Source
Cardiff School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. PurslowC@cardiff.ac.uk
Abstract
PURPOSE:
To examine the relation between ocular surface temperature (OST) assessed by dynamic thermal imaging and physical parameters of the anterior eye in normal subjects.
METHODS:
Dynamic ocular thermography (ThermoTracer 7102MX) was used to record body temperature and continuous ocular surface temperature for 8 s after a blink in the right eyes of 25 subjects. Corneal thickness, corneal curvature, and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were assessed using Orbscan II; noninvasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) was assessed using the tearscope; slit lamp photography was used to record tear meniscus height (TMH) and objective bulbar redness.
RESULTS:
Initial OST after a blink was significantly correlated only with body temperature (r=0.80, p<0.0005), NIBUT (r=-0.68, p<0.005) and corneal curvature (r=-0.40, p=0.05). A regression model containing all the variables accounted for 70% (p=0.002) of the variance in OST, of which NIBUT (29%, p=0.004), and body temperature (18%, p=0.005) contributed significantly.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results support previous theoretical models that OST radiation is principally related to the tear film; and demonstrate that it is less related to other characteristics such as corneal thickness, corneal curvature, and anterior chamber depth.