New York LASIK Surgeon Mark Speaker, M.D., Ph.D.
Coauthors Corneal Topography & Ectasia Risk Factor Analysis

Mark Speaker, M.D., Ph.D. is a Corneal Specialist in New York at Laser and Corneal Surgery Associates in Manhattan. He is widely recognized for his contributions to the fields of corneal and refractive surgery including LASIK and Corneal Transplantation through his efforts in patient care, research and ongoing physician education. Dr. Speaker, along with coauthors Drs. Lock and Latkany published the results of their study ”Tear Film Normalization Test: A New Diagnostic Test For Dry Eyes” in the journal, Cornea, December 2006.

Abstract of Study and Publication

PURPOSE: To evaluate the normalization of the tear film (tear film normalization test [TNT]) as a diagnostic test for dry eye syndrome.

METHODS: The uncorrected distance vision of 20 patients with dry eyes (40 eyes) and 20 normals (40 eyes) before and after instillation of carboxymethyl cellulose 0.5% (CMC; Refresh Plus; Allergan, Irvine, CA) was recorded. We used study early treatment diabetic retinopathy (ETDRS) vision charts to test vision in each eye. Tear film breakup time (TBUT), presence or absence of superficial punctate erosions (SPE), tear film meniscus height, meibomian gland function, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire scores were evaluated.

RESULTS: CMC improved visual acuity in the dry eye group (P < 0.0001). Response operator's curve (ROC) analysis showed that vision improvement of 2 lines or more after tear normalization was associated with an 82.5% (95% CI: 66.6%-92.1%) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI: 89.1%-100%) specificity for dry eye. There was a significant correlation between vision improvement and OSDI score in the dry eye group (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION: The TNT is a highly sensitive and specific test for dry eyes and is available in every eye care professional's office. The more symptomatic the dry eye, the greater the improvement.

About Mark Speaker, M.D., Ph.D.

Mark Speaker, M.D. received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in Manhattan where he served as the Chief Resident. In addition he completed a Fellowship in Corneal and Refractive Surgery at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He has served as the Director of the Cornea Service and Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Cornea Society, the Program Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has received the Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is currently Medical Director of TLC Laser Eye Centers Manhattan. In addition, he is the author of numerous articles and publications in the areas of Corneal Disease, Cornea Transplants, LASIK and Ocular Surface Disease including Dry Eyes and Dry Eye Syndrome.