The assessment of lacrimal film condition in patients with dry eye syndrome during therapy

To evaluate the efficiency of modern imaging methods of meibomian gland ducts and determine the tear film break-up time (TFBUT) during therapy in patients with the secondary dry eye syndrome (SDES) of allergic etiology.

Material and methods. 66 patients aged 38.0 ± 1.5 with SDES after allergic conjunctivitis were examined. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the therapy administered. The main group (n = 33) received Oftalron as tear replacement therapy for 20 days, 2 drops, 2 times a day. The patients of the comparison group (n = 33) used Super Optic HydroBalance for 20 days, 2 drops 2 times a day. The control group consisted of 25 healthy subjects without eye pathology. All subjects underwent Schirmer’s tests I and II, as well as TFBUT and meibography on an automatic refractokeratometer HRK-9000A (Huvitz, Korea).

Results. In both SDES groups, a significant decrease of the OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) in the treatment process was observed (p ≤ 0.05), which corresponded to low intensity of SDES symptoms. In both groups morphofunctional changes of meibomian glands of 1 and 2 stages prevailed. The most significant dynamics was observed in TFBUT results, they were significantly lower in comparison with the similar indexes in the patients of the control group.

Conclusion. Specific modes of autorefractokeratometer HRK-9000A allow receiving objective information about the condition of the tear film and high-quality imaging of meibomian glands, which allow expanding possibilities of complex diagnostics of various forms of DES.

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