Improved functional visual acuity after punctal occlusion in dry eye patients

PURPOSE: To report an increased functional visual acuity, which was recently reported as a simulation of visual function of daily acts of gazing, in dry eye patients after punctal occlusion. DESIGN: Prospective comparative interventional study. METHODS: We measured ordinary best-corrected visual acuity and functional visual acuity in eight eyes of eight dry eye patients after punctal occlusion, and compared the results with those of 22 eyes of 22 dry eye patients without punctal occlusion. RESULTS: Functional visual acuity in dry eye patients after punctal occlusion was 0.962 in decimal notation, which was significantly higher than that of patients without punctal occlusion, 0.283 (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that punctal occlusion can improve the impaired functional visual acuity of dry eye patients. (C) 2003 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.