The proportional Changes of Tear Proteins in the Dry Eye Patients

ABSTRACT

It is well studied about the composition of tear and it`s function, but not about the proportion of tear proteins in the dry eye, in which tear volume is reduced and tear film is unstable. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the proportion of tear proteins. This study involved 150 subjects, 50 volunteers and 100 outpatients who visited Ophthalmologic department from January to December in 1997. Dry eye was classified into mild and severe dry eyes. Four fractions of tear protein were demonstrated by electrophoresis. The proportion of tear proteins in fraction 1 to 4 were 31.0+/-5.9%(mean+/-standard deviation), 2.9+/-1.3%, 40.8+/-5.5%, 25.2+/-5.2%, in control group, 33.4+/-7.1%, 3.4+/-3.0%, 41.6+/-7.7%, 21.5+/-4.8% in mild dry eye group, 37.5+/-11.4%, 3.2+/-2.2%, 40.3+/-9.1%, 19.5+/-5.3% in severe dry eye group respectively. With severty of the dry eye, the proportion of fraction 1 was increased and the proportion of fraction 4 was decreased, both of which were statistically significant difference(P<0.01). In proportion to the severity of dry eye, the proportion of tear proteins became unstable. For the diagnosis and management of the dry eye,we consider the supplement of the decreased portion of tear proteins.