Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the correlation between partial blink rate during spontaneous blinking as measured by the LipiView interferometer (TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA) and routine ocular exams for the assessment of dry eye disease (DED).
Methods :
This retrospective study included 58 eyes of patients previously diagnosed with dry eye syndrome. Ocular surface assessment included ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, tear film osmolarity, tear breakup time (TBUT), the overall grade of corneal fluorescein staining test, the Schirmer I test, and dry eye parameters as measured by the LipiView interferometer, including lipid layer thickness of the tear film (LLT), meibomian gland dropout (MGd), number of incomplete and complete blinks per 20 seconds and the partial blinking rate (PBR). Generalized estimation equations (GEE) were used for association testing between each variable of interest. The working correlation for each GEE model was selected using the Corrected Quasi-likelihood under the Independence Model Criterion (QICC).
Results :
Overall, the number of incomplete blinks as measured by the LipiView interferometer was significantly associated with TBUT (P=0.006), OSDI (P=0.000) and MGd (P=0.000). PBR was significantly associated with OSDI (P=0.032) and MGd (P=0.000). The number of complete blinks was significantly associated with TBUT (P=0.018), but not with any other ocular surface parameter. MGd was significantly associated with TBUT (P=0.002) and OSDI measurements (P=0.001). LLT was significantly associated with tear film osmolarity (P=0.000), and tear film osmolarity was significantly associated with LLT (P=0.007).
Conclusions :
Incomplete blinking is associated with TBUT, OSDI, and MGd, possibly through its contribution to meibomian gland obstruction and subsequent loss of tear film homeostasis. It may therefore be considered an additive measure for dry eye assessment.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.