Posters

A comparison of three eye solutions with sodium fluorescein to stain the cornea for assisting dry eye disease diagnosis

Poster Details

First Author: M.Chen USA

Co Author(s):                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to identify which solution is better in staining cornea with Sodium Fluorescein strips to assist in diagnosing different level of dry eye disease.

Setting:

Ming Chen,MD clinic and the University of Hawaii , USA

Methods:

Comparing BSS , lipid contained tear, and Cyclosporine together with Fluorescein to evaluate which solution allows better visualization of the cornea staining and TBUT(Tear Breaking Up Time). There were four treatment arms: 1) BSS only, 2) BSS and Cyclosporine 3) BSS and lipid contained tear, and 4) BSS, lipid contained tear, and Cyclosporine. All eyes were stained with BSS with fluorescein stripes at first. Of the eyes that showed no staining was restrained immediately with fluorescein strip either with Cyclosporine emulsions or lipid tear. If lipid tear failed to show cornea staining, Cyclosporine emulsion was tested.

Results:

173 known or suspected dry eyes tested with BSS and Sodium Fluorescein, 130 eyes showed positive stain(75%), and 43 eyes showed negative (25%). Among the 43 eyes that showed no stain from BSS, 28 eyes were tested using Cyclosporine with Sodium Fluorescein, and 15 eyes were tested using lipid tear with Sodium Fluorescein. For the 28 eyes tested with Cyclosporine , 25 eyes (89%) showed stained, from the 15 eyes tested with lipid tear 10 eyes showed stain (67%). 5 eyes that were not stained from BSS and lipid contained Omega-3, 4 eyes (80%) were stained by Cyclosporine.

Conclusions:

If BSS solution/ Sodium Fluorescein cannot confirm the punctate staining and perform TBUT ,using Cyclosporine 0.05% (emulsion) or lipid -containing artificial tear can keep Sodium Fluorescein stay on cornea longer for the detection of staining and better observation of the tear breaking up time for the diagnosis and follow up of DED.

Financial Disclosure:

None