Can ocular torsion be measured using the slitlamp biomicroscope?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare a stereo-biomicroscopic technique of ocular torsion measurement with fundus photographic technique.


METHODS
This prospective masked observational study included 72 eyes of 36 consecutive subjects with normal ocular motility. The disc-foveal angle was measured by two masked investigators using a slitlamp stereo-biomicroscopic and fundus photographic technique.


RESULTS
The mean age was 13.7 years (6 - 44 years), and 15 (41.6%) were males. The average torsion using the slitlamp technique was 5.5 +/- 3.3 degrees and 6.1 +/- 4.3 degrees with fundus photographic technique. Clinical agreement between the two techniques for 5 degree and 6 degree torsion was 81% and 90% respectively. The average difference between the two techniques was 3.0 +/- 2.6 degrees . The mean inter-ocular difference was 3.3 +/- 2.7 degrees (SD, 2.77) and 5.5 +/- 4.6 degrees using the slitlamp and fundus photographic technique respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r2) was 0.5.


CONCLUSIONS
The fundus photographic technique remains the gold standard test for the measurement of ocular torsion. The slitlamp biomicroscopic method can be useful where a fundus camera is unavailable. Further studies are required to test the repeatability of these tests.
Kothari
Mihir T
MT
Bombay City Eye Institute and Research Center, India. drmihirkothari@yahoo.com
Venkatesan
G
G
Shah
Jugal P
JP
Kothari
Kulin
K
Nirmalan
Praveen K
PK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D009898:Optic Disk; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014102:Torsion Abnormality