The Relationship Between Tear Ferning Patterns and Non-invasive Tear Break-up Time in Normal Asian Population

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Tear Film Dynamics
• Ocular Surface Disease

Background:

• Tear film quality is crucial for ocular comfort and visual acuity.
• Assessing tear film stability is essential for diagnosing and managing dry eye disease.
• Tear ferning patterns (TFP) and non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) are established methods for evaluating tear film integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between tear ferning patterns (TFP) and non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) in a normal Asian population.
• To determine the influence of age, gender, and race on TFP and NIBUT in healthy Asian adults.

Main Methods:

• One hundred forty-five healthy adult Asian subjects were recruited.
• Tear ferning patterns (TFP) were assessed using light microscopy after tear sample drying.
• Non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) was measured using a Tearscope device.

Main Results:

• TFP and NIBUT showed no significant differences based on gender or race.
• Both TFP and NIBUT demonstrated significant age-dependency, with older subjects exhibiting altered tear film characteristics.
• A significant negative correlation was found between TFP and NIBUT, indicating poorer tear film quality with increased TFP grade and age.

Conclusions:

• Tear ferning patterns (TFP) and non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) are reliable indicators of tear film quality in Asian adults.
• Age is a significant factor influencing tear film stability, as assessed by TFP and NIBUT.
• These methods can be utilized to evaluate tear film status, particularly in the context of age-related changes.