Assessment of Tear Meniscus with Optical Coherence Tomography in Thyroid-Associated Ophtalmopathy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the tear-film meniscus with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with Graves' disease (GD).

Materials and methods: Patients with GD without clinical features of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) (Group 1, n = 35), patients with signs of TAO (Group 2, n = 31) and healthy participants (Group 3, n = 31) were enrolled. Palpebral fissure width, Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT) test and tear-film meniscus height and area obtained with Fourier-domain-OCT were analyzed.

Results: TBUT test scores were 8 s (2-25) in Group 1, 8 s (2-15) in Group 2 (p = 0.380); and10 s (5-17) in Group 3 (p = 0.000 Group 1 versus 3, and 0.000 for Group 2 versus 3). Tear-film meniscus height did not significantly differ between Groups 1 and 2 (257.5 mm (86-962) and 258 mm (99-1340), respectively, p = 0.980). In Group 3, tear-film meniscus height was 316 mm (122-720) (p = 0.005 Group 1 versus 3 and 0.004 for Group 2 versus 3). Tear-film meniscus area did not significantly differ between Groups 1 and 2 (0.025mm(2) (0.004-0.250) and 0.024mm(2) (0.003-0.316), respectively, p = 0.850). In Group 3, tear-film meniscus area was 0.048mm(2) (0.006-0.75) (p = 0.000 Group 1 versus 3 and 0.000 for Group 2 versus 3).

Conclusion: Tear function is significantly disturbed in GD. OCT is an effective way to assess the tearing function also in patients with GD.