Evaluation of tear function and ocular surface changes in patients with pseudoexfoliation

Abstract

This study intends to evaluate the Tear function and ocular surface changes in patients with pseudoexfoliation.This cross-sectional study will be conducted on a minimum of 45 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria in the department of Ophthalmology, at tertiary care institute. Tear meniscus height (TMH), Schirmer’s test, tear breakup time (TBUT), fluorescein staining, conjunctival impression cytology were used to assess dry eye disease in pseudoexfoliation (PEX) patients. In our study the majority of patients with PEX were >70 years and females (23) are more than males (22). According to Grading of dry eye, 41(45.5%) were moderate grade, 24(26.7%) were mild grade, 13(14.5%) were severe grade and 12 (13.3%) were normal grade. Conjunctival impression cytology, fluorescein staining, TBUT, Schirmer's tests, and TMH, all showed a statistically significant results with dry eye in the current study. The patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome are more prone to develop dry eye, as it causes tear film irregularities and a reduction in the number of goblet cells which is evident with conjunctival impression cytology and Tear film tests.