Effectiveness and comfort of Oculus Keratograph on tear film function test before corneal refractive surgery

Abstract

AIM: To explore correlation, consistency and comfort between traditional tear film examination methods and Oculus Keratograph. METHODS: A retrospective study. Totally 101 cases(101 eyes)were diagnosed myopia and then accepted LASEK(laser epithelial keratomileusis). Non-invasive tear film break-up time(NIBUT), lower tear meniscus height(LTMH)were measured with Oculus Keratograph, fluorescein tear film break-up time(fl-BUT)and Schimer Ⅰ test(SⅠt)were performed on all cases. The correlations analysis between NIBUT and fl-BUT, LTMH and SⅠt were performed by Spearman rank correlation, consistency check between NIBUT and fl-BUT by Bland-Altman analysis. Visual analogue scale(VAS)was applied on evaluating the comfort of two kinds of examination methods. RESULTS: LTMH and SⅠt showed positive correlation(rs=0.346, P=0.001). NIBUT and fl-BUT showed positive correlation(rs=0.393, P=0.001), 95% consistency limits range -9.62 to 14.18 in Bland-Altman Figure. There was significant difference between VAS of NIBUT and VAS of fl-BUT(z=-2.324, P=0.020). There was significant difference between VAS of LTMH and VAS of SⅠt(z=-8.845,P=0.001).CONCLUSION: Oculus Keratograph can objectively measure NIBUT and LTMH, and was more comfortable than traditional tear film examination methods. It can effectively assess tear film function before corneal refractive surgery.

Keywords

• Keratograph 5M
• excimer laser corneal operation
• tear film
• comfort
• comfort