Changes in Tear Evaporation Rates After Topical Low–Dose Lipid Eye Ointment Application to Lid Margin

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the change of tear evaporation rates after low–dose lipid eye ointment application to lid margin. Methods: Subjects with dry eye sensations(DE group; 7eyes, 36.0 ± 8.3 years old), soft contact lenses user(SCL group; 7eyes, 28.4 ± 6.7 years old), and normal subjects without dry eye sensation(NE group; 12 eyes, 34.5 ± 8.4 years old) were enrolled in this study. From commercially available topical lipid drugs, ofloxacin eye ointment(Tarivid, Santen Pharmaceutical, Co, Japan) was chosen, and applied to lid margin with minimal low dose. After 5 minutes, the evaporation rates was measured using our new evaporimeter. Results: After the application, tear evaporation rates decreased significantly in all groups; in DE group, from 9.1 ± 4.0 to 6.3 ± 3.9 (10^–7g/cm^.sec , p<0.05), in SCL group,10.9 ± 5.6 to 4.1 ± 2.8 (10^–7g/cm^2.sec, p<0.047), and in NE group, 4.8 ± 1.8 to 3.1 ± 2.0 (10^–7g/cm^2.sec , p<0.0001), respectively. Conclusions:Low–dose ofloxacin eye ointment application to lid margin effectively suppressed tear evaporation rates from the ocular surface in all subjects groups. This treatment may help in suppressing excessive evaporative tear loss leading to decrease dryness possibly due to forming stable lipid layer.

Keywords: lipids • eyelid