Posters

Dacryoscintigraphy in the measurement of tear clearance in patients with dry eye disease

Poster Details

First Author: A. Kemeny-Beke HUNGARY

Co Author(s):    A. Rentka   S. Barna   I. Garai              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To measure tear-clearance in dry eye disease (DED) IN patients using a dynamic nuclear medicine method, dacryoscintigraphy (DSCI).

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.

Methods:

68 patients were examined including 18 healthy volunteers and 50 patients suffering from DED. One drop of a solution with 10 MBq 99mTc sodium pertechnetate was instilled with a micropipette into the lacrimal lake of both eyes. Measurements were performed according to a dynamic data acquisition protocol, which resulted in summed DSCI images. Data were also evaluated in special regions of interest (ROIs) separately, and consecutive time activity curves were created. Schirmer I test and tear break- up time (TBUT) were also performed prior to DSCI measurements. Tear clearance (T ½) values were calculated based on the activity curves.

Results:

Schirmer I test values were 5.35 (SD±4.96) in DED patients and 15.68 (SD±7.52) in the control group. TBUT values were 4.45 (SD±2.33) in DED patients and 14.65 (SD±2.85) in normal patients. The clearance (T ½) values were 5.95 min (SD±2.05) in DED patients and 25.58 (SD±8.28) in controls, respectively. The difference was significant (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

Tear clearance values were significantly higher in MGD patients than is normal volunteers, which may be the result of increased drainage of tear from the eyes towards the nasal cavity in DED patients. The reasons for increased drainage in DED patients without reflex tearing are yet to be investigated.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE