Program list

SYMPOSIUM: FUNDAMENTALS
Moderators: Khaled El-Rakhawy, Cesare Forlini
Sunday, September 14th, 2003 ; 8:15 - 12:35

THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STANDARDIZATION: THE CLASSIFICATION OF PVR
Ferenc Kuhn*, Robert Morris
Birmingham, USA

Goal: To determine the impact and efficacy of the PVR classification systems.
Methods: Literature analysis prior to and following the publication of the classifications of PVR.
Results: Before the first PVR classification system was designed, and especially before the advent of pars plana vitrectomy, there was little understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical significance of intravitreal proliferation. It was impossible for a researcher to report his observations in an unambiguous way. The first classification standardized the terminology and described various stages of PVR formation, including information on severity and physical extent. The system's shortcomings lead to the development of an updated classification, which is much more accurate but much more complex. Among the 337 articles reviewed, we found that only a third used the new PVR classification system.
Conclusions: Without standardization, it is impossible in any field of ophthalmology to produce research results that can be easily translated into the practitioner's everyday clinical practice. All classification systems must be unambiguous and comprehensive, yet simple enough to gain acceptance.
Précis: Standardization of terms and their definitions is a must in all fields of ophthalmology; the classification must be unambiguous and comprehensive, yet simple.