A novel method of evaluating the non-invasive tear film break-up time and progression of corneal opacification in dogs using imaging video

Suk Jun Lee; Myeong Gyun Han; Su-Jung Yang; Yun-Soo Choi; Joon Young Kim

doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1298467

A novel method of evaluating the non-invasive tear film break-up time and progression of corneal opacification in dogs using imaging video

Front Vet Sci. 2024 Apr 8:11:1298467. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1298467. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Suk Jun Lee¹, Myeong Gyun Han², Su-Jung Yang², Yun-Soo Choi², Joon Young Kim^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Business Administration, College of Business, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Veterinary Ophthalmology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
³ KU Center for Animal Blood Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the correlation of the parameters that indicate the status of the ocular surface with the prognosis of corneal opacification. Fifty dogs (96 eyes) were examined using a grid-line illuminator (non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT)). Thirty dogs (54 eyes) were included in the final analysis based on the criteria. The NIBUT and tear film break-up time (TFBUT) results of the eyes included in the study were divided into three groups: Group 1 (< 5 s), Group 2 (5 to <10 s), and Group 3 (≥ 10 s). The Schirmer's tear Test 1 (STT-1) results of the included patients were also divided into three groups: Group 1 (< 5 mm/min), Group 2 (5 to <10 mm/min), and Group 3 (≥ 10 mm/min). The corneal opacity grades are divided into four scores, ranging from 0 to 3. The corneal opacity grade score (COS) of 0 indicates a completely clear cornea or only a trace of opacity. COS of 1, 2, 3 indicate the presence of a prominent corneal opacity that does not interfere with the visualization of the fine iris details, the opacity obscures the visibility of the iris and lens details and severe obstruction of the intraocular structure visibility, respectively. The mean difference in COS during the follow-ups for each group of NIBUT were 0.61 ± 0.92 (n = 28), 0.10 ± 0.32 (n = 10), 0.19 ± 0.40 (n = 16). The NIBUT groups were significantly correlated with COS (p-value = 0.073) at a 10% level of significance. Post-hoc test at a 10% level of significance revealed significant correlations between Groups 1 and 2 (p-value = 0.041) and between Groups 1 and 3 (p-value 0.104). Although the TFBUT and STT-1 groups did not show any significant correlation with COS. Eyes with NIBUT of <5 s were found to have a significantly higher chance of increased COS compared with eyes with NIBUT of >5 s in the grid-line illumination plate NIBUT test. Among NIBUT, STT-1, and TFBUT, NIBUT was the only test that showed significant associations with the changes in COS.

Keywords: corneal opacification; dry eye disease; non-invasive break-up time; ocular surface disease; tear film break-up time.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (MISIT) (NRF-2020R1F1A1074360). This work was supported by the Research Grant of Kwangwoon University in 2023.