Comparison of Dry Eye Parameters between Keratoconus Patients and Control Subjects in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the dry eye symptoms and signs between keratoconus patients and control subjects. In a prosepctive analysis, tear break up time (TBUT), Shirmer test I (ST) and symptoms were assessed for 23 keratoconus (KC) patients and 22 control subjects from the Eye Hospital in Gaza. At least one dry eye (DE) symptoms, TBUT or ST was used in assigning patients into either DE or non-DE group. A “yes” or “no” response was further used for the discriminant analysis and tear abnormality (TBUT<10 seconds; ST< 5 mm). The prevalence of DE symptoms was significantly higher in KC patients (39.1%) than control subjects (31.8%). Red eye was the most common symptom of dry eye among control subjects (57.1%) and KC patients (55.5%). There was no significant associations between ST and DE ( p=0.073). However, the TBUT was significantly different between KC patients and control subjects ( p=0.031). In the current study, the number of patients of dry eye symptoms was higher in KC patients than control subjects. Red eye was the main symptom of dry eye among control and KC cases. In addition, TBUT was significantly different between KC patients and control subjects.