grading scale

grading scale

A method used to present an assessment and recording of the severity of a condition. Grading scales are usually organised in five stages of increasing severity, from grade 0 (normal) to grade 4 (severe). There are many grading scales assessing a variety of conditions. Commonly used scales are: van Herick's technique and Shaffer classification of the width of the angle of the anterior chamber using a slit-lamp or gonioscope, respectively; Efron grading scales for contact lens complications, a set of 16 anterior ocular complications such as, conjunctival redness, corneal neovascularization, corneal oedema, epithelial microcysts, corneal infiltrates, papillary conjunctivitis, etc. Other grading scales are used to evaluate cortical cataract, nuclear cataract, subcapsular cataract, inflammatory cells and flare in the anterior chamber, retinal arteriovenous crossings, cup-disc ratio, etc.