A simple and sensitive method for the quantitation of theophylline (TP) in tears and plasma developed using gas chromatography/electron-impact ionization/mass spectrometry. Tears were collected by non-invasive Schirmer method. Plasma was pipetted on a Schirmer tear test strip (cutting to 5 mm x 5 mm). Then, TP was converted directly into its pentafluorobenzoyl amide derivative without the need ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of sicca complex, Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) and Fibromyalgia (FM) in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). METHODS Seventy seven IBS patients who fulfilled the Rome-III criteria were included in the study. All patients were assessed for FM according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010 criteria. After examination for objective evidence ...

BACKGROUND The study sought to determine dynamic changes and theoretical bases of a clinical diagnostic test, the tear clearance rate. METHODS Thirty four healthy subjects ranging in age from 22 to 84 years underwent examination of tear clearance rate, the Schirmer test with anaesthesia, as well as fluorophotometric measurement of tear turnover, tear volume, and tear flow. By applying 0.5% fl...

PURPOSE To investigate the efficacy of 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.3% sodium hyaluronate (SH) artificial tears compared with 0.05% cyclosporine (CS) ophthalmic solution for the treatment of dry eye. METHODS One hundred seventy-six patients were recruited and randomized to receive of 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.3% SH and 0.05% CS. There was a primary end point which is the changes in the fluorescein corneal sta...

This retrospective study was performed to analyze the long-term outcome of topical corticosteroid treatment for severe dry eye associated with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Patients who had severe dry eye associated with SS were topically treated with loteprednol etabonate 0.5% (group A, n=66) or fluorometholone 0.1% (group B, n=67) twice daily and were followed up for 2 years. Visual acuity (VA), i...

The presumptive diagnosis was made on clinical grounds in the majority of cases, the signs and symptoms being those usually described-redness and discomfort, tenacious mucous discharge, and corneal erosions and filaments. Confirmation was obtained by the measurement of the lacrimal secretion by the filter-paper test (Schirmer, 1903) and in doubtful cases by staining with rose bengal. The relati...

PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with conjunctivochalasis (CCh). METHODS AND MATERIALS This retrospective study enrolled 30 subjects diagnosed with conjunctivochalasis. Complete ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, dilated funduscopy, tear break-up time, Schirmer 1 test, and fluorescein staining w...

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...

Purpose. To determine the serum levels of sex steroids and tear matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 concentrations in postmenopausal women with dry eye. Methods. Forty-four postmenopausal women with dry eye and 22 asymptomatic controls were enrolled. Blood was drawn and analyzed for serum levels of sex steroids and lipids. Then, the following tests were performed: tear collection, Ocular Su...

OBJECTIVE To develop a classification system for blepharitis and dry eye based on a classification-tree model of a large group of subjects who were given a variety of objective physiologic tests. METHODS We evaluated 513 subjects, some healthy and some with blepharitis and dry eye,with tests for tear volume, tear flow, and tear turnover and the Schirmer test for dry eye. Meibomian gland funct...