Research article summary (published 30 May 2007):

Assessment of variation in bulbar conjunctival redness, temperature, and blood flow.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the diurnal variation in bulbar conjunctival redness, conjunctival temperature, and conjunctival blood flow. METHODS: Bulbar redness was quantified by CIE u' chromaticity using a SpectraScan PR650 spectrophotometer. Conjunctival temperature was measured using a Tasco-Thi 500 infrared thermometer. Measurements of conjunctival blood flow were obtained using a modified Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter (HRF). Measurements on 10 subjects were made on a periodic basis over the day and on waking. RESULTS: For each factor measured a cyclical pattern was observed, with highest values on waking, a reduction in values towards mid-day, and then a gradual increase over the remainder of the day. There was a significant effect of time for redness, temperature, and conjunctival blood flow (p < 0.001 for all three variables), with no significant difference in the cyclical pattern between eyes being observed (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Diurnal bulbar redness, temperature, and conjunctival blood flow variation may be objectively quantified and all three are lowest during the middle of the day and maximal at the start of the day. This information should be considered when undertaking studies in which redness, temperature, and ocular surface blood flow are important outcome variables and time of day is a potential confounding factor.

Author information

Author/s: Duench, Stephanie (S); Simpson, Trefford (T); Jones, Lyndon W (LW); Flanagan, John G (JG); Fonn, Desmond (D);

Affiliation: Centre for Contact Lens Research, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. svaccari(-atsign-)scimail.uwaterloo.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry (Optom Vis Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jun; vol 84 (issue 6) : pp 511-6

Dates: Created 2007/06/14; Completed 2007/08/27;

PMID: 17568321, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Activities of Daily Living Adult Blood Flow Velocity - physiology Body Temperature - physiology Circadian Rhythm - physiology Conjunctiva - blood supply Equipment Design Female

Female Humans Laser-Doppler Flowmetry - instrumentation Male Reference Values Reproducibility of Results Spectrophotometry - instrumentation Thermometers

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