Purpose

Dry eye disease (DED) is an important public health concern given its increasing prevalence and impact on patient quality of life. Blinking frequency and completeness are reduced during digital screen exposure, compromising meibum secretion and distribution, causing tear film instability and leading to DED. This study evaluated the effects of blinking exercises on blink pattern and clinical signs and symptoms of DED.

Methods

Fifty-four participants with dry eye symptoms received instructions to perform a ten-second cycle of blinking exercises every 20 min during waking hours for four weeks. Symptoms were assessed using the 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI); blinking patterns measured with the TearScience LipiView II; and tear film and ocular surface parameters assessed with the Oculus Keratograph 5M. Measures at baseline and on day 28 were compared.

Results

Forty-one participants completed the study, reporting an average of 25.6 daily blinking exercise cycles. Improvements were noted in DEQ-5 (from 11 ± 4 to 7 ± 3; p < 0.001), OSDI (36 ± 18 to 22 ± 17; p < 0.001), non-invasive tear film breakup time (6.5 ± 2.4 to 8.1 ± 4.8 s; p < 0.04), the proportion of incomplete blinks (54 ± 36 to 34 ± 29 %; p < 0.001), but not in tear meniscus height or tear film lipid layer thickness.

Conclusion

Blinking exercises can modify poor blinking patterns and improve dry eye symptomology, with modest changes in objective measures of tear film quality. Incorporating such routines into clinical care recommendations may improve blinking habits and help protect against the impact of digital device use on tear film quality and DED onset and evolution.

中文翻译：

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眨眼运动对干眼症的治疗益处

目的

干眼病 (DED) 是一个重要的公共卫生问题，因为它的患病率越来越高，并且对患者的生活质量产生了影响。数字屏幕曝光期间眨眼频率和完整性降低，影响睑脂分泌和分布，导致泪膜不稳定并导致 DED。本研究评估了眨眼练习对 DED 的眨眼模式和临床体征和症状的影响。

方法

54 名患有干眼症的参与者接受了指示，要求他们在清醒时每 20 分钟进行 10 秒的眨眼练习，持续 4 周。使用 5 项干眼问卷 (DEQ-5) 和眼表疾病指数 (OSDI) 评估症状；使用 TearScience LipiView II 测量的闪烁模式；使用 Oculus Keratograph 5M 评估的泪膜和眼表参数。比较基线和第 28 天的测量值。

结果

41 名参与者完成了这项研究，报告平均每天进行 25.6 个眨眼运动周期。DEQ-5（从 11 ± 4 到 7 ± 3；p < 0.001）、OSDI（36 ± 18 到 22 ± 17；p < 0.001）、无创泪膜破裂时间（6.5 ± 2.4 到 8.1 ± 4.8 s；p < 0.04），不完全眨眼的比例（54 ± 36 到 34 ± 29 %；p < 0.001），但不是泪液弯月面高度或泪膜脂质层厚度。

结论

眨眼练习可以改变不良的眨眼模式并改善干眼症状，对泪膜质量的客观测量有适度的改变。将此类例行程序纳入临床护理建议可能会改善眨眼习惯，并有助于防止数字设备使用对泪膜质量和 DED 发作和演变的影响。