Numerical analysis of interferograms for evaluation of tear film build-up time.
The lateral shearing interferometer was applied to the in vivo dynamic investigation of the external surface of the pre-corneal tear film after an eye blink. Sequences of interferograms were recorded at a sampling frequency of 25 Hz. Immediately after every eye blink, a bright pattern was observed under the interference fringes. This disappeared after a short time interval (around 0.5-2 s): smooth interference fringes were then observed, corresponding to the creation of a smooth anterior optical surface over the cornea. The purpose of this study is to describe in detail the kinetics of pre-corneal tear film stability and to propose quantitative measures of the stabilisation process in healthy eyes during the 3 s period after a blink. Two methods of quantitative assessment of the tear film build-up time are presented. The first is based upon the evaluation of the inhomogeneity of the background of the interferogram; the second evaluates the orientation of the structure of the background by the analysis of the zero order of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum. The quasi-vertically oriented bright line patterns observed in interferograms immediately after a blink and the mirror-symmetry of their tilts for right and left eyes indicate that the pattern is related to the wiping movements of the upper eyelids during the eye blink.
Szczesna
Dorota H
DH
Institute of Physics, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland. dorota.szczesna@pwr.wroc.pl
Kasprzak
Henryk T
HT
D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry / Q000379:methods; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors