Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:92-97 ( January )
Reflective meniscometry: a non-invasive method to measure tear
meniscus curvature
Norihiko Yokoi,a
Anthony Bron,b
John Tiffany,b
Nicholas Brown,b
James Hsuan,b
Colin Fowlerc
a Department of
Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan, b Nuffield Laboratory of
Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Oxford, c Department of Physiological Optics, University
of Aston, Birmingham
Correspondence to: Anthony J Bron, Nuffield Laboratory of
Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6AW.
Accepted for publication 29 July 1998
AIMS To devise a
method to measure tear meniscus curvature by a non-invasive specular technique.
METHODSA photographic
system was devised. The system consisted of a camera and an illuminated
target with a series of black and white stripes oriented parallel to
the axis of the lower tear meniscus. The target was mounted on a flash
gun close to the objective of a Brown macrocamera and calibrated using
a graduated series of glass capillaries of known diameter, ground down
to expose the inner wall. It was then applied to normal human eyes
(n=45) to measure the tear meniscus curvature. A video system was also
assessed which provided qualitative online information about the tear meniscus.
RESULTSUsing the
photographic system, measured values for capillary radii were in
excellent agreement with theoretical calculations (r2=0.996, p<0.0001). The radii
of curvature of lower tear menisci in normal human subjects (mean 0.365 (SD 0.153) mm, range 0.128-0.736; n=45) were similar to those reported
in the literature. Both systems demonstrated variations in meniscus
shape. The video system provided stable images of human menisci over
prolonged periods of time and promises to be useful for the analysis of
dynamic changes in meniscus volume.
CONCLUSIONSReflective
meniscometry is a non-invasive technique providing quantitative
information about tear meniscus shape and volume and of potential value
in the study of ocular surface disease.
Keywords:
tear meniscus;
reflective
meniscometry;
radius of curvature;
tear kinetics
© 1999 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
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