Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate ocular scattering as a function of optical quality measured with optical quality analysis system (OQAS) in patients with mild to moderate dry eye disease (DED) and to analyze the pattern of change after lubricant eyedrops instillation.
Methods: :
Twenty five subjects with mild to moderate DED were included in the study and participate in a single visit evaluation. Before instillation, subjects completed a dry eye questionnaire (ocular surface disease index -OSDI-) to evaluate symptoms of dry eye. Tear Break Up Time (TBUT), Schirmer’s I Test and Corneal Staining were measured in both eyes to evaluate the signs of dry eye. Ocular Scattering Index (OSI), a measure of the optical quality of the eye, was evaluated in intervals of 0.5 seconds during 20 seconds without blinking. Then, one lubricating eye drop (Blink intensive, Abott) was instilled in the right eye and OSI and OSI change rate (OSICR) were measured after 5, 10, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. We also included ten normal healthy eyes as a control group.
Results: :
OSI significantly increased in DED patients versus control healthy group. OSICR decreased significantly from baseline after artificial tear instillation in all time points in patients with DED (p<0.001 until 45 minutes and p<0.01 at 60 minutes). There were no statistical significant differences when comparing OSICR after lubricating eye drops instillation in every study points, except between 45 and 60 minutes (p<0.01). There was a statistical significant correlation between all dry eye parameters except corneal staining score.
Conclusions: :
Lubricating eye drops improved ocular scattering as a measure of optical quality in patients with mild to moderate dry eye at least until 60 minutes after instillation.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • optical properties • quality of life