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Evaporation is the Primary Mechanism of Tear Film Thinning

Kimball, Samuel H.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243957487

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Vision Science.
The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of evaporation in the thinning of the pre-corneal tear film. The human tear film is essential to the optical and physiological function of the eye. A malfunctioning tear film can be visually disruptive as well as cause damage to the ocular surface. Dry eye disease is an ocular surface disorder that is essentially a manifestation of a faulty tear film. Dry eye disease represents a significant public health concern and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the eradication of the tear film will be needed in order to better treat and manage this significant disease. There are three possible mechanisms of tear film thinning and they include absorption (inward flow), tangential flow, and evaporation (outward flow) of the tears. Previous research, designed to establish the contribution of each of the three proposed mechanisms of tear film thinning, has led to disagreement as to the significance of evaporation or outward flow in the thinning of the human tear film. This study was designed to discover the contribution of evaporation in the thinning of the pre-corneal tear film. Tear thickness values and tear film thinning rates were gathered using spectral interferometry from the right eye of 39 subjects with a mean age of 30.0 ± 9.5 years. Tear film data was gathered under two differing conditions for each subject: open-air and airtight goggles. Two separate recordings of the tear film were first made given the open-air condition then two recordings were made for subjects wearing the airtight goggles. Each subject also completed an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Data analysis revealed that the mean initial thickness for subjects under open-air conditions was 3.46 ± 0.83 µm compared to 3.54 ± 0.83 µm for subjects wearing goggles (p = 0.53). The mean tear film thinning rate for subjects in open-air was 3.53 ± 4.12 µm/min and -0.16 ± 1.78 µm/min for the same subjects wearing airtight goggles. The mean OSDI score was 10.8 ± 7.1, with four subjects being classified as dry eye (OSDI > 22). A significant reduction in the tear film thinning rate is seen when evaporation is controlled with airtight swimming goggles. In fact on average the tear film thinning rate is reduced to nearly zero when simulating a non-evaporative environment. This suggests that evaporation is the primary means by which the tear film thins. The reason for the contradictory evidence put forth in the literature concerning the contributions of the three proposed mechanisms of tear film thinning may be explained by the difference in testing methodology. It appears conclusive from this current study data that evaporation is the primary mechanism of tear film thinning.
Jason Nichols, PhD, OD, MPH (Advisor)
Kelly Nichols, PhD, OD, MPH (Committee Member)
Ewen King-Smith, PhD (Committee Member)
52 p.
Ophthalmology
tear film; dry eye; evaporation; tear film thinning; interferometry; mechanisms of tear film thinning

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kimball, S. H. (2009). Evaporation is the Primary Mechanism of Tear Film Thinning [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243957487

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kimball, Samuel. Evaporation is the Primary Mechanism of Tear Film Thinning. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243957487.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kimball, Samuel. "Evaporation is the Primary Mechanism of Tear Film Thinning." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243957487

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.