title: A new portable digital meniscometer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were (i) to develop a new portable slit-lamp mounted digital meniscometer (PDM) and (ii) to test its accuracy and repeatability compared to the existing Yokoi et al. videomeniscometer (VM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a novel application for an iPod or iPhone, which created an illuminated target of parallel black and white bands. This was used as a portable device with which to perform reflective meniscometry. The medians of three consecutive measurements on five glass capillaries (internal radii, 0.100 to 0.505 mm) were compared between VM and PDM at two different sessions. Also, the central lower tear meniscus radius (TMR) in 20 normal subjects (10 males and 10 females; mean [SD] age, 32.3 [9.3] years) was measured using both techniques. Correlations between the instruments were analyzed using the Pearson coefficient. Differences between sessions and instruments were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots, coefficient of repeatability, and paired t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PDM and VM were accurate in vitro (95% confidence interval [CI] of difference: PDM -0.0134 to +0.0074 mm, p = 0.468; VM -0.0282 to + 0.0226 mm; p = 0.775) and reproducible between sessions (95% coefficient of repeatability, 0.019 and 0.018, respectively). The mean difference between the PDM and VM in vitro was 0.0002 mm (95% CI, -0.0252 to + 0.0256; p = 0.984). In human subjects, mean (SD) TMR measured with the PDM (0.34 [0.10] mm) and VM (0.36 [0.11] mm) was significantly correlated (r = 0.940; p < 0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between the measured TMR of the instruments (p = 0.124).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new slit-lamp mounted digital meniscometer produces accurate and reliable measurements and provides similar values for tear meniscus radius, in human studies, to the existing VM. The instrument is suitable for use in both research and clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: *MS, MCOptom †PhD, MCOptom ‡PhD, FCOptom, FAAO §PhD, FAAO ∥MD School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom (SB, HP), Cologne School of Optometry, Cologne, Germany (SB), School of Health Professions, Plymouth, United Kingdom (CP), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada (PJM), Dr Heiko Pult - Optometry and Vision Research, Weinheim, Germany (HP) and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (AJB).
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandlitz
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Purslow
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pult
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009907:Optometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult