title: New Perspectives on Dry Eye Definition and Diagnosis: A Consensus Report by the Asia Dry Eye Society.
abstract: For the last 20 years, a great amount of evidence has accumulated through epidemiological studies that most of the dry eye disease encountered in daily life, especially in video display terminal (VDT) workers, involves short tear film breakup time (TFBUT) type dry eye, a category characterized by severe symptoms but minimal clinical signs other than short TFBUT. An unstable tear film also affects the visual function, possibly due to the increase of higher order aberrations. Based on the change in the understanding of the types, symptoms, and signs of dry eye disease, the Asia Dry Eye Society agreed to the following definition of dry eye: "Dry eye is a multifactorial disease characterized by unstable tear film causing a variety of symptoms and/or visual impairment, potentially accompanied by ocular surface damage." The definition stresses instability of the tear film as well as the importance of visual impairment, highlighting an essential role for TFBUT assessment. This paper discusses the concept of Tear Film Oriented Therapy (TFOT), which evolved from the definition of dry eye, emphasizing the importance of a stable tear film.
authors.affiliation: Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: tsubota@z3.keio.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubota
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimazaki
authors.affiliation: Kansai Rosai Hospital, Amagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dogru
authors.affiliation: Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Myung
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Ulsan University Asan Medical Center, Korea.
authors.forename: Hung-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Tchah
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.affiliation: Chonnam National University Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Yonsei University Severance Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Yul
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, China.
authors.forename: Xuguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, China.
authors.forename: Lingyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Peking University People's Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Mingwu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Eye Institute of Xiamen University, China.
authors.forename: Zuguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes; D005123:Eye; D006801:Humans; D013666:Tears
keywords: consensus; definition of dry eye; diagnosis of dry eye; dry eye; tear film breakup time; tear film oriented therapy