Tear osmolarity in unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Abstract

Purpose:The aim was to evaluate tear osmolarity of patients with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and to compare the values with otherwise normal subjects. Methods: Sixty-two eyes of 31 patients with unilateral PEX syndrome and 31 eyes of 31 normal subjects were studied. The TearLab osmolarity system (OcuSense, Inc, San Diego, CA, USA) was used to measure tear osmolarity. Eyes were grouped as normal eyes of patients having unilateral PEX syndrome (group A), eyes of patients having unilateral PEX syndrome with deposits of PEX material (group B) and eyes of normal subjects (group C). Differences in tear osmolarity were compared among groups A, B and C. Independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean tear osmolarity was 298.7 Ϯ 7.8 mOsm/l (range 285 to 306) in the control group (group C), 306.3 Ϯ 6.6 mOsm/l (range 290 to 314) in the eyes of patients having PEX syndrome with deposits of pseudoexfoliative material (group B) and 301.4 Ϯ 7.1 mOsm/l (range 284 to 305) in the fellow eye of these patients (group A). There was a significant difference between tear osmolarity of groups C and B (independent t-test, p = 0.011). Also, there was a significant difference between the osmolarity of each eye of patients with unilateral PEX syndrome (groups A and B) (paired t-test, p = 0.001). The difference between tear osmolarity of groups A and C was not statistically significant (independent t-test, p = 0.146). Conclusion: In conclusion, tear osmolarity is higher in both eyes of patients when compared with normal subjects, using the independent t-test (although highest in clinically positive eyes of these patients). Both eyes of patients having PEX syndrome could be more prone to the development of dry eye syndrome.

The Effect of Pseudoexfoliation and Pseudoexfoliation Induced Dry Eye on Central Corneal Thickness

“…As tear osmolarity is now considered as the key pathogenic factor causing ocular surface inflammation, symptoms and tissue damage, they concluded that patients with PEX syndrome could be more prone to the development of dry eye syndrome. 25 We also found the similar results in this study. Our results showed us that there was a statistically significant difference between PEX (À) and PEX syndrome groups in the mean of Schirmer and TBUT tests.…”

Tear Film Stability in Patients with Pseudexfoliation

“…Oncel et al established that tear film osmolarity was higher in patients with PEX, which can be explained by the dysfunction of the goblet conjunctival cells (10). TBUT test results from our study recorded lower in patients with PEX (XFS/XFG) compared with control group patients with statistically significant difference.…”

Tear film osmolarity and dry eye disease: a review of the literature

“…For instance, eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, a condition that is thought to alter goblet cell activity and mucin production, have been reported to have increased tear osmolarity when compared to a control group. 38 Patients with pterygia, a predominantly inflammatory condition, also show increased tear osmolarity when compared with a control group. 39 Keratoconus has been demonstrated to reduce corneal sensitivity, but tear osmolarity was similar to a control group.…”