PURPOSE To determine the correlative relationship between the prevalence of Demodex in eyelashes and the severity of ocular discomfort, by investigating the demographic epidemiology associated with Demodex. METHODS One hundred seventy patients underwent epilation of four eyelashes of each eye, and the number of Demodex was counted. The patients answered questionnaires about ocular surface dis...

PURPOSE To compare corneal reepithelialization, pain scores, ocular discomfort, and tear production after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and butterfly laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). METHODS This prospective, randomized, double-masked study comprised 102 eyes of 51 patients who underwent laser refractive surgery. Each patient was randomized to have one eye operated on with PRK and...

BACKGROUND Despite its high prevalence Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) in frequently under-recognized owing to its negative influence on patients visual function. METHODS This clinical trial was a pilot study to evaluate the effects of supplementation with mixture (Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium bifido) on the tear film. Following the run-in period subjects were randomized in two groups: g...

Background: Dry eye syndrome is a multifactorial disease of pre-corneal tear film that results in ocular discomfort, visual disturbance and instability, with potential damage to the surface. The aim work was evaluate surface alterations related cataract surgery either phacoemulsification or extracapsular extraction surgeries.
 Methods: This prospective observational study included 60 patie...

Purpose: To assess changes in the tear film and delayed drainage after upper or lower, combined punctal occlusion using dissolvable polydioxanone plugs patients with dry eye.Methods: In total, 40 eye (80 eyes) were enrolled: four groups of 10 (20 no, upper, lower occlusions. Dissolvable placed. The break-up time (tBUT) meniscus height (TMH) measured, Schirmer I test dye disappearance (DDT) perf...

BACKGROUND In vitro studies have suggested the corneal cytotoxicity of third-generation fluoroquinolone levofloxacin (LVFX) and fourth-generation fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MFLX) among fluoroquinolone antibacterial eye drops. This study investigated the effects of these two eye drops on the human cornea in vivo. METHODS We evaluated 30 healthy adults (19 men and 11 women, 38....

PURPOSE To compare the clinical presentation of 231 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with 89 patients with aqueous-deficient dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca; KCS), to determine those procedures that best differentiate these groups in the eye care clinic. METHODS The records of all patients seen at the University Health Network Sjögren's Syndrome Clinic from October 1992 to J...

OBJECTIVE The international criteria for primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS I) diagnosis (Vitali et al. 2002) include the Schirmer test I and vital dye staining as tests for ocular surface involvement, but diagnosis can be reached also when the item for ocular signs is not satisfied. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the ocular surface in patients with Sjögren's Syndrome, non-Sjögren's autoi...