Ability of non-invasive tear break-up time to determine tear instability in contact lens wearers

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the performance of precorneal and prelens non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) measurements to determine tear instability in contact lens (CL) wearers.Methods In this study 50 eyes of CL wearers were evaluated. Precorneal rst and average NIBUTs and uorescein tear break-up time (FBUT) were measured before wearing CLs in the morning. Those with FBUT less than 10 seconds were considered to have tear instability. After wearing CL, rst and average prelens NIBUTs were measured at the 30th minute. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was analyzed to evaluate the performance of NIBUT measurements in the diagnosis of tear instability. ResultsThe FBUT value had a signi cant correlation with rst and average precorneal NIBUT values (p < 0.001, r = 0.653 and p < 0.001, r = 0.628,respectively). The FBUT value had no correlation with the prelens rst and average NIBUT values (p = 0.542 and p = 0.263,respectively). To understand the relationship between the precorneal and prelens NIBUT values measured by the automated method, their correlation was evaluated. There was no signi cant correlation between the precorneal and prelens NIBUTs (for all;p > 0.05).The area under curve (AUC) in ROC curve for the rst and average precorneal NIBUTs were 0.842 (p<0.001) and 0.810 (p<0.001), respectively. The AUC values for the rst and average prelens NIBUTs at the 30 th minute of CL wear were 0.586 and 0.619 respectively (p=0.317 and p=0.166, respectively).Conclusions: Precorneal NIBUT measurements may be useful in diagnosing tear instability in CL wearers.Prelens NIBUT values are not yet capable of adequately de ning the tear lm dynamics.

Pre-Lens Tear Meniscus Height, Lipid Layer Pattern and Non-Invasive Break-Up Time Short-Term Changes with a Water Gradient Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens

“…Furthermore, the use of interferometry would be more reliable when obtaining this measurement compared to other methods [34]. Finally, Muhafiz and Demir [38] considered that precorneal NIBUT measurements may be useful for diagnosing tear instability, but that pre-lental NIBUT values are not yet capable of adequately defining tear film dynamics in CL users. We consider that this measurement provides a great deal of information on the relationship between the CL and the tear film and that it can help contrast signs and symptoms.…”

Assessing neophyte response to daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses: A randomised clinical trial investigation over one month

“…40 The interaction of the CL with the ocular surface diminishes the stability of the tear film over the cornea or the CL. 41 Despite the fact that FBUT and non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) are both techniques to measure the stability of the tear film, and their values are not interchangeable, a reduction in both parameters has been found after CL use. 16,41 Additionally, the disruption of the tear film layers did not seem to affect the lipid layer thickness, regardless of the wearing time or CL material, as reported in both the present study and previous investigations.…”

“…41 Despite the fact that FBUT and non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) are both techniques to measure the stability of the tear film, and their values are not interchangeable, a reduction in both parameters has been found after CL use. 16,41 Additionally, the disruption of the tear film layers did not seem to affect the lipid layer thickness, regardless of the wearing time or CL material, as reported in both the present study and previous investigations. 16 A newly developed contact lens material (verofilcon A), composed of a core of silicone-hydrogel material having a water content of 33% and an outer surface with an 80% water content, showed good pre-CL NIBUT values during lens wear, when compared with other daily disposable silicone-hydrogel and hydrogel CLs.…”

“…The use of CL is known to disrupt normal tear film function by altering the layers of the tear film and generating a pre‐ and post‐lens tear film 40 . The interaction of the CL with the ocular surface diminishes the stability of the tear film over the cornea or the CL 41 . Despite the fact that FBUT and non‐invasive tear break‐up time (NIBUT) are both techniques to measure the stability of the tear film, and their values are not interchangeable, a reduction in both parameters has been found after CL use 16,41 .…”

Progress of Bulbar Conjunctival Microcirculation Alterations in the Diagnosis of Ocular Diseases

“…According to Chen et al [ 22 ], blood flow velocity, blood flow rate, vessel diameter, and vessel density of bulbar conjunctiva in patients with dry eye were significantly higher than those in healthy people. Among them, the areas under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic with bulbar conjunctival vessel diameter and blood flow rate as diagnostic indicators of dry eye were 0.861 and 0.856, respectively, comparable with the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) [ 23 ] and the noninvasive tear film break-up time [ 24 , 25 ], indicating that bulbar conjunctival vessel diameter and blood flow rate have good sensitivity and specificity as diagnostic indicators for dry eye. In addition, bulbar conjunctival vessel density in patients with dry eye was positively correlated with their OSDI, which may mean that bulbar conjunctival vessel density can reflect the symptoms and subjective feelings of patients with dry eye [ 22 ].…”