Acne Vulgaris and its Association with Ocular Dryness - A Randomised Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Background: Dry eye is a multi factorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. Both acne vulgaris and mebomian glands are influenced by androgenic hormone and there is a strong correlation found between acne vulgaris and evaporative type of ocular dryness in the present study. Aim of the study: To identify the prevalence of dryness in patients of acne vulgaris Study design: A randomised hospital based study over a period of 3 years Methods & materials: All patients between 13-30 years of age with acne vulgaris both inflammatory and non inflammatory were screened randomly for dry eye using Schirmer's test, tear film breakup time (TBUT), tear film height, presence of conjunctival injection, punctate epithelial erosions (PEE) on flourescein stain. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) was used to diagnose dry eye. Results: Out of 200 patients male were [n=106] predominated and mostly in the age group of 21-25 years. After 3 months of treatment there was marked improvement in tear film break up time [TBUT] and Schirmer's test. Only 74 cases (37%) had punctate epitheleal lesions and 36% cases had associated mebomian gland dysfunction. Conclusions: Both acne vulgaris and mebomian glands are influenced by androgenic hormone and there is strong correlation between acne vulgaris and ocular dryness.

Keywords

• dryness & acne vulgaris
• acne vulgaris & its eye manifestations
• dry eyes
• acne vulgaris