Abstract
This study aims at determining the thickness of the tear lipid layer (LL) observed from a placido-disc-based tear film analyzer. We prospectively collected reflections of placido-disk LL images using a tear film analyzer (Keratograph® 5M, Oculus) from subjects with dry eye symptoms. The LL thickness (LLT) over the inferior half of the cornea was estimated with the use of interference color analysis and the preprocessing of images with and without ring segmentation were obtained and analyzed. Moreover, LLTs before and after 1 h of applying topical ointment (Duratears, Alcon) were compared to validate the estimation of LLT. Our results suggested that the tear LLT can be assessed using a placido-disk-based tear film analyzer and interference color analysis. We verified a high correlation between non-segmented and segmented LL images and estimated LLT increase after applying ointment. In addition, we concluded that LLT can be evaluated by direct interference analysis without segmentation preprocessing.
Highlights
[1] Dysfunction of any layer of the tear film will lead to dry eye disease (DED), which affects approximately 50% of the population worldwide
We found the dynamic LL thickness (LLT) of pre-segmentation was thicker than that of the post-segmentation for the 2 subjects, whereas the LLT had the same trend between pre- and post-segmentation for the same case
We found Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to be very high at the 3 representative time points (Figure 7), which means that this method has excellent reliability
Summary
[1] Dysfunction of any layer of the tear film will lead to dry eye disease (DED), which affects approximately 50% of the population worldwide. Surface Society in the Dry Eye WorkShop (TFOS DEWS) II redefined DED as a multifactorial disease characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film. [6] In addition, Goto and Tseng compared LL between normal subjects and patients with lipid tear deficiency by a DR-1 grading system (Kowa Co., Nagoya, Japan). A placido disk-based tear film analyzer (Keratograph® 5M, Oculus; K5M), incorporating reflection topography and several kinds of tests for assessing dry eye, including tear dynamic LL examination, non-invasive keratograph break-up time (NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), has been used in the evaluation of DED patients. The effect of the intrinsic dark ring background of K5M on evaluating LL performance has not been clearly elucidated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
