BMJ Open Ophthalmology (Aug 2024)

Red filter meibography by smartphones in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction: a validity and reliability study

  • Rina La Distia Nora,
  • Ratna Sitompul,
  • Aria Kekalih,
  • Gisela Haza Anissa,
  • Syska Widyawati,
  • Prasandhya Astagiri Yusuf

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001266
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1

Abstract

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Objective The objective of this study is to determine the validity and reliability of the red filter meibography by smartphone compared with infrared in assessing meibomian gland drop-out.Methods and analysis An analytical cross-sectional study was done with a total of 35 subjects (68 eyes) with suspected MGD based on symptoms and lid morphological abnormalities. Meibomian glands were photographed using two smartphones (Samsung S9 and iPhone XR) on a slit-lamp with added red filter. Images were assessed subjectively using meiboscore by the two raters and drop-out percentages were assessed by ImageJ.Results There was no agreement in meiboscore and a minimal level of agreement in drop-out percentages between red filter meibography and infrared. Inter-rater reliability showed no agreement between two raters. Intra-rater reliability demonstrated weak agreement in rater 1 and no agreement in rater 2.Conclusion Validity of the red filter meibography technique by smartphones is not yet satisfactory in evaluating drop-out. Further improvement on qualities of images must be done and research on subjective assessment was deemed necessary due to poor results of intrarater and inter-rater reliability.