Abstract: Tear film in the morning vs. afternoon

I like this a lot. Nothing like studying HEALTHY individuals once in awhile to put disease into perspective.

Comparison of the tear film clinical parameters at two different times of the day.

PURPOSE:
The aim of the present study was to analyse the quality and quantity of the tear film in a young, healthy and non-contact lens-wearing population with measurements taken in the morning and in the afternoon to establish if changes exist in these parameters.

METHODS:
In a controlled laboratory setting, morning and afternoon clinical parameters of tear film were assessed. Schirmer test, tear meniscus height, break-up time and non-invasive break-up time were measured in 51 normal subjects on the same day for each individual.

RESULTS:
Tear volume showed no significant changes during the day but tear film stability was significantly reduced at the end of the day (p < 0.001), demonstrating that tear film stability is affected by the time of day.

CONCLUSION:
Researchers and clinicians might wish to consider these differences when comparisons are made between studies and populations and also when the same patient is observed over periods. Fluorescein instillation can affect the measurements of tear stability in subjects with poor quality tear film.

Clin Exp Optom. 2011 Nov;94(6):557-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1444-0938.2011.00647.x. Epub 2011 Aug 22.
Lira M, Oliveira ME, Franco S.
Source
Centre of Physics (Optometry), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal. mlira@fisica.uminho.pt