Efron Grading Scales for Contact Lens Complications

Historical Significance: These grading scales were developed by Professor Nathan Efron in 1998 (see Efron N. Grading scales for contact lens complications. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 1998 Mar;18(2):182-6.) to assist practitioners recording the severity of ocular complications of contact lens wear. Eight common complications were depicted (now 16) in five levels of severity - from grade 0 (normal) to grade 4 (severe). The charts have been very popular: in 2010 it is estimated that about 150,000 of the grading scales have been printed and circulated world-wide, including editions in French, Russian and Polish. Nathan Efron obtained his BOptom at the University of Melbourne in 1976 and studied for a PhD degree also at the University of Melbourne under Dr (later Professor) Leo Carney obtaining it in 1982. After post docs at the University of California with Dr Ken Polse and at the University of NSW with Professor Brien Holden he returned to the University of Melbourne as lecturer in 1984. In 1990 he was appointed professor of clinical optometry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. He subsequently was appointed a research professor at Queensland University of Technology in 2004 . Professor Efron is a leading figure in contact lens and cornea research and has published many research articles and books. See his profile Clin Exp Optom 2005; 88: 6: 430-433.