Abstract
Purpose: :
To establish whether there is a correlation between dry eye symptoms, age and gender, a difference in symptom intensity in different times of the day, which test (Schirmer or TBUT) better correlates with dry eye sympoms, whether it is possible to reliably use cheap, easy to use hygrometer in everyday clinical setting, and finally whether there is statistically significant correlation between applied tests (TBUT, Schirmer and hygrometry).
Methods: :
Subjects: 45 in group without dry eye related symptoms, and 45 in group with symptoms. Examination included structured case history (questionnaire), slit lamp examination with fluoresceine staining, periocular hygrometry, TBUT test and Schirmer test.
Results: :
Statistically significant difference between groups was found regarding TBUT and Schirmer test values (P<0,001). No such difference was found regarding hygrometry values.
Conclusions: :
Hygrometry, as it was performed here, did not prove to be a reliable and accurate method in dry eye diagnostics. No statistically significant correlation was found between TBUT, Schirmer and hygrometry results in group with symptoms, so it may be concluded that these tests do not measure the same parameters of tear film function.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye