Diagnostic imaging of dry eye and tear film

Abstract

The ocular surface is a dynamic complex system restoring the high quality of the optical elements of the ocular surface, nourishing the conjunctiva and cornea, and providing lubrication for frequent blinking. In the last two decades, the tear film dynamics attained high interest due to its clinical importance, including corneal refractive surgery and the very common dry eye complaints, also in connection with working in front of a computer screen. The diagnosis of the dry eye disease is developing fast and there are many new high tech imaging modalities for the examination of the anterior eye segment in this respect and there are many dynamic examination methods allowing to follow the quick changes in time e.g. in the tear film lipid layer thickness or in the surface irregularities of the outermost optical elements of the eye. The lecture will show the methodology and clinical performance of these new dynamic imaging modalities and will demonstrate their scientific importance and possible application in the future everyday clinical practice