Corneal staining study

Masked observer grading portal

Pilot study ยท Masked observer assessment

Masked corneal staining reliability assessment

Study overview

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate variability in how clinicians grade patient-derived simulated corneal staining images using the National Eye Institute grading system and the corneal Ocular Staining Score.

Even when clinicians evaluate the same image, the assigned scores may differ. This study will measure how closely different observers agree with one another and how consistently the same observer grades the images at two different times.

Each masked observer will evaluate 30 images using both grading systems during an initial test and a subsequent retest. The resulting data will be used to assess inter-observer variability, intra-observer variability, and the degree of difference in staining severity that can be distinguished reliably from normal grading variation.

Observer instructions

  1. 1

    Enter the observer code assigned to you.

  2. 2

    Grade all 30 images using the NEI grading system.

  3. 3

    Grade the same 30 images using the corneal OSS grading system.

  4. 4

    Return for the retest when contacted and re-enter the same observer code.