March 2012
Volume 53, Issue 14
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   March 2012
A Novel Method Of Measuring Tear Evaporation Rates Using Infrared Thermography
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Andrea Petznick
    Ocular Surface Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
  • Samantha Sze Yee Lee
    Ocular Surface Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
  • Jen Hong Tan
    School of Engineering, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
  • U. Rajendra Acharya
    School of Engineering, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
    Singapore Institute of Technology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
  • Eddie YK Ng
    School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
  • Louis Tong
    Ocular Surface Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
    Cornea and External Eye Disease Service, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Andrea Petznick, None; Samantha Sze Yee Lee, None; Jen Hong Tan, None; U. Rajendra Acharya, None; Eddie YK Ng, None; Louis Tong, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  NMRC/1206/2009, NMRC/CSA/013/2009, NMRC/CG/SERI/2010, BMRC(TCRP)10/1/35/19/670
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science March 2012, Vol.53, 6302. doi:
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      Andrea Petznick, Samantha Sze Yee Lee, Jen Hong Tan, U. Rajendra Acharya, Eddie YK Ng, Louis Tong; A Novel Method Of Measuring Tear Evaporation Rates Using Infrared Thermography. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2012;53(14):6302.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract
 
Purpose:
 

Dry eye is a very common medical problem and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) may be an aggravating factor. There is no single reliable diagnostic tool to determine the presence and severity of dry eye and MGD. The measurement of dynamic tear evaporation rates would allow for a more objective diagnosis. In this study, we present a novel non-invasive method of measuring tear evaporation rates using infrared thermography that is reliable and able to detect changes after heat therapy.

 
Methods:
 

Infrared thermographic sequential images of ocular surface temperature were recorded from healthy participants (mean age ± SD: 24±7 years) while remaining in a consulting room with a temperature of 22.1±0.8°C and humidity of 63.82±0.02%. 1) Repeatability of the equipment was tested by taking 2 measurements 20 min apart (n=16). 2) Measurements were taken before and 60 min after 5-min heated eye mask wear (Eyegiene®, US) (n=10) to test for changes in ocular surface temperature and tear evaporation.Tear evaporation rates were calculated based on ocular surface temperature profiles and controlled for body and room temperature as well as room humidity using principles of thermodynamics. Statistical comparisons were performed using paired t-test with p<0.05.

 
Results:
 

1) There were significant correlations between the first and second measurements of ocular surface temperature (r=0.94) and tear evaporation rates (r=0.98) (p<0.01). The coefficients of repeatability were 0.42°C for ocular surface temperature and 6.78Wm-2 for tear evaporation rates. 2) Ocular surface temperature before heat therapy was 33.66±0.53°C which significantly decreased to 32.50±0.97°C after heat application (p<0.01). Tear evaporation rates significantly increased from 65.64±12.51 to 78.72±21.53Wm-2 following heat treatment (p<0.01).

 
Conclusions:
 

We established that ocular thermography has a good repeatability in measuring ocular surface temperatures and tear evaporation rates under constant conditions and may therefore present a valuable tool for diagnosing dry eye and MGD. Findings also suggest a drop in ocular surface temperature and an increase in tear evaporation 60 min after heating, but it is possible that vasodilation in ocular tissues may have affected calculations of tear evaporation rates after heating.

 
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • imaging/image analysis: clinical 
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