Posters

Assessment of the mechanical forces applied during eye rubbing

Poster Details

First Author: E.Torres-Netto SWITZERLAND

Co Author(s): R. Abrishamchi   N. Hafezi   F. Gilardoni   B. Randleman   L. Kollros   F. Hafezi     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To determine the mechanical force that keratoconus patients apply on their lids during eye rubbing.

Setting:

ELZA Institute, Dietikon, Switzerland

Methods:

Fifty-five patients with a clinically-topographically diagnosed keratoconus and a history of eye rubbing were prospectively asked to perform their individual eye rubbing movement and force on a high-precision balance. The type of eye-rubbing movement and the force applied were recorded and analysed.

Results:

We detected three different types of eye rubbing. Rubbing with the pulp of the finger was most frequent (51%), followed by rubbing with the knuckle (43%) and rubbing with the finger nail (6%). Each type of eye rubbing showed different average forces, with knuckle type eye rubbing applying significantly more force on the lids than finger pulp and finger nail types (p<0,001 and p=0,016, respectively).

Conclusions:

We detected major variations in the force exerted on the lids, depending on the type of eye rubbing. This data is not only important for future understandings about the impact of each type of eye rubbing on the possible pathogenesis of keratoconus, but also as a prerequisite for the development of an experimental eye rubbing model.

Financial Disclosure:

None