RESUMEN
Purpose: Dry eye is a common condition affecting people worldwide. It causes ocular discomfort by reducing the quality of vision and impacts daily activities. To overcome such ocular discomfort, artificial tears are used but it is difficult to use artificial tears every time to protect eyes from dryness. There is a need to explore other treatment options, which can be used during work hours. The aim was to study the effect of salivary stimulation on tear film functions among dry eye subjects. Methods: Thirty?three subjects were enrolled in this prospective experimental study. Tear film function tests such as tear break up time (TBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), and Schirmer’s I and II tests were conducted. For dry eye subjects, salivation was induced by giving a tamarind candy (a soft slightly sour tamarind pulp mixed with sugar) for 5 min. Tear film function tests were carried out within a few seconds (2 to 3 s) after finishing the candy and then after 30 and 60 min of the induction of salivation. The pre? and post?tear film function measurements were recorded and analyzed. Results: TBUT, TMH, and Schirmer’s II tests showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase immediately and after 30 min of stimulation of salivation for all tests in both eyes. However, the difference was insignificant after 60 min of stimulation of salivation. Schirmer’s I showed statistically significant changes in the left eye, but not in the right eye immediately after stimulation of salivation (P = 0.025). Conclusion: The quantity as well as the quality of tear film improved after the stimulation of salivation among dry eye subjects.
RESUMEN
La saliva juega un importante rol en la prevención y mantenimiento de la salud oral. La alteración del flujo salival es un factor clave en el desarrollo de diversas patologías e infecciones oportunistas en lacavidad bucal. Existen diversos caminos por los que algunos elementosque no son constituyentes y habituales de la saliva pueden llegar a ella, a través de rutas intracelulares y extracelulares; gracias a esta posibilidad, se abre una perspectiva para su aplicación en el diagnósticode determinadas patologías. El conocimiento de su composición y funciones ayudará a promoveren los profesionales una mayor conciencia del papel de la saliva en la prevención de patologías y mantenimiento de la salud oral.
Saliva plays an important role in the preventionand maintenance of oral health. Alterationof salivary flow is a key factor in the developmentof various diseases and opportunistic infectionsin the oral cavity.There are various way by which some elementsthat are not common constituents of saliva canreach it through intracellular and extracellularroutes; thanks to this possibility, a prospectfor application in the diagnosis of certainpathologies opens. The knowledge of itscomposition and functions, help promoteprofessionals, greater awareness of the roleof saliva in the prevention of diseasesand maintenance of oral health.