DIAGNOSTIC FOCUS

DEALING WITH DRY EYE

A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS ALLOWS FOR TARGETED, CUSTOMIZED TREATMENT

DRY EYE disease (DED) is the most frequently encountered eye disease we see. Appropriate diagnosis and management requires a sophisticated approach in order to determine key etiological factors that contribute to it. Recognizing this need, our practice has incorporated the OCULUS Keratograph 5M, which aids us in diagnosing specific forms of DED, such as meibomian gland disease, and determining their root causes, leading to improved outcomes and patient satisfaction.

OVERVIEW

The Keratograph 5M is a corneal topographer with a built-in keratometer and a color camera optimized for external imaging. The software suite pertaining to DED analysis consists of objective inferior tear meniscus height measurement, non-invasive quantified tear break-up time, tear film lipid layer analysis, infrared meibography, quantified conjunctival and limbal redness measurements and ocular surface fluorescein digital imaging (both still and video). With these software tools, you can objectively and, in many cases, quantitatively, evaluate ocular surface health, in terms of both tear film stability (which relates to evaporative dry eye) and tear film volume (which relates to aqueous deficient dry eye).

PROCEDURE AND TRAINING

The Keratograph 5M offers a wide variety of tests, and procedures vary based on the desired measurement. More information, including photos, webcasts and certification courses, can be found at oculususa.com.

An OCULUS representative provided our doctors and technicians with initial training on the operation and interpretation of the various tests available with the instrument. Again, the OCULUS website has extensive resources that our staff has used. This becomes especially useful when new staff is added.

PRACTICE BENEFITS

The Keratograph 5M provides invaluable information that has resulted in more appropriate, targeted and effective treatment for our patients and brought our diagnostic capabilities to new heights. The ability to compare pre-treatment measures to post-treatment measures has added objective verification to subjectively reported outcomes. What’s more, conducting follow-up testing has allowed us to assess the efficacy of our prescribed therapy and tailor our approach as needed.

Another huge benefit is the JENVIS Dry Eye Report tool, which was included in a recent software update. It summarizes test results in an easy-to-view presentation and can be formatted to include the results of numerous other DED-related tests that are not performed with the instrument, such as the ocular surface disease index.

A personal report can be generated to include a patient’s measurements on an intuitive grading scale, and explains each of the tests in easy-to-understand terms. It also allows the practitioner to input treatment recommendations. Being able to provide a detailed, personalized analysis to patients has proved invaluable in that we are better able to educate our patients on their conditions, which has contributed to improved compliance to our prescribed treatments and, in turn, strengthened the doctor-patient relationship.

TARGETED SUCCESS

As our knowledge and understanding of DED continues to expand, so does the diagnostic armamentarium. Having one instrument that performs a suite of tests helps maximize practice efficiency as well as our diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy. OM

S. BARRY EIDEN, O.D., F.A.A.O., is president and medical director of North Suburban Vision Consultants, Ltd., in the Chicago area. He is president and founder of the International Keratoconus Academy of Eye Care Professionals and co-founder and president of EyeVis Eye and Vision Research Institute. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center and an adjunct faculty member of several colleges. He has consulted for many companies, including OCULUS. Visit tinyurl.com/OMcomment to comment.