Acceptance Sampling Rapid Trachoma Assessment (ASTRA)

SURVEY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY

VOLUME 53  NUMBER 1  JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2008

LETTERS

Acceptance Sampling Rapid Trachoma Assessment (ASTRA) 3. Myatt M, Mai NP, Quynh NQ, et al: Using lot qualityassurance sampling and area sampling to identify priority areas for trachoma control: Viet Nam. Bull World Health Organ 83:756--63, 2005 4. Ngondi J, Ole-Sempelez F, Onsarigo A, et al: Blinding trachoma in postconflict southern Sudan. PloS Med 3:e478, 2006 5. World Health Organization: WHO-ITI joint research agenda meeting for the elimination of blinding trachoma. Geveva, Switzerland, WHO/PBD/GET 04.3. Accessed 30 August 2007 from: whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2004/WHO_PBD_GET_04.3.pdf 6. Wright HR, Vu H, Taylor HR: How to assess the prevalence of trachoma. Brit J Ophthalmol 89:526--7, 2005

To the Editor: Recently we published an article in Surveys of Ophthalmology (Trachoma surveys 2000--2005: results, recent advances in methodology, and factors affecting the determination of prevalence. Surv Ophthalmol 52:535--46, 2007) in which we discussed the technique of ASTRA in connection with trachoma surveys. It was brought to our attention that in our article we had spelled this acronym as asymmetrical sampling rapid trachoma assessment instead of acceptance sampling rapid trachoma assessment. The latter term is the correct one, because Dr. Hans Limburg developed the technique, and termed it as such.5 This framing of the acronym has also been reported by Myatt and coworkers.3 Unfortunately, the incorrect version was cited by Wright et al,6 and this paper has been cited by other nongovernmental organizations, as well as ourselves, thus propagating the error. In addition, Ngondi et al in their recent publication4 cited ASTRA as assurance sampling rapid trachoma assessment, thus leading the Carter Center to cite both this version,2 and the version containing the word acceptance.1 We apologize for the error, and hope that in the future, all authors of publications will adopt the correct terminology of acceptance sampling rapid trachoma assessment. Sincerely, Van C. Lansingh, MD, PhD Asuncion, Paraguay Marissa J. Carter, MA, PhD Cody, Wyoming, USA

doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2007.10.003

Corneal Graft Rejection and Kaye’s Dots To the Editor: Dr Anita Panda et al recently published a comprehensive review on corneal graft rejection (Corneal graft rejection. Surv Ophthalmol 52:375--96, 2007). There is a reference to Kaye’s dots in the segment on clinical features of epithelial rejection, incorrectly identifying them as ‘‘superficial epithelial infiltrates’’ and a sign of epithelial rejection in a corneal graft. Kaye’s dots, as described in the original article by Kaye,2 are discrete white dots seen in the donor corneal epithelium, central to the wound when intact nylon or prolene sutures were present. His histological study of the epithelium in this area revealed cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and intercellular microcysts that seemed to correspond in size to the dots seen clinically. Kaye noted that after the removal of suture, the dots would migrate to the central cornea and then disappear by 30 days after suture removal. He hypothesized that the presence of Kaye’s dots may be associated with tissue angulation exerted by the suture on the corneal tissue, inducing this epithelial behavior. None of the grafts studied were experiencing rejection. The reference text cited in the review article also erroneously refers to Kaye’s dots as a sign of

References 1. The Carter Center: Summary proceedings. Eighth Annual Trachoma Control Program Review. Ten years after the launch of GET 2020: ‘‘Where are we now?’’ Atlanta, GA, April 16--18. 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007 from: www. cartercenter.org/documents/trachreview_final_eng2007.pdf 2. Cromwell E, Emerson P, Rotondo L, Sam-Abbenyi L: Summary proceedings. Seventh Annual Trachoma Control Program Review. Collaborating to bring SAFE together. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 23--25, 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2007 from: www.cartercenter.org/documents/2249.pdf

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