Correlation Analysis of Ocular Symptoms and Signs in Patients with Dry Eye.

Hang Song,Xuemin Li,Xiaodan Hu,Kaixiu Li,Yan Liu,Xiaodan Jiang,Mingzhou Zhang,Huibin Lv

doi:10.1155/2017/1247138

Abstract

Purpose. To analyze the correlations between the ocular surface signs and symptoms in patients with dry eye. Methods. In this observational study, 176 dry eye patients, including 60 males and 116 females, were enrolled and their dry eye symptoms and ocular signs were observed. Partial correlation analysis was conducted between OSDI score and each ocular surface sign, and the correlations were further discussed in different age groups. Then multiple linear regression analysis was used to further explore the influence of these signs on OSDI score. Results. Our correlation analyses showed that rounding of lid margins, notching of lid margins, vascularity of lid margins, hyperkeratinization, plugging of orifices, main duct dropout, and conjunctival congestion all had a positive correlation with OSDI score, while main duct number (central 1 cm) and BUT had a negative one. Further analysis suggested that these correlations varied in different age groups. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that main duct number (central 1 cm), rounding of lid margins, and hyperkeratinization significantly affected OSDI score. Conclusions. Close attention should be paid to the morphology and structure of the eyelid margin and the function of meibomian gland in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of dry eye diseases.

Highlights

Dry eye is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder which is usually caused by chronic inflammation and characterized by tear film instability and increased osmolarity [1, 2]
The symptoms of dry eye disease were assessed with the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), while the signs of each enrolled patient were measured by the same doctor in the following order: tear film, lid margin, meibomian glands, conjunctiva, and cornea
Conjunctiva [10]. according to Institute for Eye Research (IER), conjunctival congestion was graded as 0, 1, 2, or 3; according to LIPCOF (Lid-parallel conjunctival folds) [11, 12], conjunctivochalasis was graded as 0, 1, 2 (2 folds, but the height of the fold was lower than the height of tear film), or 3

Summary

Introduction

Dry eye is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder which is usually caused by chronic inflammation and characterized by tear film instability and increased osmolarity [1, 2]. There are various symptoms in dry eye patients, such as ocular discomfort, fluctuating visual disturbances, and potential damage [3]. These symptoms could cause impairment to the patients’ quality of life [4]. If any part of this functional unit is compromised, the ocular surface will be damaged [5]. The integrity of lacrimal functional unit plays a very important role in maintaining the stability of ocular surface [5, 6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion