Evaluation of Dry Eye Symptomatology at Patients with Keratoconus

Abstract

The aim of this study was firstly to determine and quantify the dry eye symptomatology of patients with keratoconus, in comparison with those without this condition and secondly to evaluate the suitability of the spin probe method of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in analysis of tears secretion. As such were considered two groups of patients for evaluation: 36 cases with keratoconus (keratoconus group) and 36 cases without ocular disease (control group). Besides general ophthalmological examination we have conducted Schirmer test I, tears break-up time (BUT) and quantify the answers about dry eye symptomatology to establish ocular surface disease index (OSDI). We have included a prospective correlation of ophthalmologic parameters with parameters of the spin probes added in tear secretions collected from both groups of patients. The results show that the value of OSDI for patients with keratoconus was higher (41.07 � 23.68) than the corresponding value of the control group (14.63 � 9.27). Also, the patients with keratoconus present lower mean values for BUT and Schirmer tests comparatively with the cases from control group. The electron paramagnetic resonances spectra of the spin probe CAT16 in tear secretions obtained from patients revealed changes that can be related with ophthalmologic parameters.