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. 2024 Jun 26;14(7):806.
doi: 10.3390/life14070806.

Temporal Progression of Entry Factors into the Vicious Circle of Dry Eye in Untreated Sufferers

Jacobo Garcia-Queiruga  1   2 , Hugo Pena-Verdeal  1   2 , Belen Sabucedo-Villamarin  1 , Carlos Garcia-Resua  1   2 , Maria J Giraldez  1   2 , Eva Yebra-Pimentel  1   2
Affiliations

Temporal Progression of Entry Factors into the Vicious Circle of Dry Eye in Untreated Sufferers

Jacobo Garcia-Queiruga et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is characterized by the loss of ocular surface homeostasis with specific signs and symptoms. Studying the progression of a multifactorial disease is exceedingly challenging for researchers because several factors can influence it. The present study aims to study changes in tear meniscus height (TMH), lipid layer pattern (LLP), and bulbar hyperemia over time in untreated DED participants.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study included 73 participants (146 eyes) diagnosed with DED since at least 2013. Participants underwent new examinations between 2021 and 2023, grouped by 8-, 6-, or 4-year follow-up periods. TMH, LLP, and bulbar hyperemia were assessed in both examinations. No participant received pharmacological treatment for DED.

Results: Differences in TMH, bulbar hyperemia, and LLP between sessions were obtained in the 8-year group (p ≤ 0.027). Differences in bulbar hyperemia and LLP between sessions were obtained in the 6-year group (p ≤ 0.022). The only differences in LLP between sessions were obtained in the 4-year group (p < 0.005).

Conclusion: Changes in TMH were obtained after periods of eight years from the first eye examination. Also, changes in bulbar hyperemia were obtained at periods of 8 and 6 years; however, changes in LLP could be found from 4-year follow-ups.

Keywords: bulbar hyperemia; dry eye disease; lipid layer pattern; long-term follow-up; tear meniscus height.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interest associated with the research.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Boxplots for the different ocular parameters studied on each follow-up group and each session: (a) TMH Boxplot; (b) Nasal Bulbar Hyperemia Boxplot; (c) Temporal Bulbar Hyperemia Boxplot; (d) Mean Bulbar Hyperemia Boxplot; (e) LLP Boxplot. The box represents the sample between the interquartile range (25th–75th percentile) and the black line represents the median value. The dots represent outliers (values more than 1.5 box lengths away from the 25th or 75th percentile) and the asterisk represents extreme outliers (values more than 3 box lengths away from the 25th or 75th percentile). TMH = tear meniscus height; LLP = lipid layer pattern; BHVI = Brien Holden Vision Institute.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Boxplots for the different ocular parameters studied on each follow-up group and each session: (a) TMH Boxplot; (b) Nasal Bulbar Hyperemia Boxplot; (c) Temporal Bulbar Hyperemia Boxplot; (d) Mean Bulbar Hyperemia Boxplot; (e) LLP Boxplot. The box represents the sample between the interquartile range (25th–75th percentile) and the black line represents the median value. The dots represent outliers (values more than 1.5 box lengths away from the 25th or 75th percentile) and the asterisk represents extreme outliers (values more than 3 box lengths away from the 25th or 75th percentile). TMH = tear meniscus height; LLP = lipid layer pattern; BHVI = Brien Holden Vision Institute.
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