Tear properties in eyes with chronic blepharitis

Çiğdem ALTAN, Yaşar KÜÇÜKSÜMER, Ali DEMİRCAN, Faik Engin AZMAN, Zeynep ALKIN, Ahmet DEMİROK

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the tear properties between the eyes with chronic blepharitis and normal eyes. Material and Method: We prospectively examined 20 eyes of 20 consecutive patients who had symptoms and findings associated with chronic blepharitis and 16 eyes of 16 healthy persons as a control group. Patients with dry eye disease and allergic conjunctivitis or using any topical/systemic drug or wearing contact lens were not included in the study. Tear osmolarity measurement via Tearlab osmolarity system, tear break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer s test without anesthesia were applied to all cases, and the measurements of the two groups were compared. Results: The mean age of all patients was 30.7±5.5 years (18 male, 18 female). The mean tear osmolarity value was 315.3±18.1 in the chronic blepharitis group, whereas it was 300.0±18.4 mOsm in the control group (P=0.02). The mean BUT was 7.2±4.5 seconds in the chronic blepharitis group and 13.2±3.6 seconds in the control group (P=0.001). The mean Schirmer s value for the patients with chronic blepharitis was 20.5±7.4 mm and 19.9±8.1 mm in the control group (P=0.84). Discussion: Tear osmolarity was higher and BUT was lower in chronic blepharitis patients, while Schirmer s test was within normal limits. These findings imply that in chronic blepharitis, lipid and mucin layers get abnormal without any decrease in the tear production. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42: 346-8)

Özet

Amaç: Kronik blefaritli gözler ile normal gözler arasında gözyaşı özelliklerini karşılaştırmak. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kronik blefarit semptom ve bulguları olan 20-40 yaş arası ardışık 20 hastanın 20 gözü ile kontrol grubu olarak 16 hastanın 16 sağlıklı gözü ileriye dönük olarak incelendi. Topikal veya sistemik ilaç kullanan, allerjik konjonktiviti ve kuru gözü olan, kontakt lens kullanan olgular çalışmaya alınmadı. Olgulara sırasıyla Tearlab® osmolarite cihazı kullanılarak gözyaşı osmolarite ayini, gözyaşı kırılma zamanı ve anestezisiz Schirmer testi uygulandı ve gruplar arasında karşılaştırıldı. Sonuçlar: Toplam 18i bayan, 18i erkek 36 hastanın ortalama yaşı 30,7±5,5 idi. Blefaritli grupta ortalama gözyaşı osmolaritesi 315,3±18,1 iken, kontrol grubunda 300,0±18,4 mOsm idi (p=0,02). Gözyaşı kırılma zamanı blefaritli gözlerde ortalama 7,2±4,5 aniye; sağlıklı gözlerde ise 13,2±3,6 saniye idi (p