Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Assessment of Corneal Epithelium and Tear Film in Psoriasis Vulgaris

Abstract

Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a strong genetic predisposition and autoimmune pathogenic traits. Psoriasis has multiple ocular effects; dry eye disease (DED) being one of the most important. Aim of the Work The aim of this study is to evaluate corneal epithelial changes using anterior segment OCT and tear film changes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris by comparing the findings with healthy matched controls by conducting a case control observational study. Materials and Methods A cases control observational study that included 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, one eye from each patient and 30 control healthy subjects. Dermatological assessment that was done by an expert dermatologist for full history taking including drug history, confirmation of diagnosis, severity assessment using psoriasis area and severity index score (PASI score). Ocular history taking including name, age, medical history, previous ocular trauma or surgery, Schirmer test, and anterior segment OCT were done with assessment of the central corneal thickness and corneal epithelial mapping among both groups. Results The study demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between patients’ and control groups regarding their Schirmer test results and epithelial map parameters. Patients with a lower central corneal thickness showed a significantly lower central epithelial thickness with a p-value (<0.05). Conclusion There is no significant change in the Schirmer test results and the anterior segment OCT corneal epithelium map among patients with psoriasis vulgaris and their healthy controls. But there is a positive correlation between the central corneal thickness and central epithelial thickness in psoriatic patients with pvalue (<0.05).