A Comparison of Three Different Scales for Rating Contact Lens Handling

Purpose. To compare the validity, responsiveness, and reliability of three subjective rating scales applied to soft contact lens (SCL) handling. Methods. Fifty-four adapted SCL wearers handled three different types of lenses on two occasions and rated the handling with each scale: visual analogue scales (VAS), 20-interval visual analogue scales with descriptors (VAD) and Likert rating scales with five intervals (LRS). Results. There were significant differences between the scales (p < 0.01) and between the subjective ratings of lens handling (p < 0.001). VAS showed the least variability, exhibited the highest construct validity, were the most responsive, and were the most reliable: interclass correlations (0.63), coefficient of repeatability (27.5), and correlation between test and retest (Spearman r = 0.65, [all p < 0.05]). Higher repeatability, because of the fewer intervals of LRS, was not demonstrated and, generally, LRS was the least satisfactory scale. Handling was rated as easiest using VAD and most difficult using LRS. Conclusions. Although all three scales can be used to provide measures of lens handling, VAS may provide a simple and repeatable tool for measuring subjective responses.

[1]  E. Papas,et al.  Repeatability and comparison of visual analogue and numerical rating scales in the assessment of visual quality , 1997, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[2]  G. Guyatt,et al.  A comparison of Likert and visual analogue scales for measuring change in function. , 1987, Journal of chronic diseases.

[3]  H. Taylor,et al.  The epidemiology of dry eye in Melbourne, Australia , 1998 .

[4]  N. Efron,et al.  Symptomatology of HEMA contact lens wear. , 1989, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[5]  B. Munoz,et al.  Prevalence of dry eye among the elderly. , 1997, American journal of ophthalmology.

[6]  N. Efron,et al.  Determinants of the Initial Comfort of Hydrogel Contact Lenses , 1986, American journal of optometry and physiological optics.

[7]  E. C. Poggio,et al.  Complications and symptoms in disposable extended wear lenses compared with conventional soft daily wear and soft extended wear lenses. , 1993, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[8]  A. Tomlinson,et al.  Age and gender effects on the normal tear film. , 1998, Advances in experimental medicine and biology.

[9]  B. Munoz,et al.  Relation between signs and symptoms of dry eye in the elderly. A population-based perspective. , 1997, Ophthalmology.

[10]  C W McMonnies,et al.  Patient history in screening for dry eye conditions. , 1987, Journal of the American Optometric Association.

[11]  D Fonn,et al.  A Patient Questionnaire Approach to Estimating the Prevalence of Dry Eye Symptoms in Patients Presenting to Optometric Practices across Canada , 1997, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[12]  O. D. Solomon,et al.  A 3-year prospective study of the clinical performance of daily disposable contact lenses compared with frequent replacement and conventional daily wear contact lenses. , 1996, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[13]  A. Beckett,et al.  AKUFO AND IBARAPA. , 1965, Lancet.

[14]  D. Rickert,et al.  Comparison of the clinical performance of the Acuvue disposable contact lens and CSI lens in patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis. , 1993, American journal of ophthalmology.

[15]  J. Wright,et al.  A comparison of different indices of responsiveness. , 1997, Journal of clinical epidemiology.

[16]  T. Edrington,et al.  Effect of lens care systems on corneal fluorescein staining and subjective comfort in hydrogel lens wearers , 1994 .

[17]  G. Lowther.  Comparison of hydrogel contact lens patients with and without the symptom of dryness , 1993 .

[18]  Ian P. Davies,et al.  Correlation between visual acuity and visual quality in contact lens practice , 1992 .

[19]  D Fonn,et al.  Hydrogel lens dehydration and subjective comfort and dryness ratings in symptomatic and asymptomatic contact lens wearers. , 1999, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[20]  K. Nichols,et al.  Symptoms of ocular irritation in patients diagnosed with dry eye. , 1999, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[21]  C W McMonnies,et al.  Responses to a dry eye questionnaire from a normal population. , 1987, Journal of the American Optometric Association.

[22]  Trefford Simpson,et al.  The Repeatability of Discrete and Continuous Anterior Segment Grading Scales , 2000, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[23]  N Pritchard,et al.  Patient Preferences and Comparative Ocular Responses to Rigid and Soft Contact Lenses , 1995, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[24]  S. Groshen,et al.  Comparison of conditional quality of life terminology and visual analogue scale measurements , 1996, Quality of Life Research.

[25]  N. Pritchard,et al.  Ocular and subjective responses to frequent replacement of daily wear soft contact lenses. , 1996, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[26]  F. Guillemin,et al.  Bias and precision in visual analogue scales: a randomized controlled trial. , 1999, American journal of epidemiology.

[27]  N. Efron,et al.  The effect of soft lens lubricants on symptoms and lens dehydration. , 1991, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.

[28]  J J Bartko,et al.  Measures of agreement: a single procedure. , 1994, Statistics in medicine.

[29]  D. Altman,et al.  STATISTICAL METHODS FOR ASSESSING AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO METHODS OF CLINICAL MEASUREMENT , 1986, The Lancet.

[30]  R. Chalmers,et al.  Responses of Contact Lens Wearers to a Dry Eye Survey , 2000, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[31]  G H Guyatt,et al.  Responsiveness and validity in health status measurement: a clarification. , 1989, Journal of clinical epidemiology.

[32]  I L Bailey,et al.  Clinical grading and the effects of scaling. , 1991, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[33]  S. Sheather,et al.  Clinical applications of visual analogue scales: a critical review , 1988, Psychological Medicine.

[34]  M. Lemp.  Report of the National Eye Institute/Industry workshop on Clinical Trials in Dry Eyes. , 1995, The CLAO journal : official publication of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc.