Dry Eye Exacerbation in Patients Exposed to Desiccating Stress under Controlled Environmental Conditions – Accepted Manuscript
Abstract: Purpose: To determine if controlled environmental conditions can induce acute exacerbations of signs and symptoms in dry eye and asymptomatic subjects.Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.Methods: Nineteen patients with dry eye and 20 asymptomatic controls were exposed to controlled low humidity (5% relative humidity, desiccating environment) for 2 hours in our Controlled Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Valladolid. The patients completed the Single-Item Score Dry Eye Questionnaire and the following diagnostic tests were performed before and after exposure: tear osmolarity, phenol red thread test, conjunctival hyperemia, fluorescein tear-break-up time (T-BUT), Schirmer test, and ocular surface vital staining. Sixteen molecules (Read more...)