Face Mask and Tear Film Stability: A Pilot Study of the Objective Measurement of Tear Break-Up Time

Abstract

(1) Background: Mask-associated dry eye (MADE) has been associated with increased dry eye symptoms, apparently due to reduced tear break-up time (TBUT). This study aimed to determine the short-term impact of surgical face mask (FM) on tear film stability by measuring non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT). (2) Methods: Twenty-six healthy participants had NIBUT evaluated without FM, with surgical FM and with a surgical FM secured to the skin with adhesive tape (TFM). NIBUT-first was measured with Keratograph 5M (K5M, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). Each participant had NIBUT measured in four sessions on four consecutive days. Session 1: without FM vs. with FM. Session 2: with FM vs. without FM. Session 3: without FM vs. with TFM. Session 4: with TFM vs. without FM (3). The time between each measured setting was 2 min. Results: The mean ± SD NIBUT without FM was 8.9 ± 3.7, with FM 10.2 ± 4.1, and with TFM 8.4 ± 3.8 s. No significant differences were observed in NIBUT in any of the evaluated settings: without FM vs. with FM (p = 0.247), without FM vs. with TFM (p = 0.915), and with FM vs. with TFM (p = 0.11). (4) Conclusions: This study did not find a significant short-term effect of FM on NIBUT. Other variables or longer periods of exposure might trigger the symptoms and ocular surface alterations in MADE.