title: Thermal analysis of dry eye subjects and the thermal impulse perturbation model of ocular surface.
abstract: In this study, we explore the usage of ocular surface temperature (OST) decay patterns to distinguished between dry eye patients with aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The OST profiles of 20 dry eye subjects were measured by a long-wave infrared thermal camera in a standardized environment (24 °C, and relative humidity (RH) 40%). The subjects were instructed to blink every 5 s after 20 ∼ 25 min acclimation. Exponential decay curves were fit to the average temperature within a region of the central cornea. We find the MGD subjects have both a higher initial temperature (p < 0.022) and a higher asymptotic temperature (p < 0.007) than the ADDE subjects. We hypothesize the temperature difference among the subpopulations is due to tear volume and heat transfer mechanisms. To study the validity of our claim, we develop a mathematical model, referred to as the thermal impulse perturbation (TIP) model. We conclude that long-wave-infrared thermal imaging is a plausible tool in assisting with the classification of dry eye patient.
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA; Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Aizhong
authors: A
authors: Zhang
authors: School of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Kara L
authors: KL
authors: Maki
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA; Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Gheorghe
authors: G
authors: Salahura
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Ranjini
authors: R
authors: Kottaiyan
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA; Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Geunyoung
authors: G
authors: Yoon
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Holly B
authors: HB
authors: Hindman
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: James V
authors: JV
authors: Aquavella
authors: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Rochester, NY, USA; Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. Electronic address: james.zavislan@rochester.edu.
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Zavislan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods
keywords: Aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE); Dry eye; Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); Ocular surface temperature (OST); Thermal imaging; Thermal impulse perturbation model