Abstract
Purpose :
Previous work (Reuff et al.; Optom Vis Sci 2015; 92: 214-221) has reported changes in oculomotor function (primarily differences in accommodation) between dry eye and non-dry eye subjects. However, because the subjects tested were all contact lenses wearers, it is unclear whether the effect was actually caused by the presence of dry eye or the method of refractive correction. Accordingly, the present study evaluated oculomotor function in groups of dry eye subjects who were either habitual contact lens or spectacle wearers.
Methods :
Ocular accommodation and vergence were tested in four groups of myopic individuals (each N = 20), namely contact lens and spectacle wearers, with and without dry eye. Habitual contact lens wear was defined as wearing lenses for at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Accommodation parameters tested included amplitude, facility and lag, while vergence was assessed by measuring the near point of convergence, horizontal vergence ranges at both distance and near and associated phoria. Additionally, dry eye was quantified using the OSDI questionnaire, tear break-up time, phenol red test and tear meniscus height.
Results :
Significant differences in the mean values of accommodative lag (mean difference = 0.28D; p<0.001), monocular (mean difference = 2.4cpm; p=0.004) and binocular accommodative facility (mean difference = 2.4cpm; p=0.005) were observed between the contact lens and spectacle wearers, independent of dry eye status. In all cases, accommodative function was superior in the contact lens group. However, the only significant variation found between the dry eye and non-dry eye groups was for amplitude of accommodation (mean difference = 0.63D; p=0.03). No significant difference was noted between the mean values of the other oculomotor parameters tested.
Conclusions :
Previously reported differences in oculomotor function produced by dry eye appear to be a function of contact lens wear, which will reduce the stimulus to accommodation in myopic individuals when compared with spectacle wearers. These results do not support the proposal that the presence of dry eye alters accommodation and/or vergence function.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.