Interferometric measurements of dynamic changes of tear film

Tear film stability plays an important role in the quality of vision. We present an interferometric method for assessing the stability of precorneal tear film in real time. A lateral shearing technique is applied as a noninvasive and sensitive method for investigating tear film stability and the smoothness of the tear film surface by quantitative evaluation of the interference fringe pattern. The evaporation of tears and the appearance of tear film break-up between blinks cause changes in the fringe geometry. For quantitative assessment of the fringe smoothness and consequently of the tear film structure, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied. Four parameters are used to quantitatively estimate dynamic changes in the tear film stability of the cornea 20 s after the eye blink. Examples of examined interferograms recorded in patients with healthy eyes, patients suffering from dry-eye syndrome, and patients wearing contact lenses are given. Significant differences between the stability of the tear film in the healthy eye and that in the dry eye and the eye with a contact lens are observed. The favorable influence of artificial tears applied in patients with dry-eye syndrome or contact lenses is also discussed.