The displayed medium sensitivity and specificity, and good positive predictive value of the LIPCOF test support the use of LIPCOF grading as a simple, quick and non-invasive dry eye screening tool.

OCT enabled a noninvasive, high-resolution method of imaging, evaluating, and classifying LIPCOFs. These new classifications correlated well with the slit lamp grade and the DEQ scores, promising a new, more objective evaluation of dry eye.

Hyperosmolarity of tear was reported as a fact of ocular surface inflammation. While in mild and moderate conjunctivochalasis tear osmolarity was similar to normal controls, increased osmolarity can refer to the presence of ocular surface inflammation in these patients with severe conjunctivochalasis.

FD-OCT could be a quick, non-invasive, quantitative method for the imaging of LIPCOF in contact lens patients. When grading LIPCOF, the mechanical forces of the lens and the tear meniscus changes caused by the lens should be taken into account as these factors influence results. Follow-up of the patients using the same methods is suggested with or without contact lenses.

Background: Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis can manifest itself through tear film instability and symptoms of eye discomfort during the pollen season. This study investigated whether seasonal allergic inflammation defines tear film instability outside the season. Methods: Twenty-three control subjects and 13 ragweed-allergic patients were involved (21 female, 15 male; mean age 26.6 ± 5.4 years). Outside the pollen season, subjective ocular symptoms, non-invasive tear film break-up time, lower tear meniscus height and the tear lipid layer’s interference pattern grade were recorded. C3a complement activation level was also measured in collected tear samples. Results: Non-invasive tear film break-up time, lower tear meniscus height, C3a complement activation level and the incidence of the different grades of tear lipid pattern did not differ significantly in the two examined groups (p ≧ 0.223). The mean eye symptom score outside the season was greater in the allergic group, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.062). The C3a complement activation level showed a significant and inverse correlation with the lipid layer grade (r = –0.343, p = 0.017). Among the participants with thinner tear lipid layers, the complement activation in the tear samples was higher than among those patients with normal tear lipid layers. Conclusion: Seasonal allergic inflammation did not cause permanent tear film instability and eye symptoms were not observed outside the pollen season.