Abstract
Purpose :
Screening medical checkups need to be short and safe with high sensitivity and specificity. Strip meniscometry (SM) is a new method to quantify tear volume using meniscometry strips that are inserted into the tear meniscus for 5 s. The dry eye-related quality-of-life score (DEQS) questionnaire consists of 15 questions. It has questions covering ocular symptoms and their impact on daily life. Both examinations require a short time period and are suitable as screening tests. We have evaluated the efficacy and safety of SM and DEQS as screening tests for DE disease during general health checkups.
Methods :
In total, 333 right eyes of 333 soldiers (331 males and 2 females) who had a health checkup at Yokosuka Medical Squadron between November 2013 and December 2013 were enrolled. The mean age was 42.8 +/- 8.8 years. Subjects wearing contact lenses were excluded. All subjects were requested to complete the DEQS questionnaire. Also, the fluorescein tear film break-up time (FTBUT), and the fluorescein and rose bengal staining were assessed. A score of greater than 15 in the DEQS and less than 5 mm in the SM was considered positive.
Results :
According to the Japanese DE diagnostic criteria, 35 (11%) soldiers were diagnosed to have definite DE. The sensitivity of SM for diagnosed DE was 38% and specificity was 88%. The sensitivity of DEQS for diagnosed DE was 76% and specificity was 92%. The sensitivity of SM+DEQS for diagnosed DE was 27% and specificity was 100%. Only one (0.003%) of the enrolled subjects complained of eye pain or discomfort during the SM, but the individual was suffering conjunctivochalasis at the time.
Conclusions :
The results show that the SM and DEQS were useful and noninvasive for DE screening during the health check-up.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.