TEAR FILM AND MEIBOMIAN GLAND FUNCTIONS IN PSORIASIS

Tear secretion, tear film stability, and meibomian gland function (plu gging, volume, and thickness) were assessed;in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (n = 70), As compared to that of the healthy controls (n = 1 25) mean Schirmer I value of psoriatic patients was found to be in nor mal ranges, whereas tear film break-up time was significantly lowered. When evaluating meibomian gland function, psoriatic patients were fou nd to have higher plugging and thickness indices but a normal volume o f meibomian gland secretion, These findings suggested an obstructive t ype of meibomian gland dysfunction in psoriatic patients which might r esult from increased turnover of the epithelia lining the meibomian gl and duct.