Search

Background: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in India. In cases of glaucoma increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary modifiable risk factor. Ocular surface disease (OSD) in these patients results from impaired tear film function and long-term use of antiglaucoma medications. This effect is significant in medications containing benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as a preservative. BAK, though cost-effective, can cause allergic reactions, inflammation, and epithelial damage. Alternative preservatives like Purite® and SofziaTM help mitigate these effects. Reducing the number of medications or using preservative-free options can alleviate OSD and improve patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: An Analytical cross-sectional study to compare the prevalence of ocular surface disease in 61 glaucoma patients and 61 nonglaucoma patients on long-term topical anti-glaucoma medications. The study parameters evaluated include the Ocular surface disease index questionnaire (OSDI) and using the Schirmer 1 test and Tear break-up time (TBUT), ocular surface staining score (OSS) with fluorescein and lissamine green. Results: The prevalence of dry eye disease among glaucoma cases was significantly high at 60.7% compared to 19.7% in the non-glaucoma patients (p<0.01). A marginal tear break-up time (TBUT) was observed in 60.7% of glaucoma patients. Mild to moderate tear deficiency on Schirmer's test was observed in 60.7% of glaucoma patients, while mild to moderate ocular surface disease severity on OSDI was seen in 54.1% (mild) and 6.6%(moderate) of glaucoma patients. Abnormal Ocular surface staining score is seen in 45.9% of glaucoma patients. Conclusion: The presence of dry eye disease in this population is associated with the duration of glaucoma, the number of drugs and the presence of Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as a preservative in anti-glaucoma drugs. Screening can detect dry eye in glaucoma patients early thus decreasing disease severity and increasing drug compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Upper blepharoplasty may be related to dry eye symptoms since the function of the orbicularis oculi muscle may affect the tear film. We aimed to assess the effect of blepharoplasty with or without the removal of a strip of orbicularis oculi muscle on tear film dynamics and dry eye symptoms. Methods: A double‐blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing upper blepharoplasty without (group A) or with (group B) orbicularis oculi muscle excision was performed on 54 healthy Caucasian patients. Tear film dynamics and dry eye symptoms were evaluated using multiple dry eye parameters, i.e. tear osmolarity, Schirmer test I, corneal/conjunctival staining, tear break‐up time (TBUT), Oxford Scheme, Sicca Ocular Staining Score and Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire. All the parameters were assessed preoperatively and 6 and 12 months after upper blepharoplasty. All the groups' outcomes were compared. Results: The differences were not significant between the two upper blepharoplasty techniques regarding most of the above‐mentioned outcomes. Subjective symptoms of ocular irritation, consistent with dry eye disease and vision‐related impairment, were reduced after upper blepharoplasty independent of the type of the technique applied, while the pre and postoperative outcomes of the objective tear dynamics did not differ 12 months after surgery. However, group B demonstrated a significant increase in tear osmolarity and TBUT at the 6‐month follow‐up visit. Conclusion: An upper blepharoplasty alleviates subjective dry eye complaints in the long term, while not changing the tear dynamics. The improvement was independent of the blepharoplasty technique used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: During the pandemic, eye symptoms increased. This study aimed to investigate the effects of online education on ocular surface symptoms, which was a part of the distance learning model during the COVID-19 pandemic, to be able to prevent the formation of irreversible damage. Methods: This cohort study included 315 students who were undertaking online education and presented at the Ophthalmology Department of a university hospital. The sociodemographic data, Schirmer test results, tear break-up time (TBUT) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores of the students were noted. The data were analyzed using SPSS v. 22.0 software and a value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Evaluation was made of 315 students with a mean age of 14.48 (5.86) years (range: 6-29 years). Of these, 159 were studying at a high school or university, and 267 had been participating in online education for ≥6 hours per week. New symptoms had developed in the eyes of 213. The Schirmer test results were 8.74 (3.76) mm in the right eye and 8.90 (3.86) mm in the left eye. TBUT was 9.95(3.60) seconds in the right eye and 10.15 (3.58) seconds in the left. The mean OSDI score was 26.39 (11.85). OSDI was significantly negatively correlated with the Schirmer results and TBUT (r= -0.883, P<0.05, r= - 0.793, P<0.05, respectively), while Schirmer and TBUT were positively correlated (r=0.871, P<0.05). Conclusion: With the continuation of education online during the COVID-19 pandemic, televisions, computers, and tablets were commonly used. This increased screen time led to the development of new symptoms causing significant changes in the OSDI, TBUT, and Schirmer tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Welders are prone to ocular injuries and ocular surface problems due to exposure to ultraviolet light. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tear film comprehensively and assess objective and subjective indices of dry eye in welders.Methods: In this historical cohort, welders with at least 5 years of experience were compared with controls. A complete evaluation of ocular health was done for all participants. The Schirmer test (invasive and non-invasive) and Invasive Tear Break-Up Time (ITBUT) were applied for objective evaluation and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used for subjective assessment of the tear film status. The results were compared between the two groups using the SPSS software.Results: The results of 140 welders (mean age: 46.66 ± 13.01 years) and 172 controls (mean age: 45.05 ± 12.61) were analyzed. The values of the Schirmer test and ITBUT were significantly lower in welders than controls; the difference was more prominent for the Schirmer test as compared to TBUT (Schirmer difference = 4.98 mm, ITBUT difference = 2.23 s). OSDI values were also significantly lower in welders than controls (P < 0.001). Considering a cut-off point of 12, 81.2% of welders had degrees of dry eye which was severe in 46.2% while 35.5% of controls had dry eye.Conclusion: The results indicate that the percentage of dry eye and tear problems is far higher in welders than non-welders. Most of the affected welders have severe dry eye. It seems that the main reason for dry eye in these people is aqueous deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) on tear film parameters and dry eye disease.Methods: Fifty-seven patients using low-dose aspirin regularly for antiaggregant purposes as well as 49 controls, who required antiaggregant treatment but who had not yet started, were included in the study. Tear osmolarity, tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer and Oxford grading of ocular surface staining were performed on all patients and dry eye symptomatology was assessed using the ocular surface disease index questionnaire (OSDI).Results: The mean osmolarity was 302.11 ± 16.22 mOsm/L in the aspirin group and 313.88 ± 19.57 mOsm/L in the control group (P < 0.01). The mean Schirmer's score was 24.16 ± 10.52 mm and 21.94 ± 10.11 mm (P = 0.232), TBUT was 13.61 ± 3.31 s and 10.39 ± 4.46 s (P < 0.01), OSDI score was 5.15 ± 5.98 and 16.94 ± 14.17 (P < 0.01), and Oxford score was 0.12 ± 0.33 and 0.12 ± 0.44 in aspirin and control groups, respectively (P = 0.99). Dry eye diagnosis was lower in the aspirin group, but statistical significance was present only in TBUT and osmolarity-based dry eye diagnosis (P ≤ 0.01). In terms of symptom-based dry eye diagnosis with the threshold of OSDI ≥23, none of the aspirin group had dry eye diagnosis, whereas 32.6% of the control group had the diagnosis (P < 0.01).Conclusions: The use of low-dose aspirin might be great option for treatment of ocular surface inflammatory disease through increasing TBUT and decreasing tear osmolarity with a resultant symptomatic satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Ocular allergy is an ocular surface disease deteriorates the patient's quality of life. This situation continues and repeats inflammation via allergen contacts. Inflammation disrupted the tear film instability and may lead to dry eye. The aim of our study is to investigate concurrently appearing signs and symptoms of dry eye in a group of patients with symptomatic allergic conjunctivitis. Material and Methods: To be evaluated 141 patients with ocular allergy and 138 patient without ocular allergy in terms of dry eye symptoms and signs by Oxford scheme, OSDI scores, Break up time (BUT) and Schirmer test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference was detected between the dry eye scores of the two groups. Conclusion: It may be related that ocular allergy and dry eye. Because of this relation, patients have ocular allergy evaluated in terms of dry eye simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]