Tear Properties in Eyes with Chronic Blepharitis

Abstract

Pur po se: The purpose of this study was to compare the tear properties between the eyes with chronic blepharitis and normal eyes. Ma te ri al and Met hod: 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. Re sults: 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). Dis cus si on: 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)

Keywords

• Chronic blepharitis
• tear film
• tear osmolarity
• break-up time
• Schirmer’s test