Keratometric Tear Breakup Time and Fluorescein Tear Breakup Time

October 22, 2014 updated by: University of Arkansas

Comparison of Keratometric Tear Break Up Time (KTBUT) to Fluorescein Tear Break Up Time (FTBUT)

The purpose of the research is to determine if putting fluorescein onto the eye (most common test done for dry eye syndrome) is an accurate way to measure dry eye symptoms. The investigators can avoid placing any foreign substance into the eye by using a manual keratometer. Therefore, the investigators want to compare the measurements of tear breakup time using fluorescein with using a novel method, a manual keratometer and then compare these measurements to a validated dry eye symptoms questionnaire. All qualifying patients who were scheduled in the Jones Eye Institute Clinics for a complete eye exam were offered information about the study and invited to participate. Participants were recruited from February 29, 2009 to April 14, 2009.Participants who did not meet the study protocol's inclusion and exclusion criteria were not included the study or study data analysis. All subjects eyes were measured for KTBUT and FTBUT.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

This is an observational study to measure the difference between Keratometric Tear Break Up Time (KTBUT) and Fluorescein Tear Break Up Time (FTBUT). All qualified study participants had their eyes measured for tear break up time measured with a keratometer and with fluorescein dye. In this study, we compare the use of the most common method, fluorescein dye, to measure tear break up time to a novel method, a keratometer, to measure tear break up time. Using the keratometer avoids instilling fluorescein dye into the tear film and not altering the tear film's physiologic environment.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

26

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Arkansas
      • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72205
        • Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients from the Jones Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • An adult, between ages 18-99
  • An adult who is able to understand study instructions

Exclusion Criteria:

  • An adult with corneal pathology that prevents accurate assessment of keratometric or fluorescein tear break up time.
  • An adult with an allergy to fluorescein, a very common eye dye that detects defects in the cornea.
  • The inability to answer questions on your own.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Only
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Keratometric Tear Breakup Time
These are the study participants whose tear break up times were measured with a keratometer.
Fluorescein Break Up Time
These are the study participants whose tear break up times were measured with with fluorescein dye.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference Between Keratometric Tear Break Up Time (KTBUT) and Fluorescein Tear Break Up Time (FTBUT)
Time Frame: 1 day
This outcome measures the difference in tear break up time using a keratometer and fluorescein dye.
1 day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) Questionnaire
Time Frame: 1 week
The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is a validated 12-item questionnaire used in dry eye studies. The OSDI Scale ranges from 0= Normal to 100= Severe. Subcategories include problems--all of the time, most of the time, half of the time,and none of the time.
1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 2, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 2, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

March 3, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 23, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 22, 2014

Last Verified

October 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 109338

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Dry Eye

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