IGATES Nomenclature Survey

An unambiguous common language that all professionals in a given field can confidently use is critical for communication, clinical management and research. After almost 25 years, the Birmingham Eye Trauma System (BETTS) is currently the most widely accepted system for classification of ocular trauma.(1)

However, several gaps and controversies remain in terminology for ocular trauma (2) including:

1. disagreement on the landmark to use in defining the position of Zone II and III
2. no clear and agreed method for the classification of mechanism of injury
3. no agreed classification and definition of extent of injury.

The International Globe and Adnexal Trauma Epidemiology Study (IGATES) Terminology Consensus group was established to address these discrepancies in terminology for Ophthalmic (Ocular & Adnexal) Trauma. The IGATES Terminology Survey is supported by APOTS (Asia Pacific Ophthalmic Trauma Society), ASOT (American Ophthalmic Trauma Society), COTS (Chinese Ocular Trauma Society), Ocular Trauma Society of India (OTSI) and ISOT (International Society of Ocular Trauma).

We are employing a modified Delphi technique to revise and confirm terms for classification of ocular trauma from BETTS and to develop and confirm additional terms not captured in BETTS, including mechanism and extent of injury. As an expert in the field of ocular trauma, you have been selected to complete this survey, which will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. All answers are considered to be your own opinion, and filling out the survey will serve as your consent to participate. The study has been approved by the Johns Hopkins Medicine Institutional Review Board (IRB00257431) as an exempt study (Principal Investigator Fasika Woreta, MD, MPH; fworeta1@jhmi.edu).

The aim of this survey is to determine clinically appropriate terms including:

1. Validate currently accepted terms relating to ocular trauma classification
2. Agree on an appropriate set of terms for adnexal eye injuries
3. Agree on a set of terms to classify the location of Intraocular Foreign Bodies (IOFB)

• Section 1: Validating BETTS. This section focuses on the validation of terminology published by Ference Kuhn in 1996.
• Section 2: Classification and definition of terms not already included in BETTS.

• a. Agreement > 67% (good agreement)
• b. Agreement < 67% (needs further discussion)

All the terms that have agreement less than 67% in Round 1 of the Delphi will be discussed in a subsequent Delphi round with “Dialogue” till the consensus is reached. The participants will be asked to suggest new nomenclature, if they deem appropriate, to describe the entity.

Thank you for your participation!

Registration