New York Corneal Specialist Mark Speaker, M.D., Ph.D.
Coauthors Artificial Tear & Visual Acuity Article

Mark Speaker, M.D., Ph.D. is a Corneal Specialist in New York at Laser and Corneal Surgery Associates in Manhattan. He is widely recognized for his contributions to the fields of corneal and refractive surgery including LASIK and Corneal Transplantation through his efforts in patient care, research and ongoing physician education. Dr. Speaker, along with coauthors Drs. Nilforoushan and Latkany published the results of their study ” Effect of Artificial Tears on Visual Acuity” in the November 2005 American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Abstract of Study and Publication

PURPOSE: To study the effect of commonly used preservative free artificial tear, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) 0.5% (Refresh Plus, Allergan, Irvine, California) on visual acuity in symptomatic dry eye (SDE) and asymptomatic dry eye (ADE) patients.

DESIGN: Nonrandomized prospective clinical trial.

METHODS: Prospective study involving 20 patients (40 eyes) with SDE and 20 patients (40 eyes) with ADE, all 40 years and older, were recruited from a clinic setting over a 1-month period. Distance visual acuity was measured by the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) vision chart and near visual acuity was measured by the Lighthouse Near Vision chart before and 30 seconds after instillation of one drop of CMC. Distance and near visual acuity was measured both with and without correction. The duration of action of CMC was measured at 1-minute intervals until the patient's visual acuity returned to pretear level.

RESULTS: In both SDE and ADE groups, uncorrected and corrected near and distance vision showed a statistically significant improvement after the use of CMC (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in improvement between the SDE and ADE groups in all categories (P values > .05). The mean duration of improvement of vision was 2.93 minutes in the SDE group and 3.70 minutes in the ADE group (P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: CMC 0.5% provides a temporary yet significant improvement in the visual acuity of SDE and ADE patients. The effect of artificial tears on visual acuity may be of diagnostic value in detecting ocular surface abnormality in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

About Mark Speaker, M.D., Ph.D.

Mark Speaker, M.D. received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in Manhattan where he served as the Chief Resident. In addition he completed a Fellowship in Corneal and Refractive Surgery at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He has served as the Director of the Cornea Service and Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Cornea Society, the Program Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has received the Honor Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is currently Medical Director of TLC Laser Eye Centers Manhattan. In addition, he is the author of numerous articles and publications in the areas of Corneal Disease, Cornea Transplants, LASIK and Ocular Surface Disease including Dry Eyes and Dry Eye Syndrome.