Purpose: To investigate tear meniscus dynamics using anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) after the instillation of topical solutions for dry eye.
Design: Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study.
Methods: Thirty-six healthy subjects (28 men and 8 women; mean age, 34.4 ± 6.7 years) were enrolled in this study. The lower tear meniscus height, tear meniscus area, and tear meniscus volume were assessed using anterior SS-OCT. After baseline measurements, 40 μL of 0.1% sodium hyaluronate, 0.3% sodium hyaluronate, 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution, or 2% rebamipide ophthalmic solution was instilled in one eye of 10 subjects each, whereas 40 μL saline was instilled in the other eye. Tear meniscus measurements were obtained using SS-OCT at 30 seconds and 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes after instillation.
Results: The tear meniscus measurements showed a significant increase until 1, 3, 10, 10, and 3 minutes after the instillation of saline, 0.1% sodium hyaluronate, 0.3% sodium hyaluronate, 3% diquafosol, and 2% rebamipide, respectively, compared with the baseline levels (P < 0.05). Compared with those after saline instillation, the tear meniscus measurements were significantly higher until 30 seconds and 3, 30, and 15 minutes after the instillation of 0.1% sodium hyaluronate, 0.3% sodium hyaluronate, 3% diquafosol, and 2% rebamipide, respectively (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The instillation of ophthalmic solutions for the treatment of dry eye greatly increased tear meniscus measurements in healthy subjects. Thus, SS-OCT can be a practical tool for the quantitative evaluation of early-phase tear fluid dynamics.