Evaluation Parameters

The following list includes information gathered by the Surgical Telescope Evaluation Program and discloses criteria upon which surgical magnification products are evaluated by the STEP team.

Categories of Information:

Manufacturer Information

Laboratory Measures

User Evaluation

Professional Commentary

1. Manufacturer Information:

Instrument Documentation Description of materials available (manuals, instructional pamphlets, computer files, etc.)

• Languages:
• Accuracy of material:
• Usefulness rating:
• Other Comments:
• Type of magnification optics:

Galilean

Keplerian

Other

Lens coating(s):

• Accessories included:
• Accessories available:
• Other special features:
  
• Integrated light source (description)


2. Laboratory Measures:

• Instrument Description:
• Frame Type:

Metal

Plastic

Other

Design description:

• Weight:
• Total weight
• Total weight on bridge of nose in operational position
• Total weight on bridge of nose in "flip-up" position (if applicable)
• Declination angle (or range):
• Accessories included:
• Contamination / Cross-Contamination issues:
• Contact potential
• Barrier protection
• Cleanability (description and comment)

3. User Evaluation (Immediate)

• These parameters apply to spectacles mounted systems only. Head-band mounted and fixed / ceiling mounted telescopes are treated separately
• Requires multiple frames (including variant width of frames and nose bridge) for testing. If not, manufacturer must at least provide information about sizes available.
• Securing straps / systems must be used during evaluations
• Range of operation:
• Depth of Field (tooth plug surface near and far - video or measure)
• Working distance (preferred)
• Field properties (shape and dimensions)
• Field Height (from scotoma chart- graph paper 5 mm black on white)___________in.( _________cm.)
• Field Width (from scotoma chart- graph paper 5 mm black on white)___________in. (_________cm.)
• Interpupillary width:

		Aligned?	Yes	No
		Adjustable?	Yes	No
		Independently?	Yes	No

• Horizontal angulation of eyepieces (or lenses):

		Aligned?	Yes	No
		Adjustable?	Yes	No

• User acceptability / commentary
• Terms of trial and usage (circumstances of trial, including clinical vs. simulation, length of time of trial)
  
  
• Physical comfort (size, weight, stability)

		Scale:	0= Could not wear
			1= Could wear occasionally, but only intermittently
			2= Could wear most of the time
			3= Satisfactory for all day wear

• Stability on operator's head

		Scale:	0= Could not wear
			1= Could wear occasionally, but only intermittently
			2= Could wear most of the time
			3= Satisfactory for all day wear

• Visual properties (Amsler Grids #1 and #7)
• Clarity of image
  

		Scale:	0=Poor definition
			1
			2
			3=Excellent definition

• Chromatic Aberration
  
  

		Scale:	0= No colour visible on Black and White
			1= Colour visible
			2= Colour visible and degrades image, but not interfering with resolution
			3= Colour visible and degrades image, plus interferes with resolution

• Flatness of field
  
  

		Scale:	0= No distortion edge to edge
			1= <10% distortion of field
			2= 15-45 % distortion of field
			3= >50% distortion of field

• General properties
• Ease of adjustment
  
  

		Scale:	0=Poor
			1
			2
			3=Excellent

• Ease of use
  
  

		Scale:	0=Poor
			1
			2
			3=Excellent

4. Professional Commentary

Evaluator category:

• Ergonomist
• Ophthalmologist
• Optician
• Optometrist
• Surgeon (specify type)
• Advantages of this system
• Disadvantages of this system
• Adjustability
• Ease of adjustability
• Time required for adjustments
• Repeatability of adjustments (default control)
• Visual prescription concerns
• Suitability (or lack thereof) for specific types of prescriptive conditions
• Allowance for change of an individual user's visual prescription
• Cost of change of an individual user's visual prescription
• Repairing concerns
• Cost of local repair of telescope optical system
• Ease of local repair of telescope optical system
• Cost of local repair of telescope frames
• Ease of local repair of telescope frames
  
  

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