Potential applications of ocular thermography

Abstract

Thermography is an investigative technique which allows rapid color-coded display of the temperature across a wide surface by means of infrared detection. We describe an ocular thermographic study of a normal population and present case studies describing the application of this technique for patients with ocular disease. We found that 95% of the normal population have an interocular temperature difference (temperature of center of right cornea minus temperature of center of left cornea) of 0.60 degrees or less. There appears to be a greater difference in temperature between the limbus and the center of the cornea in patients with dry eyes. This technique has potential for evaluating tear film disorders and inflammatory conditions, for monitoring the progress of such conditions, and for evaluating the efficacy of various treatments.