Original Article

Evaluation of Tear Function Tests and Lower Tear Meniscus Height in Keratoconus Patients

10.4274/tjo.42.08108

  • Özge Saraç
  • Seher Uysal
  • Canan Gürdal

Received Date: 18.12.2011 Accepted Date: 12.04.2012 Turk J Ophthalmol 2012;42(4):249-252

Pur­po­se:

To assess the tear function tests and the lower tear meniscus height (LTMH) in keratoconus patients and to evaluate the relationship of these parameters with the progression of keratoconus.

Ma­te­ri­al and Met­hod:

Thirty-eight eyes (group 1) of 21 keratoconus patients and 36 eyes (group 2) of 18 healthy subjects were included in this prospective study. Both groups underwent corneal topographic and keratometric measurements, tear break-up time (T-BUT) and Schirmer tests as well as measurement of the LTMH with anterior segment optic coherence tomography (OCT) after the ophthalmologic examination. The values obtained from both groups were compared and evaluated for statistical significance and reliability.

Re­sults:

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender (p>0.05). The mean Schirmer test values were 14.87±8.9 mm and 16.77±8.1 mm in group 1 and group 2, respectively (p=0.367). There was not any correlation between the keratometric power and the Schirmer test in group 1 and group 2 (group 1: r=0.114, p=0.548, group 2: r=0.151, p=0.972). The mean TBUT value was 12.83±7.3 sec in group 1, and 18.25±8.5 sec in group 2 (p=0.018). There was a negative correlation between keratometric power and TBUT in group 1, while there was no correlation in group 2 (group 1: r=0.717, p=0.001, group 2: r=0.235, p=0.212). The mean LTMH was 265.30±112 μm in group 1 and 313.29±167 μm in group 2 (p=0.151). There was no correlation between keratometric power and LTMH in both groups (group 1: r=0.001, p=0.997, group 2: r=0.318, p=0.130).

Dis­cus­si­on:

In this study, it was shown that keratoconus patients have normal tear volume but reduced tear film stability compared to healthy individuals and this reduction is relate to the progression of keratoconus. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42: 249-52)

Keywords: Keratoconus, tear function tests, tear meniscus height, optic coherence tomography

Full Text (Turkish)