51835
document
Comparison of two artificial tear formulations for dry eye through high-resolution optical coherence tomography . PURPOSE The aim was to determine the efficacy of two artificial eye-drop formulations by analysing the lower tear film meniscus volume through a commercial high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomographer . METHODS Twenty dry eye patients ( 12 men , eight women , aged 57.5 ± 8.4 years ) with refractive errors from -2.50 to +0.75 D ( mean -1.34 ± 1.02 D ) and cylinders lower than 1.00 D were examined . Tear meniscus volume was measured before , immediately after and 10 , 30 and 60 minutes after instillation using the Copernicus high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomographer ( Optopol Tech SA , Zawiercie , Poland ) . Volume was calculated from the local area obtained from tomograms considering a regular distribution of the tear meniscus across the eyelid . Ten subjects were randomly assigned to first receive either polyethylene glycol ( Blink Intensive , Abbot Medical Optics Inc , CA , USA ) or hypromellose ( Artific , Farma-Lepori SA , Barcelona , Spain ) three times daily in both eyes for one month . Measures were then repeated and after a one-week wash-out period they were switched to the other eye-drop for another month . RESULTS Mean baseline volume was 0.38 ± 0.10 µL , while mean baseline volume after the wash-out period was slightly higher , 0.39 ± 0.10 µL ( p = 0.638 ) . Analysis of variance showed significant differences in meniscus volume with time after instillation with both formulations ( p < 0.001 ) , mean volume decreasing with time . At 30 and 60 minutes following instillation , values decreased to almost baseline ( average difference 0.02 ± 0.03 µL at t ( 30 ) , p = 0.016 and 0.01 ± 0.01 µL at t ( 60 ) , p = 0.098 ) . CONCLUSION An increase in tear film meniscus volume in dry eyes from the use of eye-drops has been shown . High resolution imaging of lower tear film meniscus with clinical optical coherence tomography systems provides useful measures of tear volume . Both formulations assessed in the present study are efficient in increasing tear meniscus volume and reducing dry eye signs and symptoms , although results in terms of increase in meniscus volume were higher with the polyethylene glycol formulation .
51836
Intervention_Physical
artificial tear formulations
51837
Intervention_Pharmacological
two artificial eye-drop formulations
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Outcome_Physical
Tear meniscus volume