Limbal and bulbar hyperaemia in normal eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the appearance of limbal and bulbar hyperaemia in normal eyes, their relationship and the inter-observer agreement of clinical grading.


METHODS
The right eyes of 120 healthy, non-contact lens-wearing subjects (m = 57, f = 63, median age = 45 years, range 18-77 years) were examined by two trained observers. Limbal and bulbar hyperaemia were scored using the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) redness grading scales interpolated into 0.1 increments. Redness of four quadrants, and overall, were assessed, and quadrant-average redness was calculated. Inter-observer agreement was assessed at the start and end of the study (20 subjects each).


RESULTS
For limbal redness, the overall (1.62 +/- 0.46) (mean units +/- S.D.) was not significantly different from the quadrant-average (1.61 +/- 0.40) score. For bulbar redness, the overall (2.02 +/- 0.49) was higher than the quadrant-average (1.82 +/- 0.39) score (p < 0.0001). Significant correlations were found between bulbar and limbal quadrants (Pearson: r > or = 0.43, p < 0.0001). Significant differences in redness were found between quadrants (p < 0.0001), with nasal and temporal redder than superior and inferior quadrants. Small effects of age and gender were found for limbal redness. The inter-observer 95% limits of agreement were similar at the start and end of the study. They were larger for overall (0.57) compared with quadrant-average (0.28) redness.


CONCLUSIONS
For similar populations, a limbal redness above 2.5 or a bulbar redness above 2.6 (quadrant-average) or 3.0 (overall) may be considered abnormal. Limbal and bulbar redness were correlated. Quadrant-average scores are recommended instead of overall scores, as inter-observer agreement was better.
Pult
Heiko
H
Cardiff University, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4LU, UK. ovr@heiko-pult.de
Murphy
Paul J
PJ
Purslow
Christine
C
Nyman
Jeffrey
J
Woods
Russell L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000473:pathology*; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values