Dr.Sudhakar Naidu Laveti

Dr.Madhu Uddaraju, Dr.Gedela Divya

Abstract

Study design: Prospective interventional study
Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of tear film osmolarity in diagnosing and differentiating microbial keratitis caused by bacteria and fungi
Methods: 42 cases of microbial keratitis caused by bacteria and fungus were included and were subjected to tear film osmolarity testing with Tear lab. The osmolarity values were noted and compared to the differences in infections caused by bacteria (Group A) and fungi (Group B).
Results: Group A and Group B had 22 and 20 cases. Age and Sex were equally distributed. We used the one-way Anova calculator to compare the results and found consistently higher osmolarity values in fungal infections which was statistically significant.
Conclusion: Tear film osmolarity values were consistently beyond 320mOsml in all the cases (except 1) of fungal keratitis adding diagnostic value to this test to differentiate infections caused by bacteria.