OCULAR SURFACE DAMAGE AND TEAR LACTOFERRIN IN DRY EYE SYNDROME

We studied the relationship between the severity of ocular surface dam age and the level of tear lactoferrin in primary and secondary Sjogren 's syndrome and keratoconjunctivitis sicca not associated with Sjogren 's syndrome. A significant negative correlation was found between Rose Bengal staining score and level of tear Iactoferrin in all three grou ps. Analysis of covariance disclosed no significant differences in reg ression lines for Rose Bengal staining score vs tear lactoferrin level among the three groups. The three regression Lines appeared to be ide ntical to each other. These findings indicate that the severity of ocu lar surface damage due to dry eye largely depends on the tear secretor y function of the lacrimal gland, and that the function of the lacrima l gland can be evaluated by determination of level of tear lactoferrin using the same standards regardless of differences in pathogenesis of underlying diseases.