title: Effect of airflow exposure on the tear meniscus.
abstract: Purpose. To compare the effect of airflow exposure on the tear meniscus and blink frequency in normal and evaporative dry eye subjects. Methods. In 9 normal subjects and 9 short tear breakup time (SBUT) dry eye subjects, lower tear meniscus height (TMH) and area (TMA) and blink frequency were measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and after 5 minutes of airflow exposure (1.5 ± 0.5 m/s). Results. In SBUT dry eyes, both TMH and TMA decreased significantly (P = 0.027, P = 0.027) with a significant increase of blink frequency after airflow exposure, while significant increase in TMA was found in normal eyes. Conclusion. Measurement of the tear meniscus with anterior segment OCT seems to be useful as a noninvasive and objective method for evaluating the effect of airflow on tear film.
authors.affiliation: Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Ranjini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kottaiyan
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zavislan
authors.forename: Geunyoung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aquavella