Effects of Three Eye Glass Frame Designs on Relative Humidity and Temperature Measured Over the Cornea

Main Article Content

Stephen T Petty
Jennifer L Patnaik, PhD
Levi Bonnell, MPH
Anne M Lynch, MD, MSPH
Richard S Davidson, MD
Jonathan S Petty, BS

Abstract

Abstract


Objective: To evaluate the relative humidity and temperature over the cornea in three different eye glass frame designs to see if frame design can influence relative humidity and temperature measured over the eyeball surface.


Setting: Ophthalmology practice in the Denver, Colorado area


Design: Prospective study


Materials and Methods: Relative humidity and temperature were measured in 59 subjects in a clinical setting, with three different eye glass frame designs from June 2016 to September 2016. Measurements were made with small sensors mounted inside the eye glass lenses, to see if eyeglass frame design could influence these measured values. Baseline measures were taken with glasses off and follow-up measures with glasses on.


Results: Relative humidity increased most markedly with a tight wraparound frame design (38.9%), followed by a smaller increase with post cataract wraparound sunglass frames (2.8%), and a minimal decrease with normal frames (-1.3 %).  The temperature increased over the eyeball in all frame designs, but changed most dramatically in the tight wraparound frame (11.2 degrees).


Conclusion: Tight wraparound eyeglass frames significantly increase the relative humidity over the cornea, as measured in this study. This frame design may offer another method of treatment for dry eye disease that is lower in cost than present therapies.


Key Words: Dry Eye Disease, Relative Humidity.

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Author Biographies

Jennifer L Patnaik, PhD, University of Colorado, Ophthalmology department

Dr Patnaik was extremely helpful in working on the statistics aspects of this study.

Levi Bonnell, MPH, University of Colorado, Ophthalmology department

Levi was extremely helpful in working on the statistical aspects of this study.

Anne M Lynch, MD, MSPH, University of Colorado, Ophthalmology department

Anne was extremely helpful in the development of this study from the aspects of study design and adhering the requirements for performing a study on humans in the proper way.

Richard S Davidson, MD, University of Colorado, Ophthalmology department

Richard provided extensive advice on study design and protocol, and provided input into the effects of this approach on the corneal surface.

Jonathan S Petty, BS, Colorado Retina Associates, Denver, Colorado

Jon is a computer programmer and software designer who was instrumental in the design of the computer program and the computer hardware interface to make it possible to measure relative humidity and temperature over the surface of the cornea.

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