Contrast sensitivity in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca before and after artificial tear application

Abstract

Poor stability of the precorneal tear film causes dry eye symptoms and has detrimental effects on the optical function of the eye. In 50 patients with dry eyes the local instillation of artificial tears significantly improved contrast sensitivity (P < 0.001), using the Vision Contrast Test System 6500. In the untreated eyes no significant changes were found to occur (P = 0.56).

Overview of Objective Methods for Assessing Dynamic Changes in Optical Quality

“…48,49 Instillation of eye drops can cause alterations in the tear film, possibly inducing some temporal changes in optical quality. [50][51][52] Several previous studies have reported a short-term effect of artificial tear drops on corneal topographic data 16,53-57 and corneal or ocular HOAs 58-65 in normal and dry eyes. Certain artificial tear components may contribute to a transient decrease in optical quality after the instillation of artificial tears.…”

Corneal Fluorescein Staining Correlates with Visual Function in Dry Eye Patients

“…Contrast sensitivity is considered an accurate method of measuring the quality of vision in patients with dry eye syndrome. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] It has been reported that contrast sensitivity is decreased in dry eye patients with the impaired ability to appreciate subtle differences in color or shape under low light or indirect bright-light conditions. 24,30 -32 Glare test may be also a useful method of reflecting visual disability.…”

Contrast sensitivity and disability glare in patients with dry eye

“…Our findings indicate that, in the absence of glare, contrast sensitivity was significantly lower in the dry eye group than in the control group (Table 1). Altered contrast sensitivity in patients with dry eye has been previously reported (Rieger 1993;Rolando et al 1998;Huang et al 2002). Rolando et al (1998) noted that contrast sensitivity was worse in a group of patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca compared with a group of subjects matched according to age.…”

“…Our findings indicate that, in the absence of glare, contrast sensitivity was significantly lower in the dry eye group than in the control group (Table 1). Altered contrast sensitivity in patients with dry eye has been previously reported (Rieger 1993; Rolando et al. 1998; Huang et al.…”

“…At the time of the study, none of the participants were receiving treatment with systemic or topical drugs. Patients were included in the dry eye group if they fulfilled the following diagnostic criteria (Rieger 1993):…”