Assessing the Test-Retest Reproducibility of the Ocular Photosensitivity Analyzer to Quantify Visual Photosensitivity

Abstract

Purpose : As few methods exist to reliably quantify visual photosensitivity, the Ocular Photosensitivity Analyzer (OPA) was devised (Aguilar et al. BOE 2018, 9(11): 5583-5596). This study was conducted to assess the test-retest reproducibility of the OPA to quantify visual photosensitivity thresholds (VPT) in healthy subjects across two visits.

Methods : This IRB-approved study included 25 healthy adults with no history of ocular abnormality. During two in-person visits, subjects were administered study questionnaires (VLSQ-8: Visual Light Sensitivity Questionnaire-8, OSDI: Ocular Surface Disease Index, NPSI-E: Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory for the Eye) and filled out a medical history form. VPT was measured with the OPA, an automated device that assesses subjects’ responses to multiple light stimuli presented at varying intensities. The test-retest reproducibility for VPT measured at each visit was analyzed by reliability analysis. An Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ≥ 0.90 was considered to indicate excellent reliability. Correlation between VPT and study questionnaire responses were assessed via linear regression. An R² ≥ 0.7 was considered significant.

Results : The average age of the subjects (n=25) was 32.5±13.3 years, 48.0% self-identified as male, 64.0% as White, and 24.0% as Hispanic. Visit #1 and Visit #2 were conducted 34.1±7.1 days apart. The mean measured VPT in healthy subjects were 2.5±0.8 log lux at Visit #1 and 2.3±0.8 log lux at Visit #2. The test-retest reproducibility for healthy subjects measured during the two in-person visits had excellent reliability (ICC = 0.92). Overall, dry eye and ocular pain scores were low in our healthy population (VLSQ-8 11.3±3.5, OSDI 1.2±1.8, NPSI-E 0.8±1.6). No significant correlations were found between VPT and study questionnaire responses (R²=0.03 – 0.06, p>0.05).

Conclusions : The data indicate that the OPA is a reliable tool for quantifying visual photosensitivity in individuals without ocular disease. Ongoing studies are being performed to increase our subject population and examine repeatability in subjects with TBI associated visual photosensitivity.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.

 

Figure 1. 1A) Operator view of the OPA. 1B) Subject view of the OPA. 1C) The OPA graphical user interface - testing control panel displaying a healthy subject’s VPT.

 

Figure 2. VPT of the Healthy Subjects (n=25) at Visit #1 and Visit #2.