The association between symptoms, break-up time, osmolarity and tear film thickness in patients with dry eye syndrome.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between symptoms, break-up time, osmolarity and tear film thickness in patients with dry eye syndrome.

Methods: In the present study 52 patients diagnosed with dry eye syndrome in the age range from 18 to 68 years were included. The inclusion criteria were wide: At least 2 symptoms of dry eye syndrome (foreign body sensation, burning, photophobia, blurred vision, pain, itching) and/or tear break up time < 10 seconds. Only the worse eye was included for data analysis. In all patients break-up time (BUT), tear film thickness using a custom-built optical coherence tomography (OCT) system and tear film osmolarity were measured. In addition the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was assessed in all subjects. All examinations were performed after restraining from administration of topical lubricants in the 24 hours before the study day.

Results: In the 40 female and 12 male patients BUT was 5.8 ± 2.0 s, tear film thickness was 4.1 ± 1.9 µm, tear film osmolarity was 299 ± 9 mOsm/l and OSDI was 28.9 ± 17.6. Generally the association between OSDI and the measured variables was weak. No significant association was found between OSDI and either BUT of tear film osmolarity. A weak negative correlation was found between OSDI and tear film thickness (r = -0.34, P = 0.014).

Conclusions: Generally the association between signs and symptoms in patients with dry eyes syndrome is weak. Higher OSDi is associated with thinner tear film thickness but not with BUT or tear film osmolarity in this cohort of patients.

Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • 474 conjunctiva • 421 anterior segment