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Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate changes in dry eye diagnostic status following implementation of the new dry eye diagnostic criteria in Japan. Design: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. Methods: We recruited 295 individuals (81 men, 214 women, average age 43.6 ± 14.3 years) seen for general ophthalmic checkup and dry eye examinations. Using results of the Schirmer I test, tear breakup time, and fluorescein and Rose Bengal staining, patients were diagnosed as having definite dry eye (DDE), probable dry eye (PDE), or as being normal according to both the old and new Japanese dry eye diagnostic criteria. Results: Mean ages of normal participants and patients with PDE and DDE were 37.0 ± 10.4, 41.7 ± 14.4, and 47.7 ± 15.3 years, respectively ( p < 0.001). All 37 individuals diagnosed as normal following the old criteria were also diagnosed as normal with the new diagnostic criteria. Among the 60 patients diagnosed as PDE with the old criteria, 19 (31.7%) were diagnosed as normal and 41 (68.3%) as PDE with the new diagnostic criteria. Of the 198 patients diagnosed with DDE following the old criteria, 59 (29.7%) were diagnosed as PDE and 139 (70.2%) as DDE with the new diagnostic criteria. There was no significant difference in dry eye severity index scores between the old and new diagnostic criteria. Conclusion: A shift in the final dry eye diagnostic status from DDE to PDE and from PDE to normal was observed with the implementation of the new dry eye diagnostic criteria, suggesting that patients at the severe end of the dry eye disease spectrum are now diagnosed as DDE disease under the new criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dry eye has shown a marked increase due to visual display terminal (VDT) use. It remains unclear whether reduced blinking while focusing can have a direct deleterious impact on the lacrimal gland function. To address this issue that potentially affects the life quality, we conducted a large-scale epidemiological study of VDT users and an animal study. Methodology/Principal Findings: Cross sectional survey carried out in Japan. A total of 1025 office workers who use VDT were enrolled. The association between VDT work duration and changes in tear film status, precorneal tear stability, lipid layer status and tear secretion were analyzed. For the animal model study, the rat VDT user model, placing rats onto a balance swing in combination with exposure to an evaporative environment was used to analyze lacrimal gland function. There was no positive relationship between VDT working duration and change in tear film stability and lipid layer status. The odds ratio for decrease in Schirmer score, index of tear secretion, were significantly increased with VDT working year (P = 0.012) and time (P = 0.005). The rat VDT user model, showed chronic reduction of tear secretion and was accompanied by an impairment of the lacrimal gland function and morphology. This dysfunction was recovered when rats were moved to resting conditions without the swing. Conclusions/Significance: These data suggest that lacrimal gland hypofunction is associated with VDT use and may be a critical mechanism for VDT-associated dry eye. We believe this to be the first mechanistic link to the pathogenesis of dry eye in office workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease and contact lens (CL) use among Japanese private high school students. Design: Cross-sectional prevalence survey. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional survey in 3,433 Japanese high school students who completed questionnaires designed to ascertain a prior diagnosis of dry eye disease and current symptoms of dry eye disease, as well as information on CL use and type of CL. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between dry eye disease and CL use. Results: Of the 3,443 high school students, 3,433 (100%) completed the questionnaires. A total of 2,848 boys and 585 girls joined and the age range was from 15 to 18 years. Clinically diagnosed dry eye disease was present in 123 boys (4.3%) and 47 girls (8.0%). Severe symptoms of dry eye disease were observed in 599 subjects in boys (21.0%) and 143 in girls (24.4%). Soft contact lens (SCL) and hard contact lens (HCL) use was 36.1% and 1.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Dry eye disease leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms is prevalent in the studied Japanese private high school students. The condition is more prevalent among female subjects and CL wearers. Relevant measures directed against these risks could provide a positive impact on public health and quality of life of high school students. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The use of eyewash solutions in Japan, especially in patients with allergic conjunctivitis and contact lens wearers, has been increasing. Our aim was to investigate how the use of preservative-free eyewash solution in healthy eyes for one month affects corneal safety and ocular surface mucin. We analyzed 42 eyes of 21 individuals (17 males, four females; mean age: 36.1 ± 7.4 years) without ocular allergies, dry eyes, or other ocular diseases through a prospective study. Eyes were randomized to a wash group (group one) and a nonwash follow up group (group two). We evaluated the dry eye-related quality-of-life score (DEQS), tear film breakup time (TBUT), fluorescein staining score, mRNA expression of MUC5AC and MUC16, MUC16 immunohistochemistry, and MUC5AC periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. There was a significant decrease in DEQS scores after one month of eyewash use (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other evaluation items that were analyzed (all p > 0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between group one and group two in all endpoints (all p > 0.05). The results suggest that one month use of a nonpreserved eyewash solution has no detrimental effects on the tear film and the ocular surface mucins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) and risk factors among young and middle-aged Japanese office workers using visual display terminals (VDTs). Design: Cross-sectional prevalence survey. Participants: Four thousand three hundred ninety-three Japanese young and middle-aged office workers using VDTs. Intervention: Office workers completed questionnaires sent by e-mail designed to detect dry eye diagnosis and risk factors. Main Outcome Measures: Clinically diagnosed DED was defined as the presence of a previous clinical diagnosis of DED by dry eye specialists or severe symptoms of DED (both dryness and irritation constantly or often). Current symptoms of DED and possible risk factors such as age, duration of VDT use, type of VDT work, environmental factors, presence of systemic diseases, systemic medicine use, smoking history, and contact lens (CL) use were the main outcome measures. We used logistic regression to examine associations between DED and other demographic factors. Results: Of the 4393 office workers, 3549 (80.1%) completed the questionnaire. Clinically diagnosed DED was present in 266 (10.1%) of 2640 male subjects and in 195 (21.5%) of 909 female subjects. Severe symptoms of DED were observed in 711 male and in 436 female participants. More than 4 hours of VDT use was associated with an increased risk of DED (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40–2.02). In addition, CL use (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 3.37–4.53) increased the risk of severe dry eye symptoms. Conclusions: Dry eye disease leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms is prevalent among young and middle-aged Japanese office workers. The condition is more prevalent among females, CL wearers, and prolonged VDT users. Relevant measures directed against the modifiable risks could provide a positive impact on public health and quality of life of office workers. Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease (DED) in a rural setting in Japan. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: We included 3294 subjects, aged ≥40 years who were in the residential registry for Koumi town. Intervention: Subjects in a rural mountain area, Koumi town, completed questionnaires designed to detect dry eye diagnosis and risk factors. Main Outcome Measures: Clinically diagnosed DED was defined as the presence of a previous clinical diagnosis of DED by ophthalmologists or severe symptoms of DED (both dryness and irritation constantly or often). Current symptoms of DED and possible risk factors such as age, gender, educational history, smoking history, alcohol drinking history, height and weight, visual display terminal (VDT) use, and contact lens (CL) wear, and past/current history of certain common systemic diseases were the main outcome measures. We used logistic regression analysis to examine associations between DED and other demographic factors. Results: Of the 3294 eligible residents, 2791 residents (85%) completed the questionnaire. The percentage of women with a composite outcome of clinically diagnosed DED or severe symptoms (21.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 19.5–23.9) was higher than that of men (12.5%; 95% CI, 10.7–14.5; P<0.001). A low body mass index (BMI; odds ratio [OR], 2.07; 95% CI, 0.98–4.39), CL use (OR, 3.84; 95% CI, 1.46–10.10), and hypertension (HT) (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.94–2.06) were risk factors for DED in men. Use of a VDT (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.12–4.85), CL use (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 2.13–6.10), and myocardial infarction or angina were the risk factors (OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.51–4.62), whereas high BMI was a preventive factor (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.48–1.01) for DED in women. Conclusions: Among a Japanese cohort, DED leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms is prevalent. Use of CLs was a common dry eye risk factor in both genders. The condition is more prevalent in men with low BMI, HT, and in women with myocardial infarction or angina and VDT use. Relevant measures directed against the modifiable risks may provide a positive impact on public health and quality of life of Japanese. Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of correcting spherical aberration with aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) in cataract surgery based on individual pupil diameter. Setting: Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Methods: In this prospective study, eyes having cataract surgery were divided into 4 groups based on IOL type: aspheric SN (AcrySof SN60WF), aspheric ZA (Tecnis ZA9003), aspheric PY (Hoya PY-60 AD), and spherical (AcrySof Natural SN60AT). Postoperative higher-order aberrations (HOAs) of the cornea and whole eye and the pupil diameter under photopic and mesopic conditions were measured. The HOA was calculated using the individual pupil diameter. The correlation between corneal and ocular spherical aberrations and pupil diameter was evaluated. Results: Each group comprised 30 eyes. Ocular spherical aberrations were significantly lower than corneal spherical aberrations under mesopic conditions in the aspheric SN group, the aspheric ZA group, and the aspheric PY group (P<.05); there was no significant difference between the aberrations in the spherical group. Linear regression showed significant correlations between postoperative corneal and ocular spherical aberrations (β = 0.39, aspheric SN; β = 0.38, aspheric ZA; β = 0.58, aspheric PY; β = 0.79, spherical). The differences in corneal and ocular spherical aberrations were significantly correlated with pupil diameter in the aspheric IOL groups but not in the spherical IOL group. Conclusions: The amount of spherical aberration correction by aspheric IOLs varied depending on IOL type and individual pupil diameter. The linear regression equation in this study may make it possible to customize postoperative ocular spherical aberration after cataract surgery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Importance: Dry eye disease has become an important health problem. A lack of concordance between self-reported symptoms and the outcome of dry eye examinations has raised questions about dry eye disease., Objective: To explore the association between subjective happiness and objective and subjective symptoms of dry eye disease., Design: The study adopted a cross-sectional design., Setting: All the employees of a company in Osaka, Japan., Participants: 672 Japanese office workers using Visual Display Terminals (age range: 26-64 years)., Methods: The dry eye measurement tools included the Schirmer test, conjunctivocorneal staining, the tear film break-up time, as well as the administration of a dry eye symptoms questionnaire. Happiness was measured by the Subjective Happiness Scale., Main Outcome Measures: Dry eye examination parameters, dry eye symptoms questionnaires, and the Subjective Happiness Scale score., Results: Of the 672 workers, 561 (83.5%) completed the questionnaires and examinations. The mean Subjective Happiness Scale score was 4.91 (SD = 1.01). This score was inversely correlated with the dry eye symptom score (r = -0.188, p < 0.001), but was not associated with objective findings which include conjunctivocorneal staining, low Schirmer test score, or low tear film break-up time. The level of subjective happiness was the lowest in the group without objective results, but reported subjective symptoms of dry eyes (p < 0.05)., Conclusions and Relevance: There is evidence of the relationship between subjective happiness and self-reported symptoms of dry eyes. Findings of this study revealed a new perspective on dry eye disease, including the potential for innovative treatments of a specific population with dry eye disease.

Purpose: We determined whether functional visual acuity (VA) parameters and a dry eyes (DEs) symptoms questionnaire could predict DEs in a population of visual terminal display (VDT) users., Methods: This prospective study included 491 VDT users from the Osaka Study. Subjects with definite DE, diagnosed with the presence of DE symptoms, tear abnormality (Schirmer test ≤ 5 mm or tear breakup time [TBUT] ≤ 5 seconds), and conjunctivocorneal epithelial damage (total staining score of ≥3 points), or probable DE, diagnosed with the presence of two of them, were assigned to a DE group, and the remainder to a non-DE group. Functional VA was assessed, and DE questionnaires were administered. We assessed whether univariate and discriminant analyses could determine to which group a subject belonged. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed., Results: Of 491 subjects, 320 and 171 were assigned to the DE and non-DE groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed between DE and non-DE groups in Schirmer test value and epithelial damage, but TBUT value (3.1 ± 1.5 vs. 5.9 ± 3.0 seconds). The sensitivity and specificity of single test using functional VA parameters were 59% and 49% in functional VA, 60% and 50% in visual maintenance ratio, and 83% and 30% in frequency of blinking, respectively. According to a discriminant analysis using a combination of functional VA parameters and a DE questionnaire, six variables were selected for the discriminant equation, of which area under the curve (AUC) was 0.735. Sensitivity and specificity of diagnoses predicted by the discriminant equation were 85.9% and 45.6%, respectively., Conclusions: The discriminant equation obtained using functional VA measurement combined with a symptoms questionnaire may suggest the possibility for the first step screening of DE with unstable tear film. Since the questionnaire has an overall poor sensitivity and specificity, further amelioration may be necessary for the actual utilization of this screening tool., (Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.)

Purpose: To estimate the impact of dry eye disease (DED) on work performance and productivity in office workers using visual display terminals (VDTs)., Design: Cross-sectional study., Methods: Six hundred seventy-two Japanese young and middle-aged office workers using VDTs completed a questionnaire that was designed to measured at-work performance deficits and productivity losses using the Japanese version of the Work Limitations Questionnaire, completed by e-mail. Using the Japanese dry eye diagnostic criteria, respondents were classified into 3 groups: definite DED, probable DED, and non DED., Results: Of the 672 office workers, 553 subjects (82.3%), including 366 men and 187 women, completed the questionnaire and underwent clinical evaluation. As for the total workplace productivity loss, the non DED group demonstrated a loss of 3.56%, those with probable DED demonstrated a loss of 4.06%, and those with definite DED demonstrated a loss of 4.82%, indicating significantly worse performance and productivity (P = .014, trend test). For the 4 subscales, DED was associated with significantly lower on-the-job time management (P = .009, trend test) and combined mental performance and interpersonal functioning (P = .011, trend test). After controlling for age, sex, VDT working hours, and diagnosis of DED, time management, physical demands, and mental and interpersonal functioning showed a significant relationship to DED (each P > .05). Annual DED productivity losses were estimated to be $6160 per employee when measured by total production and $1178 per employee calculated by wage., Conclusions: This study indicated that there is a significant impact of DED on the total productivity of Japanese VDT users., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, our group at Keio University worked diligently to bring the Vision Van, a mobile eye clinic, from Miami, Florida, to disaster areas where medicines, eyeglasses, and indeed all other ophthalmological supplies and services, were nonexistent, thereby assisting many tsunami survivors suffering from eye problems. This act was encouraging not only to the patients and those working in the disaster-hit areas but also to ophthalmologists who wanted to use their medical specialty to assist those in need.

Purpose: To examine the clinical efficacy and anti-inflammatory effects of tacrolimus eye drops; we studied the changes in clinical ocular findings and measured tear eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels of atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) patients before and after the treatment., Methods: Nine eyes of 9 patients (8 males, 1 female; mean age: 16.9 ± 11.4 years; range: 6-44 years) diagnosed with moderate or severe AKC disease were enrolled in this prospective study and treated with tacrolimus. All patients received 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops 2 times a day for 1 month. Tear samples were taken before and after treatment and ECP concentrations were obtained. Corneal fluorescein staining and conjunctival injection, edema, and papillary formation were graded on the recruitment day and one month later. Analysis of pre- and post-treatment findings was done using the Wilcoxon signed test. The ECP concentrations were correlated with the clinical signs using Spearman correlation tests., Results: Post-treatment tear ECP levels were significantly reduced compared to the pre-treatment level. Clinical corneal scores also improved significantly after one month treatment with tacrolimus eye-drops. The mean conjunctival injection and conjunctival edema scores were significantly (p<0.05) decreased after the drug therapy. Strong positive linear correlations between ECP values and clinical signs were observed. Patients did not present side effects during the treatment with tacrolimus., Conclusions: In this pilot study, tacrolimus eye drops were found to reduce signs of AKC. ECP proved to correlate well with clinical signs of AKC.

Purpose: To evaluate the morphological changes of the meibomian glands (MGs) using in vivo laser confocal microscopy (CM) in dry eye (DE) patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)., Methods: Seventeen eyes from 9 patients with a diagnosis of DE associated with cGVHD (DE/cGVHD group; 6 males, 3 females; median 50.5 years) and 16 eyes of 8 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients without DE (non-DE/non-cGVHD group; 5 males, 3 females; median 47.0 years) were enrolled. CM was used to investigate the MG and MG acinar unit density (MGAUD), MG acinar longest diameter (MGALD), MG acinar shortest diameter (MGASD), and the fibrosis grade. Clinical findings of the lid margin were obtained. Tear dynamics, ocular surface vital staining, meibography, and MG expressibility were also examined. Data were compared between the 2 groups using the unpaired t and Mann-Whitney tests., Results: The mean MGAUD value was significantly lower in the DE/cGVHD group than in the non-DE/non-cGVHD group (p=0.01, 57.8±38.3 glands/mm(2), 88.8±26.6 glands/mm(2), respectively), and the mean MGALD and MGASD were significantly shorter in the DE/cGVHD group than in the non-DE/non-cGVHD group (p=0.0018, 37.3±24.4 μm and 60.4±11.8 μm, p=0.0106, 17.7±11.8 μm and 26.6±6.03 μm, respectively). The mean fibrosis grade was significantly higher in the DE/cGVHD group than the non-DE/non-cGVHD group (p<0.0001, 1.39±0.71 grade, 0.06±0.25 grade, respectively). Clinical findings in the lid margin, tear dynamics, and ocular surface findings were significantly worse in the DE/cGVHD group than in the non-DE/non-cGVHD group., Conclusions: CM clearly depicted the morphological changes of the MG in the DE/cGVHD group, and revealed the severity of the meibomian gland dysfunction. Patients with severe DE after HSCT showed atrophic MG and excessive fibrosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the features of dry eye disease in a Japanese elderly population., Methods: One hundred thirteen left eyes of 113 pensioners (50 males, 63 females; mean age, 67.5 +/- 5.7 years) aged over 60 years were recruited in this study. The subjects underwent careful slit-lamp examinations of the conjunctiva, ocular surface, and the eye lids. Tear film breakup time (BUT) examinations, Schirmer test-I, and fluorescein staining of the ocular surface and transillumination of the eyelids were also performed. Dry eye symptomatology was assessed with a symptom questionnaire. Japanese Dry Eye Diagnostic Criteria were used in this study., Results: Ocular tiredness, irritation, dryness, and foreign body sensation were the most frequently reported symptoms by the patients. A total of 73.5% of the eyes had definite dry eyes. A total of 39.8% of the eyes had a Schirmer test reading <5 mm. Mean Schirmer test value was 9.4 +/- 7.8 mm. The mean BUT score was 4.0 +/- 2.8 seconds. A total of 76.9% of the eyes had positive fluorescein staining of the cornea. Meibomian gland dysfunction and conjunctivochalasis were found as frequent factors in relation to dry eye disease with meibomian grand dropout showing positive correlation with tear instability., Conclusion: Qualitative and quantitative disorders of the tear film were far more common than recognized in this population of elderly subjects, meibomian gland dysfunction being the most common associate of the tear film disorder and dry eye status. Conjunctivochalasis (conjunctival laxity), although commonly associated with dry eye disease in the elderly, was observed not to be related to age or gender in this study.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of implantation of an iris-claw phakic intraocular lens (PIOL), Artisan Myopia, in Asian eyes., Setting: Minamiaoyama Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan., Methods: Forty-four eyes of 32 Japanese patients and 1 Korean patient with high myopia had Artisan Myopia lens implantation to correct their refractive errors. Lens models, 5/8.5 or 6/8.5 (optic diameter/overall diameter), were chosen as standard lens model. A smaller lens model (5/7.5-Artisan Myopia Small) was implanted in eyes with corneal diameter less than 11.0 mm. Postoperative examinations were performed on 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction, corneal endothelial cell counts, intraocular pressure, and complications were evaluated., Results: Artisan Myopia Small lenses were implanted in 4 eyes (9.1%) and 8.5 mm diameter lenses were implanted in 40 eyes. Preoperative UCVA (logMAR) improved from 1.57 to 0.09 at 1 month after surgery and no regression was observed thereafter. Postoperative manifest refraction was -1.02 +/- 0.87 D (-3.25 to -0.00 D), and within 1.0 D in 20 eyes (55.6%), within 2.0 D in 32 eyes (88.9%) at 1 month after surgery, and stable during the follow-up period. The final BCVA decreased 2 lines in 2 eyes (4.5%) due to progression of age-related cataract. No serious complications such as angle closure or progressive endothelial cell loss were observed., Conclusion: Implantation of an Artisan iris-claw PIOL implantation may be a safe and effective procedure for Asian eyes.