This is a supplement to EyeWorld Magazine.
Issue link: https://supplements.eyeworld.org/i/203232
Advanced tear film testing: Improving diagnosis and patient treatment Supplement to EyeWorld November 2013 Supported by unrestricted educational grants from TearLab, TearScience, Nicox, and PRN. Advanced tear film testing: Evidence-based diagnosis and improved patient treatment by Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD O cular surface disease is the most common reason that people visit our offices, and advanced tear film testing is a completely different way of looking at the condition. Using new point-of-care diagnosis and treatment can revolutionize our practices and really make us think differently about the way we work in our offices. We want to work smarter, not harder, and have a better way to more accurately diagnose ocular surface conditions. Advanced tear film testing is truly healthcare for the 21st century. This will become commonplace in the next four or five years, and we can all use these testing mechanisms to improve diagnosis and patient care in our offices on a daily basis today. tent of the symposium changed their beliefs. The results were quite illuminating. Before attending the symposium, 38% of attendees said that they thought advanced tear film diagnostics should be incorporated into the initial point of care in most patients, and 85% said that there was clinical value to incorporating advanced tear film diagnostics into their practices versus currently used diagnostics. After the symposium, these percentages increased to 73% and 100%, respectively, and both were statistically significant changes. Additionally, attendees were asked if they strongly agree/agree that some of the new and currently used tests can reliably increase diagnostic accuracy of related disease and treatment efficiency. Belief Statement continued on page 2 Pre Post Mean Δ Strongly agree/agree that the following tests can reliably increase diagnostic accuracy of related disease and treatment efficiency – Schirmer's testing 64% - - – Corneal/conjunctival staining 93% - - Changing beliefs – Tear breakup time 92% - - As the word gets out, advanced tear film testing is gaining popularity, and ophthalmologists are immediately understanding the importance of incorporating it into their practices. During the 2013 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress, we surveyed 201 physician attendees who represented approximately 102,000 cataract procedures annually. Most (64%) practiced in the United States. Attendees were surveyed before and after a symposium about advanced tear film testing to see if the con- – Osmolarity 50% 74% 24% – Adenovirus 18% 40% 22% – Interferometry 21% 42% 21% – Topography/OCT 53% 60% 7% Average n = 150 Attendees were asked if they strongly agree/agree that some of the new and currently used tests can reliably increase diagnostic accuracy of related disease and treatment efficiency. Program chair Faculty Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD Christopher E. Starr, MD Edward J. Holland, MD Marguerite McDonald, MD