invited to participate in an electronic survey designed to understand their practice in assessing AC inflammation.

Results

Sixty-five ophthalmologists participated in the survey. Of them, 69.2 % (n = 45) reported using the current Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) guidelines of a 1 × 1-mm slit beam when grading AC cells. Only 38.5 % (n = 5) reported routinely counting the number of cells. In the management of uveitis, 98.5 % (n = 64) valued flare assessment, but 84.6 % (n = 55) did not use laser flare photometry. In total, 36.9 % (n = 24) agreed that laser flare photometry would change their management, while 16.9 % (n = 11) did not see its usefulness. The remaining participants were undecided.

Conclusion

A number of issues limit the clinical assessment of AC inflammation. Different classifications are still being used despite efforts to standardize practice. While the value of flare is widely recognized, the role of laser flare photometry remains controversial.

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Acknowledgments

Dr Keane received a proportion of his funding from the Department of Health’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

Conflicts of interest

T. H. Yeo, None; S. Ilangovan, None; P. A. Keane, None; C. Pavesio, None; R. Agrawal, None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, 308433, Singapore

    Tun Hang Yeo & Rupesh Agrawal

  2. Raffles Institution, Singapore, Singapore

    Siddharthan Ilangovan

  3. NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK

    Pearse A. Keane

  4. Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Carlos Pavesio & Rupesh Agrawal

Authors
  1. Tun Hang Yeo
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  2. Siddharthan Ilangovan
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  3. Pearse A. Keane
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  4. Carlos Pavesio
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  5. Rupesh Agrawal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tun Hang Yeo.

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Yeo, T.H., Ilangovan, S., Keane, P.A. et al. Discrepancies in assessing anterior chamber activity among uveitis specialists. Jpn J Ophthalmol 60, 206–211 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-016-0438-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-016-0438-0

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