Conjunctival impression cytology and tear-film changes in patients with psoriasis

Purpose. In this study, we evaluated ocular-surface changes and tear-film f unctions in patients with plaque-type psoriasis. Methods. This study was pe rformed on two groups. Group I included 100 eyes of 50 subjects with chroni c plaque-type psoriasis whose diagnoses were confirmed with skin biopsy. Gr oup II included 100 eyes of 50 healthy volunteers who were in the same age and sex distribution. Ocular-surface changes were evaluated on the cell con tent of the surface conjunctival epithelium by conjunctival impression cyto logy and tear-film functions by the Schirmer I test and break-up time (BUT) . Results, Of the patients with psoriasis, 50% had a grade 0, 30% had a gra de I, and 20% had a grade II conjunctival impression cytology differentiati on compared with 95, 3, and 2%, respectively in the control group (p < 0.00 1). Snake-Like appearance of nuclear chromatin in conjunctival epithelial, cells was demonstrated in 12% of eyes in group I but in 2% of eyes in group II. The Schirmer's test results showed that average values were 10.1 +/- 5 .8 mm in group I and 12.6 +/- 5.5 mm in group II (p > 0.001). The mean brea k-up time was 7.8 +/- 3.7 s in group I and 12.5 +/- 4.6 s in group II (p < 0.001). Conclusions. We showed the early conjunctival changes in patients w ith psoriasis. According to these results, primary etiologic factors may co ntribute to ocular lesions in psoriasis.