Posters

The effect of fluid and food abstinence on tear osmolarity and ocular surface

Poster Details

First Author: B.Ekinci Koktekir TURKEY

Co Author(s):    B. Bozkurt   S. Gonul   S. Gedik   S. Okudan     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effects of religious fasting on tear secretion, tear osmolarity, corneal topography and ocular aberrations.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology Selcuk University

Methods:

This prospective, controlled study comprised 29 eyes of 29 healthy men. Before ophthalmological examination, all subjects underwent corneal topography by a placido disc corneal topography and aberrometry device (OPD Scan II, Nidek, Osaka, Japan). Tear osmolarity was measured using OcuSense TearLabTM osmometer (OcuSense Inc. San Diego, CA, USA). Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores, tear break-up time (BUT), Schirmer I test and lissamine green staining were evaluated. The measurements taken before and during Ramadan at the same hours between 4.00 and 5.00 pm were compared using paired sample t-test and a p value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Results:

The mean age of the study group was 27.8±5.9 years (range: 20 to 47 years). The mean tear osmolarity values were measured as 285.6±8.2 mOsm/l and 293.3±16.0 mOsm/l, while the mean Schirmer I values were 14.8±6.0mm and 10.6±5.3mm in non-fasting and fasting periods, respectively. Tear osmolarity, OSDI and Oxford grading scores significantly increased (p=0.02, p=0.002, p=0.003, respectively), while Schirmer I values and intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased (both, p0.001) during fasting period compared to non-fasting period. There were no significant differences in tear BUT, keratometry values and corneal aberration measurements between non-fasting and fasting periods (p >0.05 for all).

Conclusions:

Fasting significantly decreases tear production and increases tear osmolarity, however it does not deteriorate corneal topographic parameters and ocular aberrations in healthy subjects. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE