Relationship of symptomatology with closed chamber infrared thermometry and humidity in dry eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship of symptoms of dry eye with closed chamber infrared thermometry and humidity measurements.


METHODS
The authors studied 54 patients (108 eyes) with dry eye disorders of different grades of clinical severity (mean age 35.75+/-14.37 years), 31 cases (62 eyes) with normal eyes (mean age 33.68+/-14.42 years), and 10 cases (20 eyes) with epidemic conjunctivitis (mean age 33.68+/-14.42 years). The symptoms and the clinical tests (Schirmer-1 test, fluorescein tear break up time, Lissamine green stain; closed chamber infrared thermometry and humidity) were used to establish the diagnosis of dry eyes. The closed chamber humidity difference was used to classify the groups of dry eye.


RESULTS
The authors noted no temperature difference from closed to open eye position in dry eyes as compared to 0.10 +/- 0.00 degrees C difference in normal eyes and epidemic conjunctivitis. Four groups of cases were identified by difference in values of humidity: Group 1 = <0.9 relative humidity (RH)% to 1 RH%; Group 2 = >1 RH% to 1.5 RH%; Group 3 = >1.5 RH% to 2 RH %; and Group 4 = >2 RH%. The symptomatology was measured in the eyes using Oxford scale (0-4) and correlated with the humidity groups. The grading of symptoms with the humidity showed a statistically significant relationship (p<0.0001) in each group. The severity of the symptoms showed an increase in frequency and severity from Group 1 to Group 4, which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). The mean sum total of global symptomatology score was statistically significant (p<0.0001): 3.43 +/- 0.31 in Group 1, 4.65+/-0.42 in Group 2, 8.56 +/- 0.78 in Group 3, and 13.35+/-1.21 in Group 4. However, total symptomatology score in epidemic conjunctivitis did not show a statistically significant value (p=0.20).


CONCLUSIONS
The closed chamber humidity and thermometry measurements showed statistical correlation in all four groups of dry eyes to total mean symptomatology score (p<0.001) and showed an increase in value with increasing severity of symptoms. However, all individual symptoms fail to show any conclusive relationship.
Singh
G
G
Guru Gobind Singh International Eye Research and Cure Centre, New Delhi--India. gurbax_s@yahoo.com
Bhinder
H Singh
HS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008086:Lissamine Green Dyes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D013821:Thermometers
D004396:Coloring Agents; D008086:Lissamine Green Dyes