Effects of blinking exercises on palpebral fissure height and tear film parameters

IF 5.9 1区医学 Q1 OPHTHALMOLOGY Ocular Surface Pub Date : 2025-02-05 DOI:10.1016/j.jtos.2025.02.003

Reiko Arita , Shima Fukuoka , Ray Matsumoto , Minako Kaido

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Abstract

Purpose

Blinking is an involuntary movement essential for ocular surface health and visual comfort. While blinking exercises in patients with dry eye have been shown to improve symptoms, increase non-invasive tear film breakup time (NIBUT), and decrease incomplete blink rate (IBR), no studies have quantified improvements in eyelid opening. This study evaluated the effects of blinking exercises on palpebral fissure height (PFH), subjective symptoms, and tear film-related parameters.

Methods

Participants were randomly assigned to a “blinking exercise group” that performed blinking exercises after instilling artificial tear drops five times daily for three days or control group that only used artificial tear drops. Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were recorded for dryness, eye strain, ocular discomfort, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, dullness, and difficulty in opening the eyelids. The pre- and post-study measurements included lipid layer thickness, PFH, blink interval, IBR, tear meniscus height, NIBUT, fluorescein staining, and fluorescein breakup time (FBUT).

Results

Among 100 participants (28 males, 72 females, mean age 38.4 ± 7.4 years), 52 were in the blinking exercise group and 48 were in the control group. The blinking exercise group showed significant improvements in SPEED (P < 0.001), VAS scores for eye strain and discomfort (P = 0.003, 0.007), enlarged PFH (P < 0.001), prolonged NIBUT and FBUT (P < 0.001), and reduced IBR (P < 0.001) compared to the controls.

Conclusions

Blinking exercises improved PFH, incomplete blinking, tear film stability, and subjective symptoms in patients with dry eye.

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来源期刊

Ocular Surface 医学-眼科学

CiteScore

11.60

自引率

14.10%

发文量

审稿时长

39 days

期刊介绍： The Ocular Surface, a quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal, is an authoritative resource that integrates and interprets major findings in diverse fields related to the ocular surface, including ophthalmology, optometry, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, immunology, infectious disease, and epidemiology. Its critical review articles cover the most current knowledge on medical and surgical management of ocular surface pathology, new understandings of ocular surface physiology, the meaning of recent discoveries on how the ocular surface responds to injury and disease, and updates on drug and device development. The journal also publishes select original research reports and articles describing cutting-edge techniques and technology in the field. Benefits to authors We also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services. Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our Support Center