Temperature of ocular surface through infrared thermography imaging in a healthy adult population.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the temperature of ocular surface by infrared thermography imaging in a healthy adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Subjects older than 18 years considered visually and systemically healthy were chosen, after completing medical record and ophthalmological evaluation. The ambient temperature, humidity and luminosity were monitorized. The images were taken with the OPTRIS PI-450 camera. The temperature was analyzed at 7 points of the ocular surface. Data analysis was performed through the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 program. Results: 43 eyes were included (22 subjects) that met the inclusion criteria, 74% were women. The median age of the subjects studied was 31 years (Q1 28,00 – Q3 36.00 years). Median body temperature was 36.40 °C (Q1 36,30°C – Q3 36.50°C). The central cornea had a median temperature of 33.78 °C (Q1 33,17ºC – Q3 34.68 ºC), the superior limbus had a median temperature of 34,22°C (Q1 33,48ºC – Q3 34.66ºC), the inferior limbus had a median temperature of 33.88°C (Q1 33,24 ºC – Q3 34.92ºC), the nasal limbus had a median temperature of 34.42° C (Q1 33,90ºC – Q3 35.18ºC), the temporal limbus had a median temperature of 33.90 °C (Q1 33,54 ºC – Q3 35.53 ºC), the nasal conjunctiva had a median temperature of 35.10 °C (Q1 34,54 °C– Q3 35.53°C), the temporal conjunctiva had a median temperature of 34,50 °C (Q1 33,66 °C – Q3 35.22°C). Conclusions: Infrared Thermography Imaging can be a reproductible measurement method of the Ocular Surface Temperature, and it could get to be a non invasive diagnostic tool for ocular pathology. This study showed that OST at the center of the cornea is lower compared to nasal and temporal conjunctival areas. OST is 2 °C lower than the body temperature. Further analytic comparative studies are required to establish the usefulness of the IT as a diagnostic or screening tool in ocular pathology.