Abstract

FR.23.04

Wavefront analysis in dry eye patients

Jacobi C., Pogorelov P., Bergua A., Cursiefen C., Kruse F. E.
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen

Objective: Over the past few years, there has been increased interest in the study of the optical quality of the eye. In dry eye disease there is often a significant discrepancy between objective ophthalmologic signs and subjective complaints of the patients. There are only few diagnostic methods to verify the degree of dry eye disease. The purpose of our study is to examine the dynamics of the tear film in patients with dry eye by measuring the wavefront aberrations of the anterior surface of the tear film.
Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial data is obtained by measurements with the WASCA (Wavefront Aberration Supported Cornea Ablation) Workstation (Carl Zeiss Meditec^®, Jena). 20 patients with dry eye syndrome and 20 sex- and age-matched controls are included in the trial. The WASCA Workstation is an aberrometer which uses the Hartmann-Shack-Sensor to analyse higher-order aberrations. The measurements are carried out in a darkened room to avoid the necessity to dilate the pupil pharmacologically – aberrations then can be measured over the full extent of a physiologically natural pupil. PV OPD (peak-to-valley optical path difference), RMS OPD (root mean square value of OPD), PV OPD HO and RMS OPD HO are compared to the controls. The first two parameters show aberrations of 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th order, the other two parameters express aberrations of 3^rd and 4^th order. The results are correlated with other often used diagnostic methods in dry eye patients, like breakup time, Jones test and LIPCOF.
Conclusions: The tear film plays an important role in the optical quality of the eye. The wavefront analysis technique may make it possible to better investigate and quantify the optical impairment that many patients with dry eye complain of, as tear film instability may also cause optical aberrations.

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