TABLE 2.

INCREASE IN RATE OF EVAPORATION AFTER RELATIVE HUMIDITY (RH) REDUCTION FROM 40%–45% TO 20%–25%

GROUP	EVAPORATION AT 40%–45% RH*(μL/CM2/MIN)	EVAPORATION AT 20%–25% RH*(μL/CM2/MIN)	RELATIVE INCREASE IN EVAPORATION†(%)	PVALUE‡
Controls	0.037 ± 0.016	0.065 ± 0.022	85.59	< .001
All KCS	0.034 ± 0.020	0.067 ± 0.043	108.09	< .001
Classic KCS	0.037 ± 0.022	0.067 ± 0.031	118.32	< .001
KCS + MGD	0.032 ± 0.018	0.068 ± 0.053	97.85	< .001
All subjects	0.035 ± 0.018	0.066 ± 0.037	99.43	< .001

KCS = keratoconjunctivitis sicca; MGD = meibomian gland dysfunction.

^*Expressed as mean ± SD.

^†Mean percentage change after the simulated decrease of 20% in RH within each group.

^‡Comparison of the evaporative rates under the two RH ranges within each group.