Examining Tear Film Dynamics Using the Novel Tear Film Imager

The purpose of this study was to examine Tear Film Imager (TFI, AdOM, Israel) generated parameters across controls and dry eye (DE) subgroups and examine the changes in TFI parameters with contact lens (CL) placement.

The retrospective study (n = 48) was conducted at the Miami Veterans Hospital. Symptoms were assessed through validated questionnaires and signs of tear function by tear break-up time and Schirmer scores. Participants were grouped as 1) healthy, 2) evaporative, 3) aqueous deficient, and 4) mixed DE based on tear function. Seventeen individuals had a baseline scan and a repeat scan following CL placement. Descriptives were compared across groups and over time.

The median age was 27 years, 74% self-identified as White, 45% as male, and 51% as Hispanic. Subjects in the aqueous deficiency category had lower muco-aqueous layer thickness (MALT) (2672 vs. 3084 nm) but higher lipid layer thickness (47.5 vs. 38.3 nm), lipid break-up time (4.4 vs. 2 seconds), and interblink interval (13.9 vs. 5.4 seconds) compared with the evaporative group. Subjects in the evaporative group had the highest MALT values (3084 vs. 2988, 2672, 3053 nm) compared with healthy, aqueous-deficient, and mixed groups. Symptoms were not significantly correlated with TFI parameters. CL placement significantly decreased MALT values (2869 → 2175 nm, P = 0.001).

The TFI provides unique information regarding the dynamic function of the tear film not captured by clinical examination. TFI generated metrics demonstrate a thinner aqueous layer in individuals with aqueous deficiency but highlight a thicker aqueous layer in those with evaporative DE.