title: [Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of corneal surface temperature measurements with the TG-1000 thermograph in normal eyes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the reliability of temperature measurements with the ocular TG-1000 thermograph in a setup of sequential measurements performed by one observer (intraobserver) and a sequence of measurements performed by different observers (interobserver) in normal subjects without pathologies of the anterior segment of the eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 right eyes from 50 individuals (mean age 29.1 ± 7.9 years) without ocular pathologies or history of ocular surgery were enrolled in this prospective monocentric clinical case series. Eyes with signs of dry eye syndrome (based on a positive McMonnies questionnaire) were excluded from the study. Corneal surface temperature measurements were performed by three examiners to assess interobserver reliability. In addition, in a subgroup of 22 individuals, a sequence of 3 measurements were performed by 1 of the examiners to examine intraobserver reliability. Corneal surface temperature was measured within an interval of 10 s (11 frames) on a region of interest of 16 ± 12 mm (320 ± 240 pixels). Central and mid-peripheral local temperatures at 3 mm (3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock) were extracted and analyzed from the raw data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ocular TG-1000 thermograph yielded consistent results for the interobserver as well as intraobserver conditions in measuring corneal surface temperature in the center as well as mid-periphery of the cornea. Cronbach's alpha was 0.9 or higher at all corneal locations, which proves a high consistency of results for the interobserver and intraobserver measurements. The average corneal surface temperature ranged between 34.0 °C and 34.7 °C with a slight decrease from the upper temporal (9 and 12 o'clock) to the lower nasal (3 and 6 o'clock) quadrants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TG-1000 thermograph yielded consistent results of corneal surface temperature in individuals without anterior segment pathologies or history of ocular surgery. With the option of raw data export (11 frames within 10 s with a lateral resolution of 320 × 240 pixels) the thermograph offers a wide range of new diagnostic options for a spatiotemporal analysis of corneal surface temperature.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes UKS, Kirrbergerstr. 100, Gebäude 22, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland. max.pattmoeller@uks.eu.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pattmöller
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes UKS, Kirrbergerstr. 100, Gebäude 22, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.|Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou city, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes UKS, Kirrbergerstr. 100, Gebäude 22, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pattmöller
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes UKS, Kirrbergerstr. 100, Gebäude 22, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zemova
authors.affiliation: Experimentelle Ophthalmologie, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eppig
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes UKS, Kirrbergerstr. 100, Gebäude 22, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes UKS, Kirrbergerstr. 100, Gebäude 22, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Szentmáry
authors.affiliation: Experimentelle Ophthalmologie, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langenbucher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013499:Surface Properties; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Cornea; Non-contact infrared imaging; Normal subjects; Surface temperature; Thermography