Abstract
Purpose: :
After surgery for conjunctivochalasis the subjective displeasure of patients will decrease, but it was not enough to evaluate the efficacy of treatment in terms of only subjective satisfaction of patients for surgery. We objectively investigated the efficacy of treatment for conjunctivochalasis using "Tear Stability Analysis System (TSAS)"
Methods: :
The TSAS can take 10 consecutive corneal topograms at one per second for 10 seconds. Break up index (BUI) means tear stability calculated from the data of TSAS. Examinations using the TSAS were conducted at pre and 1, 3 months after operation in 12 eyes of 11 patients of conjunctivochalasis treated by surgical conjunctivectomy without any complications, as well as Schirmer test and Break Up Time(BUT) measurement.
Results: :
Mean Schirmer score changed from 9.71 mm to 8.60 mm after operation, but has no significant difference. Otherwise mean BUT increased from 5.45 sec. to 7.00 sec. with significant difference. Mean BUI also increased from 38.93 to 51.49 with significant difference.
Conclusions: :
The increase of BUI after surgery for conjunctivochalasis could objectively showed tear stability would be better than pre operation. Then it is another effective way to evaluate the efficacy of surgery than subjective way like interview for satisfaction of patients. Moreover if we have the patients of conjunctivochalasis with low BUI, we will be able to decide the indication for surgical treatment more confidently, because patients' complaining really causes from their tear instability and it will be able to become better after surgery.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • conjunctiva