THE OCULAR SURFACE IN PATIENTS VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINAL (VDT)

Purpose: The Authors want to evaluate the effect of a new generation tear substitute (hipromellose 0.5% and amino acids) on the ocular ecosystem applied to video terminal subject with dry eye syndrome. Methods: 36 patients (14 F-26 M mean age 57+/-5 yr) with signs of discomfort and/or ocular dryness (burning, feeling of extraneous body, dryness and itch) were admitted to our study. Patients were treated with hipromellose, for 28 days. Subjective symptoms and objective signs were considered at the first visit, 28 days after therapy and 5 days after wash out following the 28 days of therapy. Studied parameters were: Schirmer I (mm/5 min); Schirmer II (mm/3 min); time of breakup of the film of shed tears (BUT, sec) and conjunctival buffer for the search of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Results data shows a change in the tear test, considered in our study, with the following results: Schirmer 1 7.8. - 11.5; Schirmer II 7.1 - 10.6; BUT 6.7.- 10.5 before and after the treatment respectively. The colture examinations shows an initial bacterial increase of 31 strains (43.%) compared to 15 (20.8%) after the treatment. Conclusion: The results shows that hipromellose 0.5% has good regulating activity and its clinical effectiveness was confirmed by a direct activity in normalizing clinical parameters of shed tears film and by an indirect activity in selecting normal bacterial flora.