An overview on dry eye disease diagnosis: options for new non-invasive testing technologies

Abstract

This literature review intends to provide an overview of the new non-invasive testing technologies and their role in the diagnosis of dry eye disease (DED). Including imaging technologies of tear volume, tear film stability, meibomian glands morphology and function, corneal morphology, biomarkers and ocular surface temperature, as well as tear osmolarity, optical quality, blinking test and so on. New testing technologies can provide an indirect and objective assessment of the ocular surface, tear condition and visual quality. Testing technologies, such as tear volume, meibography and tear osmolarity have been widely recognized and applied in clinical practice, showing higher specificity and sensitivity than traditional tests. Others, such as strip meniscometry, interferometer, light scattering technology, double-pass system, blinking test and so on, are currently in the stage of clinical research and improvement, and may translate to routine clinical detection techniques in the future. The new non-invasive testing technologies can non-invasively evaluate the ocular surface and tears, and measure the changes of components related to the disease, which play an important role in the diagnosis, classification, clinical management and curative effect evaluation of DED.