Dye mixture may be valuable indicator of conjunctival symptoms of dry eye syndrome

Cornea. 2011;30(9):972-976.

A dye mixture of 1% fluorescein and 1% lissamine green showed efficacy in indicating conjunctival symptoms of dry eye syndrome, a study found.

The study included 50 patients with dry eye syndrome who underwent ocular surface staining with the fluorescein-lissamine green mixture. Variables evaluated were the ocular surface disease index, tear breakup time, correlation among the degrees of staining and ocular surface parameters. Schirmer testing was also performed.

The nasal conjunctiva experienced a greater degree of staining than the temporal conjunctiva and cornea (P = .04), with significant correlations evident with the ocular surface disease index (P < .01) and the tear breakup time (P = .03). Other significant correlations were reported in the staining of the temporal conjunctiva and the cornea in relation to the ocular surface disease index and the tear breakup time, respectively (P = .01 and P = .02).

"Use of double vital staining with fluorescein and lissamine green is an easy and convenient method for the evaluation of the corneal and conjunctival epithelia simultaneously with minimal irritation or intrinsic toxicity compared with their conventional methods of staining," the study authors said.

They suggested the mixture may be useful in diagnosing dry eye syndrome as well as measuring the therapeutic effects of dry eye treatments.