Noninvasive Keratograph assessment of tear film break-up time and location in patients with age-related cataracts and dry eye syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate tear-film break-up time and spatial distribution via noninvasive Keratograph 4 in patients with cataracts and dry eye syndrome (DES).


METHODS
Noninvasive first break-up time (NIKf-BUT) and average break-up time (NIKav-BUT) were evaluated via Keratograph 4 in patients with age-related cataracts and DES. The location and size of tear break regions were recorded and the distribution of first break-up areas was summarized. Patients also underwent conventional break-up time assessments (TBUT test and Schirmer's test).


RESULTS
A total of 43 left and 43 right eyes were examined. There was no significant difference between TBUT and NIKav-BUT. NIKf-BUT was significantly shorter than TBUT. Both NIKf-BUT and NIKav-BUT correlated positively with TBUT. In both the left and right eye, the most common first break-up areas were the peripheral domain of the inferior precorneal surface and the central domain of the superior portion.


CONCLUSIONS
The Keratograph 4 appears to provide an effective noninvasive method for assessing tear film, enabling effective preoperative evaluation of tear film break-up regularity, informing the location of the incision and reducing the probability of postoperative DES.
Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Yongxiang
Y
Jiang
Hongfei
H
Ye
Jianjiang
J
Xu
Yi
Y
Lu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013256:Steroids
Break-up time; Keratograph 4; cataract; dry eye