Effect of lubricating eyedrops on ocular light scattering as a measure of vision quality in patients with dry eye

Abstract

Purpose: To determine light scattering by the eye as a measure of optical quality using the Optical Quality Analysis System in patients with mild to moderate dry-eye disease and to examine change patterns after lubricating eyedrop use. Setting: Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. Design: Evaluation of diagnostic test or technology. Methods: Eyes with mild to moderate dry-eye disease (study group) and healthy eyes (control group) were examined in a single visit. All patients completed a questionnaire to assess dry-eye disease symptoms (ocular surface disease index [OSDI]). Signs of dry eye were recorded as the tear breakup time, Schirmer I test, and corneal staining score. Scattered light was measured as the objective scatter index (OSI) at 0.5-second intervals over 20 seconds without blinking. The measurements were repeated 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after eyedrop instillation, and the OSI change rate was calculated. Results: The OSI was significantly higher in the study group (25 eyes) than in the control group (10 eyes). After eyedrop instillation in the study group, the OSI change rate decreased significantly from baseline at each time point (P<.001, 45 minutes; P<.01, 60 minutes). No significant differences in the OSI change rate were detected between time points except between 45 minutes and 60 minutes (P<.01). A correlation was observed in all the dry-eye variables except the corneal staining score. Conclusion: Lubricating eyedrops improved ocular scattering in patients with mild to moderate dry eye for at least 60 minutes after instillation