Observation of tear film stability in dry eye patients with different lipid layer thickness

Abstract:

AIM: To explore the difference of tear film stability among different lipid layer thickness.

METHOD: A total of 194 dry eye patients(384 eyes)admitted to our hospital from June 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled in this study. The tear meniscus height, the first tear film break-up time and lipid layer thickness were measured by corneal topographer. The tear meniscus height and the first tear film break-up time among different lipid layer thickness were compared and the correlation between them was analyzed.

RESULTS: The included patients(384 eyes)were divided into lipid rich group(49 eyes), lipid balance group(27 eyes), slight lipid deficiency group(266 eyes)and significant lipid deficiency group(42 eyes)according to the lipid layer thickness. The differences of the tear meniscus height were statistically different(P=0.022), while the differences of the first tear film break-up time were not statistically different(P=0.322). The lipid layer thickness was positively correlated with tear meniscus height(r_s=0.143, P=0.006). There was no correlation between lipid layer thickness and the first tear film break-up time(r_s=-0.090, P=0.083), nor was there correlation between tear meniscus height and the first tear film break-up time(r_s=0.038, P=0.460).

CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in tear film stability in dry eye patients with different lipid layer thickness.