Improved functional visual acuity after punctal occlusion in dry eye patients.
OBJECTIVE
To report an increased functional visual acuity, which was recently reported as a simulation of visual function of daily acts of gazing, in dry eye patients after punctal occlusion.


METHODS
Prospective comparative interventional study.


METHODS
We measured ordinary best-corrected visual acuity and functional visual acuity in eight eyes of eight dry eye patients after punctal occlusion, and compared the results with those of 22 eyes of 22 dry eye patients without punctal occlusion.


RESULTS
Functional visual acuity in dry eye patients after punctal occlusion was 0.962 in decimal notation, which was significantly higher than that of patients without punctal occlusion, 0.283 (P <.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that punctal occlusion can improve the impaired functional visual acuity of dry eye patients.
Goto
Eiki
E
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. eikigoto@nifty.com
Yagi
Yukiko
Y
Kaido
Minako
M
Matsumoto
Yukihiro
Y
Konomi
Kenji
K
Tsubota
Kazuo
K
D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*