Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Floppy eyelid syndrome frequently presents nonspecific symptoms of irritation, redness, or dryness. We speculate that one contributing factor to these symptoms is the change in water evaporation from the ocular surface and the lid skin. Methods: We used a ventilated chamber system from Kao, which houses a highly sensitive humidity senser, to measure the kinetic changes of water evaporation rate from the orbital skin surface (Jskin) and the ocular surface (Jeye) in 12 patients with floppy eyelid syndrome and 13 normal subjects. We correlated these data with the orbital skin surface temperature measured by infrared thermography. Data of the average of the two eyes were analyzed. Results: The Jskin (10–7g/cm2·sec) was 15.9 ± 5.8 in floppy eyelid patients, which was significantly higher than 11.9 ± 1.8 in normal subjects (P=0.04, Student’s t–test). The Jeye (10–7g/cm2·sec) was 78.2 ± 27.7 in floppy eyelid patients, which was significantly higher than 39.3 ± 13.6 in normal subjects (P=0.0005). The orbital skin surface temperature in the patients group was 33.4 ± 0.5 oC, which was significantly higher than 32.9 ± 0.3 oC in normal subjects (P=0.04). When the data taken from the eyelid skin showing the same temperature range were analyzed, Jskin (10–7g/cm2·sec) was 18.8 ± 5.4 in floppy eyelid patients, which was still higher than 11.9 ± 1.8 in normal subjects (P=0.01). Conclusions: Accompanied the floppy change of eyelids, there is a significant increased of water evaporation and temperature of the lid skin, indicating that besides the ocular surface, the eyelid skin of floppy eyelid patients is also altered. Further correlation with their tear function and lipid film may provide pathogenic understanding of ocular irritation in floppy eyelid syndrome.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • clinical laboratory testing • eyelid