Repeatability and Agreement of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) and Thermography

Dry eye is a common condition that affects vision and quality of life in patients. Dry eye clinical research is limited to follow up of disease progression. Currently, most research outcomes are based on subjective patient complaints rather than objective assessment of the condition. Only few objective measurements for dry eye are available today and this is mainly the result of poor repeatability and inaccuracy. This current study aims to evaluate 2 new non-invasive imaging techniques suitable for dry eye assessment. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is an imaging device that has the ability to image the tear meniscus of the eye in a safe and non-invasive manner. Image analysis can then indirectly determine the tear film volume. Improvements in the image resolution of these devices require a study that compares the repeatability and agreement of an older (Visante AS-OCT) and a newer instrument (Cirrus AS-OCT) which the current study aims to address. Another method of evaluating dry eye disease is a novel technique that uses functional infrared thermography to measure tear evaporation rate. This study will also establish repeatability of measurements of the ocular surface temperature which are used to calculate tear evaporation rates. Should these methods are found to be repeatable, they can be used in future clinical trials as an additional tool to investigate dry eye treatments.