Successful Detection of the Characteristics of Tear Film Breakup Appearing Immediately after Eye Opening by...

Spot break (SB), a tear film breakup (TFBU) subtype seen in decreased wettability dry eye (DE), is characterized by a spot-like TFBU that appears immediately after eye opening. It is sometimes difficult to detect using currently available devices for evaluating non-invasive TFBU. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using a newly developed videokeratography indicator for detecting SB. The study involved 44 eyes of 44 DE patients (21 eyes with SB (SB group) and 23 eyes with random break in which fluorescein breakup time was ≤ 5 s (s) (RB group)). All eyes were examined using videokeratography, with digital Meyer-ring images being obtained. By calculation of the degree of luminance blur on the cornea in the Meyer-ring images, termed ‘disturbance value’ (DV), DVs at 0 s (DV(0)]), 2 s (DV(2)), and 5 s (DV(5)) after eye opening, and the changes of DV between each time, were compared between the SB and RB groups. Results: No significant differences in DV(2) and DV(5) and the rate of change between DV(2) and DV(5) were found between the two groups. However, DV(0) and rate of change between DV(0) and DV(2) in the SB group were significantly greater (p < 0.001) than those in the RB group. SB characteristics were successfully detected by videokeratography using a new videokeratography DV indicator.