title: Computer-assisted assessment of ocular synkinesis: a comparison of methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define an objective, easy to perform, rapid method for the assessment of ocular synkinesis by employing both the Facial Assessment by Computer Evaluation software and a modification of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty normal subjects and 50 patients with known ocular synkinesis were studied. Measurements of ocular synkinesis were made using the semiautomated Facial Assessment by Computer Evaluation software, and a modification of the automated Glasgow Facial Palsy program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean resting vertical palpebral fissure width of a normal eye was 10.17 mm (standard deviation [SD], 1.63 mm), and the degree of eye closure during smile was on average 21.56% (SD, 13.38%). Synkinetic eyes had a statistically significantly smaller resting palpebral fissure width on average (8.99 mm; SD, 1.61 mm; P < .001, t test), and a statistically significantly greater degree of narrowing during smiling (32.65%; SD, 13.68%; P < .001, t test). Using a modified synkinesis-determining application of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale did not consistently correlate with the Facial Assessment by Computer Evaluation program or clinical observations of eye closure during smiling (R = 0.251, Pearson correlation) and puckering (R = 0.253, Pearson correlation).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Facial Assessment by Computer Evaluation program yields rapid, consistent, palpebral fissure width measurements, and when combined with a subjective self-assessment questionnaire yields a comprehensive measure of ocular synkinesis. Our modified application of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale did not appear to be a reliable method for quantitative ocular synkinesis assessment.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors: Ingrid J
authors: IJ
authors: Kleiss
authors: Marc H
authors: MH
authors: Hohman
authors: Olivia E
authors: OE
authors: Quatela
authors: Henri A M
authors: HA
authors: Marres
authors: Tessa A
authors: TA
authors: Hadlock
mesh_terms: D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software; D046608:Synkinesis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014741:Video Recording