Local ocular surface parameters in patients with systemic celiac disease

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Gastroenterology
• Celiac Disease Research

Background:

• Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the small intestine.
• Ocular surface manifestations in CD are not well-characterized.
• Understanding these manifestations is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ocular surface parameters in patients diagnosed with celiac disease.
• To compare these parameters with those of healthy control subjects.
• To identify specific ophthalmological findings associated with CD.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative study involving 28 CD patients and 29 healthy controls.
• Ophthalmological examinations included Schirmer test and tear-film break-up time.
• Conjunctival impression cytology was performed and graded (0-3).

Main Results:

• CD patients showed significantly reduced tear-film break-up time and Schirmer test results (P<0.05).
• Conjunctival impression cytology revealed significant differences between CD patients and controls (P=0.001).
• A higher female-to-male ratio was observed in the CD group.

Conclusions:

• Celiac disease is associated with significant alterations in tear-film function.
• Conjunctival surface epithelial morphology is notably affected in individuals with CD.
• These findings underscore the importance of ophthalmic evaluation in CD management.