Ocular surface temperature gradient is increased in
eyes with bacterial corneal ulcers.
Source
Department of Ophthalmology,
Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
matthias.klamann@charite.de
Abstract
AIMS:
To investigate the ocular surface
temperature gradient in eyes with bacterial corneal ulcers.
METHODS:
Prospective examination of 12 eyes
with bacterial corneal ulcers (group 1) and 12 control eyes (group 2). Infrared
thermal imaging (Tomey TG 1000) was used to study the temperature of the ocular
surface. The mean, minimum and maximum temperature of the ocular surface and
temperature course over a time period of 10 s of sustained eye opening were
evaluated. Furthermore, a correlation between the overall corneal temperature
and the temperature at the base of the corneal ulcers was determined.
RESULTS:
A significant difference between
both groups was present. Mean corneal temperature was 35.6°C ± 0.9 in group 1
and 34.8°C ± 0.8 in group 2 (p = 0.033). The temperature course over 10 s of
sustained eye opening was -0.6°C ± 0.4 in group 1 and -0.3°C ± 0.2 in group 2
(p = 0.045). There was a close correlation between the mean temperature at the
base of the corneal ulcer and the overall corneal temperature (r = 0.92, p <
0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Infrared thermal imaging can be used
to objectively determine the increased ocular surface temperature in patients
with bacterial corneal ulcers. The use of dynamic thermography may offer new
options to monitor ocular surface alterations.
Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG,
Basel.
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