Impact of Improper Approach to Identify Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy (LWE)

Variability in the use of ophthalmic dyes to diagnose lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) has led to division in the literature and clinical practice. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of a non-optimal methodology to identify LWE had a potential for false negatives; in which LWE was overlooked. A total of 20 participants were initially categorized to not have LWE and were enrolled in this study. The protocol examined whether or not LWE would later be revealed through the use of optimized methodology. Semi-automated analysis was performed of images taken after two different drop instillations with varying post-dye viewing times for both lissamine green (LG) and sodium fluorescein (NaFl). There was a significant increase in area of staining revealed when an optimal methodology for LWE identification was used. Comparisons for every non-optimal condition were statistically significantly different against the optimal condition (all p