The Effect of Low Humidity on the Human Tear Film

Seasonal variations and environmental influences on dry eye operations in Japan

The surface of the eye is constantly exposed to the external environment and is affected by atmospheric conditions and air pollution, and dry eye is a typical ocular surface disease. The aim of this study is to determine whether there are seasonal differences in the number of dry eye operations in Japan and to investigate whether meteorological conditions and air pollutants are related to. The operations were examined using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) database from fiscal years 2019 to 2021. Temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, volume humidity, wind speed, sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides X (NOX), photochemical oxidants (OX), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) were considered. The number of dry eye operations was significantly higher in winter than in summer. (p = 0.0023) No significant differences were found among the other seasons. Volume humidity and temperature were strongly negative correlated, NOX and atmospheric pressure were strongly positive correlated.

Digital Applications for Videoterminal-Associated Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease (DED) has become increasingly prevalent in the digital era, largely due to prolonged screen exposure. The excessive use of digital devices contributes to inappropriate blink frequency and dynamics, leading to ocular surface dryness and discomfort. Additionally, digital screen use has broader implications for systemic health, including visual strain, headaches, and disrupted circadian rhythms caused by blue light exposure. Previous studies have shown that prolonged screen time correlates with altered blink frequency and increased symptom severity in DED patients, exacerbating the imbalance in tear film production and evaporation. Blinking dynamics, particularly blink rate and completeness, are crucial in maintaining ocular surface moisture. Incomplete blinking impairs meibomian gland function, reducing lipid secretion, which is essential for preventing tear evaporation. Raising patient awareness through educational material, ergonomic adjustments, and blinking exercises has been shown to mitigate these effects. Digital tools that provide targeted educational interventions can be particularly effective in improving blink dynamics and overall ocular comfort. This study evaluates the efficacy of digital applications in optimizing blinking dynamics and enhancing tear film stability. The findings suggest that these innovations improve patient outcomes by encouraging healthier eye care practices. However, further research is needed to assess their long-term impact across diverse populations.

A comparative study on the lipid layer thickness analysis of medical staff before and after work

Background & Aims

To study the change of the lipid layer thickness analysis in medical staff (MS) before and after work, and to explore the significance of measuring lipid layer thickness (LLT) respectively in four quadrants.

Methods

Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and video display terminal using time for 55 MS were collected (the informed consent was obtained from all patients). Noninvasive tear break-up time, LLT, tear meniscus height (TMH), meibomian glands (MG) dropout, and blink pattern before and after work (worked for more than 4 h) of 110 eyes were measured by Gaush iDea Ocular surface analyzer. Lid margin abnormalities were evaluated by the slit-lamp microscopy.

Results

The average OSDI score of 55 MS was 25.68 ± 14.91. The average LLT of 110 eyes after work (65.12 ± 3.63 nm) was significantly reduced compared to before work (66.54 ± 4.16 nm), p < 0.05. The LLT in the superior quadrant was significantly thinner than that in the other three quadrants, p < 0.01. The average LLT was positively correlated with the LLT in the inferior (r = 0.822, p < 0.001), nasal (r = 0.261, p < 0.001), and temporal quadrant (r = 0.372, p < 0.001), while was negatively correlated with the MG dropout in lower lid (r = -0.209, p = 0.002). There was a significant correlation between the LLT in the inferior quadrant and the VDTt (r = -0.173, p = 0.01). The LLT of inferior quadrant were positively related to the TMH (r = 0.149, p = 0.027) and negatively related to MG dropout in lower lid (r = -0.162, p = 0.017).

Conclusion

The LLT significantly decreases after work in MS. The distribution of the lipid layer on the ocular surface is uneven. It is unreasonable for current detection instruments to measure the inferior quadrant LLT alone to represent average LLT.

Demographic and lifestyle factors associated with dry eye disease in China: A cross-sectional multi-center study

PURPOSE

Associations were assessed between demographic/lifestyle factors and tear film breakup time (TBUT) defined dry eye disease (DED) in China.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study involved 50,280 subjects (54 ± 17 y) in 217 clinics (25 provinces). Data included sleep disorders; digital screen exposure; and use of cosmetics, contact lenses, and eye drops (for asthenopia). Clinical examinations included TBUT; Schirmer I test; meibomian gland plug status. TBUT-defined DED was TBUT <10 s, with TBUT ≤5 s also considered (i.e., short TBUT-type DED), either unilateral or bilateral.

RESULTS

TBUT-defined DED was present in 81.6 % overall. The highest rates were in those 71 years or older, living in the north, with chronic daily sleep disorder, or daily cosmetic application; or daily digital screen exposure for 5 years, contact lenses 4 h, or 3 months eye drops. Compared with those without TBUT-defined DED, those with TBUT-defined DED showed lower Schirmer I results and more severe meibomian gland plug status (each, P < 0.001). Independent risk factors of DED were: aging; living in the southwest; daily digital screen exposure ≥3 h; and occasional cosmetic use. Risk factors of DED TBUT ≤5 s were: living in the southwest; wearing contact lenses (>3 y); and using eye drops. Rates of unilateral and bilateral DED were comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

DED in China is more likely in the aged and those in the north/southwest. DED rates increase with digital screen exposure, and use of cosmetics, contact lenses, or eye drops for asthenopia. Unilateral DED should be treated as promptly as bilateral.

Effects of Air Pollution and Meteorological Conditions on DED: Associated Manifestations and Underlying Mechanisms

This study aims to explore the associations and the underlying mechanism among dry eye disease (DED), air pollution, and meteorological conditions. DED is positively correlated with air pollutants (i.e., PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO, and SO2) and meteorological conditions (i.e., high altitude and wind speed), while negatively associated with relative humidity. Both low and high air temperatures effect DED. Atmospheric pollutants affect DED mainly through necroptosis or autophagy, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. Meteorological factors affect DED not only by their own affects but also by dispersing the concentration of air pollutants, and then reducing the negative exposure. In summary, this review may expand the understanding of the effects of air pollution and meteorological factors on DED and emphasize the importance of air environmental protection.

Efficacy of hydroxypropyl-guar drops in improving tear film index and ocular surface dynamics using two treatment methods under a controlled desiccating environment

AIM

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of hp-guar eye drops on tear film index and ocular surface dynamics under desiccating conditions using protection and relief treatment modalities.

METHODOLOGY

The 12 normal, non-dry eye participants were subjected to adverse environmental conditions using a Controlled Environment Chamber (CEC) where the relative humidity (RH) was 5% and the ambient temperature was 21 °C. The participants were screened for ocular symptoms, tear osmolarity, ocular surface temperature (OST), tear production using the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI), OcuSense TearLab Osmometer, FLIR System ThermaCAM P620, and Schirmer strips. Tear production was calculated by the Tear Function Index test (TFI).

RESULTS

The mean tear film osmolarity decreased significantly from 296 mOsm/L at 40% RH to 285 mOsm/L at 5% RH (p = 0.01). Conflicting responses were seen for osmolarity in protection and relief. Mean tear osmolarity was significantly higher in the protection method in comparison to the relief method (p = 0.005). The mean TFI increased from 557 at 40% to 854 at 5% (p = 0.02). A significant increase in TFI was observed in the relief method in comparison with both 40% (p = 0.001) and 5% (p = 0.04). In the relief method, the mean TFI score went up to 1139 when hp-guar was installed. A significant improvement in ocular comfort was experienced in both the protection (p = 0.041) and relief (p = 0.010) methods at 5% RH. The instillation of hp-guar drops in the relief method resulted in a significant reduction in OST. The mean OST dropped to 33.01 ºC, significantly lower than the recorded OST for both normal (p = 0.040) and dry (p = 0.014) environmental conditions.

CONCLUSION

Hp-guar drops significantly improve tear film parameters under a desiccating environment, however, tear film parameters respond differently to the management modalities. In the protection method, tear film osmolarity was protected against a dry environment, while in the relief mode, an improvement in tear production and a decrease in ocular surface temperature were seen. Hp-guar performance could be maximized for the management of exposure to adverse environments by using a treatment protocol that targets the most affected parameters in each group of patients. Using CEC has the potential to provide researchers with a readily available method to evaluate the efficiency of tear supplementation.

Reduced tear fluid production in neurological diseases: a cohort study in 708 patients

BACKGROUND

Tear fluid (TF) production is an important component of normal ocular function. It is regulated by parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation. Because parasympathetic nerve fibers originate in the brainstem, pathology in this brain region may affect TF production. For example, a reduction in TF production has been described in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

TF was collected at one center from 772 individuals, 708 of which were patients with different neurological diseases, and 64 healthy controls. Wetting lengths (WL) were recorded using Schirmer test strips with a collection time of 10 min.

RESULTS

WL correlated negatively with age and was significantly reduced in subgroups of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) (PD, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), other motor neuron diseases (MNDs)), as well as inflammatory/autoimmune/infectious central nervous system (CNS) diseases and vascular CNS diseases (VCDs), even if corrected for age or sex. While temperature had a significant negative effect on TF production, other environmental factors, such as hours of sunlight and humidity, did not.

CONCLUSION

WL was altered in many neurological diseases compared to healthy controls. Most importantly, we observed a reduction of WL in NDDs, independent of age or sex. This study highlights the potential of WL as an easily obtainable parameter and suggests functional alterations in the autonomic innervation in various neurological disorders.

Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of Emustil drops for ocular discomfort and tear film osmolarity using different treatment management modes under dry environmental conditions

BACKGROUND

We aimed to check the efficacy of Emustil (oil in water emulsion) drops on tear film index and ocular surface dynamics in dry environments through protection and relief treatment modalities.

METHODS

The subjects were exposed to a dry environment using a Controlled Environment Chamber (CEC) where the relative humidity (RH) was 5% and the temperature was 21 °C and screened for ocular symptoms, tear osmolarity, ocular surface temperature (OST) and tear production using ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI), OcuSense TearLab Osmometer, FLIR System ThermaCAM P620 and Schirmer strips/phenol red test respectively. Tear production was calculated by the Tear Function Index test (TFI).

RESULTS

The mean tear film osmolarity decreased significantly from 296.8 mOsm/l at 40% RH to 291 mOsm/l at 5%. (p = 0.01). Instillation of Emustil resulted in a significant increase in tear osmolarity in the relief method compared with osmolarity seen at 5% RH when no drop was used. The mean PRT value decreased from 26 ± 9 in normal conditions (40% RH) to 22 ± 4 mm in dry conditions (5% RH). Emustil drops did not induce any significant change in tear production in the PRT test. No significant change was found in OST following exposure to 5% RH. OST did not show a statistically significant change with the emulsion when used for relief (p > 0.05). The mean score of ocular discomfort observed was 70 at 5% RH. Still, the instillation of the oil-in-water emulsion (Emustil) resulted in a noticeable decrease in visual discomfort to 37 (p = 0.00) in protection and 59 in relief (p = 0.05). Emustil drops substantially improved tear film parameters under a desiccating environment, however, tear film parameters respond differently to the management modalities. In the protection method, tear film osmolarity was protected against a dry environment, while in the relief mode, tear production was improved.

CONCLUSION

CEC allows for a thorough evaluation of tear film parameters and dry eye treatment protocols in labs, providing greater confidence when applying them to patients. In addition, our study showed that Emustil not only provides protection and relief for dry eyes but also helps to maintain ocular homeostasis in desiccating environments. This indicates a promising potential for improving dry eye treatment protocols.

New advances in medical management of dry eye: optimizing treatment strategies for enhanced relief

PURPOSE

Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent ocular surface disease that is conventionally characterized by tear film hyperosmolarity and instability. This review presents a summarized classification of DED, followed by a comprehensive discussion of the most recent topical and systemic medications and clinical recommendations for selecting the most appropriate option for each patient.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted on electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, using keywords including "dry eye syndrome," "ocular surface disease," "medical management," "artificial tears," "topical immunomodulators," and "meibomian gland dysfunction."

RESULTS

The underlying reasons for DED can range from insufficient aqueous tear production to increased tear evaporation. Recent literature has provided a more in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of DED by examining the tear film's lipid, aqueous, and mucin layers. However, despite these advancements, medical management of patients with symptomatic DED has not fully reflected this modernized knowledge of its pathophysiology.

CONCLUSION

To develop a rationalized strategy for treating DED, it is crucial to have updated knowledge of therapeutic options, their mechanisms of actions, and indications based on the DED type and underlying causes.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Influence of Temperature and Humidity on Dry Eye Disease

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of humidity and temperature on dry eye disease (DED).

METHODS

A retrospective, clinic-based study was conducted on DED patients undergoing dry eye treatment. Patients were followed up at least twice, and symptoms and signs were evaluated using the Symptoms Assessment Questionnaire in Dry Eye (SANDE) score, tear secretion, tear film breakup time (TBUT), ocular staining score, and tear osmolarity. Mean humidity and temperature values for 1 week before ocular examinations were used as the environmental exposure level. The relationship between humidity and temperature, with DED clinical parameters was analyzed in single- and multi-environmental factor models.

RESULTS

The study included 33 patients with a mean age of 53.9 ± 12.2 years. The low humidity group showed significantly higher SANDE scores (p = 0.023) and tear osmolarity (p = 0.008), and the low temperature group had higher SANDE scores (p = 0.004), ocular staining scores (p = 0.036), and tear osmolarity (p < 0.001). In the linear mixed model, single factor analysis showed that an increase in humidity resulted in decreased SANDE scores (p = 0.043), and an increase in temperature led to a decrease in SANDE score (p = 0.007), ocular staining score (p = 0.007), and tear osmolarity (p = 0.012). In the multifactor analysis, changes in humidity had no significant effect on dry eye parameters, but an increase in temperature was significantly correlated with decreased SANDE score (p = 0.026), ocular staining score (p = 0.024), and tear osmolarity (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower temperature led to aggravated symptoms and signs of DED and the effect of temperature on DED was more pronounced than humidity. Tear osmolarity was the most sensitive clinical parameter to be affected by climate factors in DED patients.

Determining the effect of climate and profession on dry eye disease: A prevalence study among young males in north, north-west and central India

Background

Ocular tear film and the ocular surface together represent a dynamic playground of various protective factors against environmental influencers. Surrounding environment and geoclimatic milieu are the pertinent and continuous influencing factors. Prevalence study of Dry eye disease (DED) in various climatic conditions and professions provides an insight into this peculiar aspect of DED and human geography.

Methods

This was a hospital based, cross-sectional, comparative, analytical observational study. 1840 young soldiers between 25 and 45 years of age were studied. Divided in five climate groups based on Köppen-Geiger climate classification system the subjects were sub-grouped into professions exposed to known aggravating environmental factors. The ocular surface was examined for signs and symptoms of DED and its prevalence and risk ratio for different climates and professions were calculated.

Results

Highest prevalence of DED was found in cold desert climate and among visual display unit (VDU) users. Least prevalence was seen in highland type of climate and among people involved in professional exposed to high temperature. Prevalence of DED based upon the signs and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) was calculated and stratified with risk ratio for climatic conditions and professions.

Conclusion

Different climatic conditions and professions had different prevalence of signs, symptoms of OSD and DED which indicated its influence on prevalence of the disease.

Human cornea-derived extracellular matrix hydrogel for prevention of post-traumatic corneal scarring: A translational approach

Corneal scarring and opacification are a significant cause of blindness affecting millions worldwide. The current standard of care for corneal blindness is corneal transplantation, which suffers from several drawbacks. One alternative approach that has shown promise is the use of xenogeneic corneal extracellular matrix (ECM), but its clinical applicability is challenging due to safety concerns. This study reports the innovative use of human cornea-derived ECM to prevent post-traumatic corneal scarring. About 30 - 40% of corneas donated to the eye banks do not meet the standards defined for clinical use and are generally discarded, although they are completely screened for their safety. In this study, human cornea-derived decellularized ECM hydrogel was prepared from the non-transplantation grade human cadaveric corneas obtained from an accredited eye-bank. The prepared hydrogel was screened for its efficacy against corneal opacification following an injury in an animal model. Our in vivo study revealed that, the control collagen-treated group developed corneal opacification, while the prophylactic application of human cornea-derived hydrogel effectively prevented corneal scarring and opacification. The human hydrogel-treated corneas were indistinguishable from healthy corneas and comparable to those treated with the xenogeneic bovine corneal hydrogel. We also demonstrated that the application of the hydrogel retained the biological milieu including cell behavior, protein components, optical properties, curvature, and nerve regeneration by remodeling the corneal wound after injury. The hydrogel application is also sutureless, resulting in faster corneal healing. We envision that this human cornea-derived ECM-based hydrogel has potential clinical application in preventing scarring from corneal wounding. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: There are significant challenges surrounding corneal regeneration after injury due to extensive scarring. Although there is substantial research on corneal regeneration, much of it uses synthetic materials with chemical cross-linking methods or xenogeneic tissue-based material devices which have to undergo exhaustive safety analysis before clinical trials. Herein, we demonstrate the potential application of a human corneal extracellular matrix hydrogel without any additional materials for scarless corneal tissue regeneration, and a method to reduce the wasting of donated allogenic corneal tissue from eye banks. We found no difference in efficacy between the usage of human tissues compared to xenogeneic sources. This may help ease clinical translation and can be used topically without sutures as an outpatient procedure.

Protecting Tear-Film Stability under Adverse Environmental Conditions Using a Mucomimetic with a Non-Newtonian Viscosity Agent

Background and Objectives: Tamarind-seed polysaccharide (TSP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have mucoadhesive properties that improve drug absorption and delay in drug elimination from the ocular surface. We aimed to evaluate TSP/HA-containing formulation for its efficiency in dry-eye symptoms induced by adverse environments and the interaction between mucomimic polymer and tear-film parameters. Materials and Methods: The participants were exposed to 5% relative humidity (RH) in a Controlled Environment Chamber (CEC) under constant room temperature (21 °C). Tear-film parameters were assessed at 40% RH and 5% RH. Rohto Dry Eye Relief drops were used in the two treatment modalities, protection (drops instilled before exposure to the dry environment) and relief (drops instilled after exposure to the dry environment). The HIRCAL grid, Servomed EP3 Evaporimeter, and Keeler's TearScope-Plus were used to screen for non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT), tear evaporation rate, and lipid-layer thickness (LLT) using protection and relief treatment methodology. Results: LLT was found to be significantly thinner at 5% RH compared with at 40% RH (p = 0.007). The median LLT dropped from 50-70 nm (grade 3) at 40% RH to 10-50 nm (grade 2) at 5% RH. TSP/HA eye drops significantly augment LLT in both treatment modalities, protection (p = 0.01) and relief (p = 0.004) at 5% RH. The mean evaporation rate doubled from 40.93 at 40% RH to 82.42 g/m2/h after exposure to 5% RH. In protection mode, the TSP/HA allowed the average evaporation rate to be much lower than when no TSP/HA was used at 5% RH (p < 0.008). No alteration in evaporation rate was recorded when the TSP/HA drop was used after exposure (relief). The mean NITBUT was reduced from 13 s in normal conditions to 6 s in the dry environment. Instillation of TSP/HA eye drops resulted in significant improvement (p = 0.006) in tear stability, where the NITBUT increased to 8 s in both protection (before exposure) and relief (after exposure) (p = 0.001). Although improved, these values were still significantly lower than NITBUT observed at 40% RH. Conclusions: Significant protection of tear-film parameters was recorded post instillation of TSP/HA eye drop under a desiccating environment. Both treatment methods (protection and relief) were shown to be effective. The presence of TSP/HA enhances the effectiveness of teardrops in protecting the tear-film parameters when exposed to adverse environments.

Investigation of Inter- and Intra-Day Variability of Tear Fluid Regarding Flow Rate, Protein Concentration as well as Protein Composition

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to present the determination of inter- and intra-day variations in tear flow rate, and tear fluid protein concentration, as well as protein composition regarding their impact for future biomarker studies.

Methods

Tear fluid was collected noninvasively from 18 healthy subjects by performing Schirmer tests at 4 different time points repetitive in a period of 2 days. The tear flow rate on the Schirmer test strips was measured. Proteins were extracted from strips and quantified using amino acid analysis. Protein composition was analyzed by the strips data-independent (DIA) based mass spectrometry. To exclude any impairments to health, volunteers underwent a detailed neurological as well as an ophthalmological examination.

Results

Whether tear fluid was collected from oculus sinister or oculus dexter did not affect the tear flow rate (P ≈ 0.63) or protein concentration (P ≈ 0.97) of individual subjects. Moreover, protein concentration was independent from the tear volume, so that a change in volume may only influence the total protein amount. When the examination days were compared, investigation of tear flow rate (P ≈ 0.001) and protein concentration (P ≈ 0.0003) indicated significant differences. Further, mass spectrometric analysis of tear fluid revealed 11 differentially regulated proteins when comparing both examination days.

Conclusions

Our findings provide evidence of inter-day variation in tear flow rate, tear proteome concentration, and composition in healthy subjects, suggesting that inter-day variation needs to be taken into consideration in biomarker research of tear fluid. Identified proteins were assigned to functions in the immune response, oxidative and reducing processes, as well as mannose metabolism.

The environment and dry eye-manifestations, mechanisms, and more

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition that often presents with chronic symptoms of pain (that can be characterized as "dryness," "burning," and "irritation," to name a few) and/or fluctuating or poor-quality vision. Given its multifactorial nature, several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been identified that can underlie symptoms, including tear film, ocular surface, and/or corneal somatosensory nerve abnormalities. Research has focused on understanding how environmental exposures can increase the risk for DED flares and negatively impact the tear film, the ocular surface, and/or nerve health. Given that DED is a common condition that negatively impacts physical and mental functioning, managing DED requires multiple strategies. These can include both medical approaches and modulating adverse environmental conditions, the latter of which may be a cost-effective way to avoid DED flares. Thus, an understanding of how environmental exposures relate to disease is important. This Review summarizes research on the relationships between environmental exposures and DED, in the hope that this information will engage healthcare professionals and patients to consider environmental manipulations in their management of DED.

Impacts of air pollution and meteorological conditions on dry eye disease among residents in a northeastern Chinese metropolis: a six-year crossover study in a cold region

The purpose of this study is to explore the associations among dry eye disease (DED), air pollution, and meteorological conditions in the cold region of a northeastern Chinese metropolis (i.e., Changchun). Data on ambient air pollutants and meteorological parameters as well as diagnosed DED outpatients during 2015-2021 were collected. The associations between DED and environmental factors were analysed at multiple time scales using various statistical methods (i.e., correlation, regression and machine learning). Among the 10,809 DED patients (21,617 eyes) studied, 64.60% were female and 35.40% were male. A higher frequency of DED was observed in March and April, followed by January, August and October. Individual and multiple factor models showed the positive importance of particles with aerodynamic diameters <10 μm (PM₁₀), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃) among normal air pollutants and air pressure (AP), air temperature (AT) and wind speed (WS) among normal meteorological parameters. Air pollutants (PM₁₀, nitrogen dioxide: NO₂) and meteorological parameters (AT, AP) have combined impacts on DED occurrence. For the first time, we further explored the associations of detailed components of atmospheric particles and DED, suggesting potential emission sources, including spring dust from bare soil and roads and precursor pollutants of summer O₃ formation from vehicles and industry in Northeast China. Our results revealed the quantitative associations among air pollutants, meteorological conditions and DED outpatients in cold regions, highlighting the importance of coordinated policies in air pollution control and climate change mitigation.

Evaluation of Therapeutic Capability of Emustil Drops against Tear Film Complications under Dry Environmental Conditions in Healthy Individuals

Background and Objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ailment of the tears and ocular surface. The purpose of this study was to assess the tear film physiology under controlled dry environmental conditions and compare the efficacy of oil-in-water emulsion drops on tear film parameters in protection and relief treatment modalities under low-humidity conditions. Emustil eye drops were used after exposure to a low-humidity environment in the relief method, whereas, in the protection method, the drops were applied before exposure to low humidity. Materials and Methods: 12 normal male subjects (mean age 34.0 ± 7.0 years) were exposed to ultra-dry environmental conditions. A number of tear film measurements were carried out under desiccating environmental conditions in a controlled environment chamber (CEC), where the chamber temperature sat at 21 °C with a relative humidity (RH) of 5%. Keeler's TearScope Plus and an HIRCAL grid were used to assess the tear break-up time and lipid layer thickness (LLT), and the evaporation rate was evaluated using a Servomed EP3 Evaporimeter. Results: LLT measurements showed that the dry environment affected LLT significantly (p = 0.031). The median grade of LLT dropped from grade 3 (50-70 nm) at 40% RH to grade 2 (13-50 nm) at 5% RH. A significant increase in LLT was seen after both modes of treatment, with a median LLT grade of 3 when the Emustil was used for both protection (p = 0.004) and relief (p = 0.016). The mean tear evaporation rate in normal environmental conditions (40%) was 40.46 ± 11.80 g/m²/h (0.11 µL/min) and increased sharply to 83.77 ± 20.37 g/m²/h (0.25 µL/min) after exposure to the dry environment. A minimal decrease in tear film evaporation rate was seen in relief; however, statistical tests showed that the decrease in tear film evaporation rate was not significant. Mean NITBUT dropped from 13.6 s at 40% RH to 6.6 s at 5% RH (p = 0.002). All NITBUT measurements at 5% RH (with or without the instillation of Emustil) were significantly lower than those at 40%. The instillation of Emustil at 5% RH resulted in a significant improvement in NITBUT for protection (p = 0.016) but this was not the case for relief (p = 0.0.56). Conclusions: A control environmental chamber (CEC) enables the analysis of tear film parameters comparable to those found in dry eye patients. This enables us to examine the capability of oil in emulsion drops to manage tear film disruption in healthy individuals. This study suggests that using Emustil oil-in-water emulsion before exposure to a dry environment should be advocated for people who work in dry environments.

TFOS Lifestyle Report: Impact of environmental conditions on the ocular surface

Environmental risk factors that have an impact on the ocular surface were reviewed and associations with age and sex, race/ethnicity, geographical area, seasonality, prevalence and possible interactions between risk factors are reviewed. Environmental factors can be (a) climate-related: temperature, humidity, wind speed, altitude, dew point, ultraviolet light, and allergen or (b) outdoor and indoor pollution: gases, particulate matter, and other sources of airborne pollutants. Temperature affects ocular surface homeostasis directly and indirectly, precipitating ocular surface diseases and/or symptoms, including trachoma. Humidity is negatively associated with dry eye disease. There is little data on wind speed and dewpoint. High altitude and ultraviolet light exposure are associated with pterygium, ocular surface degenerations and neoplastic disease. Pollution is associated with dry eye disease and conjunctivitis. Primary Sjögren syndrome is associated with exposure to chemical solvents. Living within a potential zone of active volcanic eruption is associated with eye irritation. Indoor pollution, "sick" building or house can also be associated with eye irritation. Most ocular surface conditions are multifactorial, and several environmental factors may contribute to specific diseases. A systematic review was conducted to answer the following research question: "What are the associations between outdoor environment pollution and signs or symptoms of dry eye disease in humans?" Dry eye disease is associated with air pollution (from NO2) and soil pollution (from chromium), but not from air pollution from CO or PM10. Future research should adequately account for confounders, follow up over time, and report results separately for ocular surface findings, including signs and symptoms.

Intraobserver Repeatability Assessment of the S390L Firefly WDR Slitlamp in Patients With Dry Eye Disease: Objective, Automated, and Noninvasive Measures

OBJECTIVES

To assess the intraobserver repeatability of automated, objective, and noninvasive measures obtained with the S390L Firefly WDR slitlamp.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 50 eyes of patients with dry eye disease with a mean age of 55.06±12.96 years. Three consecutively repeated measures of the following variables were obtained: first noninvasive break-up time (F-NIBUT), average noninvasive break-up time (A-NIBUT), tear meniscus height, tear meniscus area (TMA), nasal ciliary hyperemia (NCIH), temporal ciliary hyperemia (TCIH), nasal conjunctival hyperemia (NCOH), temporal conjunctival hyperemia (TCOH), upper loss area meibomian gland (U-LAMG), lower loss area meibomian gland (L-LAMG), upper meibomian gland dysfunction grade (U-MGD grade), and lower meibomian gland dysfunction grade (L-MGD grade). Intraobserver repeatability was estimated with coefficient of variation (CoV), intrasubject standard deviation (SD) (S w ), and Bland-Altman plots.

RESULTS

All variables showed no statistically significant differences in the repeated-measures analysis except for L-MGD grade ( P =0.045). F-NIBUT and A-NIBUT obtained the highest CoV with an average value of 0.48±0.41 [0.02-1.00] and 0.34±0.25 [0.02-1.00], respectively. The remaining variables showed CoVs between 0.04±0.11 [0.00-0.43] and 0.18±0.16 [0.00-0.75]. A-NIBUT, TMA, NCOH, and L-LAMG obtained an S w of 2.78s, 0.21 mm 2 , <0.001, and 4.11%, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed a high level of agreement between pairs of repeated measures.

CONCLUSION

The S390L Firefly WDR slitlamp has moderate intraobserver repeatability for F-NIBUT and A-NIBUT, which suggests that F-NIBUT and A-NIBUT are tests with high variability. The remaining variables show satisfactory intraobserver repeatability.

How Can We Best Diagnose Severity Levels of Dry Eye Disease: Current Perspectives

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular condition, but the diagnosis relative to other ocular conditions and the evaluation of severity of the condition has often been difficult. This challenge can be due to clinical signs and symptoms not always correlating with each other. An understanding of the various components which create the condition, as well as the diagnostic measures used to evaluate these components, is useful to the clinician working with DED patients. This review paper will discuss traditional diagnostic options, diagnostic imaging, and Advanced Point of Care testing capabilities to determine the severity level of dry eye disease more adequately.

Estimates of dry eye disease in Saudi Arabia based on a short questionnaire of prevalence, symptoms, and risk factors: The Twaiq Mountain Eye Study I

PURPOSE

To estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of dry eye disease (DED) among the citizens of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional prevalence survey was administered to 4066 healthy adults from the five main regions of Saudi Arabia. Initial estimates of the prevalence and associated risk factors of DED were calculated for the general population and then stratified by demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and location. DED was assessed by a short, validated dry-eye questionnaire.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of DED was 49.5 % (n = 2016), including 33.1 % (n = 1347) of participants who reported a previous DED diagnosis and 16.4 % (n = 669) who reported severe symptoms; 14.7 % reported severe symptoms and a previous DED diagnosis (n = 598). The DED prevalence among men was 49.8 % (n = 1005) compared with 50.2 % (n = 1011) for women. The multivariate model analysis confirmed the increased prevalence of DED in women (OR 1.48; 95 % CI 1.30-1.88), those ≥60 years of age (OR 1.99; 95 % CI 1.60-2.81), those who had undergone refractive surgery (OR 1.79; 95 % CI 1.50-2.59), those having undergone acne treatment (OR 1.51; 95 % CI 1.34-1.97), contact lens wearers (OR 1.77; 95 % CI 1.40-2.48), those having taken antiallergy drugs (OR 2.23; 95 % CI 1.55-2.78) or antidepressants (OR 1.60; 95 % CI 1.14-2.44), and those who reported computer use of >6 h per day (OR 1.66; 95 % CI 1.41-2.52).

CONCLUSION

Dry eye is a common disease among the Saudi Arabian population. Prevalence is found to be high and vary significantly across the country. DED could be attributed to dry weather, low annual rainfall, low humidity, widespread use of air conditioners, air pollution, high temperature, and exposure to sunlight.

Features and influences on the normal tear evaporation rate

Tear evaporation is a normal physiological phenomenon that has an important role in regulating blink activity and tear production. An altered tear evaporation rate (TER) is a defining characteristic of evaporative dry eye disease (DED), and the measurement of tear evaporation is a useful clinical test for diagnosis. Reported values for a normal TER cover a broad range, which may be due to the influence of ocular, environmental, and systemic factors. For improved disease diagnosis, a fuller understanding of the normal TER range is essential. This paper reports on a literature review of the current knowledge of these normal influences on TER.

Size-specific particulate matter and outpatient visits for allergic conjunctivitis in children: a time-stratified case-crossover study in Guangzhou, China

This time-stratified case-crossover study aims to quantify the risk of allergic conjunctivitis (AC) associated with short-term exposure to PMs (i.e., PM₁, PM_2.5, PM_c, and PM₁₀) among children in Guangzhou, China. We collected data on children's daily AC outpatient visits from the Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center during February 20, 2016 to December 31, 2018, and also extracted air pollution and meteorological data in the same time frame. We used conditional logistic regression model to estimate the associations between PMs and AC outpatient visits, and conducted subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age, and season. During the study period, we recorded 39,330 children's outpatient visits for AC, including 27,638 boys and 11,692 girls. The associations between PMs and AC were general linear with no clear threshold, which were largest at the current days but remained positive for lag 1 to 3 days. For every 10 μg/m³ increase in daily PM₁, PM_2.5, PM_c, and PM₁₀ concentrations, the estimated risks of AC outpatient visits at the current days increased by 2.5% (OR = 1.025, 95% CI: 1.011-1.039), 1.8% (OR = 1.018, 95% CI: 1.009-1.027), 2.1% (OR = 1.021, 95% CI: 1.004-1.039), and 1.3% (OR = 1.013, 95% CI: 1.007-1.020), respectively. In addition, our stratified analyses revealed that girls and children aged 1 to 6 years were more sensitive to PM exposure, and the PM-associated risks for AC were more apparent in autumn and winter. Our study suggests that short-term exposure to PMs may induce AC in children.

A review of evidence-based management of infectious ocular surface disease in shelter-housed domestic cats

Infectious ocular surface disease (IOSD) is a common problem in shelter-housed domestic cats and has a widespread negative impact on animal welfare. While the common etiological agents are well-described, addressing IOSD in large groups of animals presents a management challenge to the clinician and logistical challenges to shelter employees. Treatments, diagnostics, and prevention strategies that are effective in privately owned or experimental animals may be impractical or ineffective in the shelter environment. This review article focuses on the relative prevalence of etiological agents in feline IOSD, practical diagnostic testing protocols, prevention strategies, and treatment of IOSD in shelter-housed cats. Discrepancies between experimental laboratory-based studies and clinical trials assessing therapeutics for treatment of feline herpes virus are highlighted. Further high-quality clinical trials are necessary to determine optimal preventative and therapeutic protocols for IOSD in shelter-housed cats.

Intense Pulse Light Combined With Low-Level Light Therapy in Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the improvement in symptoms and signs associated with intense pulse light (IPL) combined with low-level light therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

METHODS

A systematic review of full-length original studies reporting the effects of IPL combined with LLLT for DED in two databases, PubMed and Scopus, was performed according to the PRISMA statement. The quality assessment tool for case series studies from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute was used to analyze the quality of the studies selected.

RESULTS

The search provided a total of 393 articles, of which six were included. Significant decreases in the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) score, MGD grade, and meiboscore and increases in tear film stability, lipid layer thickness, and loss area of the meibomian gland have been reported. Concerning tear volume, tear meniscus height, and Schirmer test remained unchanged. In relation to tear osmolarity and corneal fluorescein staining, contradictory outcomes were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Intense pulse light combined with LLLT for the treatment of dry eye improves OSDI, tear film stability, and meibomian gland function; thus, this treatment may be recommended for DED patients due to MGD.

Effects of indoor summer dehumidification and winter humidification on the physiological and subjective responses of the elderly

The purpose of this study was to clarify the physiological and subjective responses of the elderly to dehumidification in a humid summer and humidification in a dry winter compared with the young. Sixteen elderly and sixteen young subjects participated in the dehumidification experiment (DE) and 13 elderly and 15 young subjects participated in the humidification experiment (HE). The air temperature in the climate chamber was set at 28 °C, and humidity was decreased from 70% relative humidity (RH) to 50% RH for 90 min in the DE. The air temperature was set at 25 °C, and the humidity was increased from 30% RH to 50% RH for 90 min in the HE. Skin temperature, body weight, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration state, saccharin clearance time (SCT), and blinking frequency were measured during exposure; whereby we evaluated humidity sensation, thermal sensation, and thermal comfort. Dehumidification caused a significant decrease in skin temperature in both age groups owing to greater insensible perspiration. Humidification significantly shortened the SCT in both age groups. TEWL increased significantly in the DE and decreased in the HE. For the physiological responses (skin temperature, skin physiology, SCT, and blinking frequency) to dehumidification and humidification, no distinct differences between the age groups were observed. However, subjective responses suggested that the elderly were less sensitive to humidity differences than the young in both the DE and HE.

The efficacy of ocular surface assessment approaches in evaluating dry eye treatment with artificial tears

This study evaluates the effectiveness of objective techniques in assessing dry eye disease (DED) treatment compared with the subjective assessment commonly used in clinical practice. Thirty subjects were recruited for two visits separated by 28(± 3) days of treatment with artificial tears. A buttery of common subjective assessment methods were accompanied by a set of objective techniques including measurement of noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), and quantitative evaluation of tear film surface quality and dynamics (TFD). Additionally, meibography was performed. Two commercially available videokeratoscopes and a prototype of a lateral shearing interferometer were used for the measurements. Both subjective and objective techniques showed a positive effect of artificial tears in DED treatment. Statistically significant improvements were observed in subjective symptoms (from P < 0.001 for Ocular Surface Disease Index, OSDI to p = 0.019 for tearing), conjunctival redness (P = 0.022), ocular staining (P = 0.012), fluorescein tear film break-up time (P = 0.015), NIBUT (P = 0.037), LLT (P < 0.001), and TFD (P = 0.048). In general, weak or statistically insignificant correlations were observed between subjective and objective assessment methods. The apparent lack of correlation between these methods might indicate the complementary character of objective techniques that likely assess other characteristics of ocular surface health than those assessed subjectively.

Seasonal variations in presenting symptoms and signs of dry eye disease in Norway

The study investigated the seasonal variations of presenting symptoms and signs of dry eye disease (DED) in Norway. 652 consecutive DED patients examined between August 2012 and May 2015 in Oslo, Norway, were included. Presenting symptoms and signs were related to the season according to when each patient was examined. Weather report data from the examination day were compared with the presenting symptoms and signs. Oslo's mean seasonal temperatures during spring, summer, fall, and winter were 6.4 °C, 15.6 °C, 9.3 °C, and - 2.1 °C, respectively. Dry eye severity level and self-reported symptoms measured by the Ocular surface disease index questionnaire did not differ between seasons. Schirmer I was lower during summer than in other seasons (P < 0.01). The percentage of patients with a pathological tear meniscus height (< 0.2 mm) was higher during fall (P < 0.01) and lower during winter (P < 0.05) compared to the other seasons. Signs and symptoms of DED generally did not correlate with weather report data, although intraocular pressure was weakly associated with mean daily air temperature (r = - 0.22; P < 0.001). Neither dry eye severity level nor dry eye symptoms differ between seasons in Oslo, Norway. However, some parameters for assessing DED show seasonal variations (Schirmer I and tear meniscus height), which are essential to consider when examining patients with DED.

Conjunctival Fluid Secretion Impairment via CaCC-CFTR Dysfunction Is the Key Mechanism in Environmental Dry Eye

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease with an incidence of approximately 50% worldwide. DED seriously affects quality of life and work. The prevalence of environmental DED (eDED) ranges from 35 to 48%. Conjunctival fluid secretion dysfunction may be one of the major causes of DED. Notably, the Cl^- flux corresponds to the conjunctival fluid secretion and could be affected by ATP. Both the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channel (CaCC) are Cl^- channels involved in epithelial fluid secretion. Conjunctival fluid secretion could be increased by activating P2Y₂R (an ATP receptor) in DED. However, the role of the CaCC and CFTR channels regulated by P2Y₂R in eDED remains unclear. In this study, we established a rabbit eDED model using a controlled drying system. A Ussing chamber was used to perform a conjunctival short-circuit current induced by ATP to evaluate the reactivity of the ion channels to the ATP. Our results revealed that eDED accompanied by conjunctival fluid secretion impairment was caused by a P2Y₂R dysfunction, which is related to CaCC-CFTR signaling in the conjunctiva epithelium. Notably, the coupling effect of the ATP-induced CaCC-CFTR activation and intracellular Ca²⁺ may represent a promising therapeutic target for treating eDED.

Emphasis on heat strain to the ocular surface: A functional and clinical study of a modified goggle

Purpose

The limitations of conventional goggles have caused immense inconvenience, and even damage, to the physical and mental health of healthcare workers. Hence, this study aimed to build a modified goggle (MG) with better physical performance. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was used as an indicator to investigate the impact of goggle-related heat strain on the ocular surface.

Methods

The basic functions of antifog, anti-ultraviolet (UV), and anti-blue-light radiation capabilities were evaluated. Furthermore, the clinical impact on noninvasive keratography tear film break-up time (NIKBUT), intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, Schirmer test I, and the Dry Eye-related Quality of life Score (DEQS) were assessed in 40 healthcare workers by comparing MG with standard goggles (SG). The relationships between THI and the above parameters were explored.

Results

MG had a significantly longer antifog time than SG (212.75 ± 23.95 vs. 138.35 ± 5.54 min, p < 0.05), stronger antiultraviolet ability at 400 nm (99.99 vs. 45.55%), and optimal anti-blue-light performance at 440 nm (33.32 vs. 13.31%). Tear film stability after wearing the goggle was significantly worse than that before wearing them (p < 0.05). Both goggles achieved moderate to strong heat strain, with a THI of >80 at all timepoints. The MG group showed lower THI and DEQS and higher NIKBUT than the SG group (p < 0.05). THI was significantly correlated with DEQS, NIKBUT, and real fogging time (r = 0.876, −0.532, −0.406; all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Wearing goggles for a long time may cause heat strain to the eyes, thereby leading to eye discomfort and changes in the microenvironment of the ocular surface. Our MG exhibited better antifog, antiultraviolet, and optimal anti-blue-light performance and lower heat strain than SG, thus making it ideally suited for healthcare workers.

Risks of Digital Screen Time and Recommendations for Mitigating Adverse Outcomes in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented move to emergency remote learning around the world, leading to increased digital screen time for children and adolescents. This review highlights the potential risk of increased screen time to the eye and general health and makes recommendations to mitigate the risks posed.

METHODS

A narrative review of evidence of increased digital time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks linked to increased screen time and offer possible steps to mitigate these in students.

RESULTS

Digital screen time was found to have increased for children and adolescents in all the studies examined during the pandemic and data suggests that this has an impact on eye and general health. We discuss the associated risk factors and adverse outcomes associated with increased digital screen time.

CONCLUSIONS

This review offers evidence of increased digital time, highlights some of the well-known and not so well-known risks linked to increased screen time, and offers possible steps to mitigate these in children and adolescents during the pandemic, as well as offering schools and parents strategies to support the eye health of children and adolescents post-pandemic. We discuss a number of interventions to reduce the risk of eye strain, myopia, obesity, and related diseases that have been shown to be linked to increased digital screen time.

The Effect of Face Masks during COVID-19 Pandemic on Ocular Surface Temperature-A Clinical Thermographic Analysis

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center for disease control and prevention (CDC) recommends face-mask wearing for all people above the age of two years. The wearing of face masks creates a unique airflow towards the ocular surface which may influence the normal physiological conditions of the ocular and periocular surface. Healthy subjects with no ocular history were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The Therm-App thermal imaging camera was used for ocular surface temperature (OST) measurements during inspirium and expirium. Five regions of interest (ROIs) were used to measure OST: medial conjunctive, cornea, lateral conjunctive, upper eyelid and entire orbital area. Additional measurements in the same locations were made with the upper margin of the mask taped with micropore surgical tape. Thirty-one patients were included in this study. OST during expirium was significantly higher compared to the temperature during inspirium in all locations measured (p < 0.001, paired samples t-test). The temperature of the upper eyelid was higher by more than 0.5 °C during expirium. Taping the mask’s upper edges to the skin resulted in non-significant temperature changes in inspirium vs. expirium. In conclusion, wearing a face mask creates air flow towards the periocular and ocular surface, which changes the OST mostly on the eyelids.

Effects of wearing swimming goggles on non-invasive tear break-up time in a laboratory setting

PURPOSE

The use of swimming goggles (SG) has demonstrated to alter different ocular parameters, however, the impact of wearing SG on the tear film stability remain unknown. The main objective of this study was to determine the short-term effects of wearing SG on tear film surface quality break-up time (TFSQ-BUT).

METHODS

Twenty-eight young healthy adults (14 men and 14 women) wore a drilled SG, and TFSQ-BUT was measured before, during and after SG use. Dynamic-area high-speed videokeratoscopy was used for the non-invasive assessment of TFSQ-BUT.

RESULTS

TFSQ-BUT was significantly reduced while SG wear in comparison to the baseline measurement (4.8 ± 4.5 s vs. 8.8 ± 6.9 s; corrected p-value = 0.017, d = 0.57, mean difference = 4.0 [0.6, 7.3]; 45% reduction). Immediately after SG removal, TFSQ-BUT rapidly recovered baseline levels (8.2 ± 5.9 s vs. 8.8 ± 6.9 s; corrected p-value = 0.744). The impact of wearing SG on TFSQ-BUT were independent of the gender of the participants (p = 0.934).

CONCLUSION

The use of SG induces a TFSQ-BUT reduction, with these changes returning to baseline levels immediately after SG removal. These data may be of relevance for the management of dry eye patients, who need to avoid circumstances that exacerbate tear film instability. Nevertheless, these results must be interpreted with caution since the experiment did not entirely mimic real-life conditions (e.g., eye cup piece drilled, time of exposure, environmental conditions). Future studies should consider the inclusion of dry eye patients and older individual in order to explore the generalizability of these findings.

Evaluation of Children's Thermal Environment in Nursery School: Through the Questionnaire and Measurement of Wearable Sensors Approach

Due to psychological and physical differences, children are more vulnerable to the influence of the surrounding environment than adults. A nursery school in Japan was selected as the research object. The actual thermal environment of children aged 1 to 5 in the classroom was evaluated based on measured data in winter and summer. Through a questionnaire survey of nursery teachers, this paper analyzed and compared the relationship between teachers’ thermal adaptation behavior and children’s thermal sensation. Compared with the traditional fixed-points measurement method, a method of wearable sensors for children was proposed to measure the indoor temperature distribution. The traditional measurement results showed that 73% of classroom indoor temperatures and humidity do not meet the thermal comfort standard stipulated by the government. The method proposed in this paper indicates that: (1) nursery teachers’ thermal adaptation behavior may not be based on children’s thermal sensations; (2) solar radiation and weather context could lead to uneven indoor horizontal temperature distribution, hence, specific attention should be paid to the thermal environment when children move to the window side; and (3) the density of occupants causes the temperature around the human body to be relatively high. We suggest that teachers improve the thermal comfort of gathered children through thermal adaptive behaviors. The results of the study provide valuable information for nursery managers to formulate effective indoor thermal environment strategies from the perspective of children.

The Effects of Daily Digital Device Use on the Ocular Surface in Healthy Children

SIGNIFICANCE

Digital device usage among children has increased significantly in recent years. Prolonged screen exposure can have adverse effects on the eye, especially on the ocular surface.

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate the duration of screen exposure and its effect on the ocular surface in healthy children aged 10 to 18 years.

METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study included 200 healthy children. Screen exposure times of the children were ascertained, and the effect of screen exposure on the ocular surface was evaluated using tear breakup time, kerato-epitheliopathy (Oxford) score, and Schirmer test. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess subjective dry eye symptoms. Findings for subjects with a daily screen exposure time of fewer than 2 hours were compared with those reporting more than 2 hours of screen time. Statistical evaluation included the Shapiro-Wilk test, Student t test, and Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 14 ± 2.6 years, and 88.5% of the participants used mobile phones or computers every day. The mean ± SD tear breakup time was 10.3 ± 4.1 seconds, and the Schirmer test score was 15.6 ± 4.7 mm. The Oxford score was 0.4 ± 1, and no corneal staining was detected in 83.5% of the subjects. The mean ± SD OSDI score was 23.5 ± 17.8, and 67.5% of subjects had a mild-to-severe ocular surface disease. When daily screen exposure times less than and greater than 2 hours were compared, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in tear breakup time, Schirmer test, Oxford score, and OSDI score. Whereas there was a statistically significant weak positive correlation (r = 0.307, P = .001) between OSDI score and screen exposure time, there was no correlation between tear breakup time, Schirmer test, and Oxford score and screen exposure time.

CONCLUSIONS

Screen exposure in healthy children may cause ocular surface symptoms without causing changes in ocular surface findings.

Low ambient temperature correlates with the severity of dry eye symptoms

PURPOSE:

The symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) are influenced by environmental factors, but the effect of ambient temperature is less certain. Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the severity of DED symptoms and the ambient temperature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This retrospective study reviewed the symptom scores, including ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and standardized patient evaluation of eye dryness (SPEED), as well as tear film parameters of first-time DED patients between June 2018 and June 2019. The contribution of tear film parameters and environmental factors, including ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, and the concentration of air pollutants, to the severity of dry eye symptoms was evaluated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.

RESULTS:

There were 351 patients included aged 52.8 ± 13.6 years, and 257 (73.2%) were female. The average tear film break-up time, Schirmer test value, and lipid layer thickness were 2.6 ± 0.7 s, 5.5 ± 4.3 mm, and 64.1 ± 6.0 μm, respectively. The average OSDI and SPEED were 41.8 ± 19.8 and 12.1 ± 5.1, respectively. In winter, the patients reported higher OSDI and SPEED. Both scores were significantly correlated with low ambient temperature. Regression analysis showed that low ambient temperature and Schirmer test value contributed to higher OSDI, while low ambient temperature and younger age contributed to higher SPEED.

CONCLUSION:

Low ambient temperature plays a significant role in DED symptom severity.

Looking deeper into ocular surface health: an introduction to clinical tear proteomics analysis

Ocular surface diseases are becoming more prevalent worldwide. Reasons for this include the ongoing population ageing and increasing use of digital displays, although ophthalmologists have a wide selection of tools, which can be implemented in the evaluation of the ocular surface health, methods, which enable the in-depth study of biological functions are gaining more interest. These new approaches are needed, since the individual responses to ocular surface diseases and treatments can vary from person to person, and the correlations between clinical signs and symptoms are often low. Modern mass spectrometry (MS) methods can produce information on hundreds of tear proteins, which in turn can provide valuable information on the biological effects occurring on the ocular surface. In this review article, we will provide an overview of the different aspects, which are part of a successful tear proteomics study design and equip readers with a better understanding of the methods most suited for their MS-based tear proteomics study in the field of ophthalmology and ocular surface.

Advances in the Noninvasive Diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that represents one of the most common ophthalmologic conditions encountered in everyday clinical practice. Traditional diagnostic tests for DED, such as subjective questionnaires, tear film break-up time and the Schirmer test, are often associated with poor reproducibility and reliability, which make the diagnosis, follow-up, and management of the disease challenging. New advances in imaging technologies enable objective and reproducible measurements of DED parameters, thus making the diagnosis a multimodal imaging-based process. The aim of this review is to summarize all the current and emerging diagnostic tools available for the diagnosis and monitoring of DED, such as non-invasive tear breakup time, thermography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, meibography, interferometry, in vivo confocal microscopy, and optical quality assessment. Although there is not a gold standard imaging technique, new multi-imaging-integrated devices are precious instruments to help clinicians to better cope with the diagnostic complexity of DED.

The Effect of Diquafosol Ophthalmic Solution on Clinical Parameters and Visual Function in Soft Contact Lens-Related Dry Eye

INTRODUCTION

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of diquafosol ophthalmic solution (DQS) in soft contact lens (SCL)-related dry eye using artificial tear as a control.

METHODS

This study enrolled 26 patients with SCL-related dry eye. DQS and artificial tears (AT) were instilled into the right and left eyes, respectively, with their SCLs on. Dry eye examinations (including tear film breakup time, tear volume, and staining score) were performed and visual function (including contrast sensitivity) was also evaluated before (at baseline) and after treatment (at 4- and 8-week examinations). Subjective symptoms were assessed separately in each eye using a questionnaire on dry eye in contact lens wearers. The results were compared before and after treatment, and between the right eyes treated with DQS (the DQS eye) and the left eyes treated with AT (the AT eye) using the mixed effect model.

RESULTS

Corneal and conjunctival staining scores at 8-week examination were significantly lower than those at baseline in the DQS eye (p = 0.03; p < 0.001, respectively), but no significant changes were observed in the AT eye. Most subjective symptoms improved significantly in both the DQS and AT eyes. However, major subjective symptoms (dryness and blurry vision) improved significantly only in the DQS eye at 8-week examination. Contrast sensitivity at 8-week examination in the DQS eye improved significantly at 12 cycles/degree compared to baseline (p = 0.001) and was significantly better than that in the AT eye (p = 0.03). There were no adverse events related to DQS or AT.

CONCLUSIONS

DQS was effective and safe for SCL-related dry eye. DQS also improved contrast sensitivity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), Identification No. UMIN000024064.

Clinical comparison of tear film breakup time measurements in normal dogs using three different methods of fluorescein solution administration

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the method of fluorescein administration affects the results of tear film breakup time (TFBUT) measurement in normal dogs.

ANIMALS STUDIED

Thirty-seven client and hospital staff owned dogs over 1 year of age with no known comorbidities or administration of systemic or topical ophthalmic medications.

PROCEDURES

A prospective randomized three-way crossover study was conducted. All dogs received an abbreviated ophthalmic examination to rule out ocular surface disease. Using a 30-min washout interval period, each dog's right eye was received: (a) direct application of fluorescein stain strip with one drop of sterile eyewash, (b) direct application of fluorescein stain strip with two drops of sterile eyewash, or (c) application of one drop from a premade fluorescein solution (dilution of one strip in 0.3 mL sterile eyewash). Eyes were assessed using the cobalt blue filter of a slit lamp biomicroscope. TFBUT measurements were summarized as means ± standard deviation. The methods were compared using mixed model analysis of variance. All analyses were performed using sas version 9.4.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven dogs met the inclusion criteria. Mean TFBUT ± standard deviation (SD) for the three described methods were: (a) 16.58s ± 6.9, (b) 15.98s ± 7.1, and (c) 16.43s ± 8.1. No differences between fluorescein stain application techniques were observed (p = .92).

CONCLUSION

The technique of fluorescein solution administration did not affect TFBUT measurement in this population of healthy dogs.

Prevalence of Ocular Surface Disease Symptoms in High School Students in Monterrey, Mexico

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease symptoms and contact lens wear in Mexican high school students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional association study included a group of high school students who were selected from a random sampling of classrooms. The authors used the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire as a surrogate measure for dry eye disease symptoms, and contact lens wear was also investigated.

RESULTS

Seven hundred fifty-nine students with a mean age of 16.12 ± 0.96 years were surveyed and 55.7% of the students were girls (423 of 759). The average OSDI score was 25.11 ± 20.61 points. Girls had higher scores (28.25 ± 21.48 points) than boys (21.14 ± 18.74 points), and the difference was statistically significant (P < .001). Forty-three students (6.1%) wore contact lenses and had higher OSDI scores (34.26 ± 23.13 and 24.51 ± 20.31 points, respectively) and the difference was also statistically significant (P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of mild and moderate dry eye disease are prevalent in high school students and, as reported in previous studies, girls are more affected than boys. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021;58(5):287-291.].

Intraocular Scattering, Blinking Rate, and Tear Film Osmolarity After Exposure to Environmental Stress

Purpose

Dry environments, such as those in offices or aircraft cabins, can potentially generate ocular discomfort and alter the tear film. We compare light scatter, blinking rate, and tear osmolarity in young and older subjects after exposure to low humidity using a controlled environmental chamber.

Methods

Two groups of healthy subjects were recruited; younger (N = 13, 27 ± 6 years) and older (N = 23, 71 ± 7 years). Measurements were carried out before and after 90-minute exposure to low relative humidity (5%) and constant temperature (23 degrees). Ocular light scatter was measured using a double-pass instrument (OQAS, Visiometrics, Spain). Blinking rate was monitored using an infrared video camera. Tear osmolarity was measured using the TearLab system (Escondido, CA, USA).

Results

Ocular light scatter increased by a factor of 10% after exposure to low humidity in the older group (P = 0.03) but did not change significantly in the younger group. Blinking rate increased significantly (40% more blinks) in both groups but there was no difference between the groups. No significant differences in osmolarity were shown between two age groups or as result of environmental stress.

Conclusions

Exposure to dry environment increased light scatter in older subjects. Although more blinks were triggered in both younger and older groups to prevent corneal dehydration, there was no difference between the groups. Blink rate and osmolarity are not associated with the difference in light scatter.

Translational Relevance

Our work approaches a clinical care problem using basic research methods (measuring ocular scatter and blink ratio).

Dry eye disease flares: A rapid evidence assessment

PURPOSE

Characteristics of periodic flares of dry eye disease (DED) are not well understood. We conducted a rapid evidence assessment to identify evidence for and characteristics of DED flares.

METHODS

Literature searches were performed in Embase® via Ovid®, MEDLINE®, and PubMed®. Clinical trials and observational studies published 2009-2019 were included if they investigated patients aged ≥18 years with clinically diagnosed DED who experienced a flare, defined as a temporary or transient episode of increased ocular discomfort, typically lasting days to a few weeks. Triggers of flares, patient-reported outcomes (symptoms), clinician-measured outcomes (signs), and changes in tear molecules were captured.

RESULTS

Twenty-one publications that included 22 studies met inclusion criteria. Five observational studies described evidence of DED flares in daily life, 5 studies reported changes following cataract/refractive surgery in patients with preoperative DED, and 12 studies employed controlled environment (CE) models. Real-world triggers of DED flares included air conditioning, wind, reading, low humidity, watching television, and pollution. CE chambers (dry, moving air) and surgery also triggered DED flares. Exacerbations of symptoms and signs of DED, assessed through varied measures, were reported during flares. Across studies, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and interleukin-6 increased and epidermal growth factor decreased during DED flares.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from 22 studies identified triggers and characteristics of DED flares. Further research is needed to assist clinicians in early diagnosis and treatment of patients experiencing flares.

Repeatability and Reproducibility of Tear Film Evaporation Rate Measurement using a new Closed-Chamber Evaporimeter

Purpose:

This study evaluates the repeatability and reproducibility of tear film evaporation rate measurement using a commercially available handheld closed-chamber evaporimeter (VapoMeter, Delfin Technologies, Finland).

Study Design:

This was a randomized observational study, in which two visits were required. At visit 1, screening tests were performed on the participants. Subsequently, tear evaporation was measured thrice by examiner 1 (E1). The procedure was then repeated by examiner 2 (E2) at visit 2.

Methods:

40 healthy participants with no ocular diseases were recruited for this study. A closed chamber evaporimeter was used in this study (VapoMeter, Delfin Technologies, Finland). Primary investigations, including slit-lamp examination, tear production test, and ocular discomfort, were performed during the first visit for the purpose of screening.

Results:

The mean of the three measurements of tear evaporation obtained by examiner 1 at visit 1 was 19.38 ± 0.79 g/m2/h, and the mean of the three readings obtained by examiner 2 at visit 2 was 20.49 ± 0.48 g/m2/h. The average Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) among the three readings of tear evaporation was 0.84 and 0.63 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) at visits 1 and 2, respectively. A comparison of the reliability of the measurements from the two examiners revealed an ICC of 0.69 with a 95% CI.

Conclusion:

The VapoMeter provides repeatable and reproducible measurements of tear film evaporation. This study demonstrates that the VapoMeter could provide clinicians with a readily available method for rapid evaluation of tear film evaporation. By considering the significance of tear evaporation as a diagnostic tool for dry eyes, the VapoMeter may help to diagnose better and manage dry eye syndrome.

Quantifying the Effect of Spectacle Frame Dimensions on Wind-Induced Ocular Plane Evaporation Using an in Vitro Model

PURPOSE

To quantify the effect of spectacle frame dimensions on wind-induced ocular plane evaporation.

METHODS

A drop of 0.5 μL water was pipetted onto an eye of a mannequin head. The face was fitted with a spectacle frame. A fan positioned 10 cm away directed air (185 CFM) toward the face and the time required for the drop to evaporate was recorded. This procedure was repeated with 31 different frames to obtain evaporation times for various eye sizes, vertical heights, vertex distances, temperature, and humidity. This was also repeated 30 times without spectacle wear to obtain evaporation times for various temperature and humidity conditions.

RESULTS

Spectacle wear increased evaporation times compared with nonspectacle wear, in both high (>35%) and low humidity (<30%) conditions (both P<0.01). Humidity was correlated with evaporation time, regardless of spectacle and nonspectacle wear (both P<0.01). Evaporation time did not correlate with spectacle eye size, vertical height, or vertex distance (all P≥0.21).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that spectacle wear guarded against wind-induced evaporation at the ocular plane compared with nonspectacle wear. However, once spectacles were worn, eye size, vertical height, and vertex distance were not correlated with evaporation times. Humidity drove evaporation independent of spectacle wear.

Comparison of the performance of the dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) to the ocular surface disease index in a non-clinical population

OBJECTIVE

To compare the performance of the dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and further validate the DEQ-5 questionnaire.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study conducted in Ghana. OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires were administered to participants. Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate the reliability of the OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the discriminant validity of DEQ-5. Concurrent validity was evaluated using the Spearman correlation analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to describe the sensitivity and specificity of the DEQ-5 questionnaire for diagnosis of dry eye symptoms. Cohen Kappa was used to evaluate agreement between the two questionnaires.

RESULTS

The reliability of the overall OSDI and DEQ-5 scores were 0.919 and 0.819 respectively. The mean (SD) DEQ-5 scores for asymptomatic, mild, moderate and severe dry eye symptoms as defined by the OSDI grading were 3.05 (2.73), 5.13 (3.69), 7.65 (3.30) and 9.77 (4.16) respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between total OSDI and total DEQ-5 scores (r_s = 0.649, p < 0.0001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve for DEQ-5 was 0.835 (95 % CI: 0.796 - 0.875). A DEQ-5 threshold of 5.5 yielded maximum sensitivity (0.712) and specificity (0.827). The Cohen kappa using a the DEQ-5 total score threshold of 5.5 was K = 0.539 (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, performance of the DEQ-5 questionnaire in discriminating symptoms of dry eye is comparable to the OSDI questionnaire. The DEQ-5 questionnaire is a valid measure of dry eye symptoms and can be used as a dry eye symptoms assessment tool in both clinical and epidemiological studies.

CLEAR - Evidence-based contact lens practice

Evidence-based contact lens -->practice involves finding, appraising and applying research findings as the basis for patient management decisions. These decisions should be informed by the strength of the research study designs that address the question, as well as by the experience of the practitioner and the preferences and environment of the patient. This reports reviews and summarises the published research evidence that is available to inform soft and rigid contact lens history and symptoms taking, anterior eye health examination (including the optimised use of ophthalmic dyes, grading scales, imaging techniques and lid eversion), considerations for contact lens selection (including the ocular surface measurements required to select the most appropriate lens parameter, lens modality and material selection), evaluation of lens fit, prescribing (teaching self-application and removal, adaptation, care regimen and cleaning instructions, as well as -->minimising risks of lens wear through encouraging compliance) and an aftercare routine.

Tear Osmolarity in the Diagnosis of Systemic Dehydration and Dry Eye Disease

Systemic dehydration due to inadequate water intake or excessive water loss, is common in the elderly and results in a high morbidity and significant mortality. Diagnosis is often overlooked and there is a need for a simple, bedside diagnostic test in at-risk populations. Body hydration is highly regulated with plasma osmolality (pOsm) being tightly controlled over a wide range of physiological conditions. By contrast, normal tear osmolarity (tOsm) is more variable since the tear film is exposed to evaporation from the open eye. While plasma hyperosmolality is a diagnostic feature of systemic dehydration, tear hyperosmolality, with other clinical features, is diagnostic of dry eye. Studies in young adults subjected to exercise and water-deprivation, have shown that tOsm may provide an index of pOsm, with the inference that it may provide a simple measure to diagnose systemic dehydration. However, since the prevalence of both dry eye and systemic dehydration increases with age, the finding of a raised tOsm in the elderly could imply the presence of either condition. This diagnostic difficulty can be overcome by measuring tear osmolality after a period of evaporative suppression (e.g., a 45 min period of lid closure) which drives tOsm osmolality down to a basal level, close to that of the pOsm. The arguments supporting the use of this basal tear osmolarity (BTO) in the diagnosis of systemic dehydration are reviewed here. Further studies are needed to confirm that the BTO can act as a surrogate for pOsm in both normally hydrated subjects and in patients with systemic dehydration and to determine the minimum period of lid closure required for a simple, "point-of-care" test.