[Lid-wiper epitheliopathy in patients with dry eye symptoms]

Lid-wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) is characterized by one part of the marginal conjunctiva of the upper eyelid being affected and is correlated with dry eye symptoms. This is a study of the clinical features of LWE.

Three hundred and sixty-four eyes of 182 patients with dry eye symptoms were studied. In all subjects the presence of LWE was determined by lissamine green staining followed by tests for dry eye.

LWE was detected in 48 of 364 eyes (13.2%). One hundred thirty-four eyes were diagnosed with dry eye and LWE was detected in 25 of 134 eyes (18.7%). This rate was higher than that of non-dry eyes with LWE (23 of 230 eyes, 10.0%). Since LWE was detected at a high rate in contact lens (CL) wearers (22 of 37 eyes, 59.4%), LWE background factors in CL wearers and non-CL wearers were compared. Significantly higher fluorescein staining scores were detected in the LWE positive CL wearers compared to LWE negative CL wearers, whereas no significant differences were detected between the LWE positive and negative groups in any other dry eye examination. LWE-like lissamine green staining was detected on the lower eyelids in 122 eyes (33.0%).

LWE was detected in more than 10% of patients with dry eye symptoms. Although LWE was detected in dry eye patients, no clear relationship was recognized between LWE and the presence of dry eye.