EC Ophthalmology

Background: Bike riding is beneficial to health and leads to a significant decrease in the rate of mortality and morbidity. However, bike riding could disrupt the balance of moisture in the tear film, leading to dry eye symptoms.

Aim: To test the effect of bike riding, for the first time, on the tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive breakup time (NITBUT), and lipid layer patterns (LLP) in dry eye subjects using a single device.

Methods: Forty dry-eye males aged 18 to 35 years (29.3 ± 6.7 years) were recruited. A control group of 40 males with dry eyes (18 - 36 years; 28.5 ± 4.3 years) participated in the study for comparison. The measurements were carried out before bike riding, and the cyclists were allowed to cycle for 50 minutes. The measurements were repeated after bike riding. The subjects in the control group were allowed to stay in the open air for 50 minutes, and the measurements were performed at 0 and 50 minutes.

Results: For the study group, a significant (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, P < 0.001) difference was found between the median NITBUT scores before and after bike riding. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between the TMH (P = 0.321) and LLP grades (P = 0.552) before and after bike riding. For the control group, no significant differences were found between the two measurements of the NITBUT (P = 0.914), TMH (P = 0.113), and LLP (P = 0.480) at 0 and 50 minutes.

Conclusion: The EASYTEAR view+ was used for the first time to assess the effect of bike riding on some tear film parameters in dry eye subjects. The TBUT time was significantly shorter after bike riding compared with pre-riding. No significant differences were found in the TMH measurements and LLP before and after bike riding.

 Keywords: Tear Film; Lipid Layer Patterns; Noninvasive Tear Breakup Time; Bike Riding; Dry Eye

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