The predictive value of the penlight test for photophobia for serious eye pathology in general practice

Photophobia has been described as a useful sign in distinguishing severe from benign eye pathology. This observational study was performed to assess the utility of the penlight test for photophobia in patients presenting with a red eye in general practice. Thirty patients presenting with a red eye t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Family practice 2003-08, Vol.20 (4), p.425-427
Main Authors: Yaphe, John, Pandher, Kulwant Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological - instrumentation
Family Practice - instrumentation
Family Practice - methods
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Photophobia - diagnosis
Photophobia - physiopathology
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary:Photophobia has been described as a useful sign in distinguishing severe from benign eye pathology. This observational study was performed to assess the utility of the penlight test for photophobia in patients presenting with a red eye in general practice. Thirty patients presenting with a red eye to one GP in 1 year were studied. All patients were examined with a penlight flashlight for photophobia. This was followed by slit-lamp examination for diagnosis of serious or benign eye pathology. The penlight test was positive in eight out of 10 (80%) patients with serious pathology (mainly uveitis and keratitis) and was negative in 21 out of 26 (81%) patients with less serious pathology (mainly conjunctivitis). The positive predictive value of the test was 60% and the negative predictive value was 90% (chi-squared = 7, P = 0.001, odds ratio = 17, 95% confidence interval 2-179). The penlight test for photophobia was found to be a useful test for distinguishing serious from benign eye pathology in a general practice population.
ISSN:0263-2136
1460-2229
DOI:10.1093/fampra/cmg416