The Rose Bengal Score is a test reflecting the integrity of the conjunctival surface. According to Lemp, the stain is believed to identify areas where the tear film is discontinuous.
Procedure:
(1) A 1% solution or strip impregnated with Rose Bengal is instilled in each eye.
(2) Since the solution can be irritating to the eye, only very small amounts of dye should be used. Other dyes such as lissamine green are less irritating and may replace rose bengal as the indicator stain used.
Indications:
(1) Evaluation of patient with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Method of van Bijsterveld
Sectors: 3 for each eye (medial to cornea, cornea, and lateral to cornea)
|
Staining |
Points |
|
none |
0 |
|
focal |
1 |
|
patches |
2 |
|
confluent |
3 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 sectors)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 9
• A score >= 4 is abnormal and reflects injury to the conjunctival surface.
Method of National Eye Institute/Industry
Workshop (Lemp et al)
Sectors: 6 for each eye (3 medial to cornea, 3 lateral to cornea), with the cornea not included.
The 3 sectors on each side of the cornea are defined as:
(1) the half adjacent to canthus (1)
(2) the superior sector in the half adjacent to cornea
(3) the inferior section in the half adjacent to the cornea
|
Staining |
Points |
|
none |
0 |
|
focal |
1 |
|
patches |
2 |
|
confluent |
3 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 sectors)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 18
• A score >= 4 is abnormal and reflects injury to the conjunctival surface.
Specialty: Ophthalmology
