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Non invasive tear film break‐up time and blinking
Author(s) -
NEPP J
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.2472.x
Subject(s) - ophthalmology , limits of agreement , mathematics , slit lamp , medicine , optometry , nuclear medicine
Purpose The break‐up time of the tear film for evaluation of dry eyes is performed with fluorescein in blue light of the slit lamp. Errors may occure by the observer and has to be repeated for accurat results. The BUT can also be seen with a Keratograph 4 (KG‐BUT). In this pilot‐study we want to evaluate the measurements with KG‐BUT in patients with dry eyes. The Fluorescein‐BUT (FL‐BUT) and the KG‐BUT was compared and we observed the correlation of both kinds of BUT with the Lid‐opening‐time LOT. So we wanted to find out, if the KG‐BUT is more accurate compared to the FL‐BUT. Methods 17 eyes of 10 patients were observed. The keratograph 4 of Oculus was used for measurements, five times for each eye. Than the measurement of the LOT was done in ten blink‐intervalls. At last the FL‐BUT was measured at the slit lamp, three time repeated. The BUT was performed single blinded by two different observers. We compared the mean time of each patient of KG‐BUT with Fl‐BUT and both with the LOT . For statistic analysis the Pearson correlation was used. Results The Fl‐BUT was 4,2 sec average, (0,7‐8sec for single patients, stdev 1,8) the KG‐BUT 5,6 sec average (1,2‐14,5sec; stdev 4,13). The LOT was 3,6 sec average (1,75 ‐6,3sec; stdev 1,8). There was no significant correlation between Fl‐BUT and KG‐BUT (R: ‐20),no correlation between LOT and KG BUT (R:8). There was a positive correlation between Fl‐BUT and LOT (R: 50). Conclusion This pilot study point at a relation of Fl‐BUT with the lid opening time LOT. The clinic observation seemes to be more accurate than the measurement with the Keratograph. But as the KG‐BUT is independent from the observer and without contact further observations have to be performed additionally.