Correlation of Clinical Aqueous Flare Grading to Semi-Automated Flare Measurements Using Laser Flare Photometry

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2022 Oct-Nov;30(7-8):1906-1912. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2021.1971723. Epub 2022 Jan 26.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare laser flare photometry (LFP) measurements of aqueous flare with Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) and modified SUN grading.

Methods: In this prospective study with multicenter design, uveitis patients were classified according to SUN and modified SUN grading scales. LFP was performed with Kowa FM-700 flaremeter. Mean LFP values were compared with SUN and MSUN scores.

Results: The study included 475 LFP measurements, of which 216, 48, 150, 31, 28 and 2 had 0, 0.5+, 1+, 1.5+, 2+ and 3+ flare, respectively. LFP values were significantly different between each two consecutive steps for both clinical gradings (all P < .05). Cut-off values for modified SUN grading steps were defined as 5.7, 9.7, 15.7 and 43.2 for 0/0.5+, 0.5+/ 1+, 1+/1.5+ and 1.5/2+ borders of clinical flare, respectively.

Conclusions: LFP proves to be an objective measurement in analyzing aqueous flare comparable to both SUN and MSUN clinical grading systems.

Keywords: Laser flare meter; aqueous flare; clinical flare grading.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Lasers*
  • Prospective Studies