The Eye Bank in British Columbia developed a score in 1995 for prioritizing patients awaiting corneal transplantation. This was modified in 1996 to improve its effectiveness.
Parameter |
1995 Score |
1996 Score |
vision in 1 eye only |
yes |
adjust points |
legal blindness |
yes |
as visual acuity |
pain |
yes |
adjust points |
progressive disease |
yes |
same |
potential for good outcome |
yes |
removed |
months on waiting list |
yes |
decreased weighting |
visual function assessment |
NA |
yes |
Parameters for 1995 Score |
Finding |
Points |
vision in 1 eye only |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
10 |
legal blindness |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
10 |
pain |
none |
0 |
|
intermittent |
5 |
|
constant |
10 |
progressive disease |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
5 |
potential for good outcome |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
5 |
months on list |
|
(months) |
Parameters for 1996 Score |
Finding |
Points |
vision in 1 eye only |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
25 |
visual acuity |
20/50 or better |
0 |
|
20/60 to 20/80 |
8 |
|
20/100 to 20/200 |
16 |
|
worse than 20/200 |
25 |
pain |
none |
0 |
|
intermittent |
20 |
|
constant |
50 |
progressive disease |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
5 |
months on list |
|
(months) / 2 |
visual function assessment |
|
(score) * 5 |
where:
• The visual function test was a 15 item instrument similar to the VF-14. The specifics were not given. If it is scored similar to the VF-14, which is scored from 0 to 4, the maximum score would be 60 points.
total priority score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum 1996 priority score: 0
• maximum 1996 priority score: varies with duration on waiting list, but could theoretically be > 400 points.
• A patient with the highest number of points would be at the top of the priority list.
Specialty: Ophthalmology, Surgery, general