الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 118 |  |  |
| | | from | 118 | | |
Abstract
SUMMARY
Unstable tear film in dry eye can produce corneal thinning and surface irregularity which cause optical aberrations like erroneous keratometric measurements and altered central corneal thickness. A reduction in the accuracy and repeatability of these measurements is known in these pathologic cases (DED) and results are expected to be unpredictable, unreliable.
Artificial tears are used to ameliorate the ocular surface for precise measurements. The magnitude of the effect of the artificial tears and the suitable time for capturing a pentacam picture in DED after therapy had not been discussed in details with the Pentacam.
Tear break-up time test (TBUTT) is a common clinical test for the diagnosis of dry eye and for assessment of tear film stability. This test provides sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 86%.
In our study, 180 eyes of 180 patients undergone TBUT test and classified into two groups (90 healthy control and 90 dry eye patients) according to the test results.
A sequential capturing of Pentacam photos before and after the use of artificial tears was taken and results for keratometry,astigmatic amount and central corneal thickness were observed.
A greater variability (highly significant)was recorded among dry eye patients (with short TBUT) than in healthy controls, regarding the keratometric values, astigmatic amount and central corneal thickness after using artificial tears.
This study shows the importance of and the relation between TBUT test and the data got by Pentacam. It also shows how beneficial the use of the Pentacam as a diagnostic and a follow up tool in dry eye disease.