The aim of this study was to evaluate dry eye in patients with viral hepatitis B using LipiView ocular surface interferometer.

A total of 137 patients (274 eyes) with viral hepatitis B visiting the Department of Ophthalmology Beijing You′an Hospital from March 2017 to June 2019 were selected. Among them, 61 were males (122 eyes) and 76 were females (152 eyes). The age was 23 to 78 years with the average age of (49.3±14.1) years. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire survey, tear film rupture time (TBUT), tear secretion test (Schirmer Ⅰ), and LipiView ocular surface interferometer were performed. Patients were divided into dry eye group and normal group according to the OSDI score. Age, OSDI, TBUT, Schirmer Ⅰ, PBR and LLT were expressed as mean±standard deviation. The independent sample t test was used to compare the results of two groups; the Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the results of the LipiView ocular surface interferometer and the traditional dry eye test indicators.

Among 137 cases (274 eyes) of suspected dry eye patients with viral hepatitis B, 125 cases (250 eyes) were detected. The OSDI value of the dry eye group and the normal group were (31.99±14.73) points, (7.50±2.21) points. After t testing analysis, the OSDI value of the dry eye group was significantly higher than that of the normal group, and the difference between them was statistically significant (t=15.212, P<0.05). The Schirmer Ⅰ values of patients in the dry eye group and the normal group were (5.37±2.19) mm/5 min, (14.27±4.62) mm/5 min. After t testing analysis, the dry eye group was significantly lower than the normal group, the difference between them was statistically significant (t=14.992, P<0.05). The TBUT results of the dry eye group and the normal group were (8.73±3.55) s, (15.51±6.84) s, respectively. After t testing analysis, the dry eye group was significantly lower than the normal group, the difference between them was statistically significant (t=10.583, P<0.05). The LLT of the dry eye group and the normal group were (64.40±18.75) nm and (77.58±16.76) nm, respectively. The LLT_Min of the dry eye group and the normal group were (51.93±19.42) nm and (73.75±24.75) nm, respectively . The LLT and LLT_Min of the dry eye group were significantly lower than those of the normal group. After t testing analysis, the difference between them was statistically significant (t=2.344, 3.624; P<0.05). The PBR of the dry eye group and the normal group were (62.52±21.49)%, (34.27±10.51)%, respectively. The PBR of the dry eye group was significantly higher than that of the normal group. After t testing analysis, the difference between them was statistically significant(t=2.186, P<0.05). The LLT_Max of the dry eye group and the normal group were (78.24±19.67) nm, (84.25±11.17) nm, respectively. The blink frequency of the dry eye group and the normal group were (7.96±4.31) times/20 s and (8.83± 2.40) times/20 s. After t testing analysis, there was no significant difference in LLT_Max and blinking frequency between them (t=1.040, 0.689; P>0.05). The 12 scores of OSDI were all correlated with LLT. As the OSDI score increased, LLT become thinner. In terms of total scores, LLT was negatively correlated with OSDI scores in the dry eye group (r=-0.267, P<0.05). The foreign body perception, acupuncture pain, television use, computer use, etc, were negatively correlated with LLT (r=-0.234, -0.212, -0.253, -0.227; P<0.05); while fear of light and tears, blurred vision, low vision, reading books and newspapers, driving in low light, blowing cold, dry were no correlation with LLT (r=0.087, -0.097, -0.115, -0.075, -0.082, -0.124, -0.137, -0.149; P>0.05). There was no correlation between LLT and Schirmer Ⅰ in the dry eye group with non-significant difference (r=-0.238, P>0.05), while the LLT and TBUT in the dry eye group were positively correlated with significant difference (r=0.217, P<0.05).

LipiView ocular surface interferometer could non-invasively, quickly and objectively evaluate the lipid layer thickness and incomplete blink ratio of patients with viral hepatitis, which provides a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye, and effectively indicates the condition of dry eye in patients with viral hepatitis B and the outcome symptoms.