Assessing the relationship between non-invasive tear break-up time and maximum blink interval values among young adults at Mzuzu University

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) and maximum blink interval (MBI) values among young adults. METHOD: The study was conducted at Mzuzu University and involved 98 subjects (55 females and 43 males) aged between 18 and 40 years. All subjects were screened under the slit lamp, and were also asked questions to determine their eligibility to participate in the study. NITBUT measurements were taken by checking the discontinuity of the mires on the keratometer. MBI measurements were taken by observing the time period the subject could keep their eyes open without blinking. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation (r=0.64, r(2)=0.418, P<0.001) between NITBUT and MBI values. The relationship between NITBUT and MBI values was similar in both males and females. Furthermore, the study showed that age, as well as gender, is not correlated to NITBUT and MBI values. CONCLUSION: There is a positive significant correlation (r=0.64, r(2)=0.418, P<0.001) between NITBUT and MBI values. There was no significant difference between the NITBUT and MBI values between males and females. The study has also discovered that there is no correlation between NITBUT and MBI with age and gender.