SPEED survey measures dry eye symptoms

The Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire is a repeatable and valid method to measure dry eye symptoms, reveals a recent paper in the journal Cornea.

Dr William Ngo et al., Centre for Contact Lens Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, conducted a study on 50 subjects, with 30 as identified as symptomatic and 20 asymptomatic. The SPEED questionnaire was used on all patients, as well as the McMonnies dry eye survey, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), dry eye questionnaire and subjective evaluation of symptoms.

All questionnaires were completed in a random order two visits, with clinical measurements obtained on the first visit. Concordance correlation coefficient was used to determine repeatability, whereas Rasch analyses, principal component and factor was used to determine dimensionality. SPEED scores were compared with dry eye diagnosis based on OSDI to measure validity.

SPEED survey data was undimensional and repeatable, with the three principal symptoms of dry eye identified. This included dryness, burning and soreness/fatigue. The only clinical measures that strongly correlated with SPEED questionnaire scores were corneal staining, meibomian gland score and meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion score.

To read the abstract please click here.