Tear osmolarity and ocular surface parameters in patients with psoriasis

Goktug Demirci, Sevil Karaman Erdur, Rukiye Aydin, Ali Balevi, Mustafa Eliacik, Mustafa Ozsutcu, Oktay Olmuscelik

The aim of this study was to evaluate tear osmolarity, tear film function, and ocular surface changes in patients with psoriasis. At a single center, 30 eyes of 30 patients with psoriasis (group 1) and 30 eyes of 30 healthy individuals (group 2) were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer I test, tear film break-up time (TBUT) test, scoring of ocular surface fluorescein staining using a modified Oxford scale, and tear osmolarity measurement. Tear osmolarity values, OSDI, and Oxford scale scores were significantly higher in group 1 (309.8 ± 9.4 mOsm, 38.9 ± 1.1, and 0.7 ± 1.1, respectively) than in group 2 (292.7 ± 7.7 mOsm, 4.2 ± 0.3, and 0.1 ± 0.3, respectively; p<0.01 for all). TBUT was significantly lower in group 1 (8.7 ± 3.6 s) than in group 2 (18.1 ± 2.8 s; p<0.001). No significant differences were detected in Schirmer I test values between the groups (16.2 ± 2.5 mm in group 1 and 16.6 ± 2.3 mm in group 2; p=0.629). The results of this study showed that psoriasis may influence tear osmolarity and tear film function. Patients with psoriasis showed tear hyperosmolarity and tear film dysfunction.