[Evaluation of tear film stability by means of laser interferometry].
OBJECTIVE
The paper presents a new method for evaluation of the tear film stability on the human eye.


METHODS
The tear film distribution on the cornea is measured by the lateral shearing interference technique. The eye is kept open during approximately a two-minute recording, when the blinking has to be prevented. Continuous recording and viewing of interferograms enables registration of the changes in disturbances of interference fringes during elapsed time. The changes in fringes are caused by evaporation of tears from the ocular surface and appearance of the breakups.


CONCLUSIONS
The noninvasive tear breakup time (NITBUT) can be evaluated by comparing the recorded consecutive interferograms.
Licznerski
T J
TJ
Instytutu Fizyki Politechniki Wrocławskiej.
Marek
J
J
Jakubaszko
J
J
Kasprzak
H T
HT
D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013666:Tears; D013997:Time Factors