PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE INITIAL CONDITION OF THE EYE SURFACE IN PATIENTS WITH MYOPIA
The purpose is to assess the structural state of the cornea and pre-corneal lacrimal film in patients with myopia before refractive surgery, to identify the relationship with changes in cytokine concentration in the tear. Material and methods. 62 patients (124 eyes) with myopia were examined. The first group included 26 patients, only glasses were used for the correction of myopia, and in the 2nd group, 36 patients who used soft contact lenses during 5 to 15 years. Methods of examination: determination of the thickness of the corneal epithelium, height and width of the lacrimal meniscus, assessment of the biomechanical properties of the cornea, the Norn and Schirmer tests. Content of cytokines in the tear - interleukin 10 and tumor necrosis factor α - was measured using the test set «BEST» by enzyme immunoassay. Results. The decrease in the thickness of the epithelium of the cornea, the height and width of the lacrimal meniscus, the stability of the tear film, and the ratio of interleukin-10 to the tumor-α necrosis factor in patients who use contact lenses for a long time are revealed. The conclusion. Prolonged wearing of contact lenses for correction of myopia is accompanied by signs of symptomatic dry eye syndrome against a background of moderate oppression of the anti-inflammatory activity of tears.