Table 3.
Summary of objective dry eye parameters.
| Type 1 (1494) | Type 2 (698) | Type 3 (1160) | Type 4 (1465) | Total (4817) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipid-associated parameters | ||||||
| LLT (nm) | 79.5 ± 17.5 #,§,+ | 46.9 ± 9.7 *,+ | 46.8 ± 10.1 *,+ | 91.8 ± 15.8 *,#,§ | 70.6 ± 24.3 | <0.001 |
| MGE | 8.2 ± 4.2 #,§,+ | 7.3 ± 3.9 *,+ | 7.7 ± 4.1 *,+ | 8.8 ± 4.4 *,#,§ | 8.1 ± 4.2 | <0.001 |
| MGE (upper) | 4.6 ± 2.9 #,+ | 4.2 ± 2.8 *,§,+ | 4.5 ± 2.9 #,§,+ | 5.1 ± 3.0 *,#,§ | 4.7 ± 2.9 | <0.001 |
| MGE (lower) | 3.6 ± 2.3 #,§ | 3.1 ± 2.2 *,+ | 3.2 ± 2.4 *,+ | 3.6 ± 2.3 #,§ | 3.4 ± 2.3 | <0.001 |
| Meiboscale (grade) | 1.4 ± 0.7 | 1.4 ± 0.8 | 1.4 ± 0.7 | 1.4 ± 0.7 | 1.4 ± 0.7 | 0.861 |
| Meiboscale (upper) | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 0.303 |
| Meiboscale (lower) | 1.3 ± 0.7 | 1.3 ± 0.8 | 1.3 ± 0.7 | 1.2 ± 0.7 | 1.3 ± 0.7 | 0.146 |
| Aqueous secretion, blink patterns, tear film stability, and corneal staining | ||||||
| Schirmer (mm) | 7.9 ± 5.8 #,§,+ | 11.2 ± 6.2 *,§,+ | 2.8 ± 1.6 *,#,+ | 3.3 ± 3.1 *,#,§ | 5.7 ± 5.4 | <0.001 |
| TB | 7.2 ± 5.0 #,§ | 8.0 ± 5.0 *,+ | 8.0 ± 5.1 *,+ | 7.1 ± 5.0 #,§ | 7.5 ± 5.0 | <0.001 |
| PB | 4.4 ± 4.0 #,§ | 4.1 ± 3.7 * | 4.1 ± 3.6 * | 4.3 ± 4.1 | 4.2 ± 3.9 | 0.099 |
| PB (%) | 60.9 ± 34.5 #,§ | 53.7 ± 35.5 *,+ | 54.2 ± 34.0 *,+ | 61.2 ± 34.6 #,§ | 58.3 ± 34.7 | <0.001 |
| TBUT (sec) | 3.2 ± 1.5 #,§,+ | 2.9 ± 1.2 * | 2.7 ± 1.0 * | 2.9 ± 1.2 * | 2.9 ± 1.2 | <0.001 |
| SPK (grade) | 0.3 ± 0.5 # | 0.2 ± 0.6 *,§,+ | 0.3 ± 0.6 # | 0.3 ± 0.6 # | 0.3 ± 0.6 | 0. 032 |
MGE: number of expressible meibomian gland expression; PB: number of partial blinks; TB: number of total blinks; PB (%): partial blink rate; FTBUT: fluorescein tear-film break-up time; SPK: superficial punctate keratitis; Numbers in parenthesis represent case number in the indicated type. *: p < 0.05 as compared with type 1; #: p < 0.05 as compared with type 2; §: p < 0.05 as compared with type 3; +: p < 0.05 as compared with type 4.