Finis D, Pischel N, Borrelli M, Schrader S, Geerling G
Augenklinik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf.
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2014 Jun;231(6):603-10. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1368536. Epub 2014 Jun 18.
The quantitative measurement of the tear film lipid layer thickness is a relatively new and promising method. However, so far it has not been investigated whether there is a diurnal or a day to day variability and whether certain factors are confounding the measurement of the lipid layer thickness.
In three different experimental settings, 10 subjects without known sicca syndrome were examined at three different time points on one day, on three different days and before and after therapeutic expression of the Meibomian glands. As a comparison, the parameters tear film break-up time, tear meniscus height, diagnostic expression of the Meibomian glands and subjective symptoms, determined using the OSDI (ocular surface disease index) questionnaire, were measured.
The results of the study showed a smaller variation of the lipid layer thickness measurements during the day and from day to day compared to the tear film break-up time. The expression of the Meibomian glands significantly increased the lipid layer thickness. There was a correlation between the baseline values of tear film break-up time and the lipid layer thickness.
Our data showed that the lipid layer thickness as measured with the Lipiview® interferometer appears to be a relatively constant parameter over time. In addition, the expression of the Meibomian glands could be identified as a potential confounding factor. In this study we included only healthy subjects without known sicca syndrome. For the future our findings need to be validated in dry eye patients.
泪膜脂质层厚度的定量测量是一种相对较新且有前景的方法。然而，到目前为止，尚未研究其是否存在昼夜或每日变化，以及某些因素是否会干扰脂质层厚度的测量。
在三种不同的实验设置中，对10名无已知干燥综合征的受试者在一天中的三个不同时间点、三天中的不同时间点以及睑板腺治疗性挤压前后进行检查。作为对照，测量了泪膜破裂时间、泪液弯月面高度、睑板腺诊断性挤压以及使用眼表疾病指数（OSDI）问卷确定的主观症状等参数。
研究结果表明，与泪膜破裂时间相比，脂质层厚度测量值在白天和不同日期之间的变化较小。睑板腺挤压显著增加了脂质层厚度。泪膜破裂时间的基线值与脂质层厚度之间存在相关性。
我们的数据表明，使用Lipiview®干涉仪测量的脂质层厚度似乎是一个随时间相对恒定的参数。此外，睑板腺挤压可被确定为一个潜在的混杂因素。在本研究中，我们仅纳入了无已知干燥综合征的健康受试者。未来，我们的研究结果需要在干眼患者中进行验证。
