Role of impression cytology in ocular surface disorders

Abstract

To study the role of Impression cytology in various ocular surface disorders and to evaluate its safety and compatability.A case control study was done of which 25 patients who had clinically obvious conjunctival. Involvement served as cases and 25 who were without any symptoms served as control. All the patients were subjected to tests of dry eye evaluation such as Schirmers test and Tear Film Break Up time (TFBUT) test. Conjunctival impressions were obtained using millipore cellulose acetate paper strips. Cytological samples were graded according to Nelson and Wright classification.Patients with bitots spot had large goblet cells and squamous metaplasia. All of the patients showed Grade 1 cytological changes (34.61% of all samples) Patients with severe chemical burns showed Grade III cytological changes i.e 100% of samples and patient with mild chemical burn showed grade II cytological change, i.e 99% of samples.Impression cytology is a simple and non-surgical technique for diagnosis and therapeutic control of ocular surface disorders. It helps in identifying those at imminent risk of developing symptoms but also helps in assessing the severity of cytological changes in symptomatic subjects.