PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - János Németh
AU  - Eszter Fodor
AU  - Zsolt Lang
AU  - Krisztina Kosina-Hagyó
AU  - András Berta
AU  - Tímea Komár
AU  - Igor Petricek
AU  - Mohamed Higazy
AU  - Marek Prost
AU  - Christina Grupcheva
AU  - Ozlem Evren Kemer
AU  - Petra Schollmayer
AU  - Ameed Samaha
AU  - Katarina Hlavackova
TI  - Lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) and dry eye: a multicentre study
AID  - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301580
DP  - 2012 Nov 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 1380--1385
VI  - 96
IP  - 11
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/96/11/1380.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/96/11/1380.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol2012 Nov 01; 96
AB  - Aims The study was designed to test the clinical application of the grading of lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) as a diagnostic test for dry eye. Methods At 12 centres in 11 countries, 272 eyes of 272 dry eye patients (75 men, 197 women) were examined. Their mean age was 52.7±16.2 years. The LIPCOF were graded according to the method of Höh et al. The tear film break-up time (BUT) was measured, and fluorescein staining and the Schirmer 1 test were performed. The subjective symptoms were evaluated by 16 questions. Results The LIPCOF score demonstrated significant positive correlations with age, dry eye disease severity and fluorescein staining (r>0.2, p<0.001), and negative correlations with BUT and results of the Schirmer 1 test (r<–0.2, p<0.001). The LIPCOF score exhibited a significant correlation with the overall subjective symptoms (r=0.250, p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of LIPCOF grading for discriminating between normal and dry eyes were best with the cut-off between LIPCOF degrees 1 and 2. Conclusions The displayed medium sensitivity and specificity, and good positive predictive value of the LIPCOF test support the use of LIPCOF grading as a simple, quick and non-invasive dry eye screening tool.