Posters

A new biological coloration for corneal and conjunctival evaluation of epithelial injuries

Poster Details

First Author: S. Troisi ITALY

Co Author(s):    C. Caruso   M. Troisi   L. Pacente   E. Chiariello Vecchio   P. Cirillo        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Our purpose was to study the effectiveness of a new biological stain, based on riboflavin (Droptest©), for the biomicroscopic evaluation of corneal and conjunctival injuries, compared with standard colorations (fluorescein and lyssamine green) in patients suffering from bilateral ocular surface diseases, having possible epithelial damage. The secondary endpoint was to evaluate both stains’ tolerability, using a preference based survey.

Setting:

Salerno Hospital University, Department of Ophthalmology, Salerno (Italy); Vecchio Pellegrini Hospital, Eye Bank, Napoli (Italy)

Methods:

Corneal and conjunctival colorations were evaluated after administration of a fluorescein based solution (Fluorofta©) and a lyssamine green strip (F+L), and then Droptest© solution (D), putting a yellow filter prior to the oculars. Stain sequence was F+L/D in an eye, and D/F+L in the other eye, with a random assignment for each eye. The two colorations were made with 30 minutes distance, after three soakings with physiological solution (NaCl 0.9%), every 10 minutes; each coloration was evaluated in double blind by microscopy. After staining, a tolerability survey was compiled for each eye.

Results:

48 eyes from 24 patients were examined, affected by inflammatory, post-traumatic or dry eye disease, with average age of 49±9 years. The average corneal score, based on Lemp scheme, was 3.82 for F+L and 3.84 for D, whereas the average conjunctival score was 5.12 for F+L and 5.04 for D, without statistically significant difference between the two groups. In 42 of 48 cases, Droptest© coloration was subjectively more tolerated than F+L, with statistically significant difference (p<0.02). There were no reported cases of intolerance to the cited products.

Conclusions:

Staining with the new solution based on Vitamin B2, combined with the anteposition of a wratten 12 filter in front of the oculars, was equally effective in the detection of corneal and conjunctival suffering areas, compared to the combined use of sodium fluorescein, specific for the corneal epithelium, and lyssamine green, specific for the conjunctival injuries. The riboflavin solution was preferred by 87.5% of the patients, with a better patient compliance and reduction of evaluation time, compared with the evaluation using the white light for lyssamine and cobalt blue for fluorescein stain.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE