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Closed chamber thermometry and humidity measurements in normal and dry eye patients: a pilot study
1Guru Gobind Singh International Eye Research and Cure Centre, New Delhi, India. gurbax_s@hotmail.com
Purpose:
To verify the diagnostic value of closed chamber thermometry and humidity measurement in normal and dry eye patients.
Methods:
In 20 patients (40 eyes) with dry eye and 20 normal sex- and age-matched controls (40 eyes), aged from 11 to 61 years (mean 37.52 yrs, standard deviation, (SD) 14.81) temperature was measured by infrared thermometry and humidity measured in a closed chamber 15 mm from the cornea. The temperature reading in degrees C and humidity in % (RH) were noted on closing and then opening the eye for five seconds.
Results:
The temperature rose significantly, by 0.11 degrees C +/- 0.02, between the closed and open eye positions (p < 0.000) in normal eyes, but there was no change in dry eyes. The humidity in normal eyes in the closed position was 49.50 +/- 4.67% and 50.03 +/- 4.65% in the open position (p < 0.00001). Humidity in the closed and open positions in dry eyes was 52.77 +/- 7.13% and 53.59 +/- 6.75% (p < 0.00000). The difference between closed and open dry eyes was 1.25 +/- 0.40%, compared to 0.54 +/- 0.20% in normal controls (p < 0.005). No relationship was found with age or sex.
Conclusions:
Thermometry and humidity measurements in a dry eye patient had a 100% diagnostic value. The reading of no change in thermometry and more than 1% change in humidity were highly diagnostic of dry eyes.