Comparison of Noncontact Infrared and Remote Sensor Thermometry in Normal and Dry Eye Patients

Purpose To evaluate the role of closed chamber infrared and remote sensor thermometry in normal and dry eye patients. Methods The study was conducted on 51 dry eye cases (102 eyes), 26 men and 25 women aged 19 to 65 years (35.36±14.36), and 51 normal (102 eyes) age- and sex-matched control subjects. The criteria for dry eye were Schirmer-1 (<10 mm/5 min), FTBUT (<10 sec), and lissamine green score (>2). The remote sensor and infrared thermometry was done in closed chamber around the eye in closed and open eye positions. Results In normal eyes, closed chamber infrared thermometry recorded temperature 34.77±0.37 °C in closed eye position and 35.02±0.39 °C in open eye position as compared to 27.91 ±2.46 °C in closed eye position and 28.01±2.46 °C in open position with remote sensor thermometry. The difference in temperature from closed to open position was 0.25±0.90 °C in infrared thermometry and 0.10±0.00 °C with remote sensor thermometry, which was statistically significant (p<0.0000). In dry eye, the infrared thermometry recorded 35.08±0.61 °C temperature in closed eye position and 35.53±0.63 °C in open eye position as compared to 27.41 ±2.48 °C in open and closed eye position with remote sensor thermometry. The difference in temperature from closed to open eye position was 0.45±0.14 °C (p<0.0000) with infrared thermometry as compared to no change 0.00±0.00 °C with remote sensor thermometry (p<0.0000). Conclusions Remote sensor thermometry proved better for diagnosis of dry eye disease as it showed no change in temperature under closed chamber in closed and open position (p=0.0000). Infrared thermometry was better in recording the absolute temperature from any point on the eye.