Ocular surface characteristics in acne vulgaris.

Clinical relevance: Since acne vulgaris is a disease of the sebaceous glands, it may have potential effects on the ocular surface and tear homoeostasis, which are essential for good vision. Optometrists should be aware of ocular surface pathologies when prescribing glasses or contact lenses for the visual rehabilitation of these young patients.Background: To evaluate the ocular surface features, meibomian glands, and tear parameters of patients with acne vulgaris.Methods: The right eyes of 70 individuals (34 patients with acne vulgaris, 36 healthy volunteers) were evaluated. The tear break-up time of participants was measured, and the Schirmer test was performed. Then, to determine ocular surface characteristics, samples were taken from the conjunctiva for impression cytology. Finally, the loss rates of the upper and lower eyelid meibomian glands were determined by taking meibography (Sirius, CSO, Florence, Italy).Results: Tear break-up time was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of Nelson grade in the conjunctival impression cytology (p = 0.141). Grade 3 cytological changes were not observed in either group. The median value of the loss rate in the meibomian glands in the upper eyelid of patients with acne vulgaris was 19.10% (IQR: 18%), while it was 8.75% (IQR: 9.53%) in the control group (p = 0.001). The median value of the loss rate in the meibomian glands in the lower eyelid was 15.70% (IQR: 15.13%) and 7.70% (IQR: 6.53%) in the acne vulgaris and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Our study shows that patients with acne vulgaris may have a predisposition to meibomian gland damage and tear instability. Therefore, we consider that a more detailed ophthalmologic examination should be performed in patients with acne vulgaris.

Tear film and ocular surface assessment in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a skin disease with also systemic involvement: its impact on the eye is not well established and often clinically underestimated. Aim of this study was to investigate the presence of ocular discomfort symptoms and of ocular surface changes in a population of patients with psoriasis. METHODS: For this cross-sectional, comparative study, 66 patients with psoriasis were subdivided according to the presence of arthritis and to the use of biological therapy. All patients underwent clinical evaluation with the following tests: Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire, Tearscope examination, meibometry, tear film breakup time, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, Schirmer I test, corneal aesthesiometry, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) assessment and conjunctival impression cytology. 28 healthy subjects were also enrolled and treated with the same clinical tests. A statistical analysis of the results was performed. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis showed a significant deterioration of the ocular surface tests, if compared with healthy subjects, demonstrated by tear film lipid layer alteration, tear film instability, corneal and conjunctival epithelial suffering and mild squamous metaplasia at impression cytology. No differences were found in ocular surface test results of the psoriatic group when patients were divided according to the presence of arthritis, whereas the anti-inflammatory treatment with biological drugs demonstrated a significant improvement of corneal stain and MGD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the ocular surface involvement in patients with psoriasis indicates the need of periodic ophthalmological examinations to diagnose the condition and allow a proper treatment, so contributing to the amelioration of patients' quality of life.

Avaliação da ação antimicrobiana de soluções multiuso para desinfecção de lentes de contato hidrofílicas, in vitro / Antimicrobial efficacy assessment of multi-use solution to disinfect hydrophilic contact lens, in vitro

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da ação antimicrobiana das soluções multiuso para desinfecção de lentes de contato hidrofílicas. MÉTODOS: Duas soluções multiuso denominadas solução A (poliquaternário-1 a 0,001 por cento e miristamidopropil dimetilamina a 0,0005 por cento) e solução B (poliaminopropil biguanida a 0,0001 por cento) foram testadas em lentes de contato hidrofílicas contaminadas com Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27583), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC1226), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC13883), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) e Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) para verificar a quantidade de redução do crescimento dos microrganismos após o enxágue com as soluções. Foram seguidas as instruções preconizadas pelos fabricantes. RESULTADOS: Houve redução de 90 por cento do crescimento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus e Candida albicans. Não houve crescimento de Klebsiella pneumoniae. CONCLUSÃO: As soluções testadas neste trabalho mostraram redução do número de microrganismos testados.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of disinfecting solutions in hydrophilic contact lenses (CL). METHODS: Two multi-use solutions denominated solution A (0.001 percent polyquaternium-1 and 0.0005 percent myristamidopropyl dimethylamine) and solution B (0.0001 percent polyaminopropyl biguanide) were used. The solutions were tested in hydrophilic contact lenses infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27583), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC1226), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC13883), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and the decrease in microorganisms growth after the hydrophilic contact lenses were cleaned with the respective solutions was verified. The manufacture's instructions were followed. RESULTS: A decrease of 90 percent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and a decrease 100 percent of Klebsiella pneumoniae was observed. CONCLUSION: The solutions decreased the amount of microorganisms tested.