A test eye for wavefront eye refractors

PURPOSE: A multi-site study was conducted to test feasibility of a modified automatic refractor style test eye as a test device for wavefront refractors of various types and to determine whether a) they could be measured and b) when measurements could be made, to see if they were similar. This study did not attempt to assess which instrument most accurately measures the aberrations of the test eye or human eye. METHODS: Three automatic refractor style test eyes were modified for use as test devices for wavefront refractors. One had a simple spherical front surface, and two had additional aberrations added. The test eyes and holder were circulated to 11 test sites where attempts were made to measure them with eight different wave-front refractor systems. RESULTS: Eight (100%) of the eight wavefront refractor systems tested successfully measured the test eyes. The systems did not give similar results for the same test eye. In some cases, coma was reported where none was present. Differences in reported defocus values reflect different approaches for compensating for the dispersion of the eye. A corneal topography system could measure and recognize the aberrations of the test eyes as well as the wavefront refractor systems tested. Interferometry, on the other hand, did not prove to be a successful method to assess the surface of the test eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The test eye design may be used as a test device for wavefront refractor systems. This type of test eye can detect systematic differences between various wavefront refractors and can serve as a useful calibration and comparison tool.     

Prevalence of dry eye in Japanese eye centers

Background: The purpose of the investigation was to ascertain the prevalence of dry eye in new outpatients. Methods: A total of 2127 consecutive new outpatients seen in eight Japanese centers from April 1992 to January 1993 underwent comprehensive examinations, including double vital staining and measurement of tear film break-up time, basal tear secretion, and tear clearance. Dry eye was diagnosed if patients had abnormalities of both the tear film and the ocular surface. Results: Three hundred fifty-nine patients (17%) had dry eye. There was no seasonal pattern for dry eye. The condition was significantly more common in Tokyo than in suburban areas (P < 0.01). The prevalence of dry eye in visual display terminal (VDT) users and contact lens (CL) wearers was significantly higher than in non-VDT users and non-CL wearers (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that dry eye is one of the most common ocular disorders encountered by physicians. Furthermore, if patients use VDTs or wear CLs, the likelihood of dry eye occurring is higher.     

卡波姆眼用凝胶联合聚乙二醇滴眼液治疗干眼症的疗效

目的:探讨卡波姆眼用凝胶联合聚乙二醇滴眼液治疗干眼症的临床疗效.方法:干眼症患者120例240眼随机分为观察组(60例120眼)和对照组(60例120眼),两组患者均给予聚乙二醇滴眼液,观察组在此基础上使用卡波姆眼用凝胶,疗程为1mo.对两组患者白细胞介素-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)水平和肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)水平、眼部症状评分[眼表疾病指数(ocular surface disease index,OSDI)、泪膜破裂时间(break-up time,BUT)、基础泪液分泌试验Ⅰ(SchirmerⅠtest,SⅠt)、角膜荧光素染色(corneal fluorescein staining,FL)]、疗效和不良反应进行比较.结果:治疗后两组患者泪液中IL-1β 和TNF-α 水平、OSDI和FL较治疗前均明显降低,BUT和SⅠt较治疗前均明显升高,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05),且观察组泪液中IL-1β水平、TNF-α 水平、OSDI、BUT、SⅠt、FL改善程度均优于对照组(P<0.05).对照组总有效率明显低于观察组,差异具有统计学意义(x2=5.065,P=0.024).两组患者中无1例出现眼部不适症状和药物不耐受.结论:卡波姆眼用凝胶联合聚乙二醇滴眼液治疗干眼症疗效明显,优于单用聚乙二醇滴眼液,且不增加患者的不良反应.     

Enhanced closed eye neutrophil degranulation in dry eye disease

PurposeClosed eye neutrophils have demonstrated increased prevalence in dry eye disease, but the phenotype and extent of activation of these cells has yet to be described.Methods12 normal subjects and 12 subjects with dry eye disease were recruited and trained for self-collection of closed eye leukocytes, immediately upon awakening. Tear leukocytes were isolated and peripheral blood was collected, and stained with a panel of fluorescently-labeled antibodies to determine the activation phenotype of neutrophils. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and neutrophil elastase (NE) was quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsTotal numbers of tear leukocytes recovered, at awakening, from normal and dry eye subjects were similar. Tear neutrophils from dry eye subjects had increased expression of membrane receptor CD66b, a marker associated with secondary granule degranulation. There was also a higher proportion of monocytes in the dry eye cohort, as compared to the normal cohort. Extracellular MMP9 was significantly higher in subjects with dry eye disease, and while NE was also elevated, it did not achieve statistical significance.ConclusionsIncreased inflammation can be observed in the closed eye tears of subjects with dry eye disease, and neutrophils may be a potential source of pathogenic species in dry eye disease. Further research is required to determine the diagnostic potential of closed eye tears.