The Effect of a New Emulsion in Dry Eye Patients on Tear Layer Aberrometry, Contrast Sensitivity, and Reading Ability
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology, Ocular |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology, Ophthalmology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 10/14/2017 |
| Start Date: | November 2009 |
| End Date: | August 2011 |
The Effect of a New Emulsion in Dry Eye Patients on Tear Layer Aberrometry, Contrast Sensitivity, and Reading Ability.
The purpose of this study is to investigate how the addition of a new emulsion artificial
tear to the tear layer of dry eye and normal patients affects aberrometry, contrast
sensitivity, and reading ability over time. Previous studies have indicated that daily use of
artificial tears over a two week period decreases the short term affect of drop application
on aberrometry and contrast sensitivity measurements. The present study will examine the
effects of 4 weeks of artificial tear use to determine when the responses stabilize.
tear to the tear layer of dry eye and normal patients affects aberrometry, contrast
sensitivity, and reading ability over time. Previous studies have indicated that daily use of
artificial tears over a two week period decreases the short term affect of drop application
on aberrometry and contrast sensitivity measurements. The present study will examine the
effects of 4 weeks of artificial tear use to determine when the responses stabilize.
Dry eye patients experience symptoms such as; irritation, dryness, a scratchy sensation, and
blur. These symptoms are the result of an insufficient tear layer. Blur can occur in dry eye
patients because of an irregular tear film surface.
Artificial tears are applied to the eye to treat a variety of eye conditions. These
conditions typically are associated with dry eyes and include tear film deficiency due to
ocular or systemic disease, lid resurfacing problems, and contact lens wear. The artificial
tears are used to alleviate the dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye is a frequently encountered ocular condition. Recent studies estimate that 7.8% of
women and 4.8% of men over the age of 50 suffer from dry eye. The administration of an
artificial tear to the eye can disrupt the tear layer and this disruption could then result
in a change in contrast sensitivity for a few moments. Aberrometry is a technique that is
able to monitor tear layer disruption and its results may correlate with contrast sensitivity
changes.
Tear layer disruption results in a decrease in the modulation transfer function (MTF) for the
eye. Since the tear layer is the first refracting surface of the eye, its disruption can also
result in a change in contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and aberrometry. Previous work has
demonstrated that higher order aberrations increase 1.44 fold after the tear film breaks up
in normal subjects. Dry eye subjects demonstrate a significant increase in higher order
aberrations (i.e., total S3+4+5, spherical-like S4, and coma-like S3+5) when compared to
normal subjects. This has been interpreted to be the result of increased tear irregularities
in the dry eye subjects.
When an artificial tear (i.e., Vismed) was applied to the tear layer of dry eye subjects, the
optical aberrations decreased. This previous study only examined the short term affect (less
than 10 minutes) of a single administration of an artificial tear. In this study, we propose
to examine the short and long term effects of a new emulsion on contrast sensitivity, optical
aberrations, and reading ability after administration into the tear layer of normal and dry
eye subjects.
blur. These symptoms are the result of an insufficient tear layer. Blur can occur in dry eye
patients because of an irregular tear film surface.
Artificial tears are applied to the eye to treat a variety of eye conditions. These
conditions typically are associated with dry eyes and include tear film deficiency due to
ocular or systemic disease, lid resurfacing problems, and contact lens wear. The artificial
tears are used to alleviate the dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye is a frequently encountered ocular condition. Recent studies estimate that 7.8% of
women and 4.8% of men over the age of 50 suffer from dry eye. The administration of an
artificial tear to the eye can disrupt the tear layer and this disruption could then result
in a change in contrast sensitivity for a few moments. Aberrometry is a technique that is
able to monitor tear layer disruption and its results may correlate with contrast sensitivity
changes.
Tear layer disruption results in a decrease in the modulation transfer function (MTF) for the
eye. Since the tear layer is the first refracting surface of the eye, its disruption can also
result in a change in contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and aberrometry. Previous work has
demonstrated that higher order aberrations increase 1.44 fold after the tear film breaks up
in normal subjects. Dry eye subjects demonstrate a significant increase in higher order
aberrations (i.e., total S3+4+5, spherical-like S4, and coma-like S3+5) when compared to
normal subjects. This has been interpreted to be the result of increased tear irregularities
in the dry eye subjects.
When an artificial tear (i.e., Vismed) was applied to the tear layer of dry eye subjects, the
optical aberrations decreased. This previous study only examined the short term affect (less
than 10 minutes) of a single administration of an artificial tear. In this study, we propose
to examine the short and long term effects of a new emulsion on contrast sensitivity, optical
aberrations, and reading ability after administration into the tear layer of normal and dry
eye subjects.
Inclusion Criteria:
- mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of dry eye
Exclusion Criteria:
- uncontrolled systemic disease
- contact lens wear
- participation in another clinical trial
- best corrected visual acuity poorer than 20/25
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