ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of strip meniscometry (SM) testing in conjunction with tear function tests in the diagnosis of dry eye (DE) disease and to investigate the effect of SM on reflex tearing. METHODS: One hundred seven left eyes of 107 patients with definite DE disease according to the Japanese DE diagnostic criteria and 68 left eyes of 68 age- and sex-matched control subjects were studied. Tear meniscus height (TMH) measurements, fluorescein tear film break-up time (FTBUT), fluorescein (F) and rose bengal (RB) staining, and Schirmer's test-1 (ST) were also performed. The assessment of reflex tearing before and after SM application was assessed with a graticule scale at the slit lamp and by optical coherence tomography. The sensitivity and specificity of SM alone and in combination with tear function tests were also sought. RESULTS: The SM scores, TMH measurements, FTBUTs, and STs were significantly lower in dry eye patients than in the controls (P < 0.001). The RB and F staining scores were significantly higher in the dry eye group than in the control group (P < 0.001). The meniscometry strips did not induce significant changes in relation to reflex tearing. SM had an acceptable sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: SM is a swift, noninvasive, promising method of assessing tear meniscus volume. The combined SM and FTBUT examination appears to be a sensitive approach to the assessment of dry eye disease.
Subject(s)
Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological , Dry Eye Syndromes/diagnosis , Tears/metabolism , Adult , Dry Eye Syndromes/metabolism , Female , Humans , Interferometry , Lacrimal Apparatus/metabolism , Light , Male , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tears/chemistry , Tomography, Optical CoherenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the applicability and efficacy of a new and simple method of quantification of the volume of tear meniscus, termed "strip meniscometry," in the diagnosis of the dry eye syndromes in a prospective controlled study. METHODS: One hundred eyes of 50 patients with dry eye (19 males; 31 females) aged between 18 and 76 years (mean, 54.3 years), as well as 80 eyes of 40 normal subjects aged from 15 to 70 years (mean, 50.8 years; 12 males, 28 females) were recruited in this study. The patients and the control subjects underwent strip meniscometry for 5 seconds, tear film lipid layer interferometry, tear film break-up time measurement, and ocular surface vital staining with fluorescein and rose bengal dyes and the Schirmer-1 test. RESULTS: Strip meniscometry scores correlated with tear quantity and stability, ocular surface staining scores, and lipid layer interferometry grades and improved after 2 weeks of punctal plug occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Strip meniscometry is a swift, noninvasive, promising new method that is expected to find application in the diagnosis and evaluation of the outcome of treatment of dry eye syndromes.
