Purpose: We examined symptoms, tear stability, visual function, and conjunctival cytology in eyes with an unstable tear film (UTF), expressed as a short tear film breakup time without epithelial damage or low tear secretion, and compared the results with those from eyes with aqueous deficiency (AD) associated with epithelial damage, and healthy eyes.
Methods: We divided the patients with ocular discomfort into 2 groups according to the breakup time, Schirmer value, and epithelial staining score: UTF group (≤5 seconds, >5 mm, and <3 points; 21 eyes of 21 patients) and AD group (≤5 seconds, ≤5 mm, and ≥3 points; 21 eyes of 21 patients). We examined all patients and 17 healthy subjects for symptoms, tear functions, tear film stability by tear film lipid layer interferometry and tear film analysis system, and functional visual acuity. Conjunctival impression cytology was performed to investigate changes in goblet cell density, squamous metaplasia, and messenger RNA expression of MUC5AC and MUC16.
Results: The symptom scores, tear film analysis system index, and functional visual acuity testing were significantly worse in the UTF and AD groups compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). The messenger RNA expression levels of MUC5AC and MUC16 were significantly lower in UTF and AD eyes compared with those in the control eyes (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions: An UTF itself can cause dry eye symptoms and visual disturbance comparable with those of AD dry eyes.