Patient tolerance and ocular surface staining characteristics of lissamine green versus rose bengal.
OBJECTIVE
To determine patient tolerance and ocular surface staining characteristics of 1% lissamine green versus 1% rose bengal solutions in patients with dry eye and in those with normal ocular surfaces by comparison of subjective sensation and objective staining scores.


METHODS
Twelve patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and eight subjects with no ocular surface disease recorded their symptoms on a graded scale (0-5) and the duration of symptoms after instillation of one drop of 1% lissamine green and 1% rose bengal on two different occasions in different order. Lissamine green and rose bengal staining patterns were recorded on a graded scale (0-4) by one of the authors.


RESULTS
For patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca mean sensation score with lissamine green (2.42) was significantly lower (P = 0.00006) than with rose bengal (4.58). The duration of symptoms was significantly longer (P = 0.0007) after rose bengal instillation as well. For subjects with no ocular surface disease, mean sensation score with lissamine green (1.375) was significantly lower (P = 0.01) than with rose bengal (2.5). In this group, duration of symptoms also was significantly longer (P = 0.001) after rose bengal instillation. In both groups, there was no difference in objective staining scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Lissamine green is better tolerated than rose bengal by patients and is equally as effective as rose bengal in evaluating the ocular surface in keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Manning
F J
FJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Wehrly
S R
SR
Foulks
G N
GN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008086:Lissamine Green Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012395:Rose Bengal / Q000009:adverse effects; D012449:Safety
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008086:Lissamine Green Dyes; D012395:Rose Bengal