An assessment of the ocular tear film in patients with thyroid disorders

Figures & data

Table 1 Average [mean±standard deviation or median (interquartile range)] for the OSDI, PRT1, PRT2, TBUT1, TBUT2, and TF scores for the study and control groups

Test	Average
	Study group (N=20)*	Control group (N=20)
OSDI score	15.5 (21.9)	5.6 (3.6)
PRT1 (mm)	11.7±8.1	22.2±6.5
PRT2 (mm)	10.5±7.4	20.7±5.2
TBUT1 (s)	4.9±1.6	13.2±2.6
TBUT2 (s)	4.2±1.9	12.3±2.2
TF grade	2.0 (2.2)	1.2 (0.9)

Note: *Statistically significant value at P<0.05.

Abbreviations: OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index; PRT, phenol red thread; TBUT, tear break-up time; TF, tear ferning; PC, Pearson correlation coefficient; Sig., significance (two-tailed).

Figure 1 The side-by-side boxplot for the PRT (OD) within the study and control groups. Statistically significant at P<0.05.

Abbreviation: PRT, phenol red thread.

Figure 2 The side-by-side boxplot for the TUBT (OD) within the study and control groups. Statistically significant at P<0.05.

Abbreviation: TBUT, tear break-up time.

Figure 3 The side-by-side boxplot for the TF test within the study and control groups. Statistically significant at P<0.05.

Abbreviation: TF, tear ferning.

Figure 4 Examples of TF images obtained from the study group (showing dry eye conditions in most cases).

Abbreviation: TF, tear ferning.

Figure 5 Examples of TF images obtained from the control group (showing normal eye conditions in all cases).

Abbreviation: TF, tear ferning.

Table 2 Correlation of the OSDI, PRT, TBUT (OD), and TF scores for the study group (N=20)*

Test/correlation		OSDI	PRT	TBUT	TF
OSDI	PC	1	–0.111	–0.373	0.085
	Sig	—	0.661	0.127	0.738
PRT	PC	–0.111	1	0.371	0.023
	Sig	0.661	—	0.130	0.927
TBUT	PC	–0.373	0.371	1	0.033
	Sig	0.127	0.130	—	0.898
TF	PC	0.085	0.023	0.033	1
	Sig	0.738	0.927	0.898	—

Note: *Statistically significant value at P<0.05.

Abbreviations: OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index; PRT, phenol red thread; TBUT, tear break-up time; TF, tear ferning; PC, Pearson correlation coefficient; Sig., significance (two-tailed).

Table 3 Average (mean±standard deviation or median [interquartile range]) for the OSDI, PRT1, PRT2, TBUT1, TBUT2, and TF scores within hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism subjects

Test	Average
	Hypothyroidism (N=8)	Hyperthyroidism (N=12)
OSDI score*	14.3 (10.0)	25.8 (30.1)
PRT1 (mm)*	13.5±9.4	9.4±5.8
PRT2 (mm)*	12.5±7.0	8.0±6.6
TBUT1 (s)	4.3±1.4	5.4±1.5
TBUT2 (s)	3.9±1.7	4.5±1.8
TF grade	2.0 (15)	2.5 (3.0)

Note: *Statistically significant value at P<0.05.

Abbreviations: PRT, phenol red thread; TBUT, tear break-up time; TF, tear ferning; PRT1 and TBUT1, the measurements for the right eye; PRT2, the measurements for the left eye; TBUT2, the tears for the TF test were collected from the right eye.