Clinical Implication of Patchy Pattern Corneal Staining in Dry Eye Disease

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Dry Eye Disease Research
• Corneal Staining Patterns

Background:

• Dry-eye diseases (DED) can present with superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK) and a distinctive patchy pattern (PP) of corneal fluorescein staining.
• Understanding the clinical implications of PP corneal staining (PPCS) in DED is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the clinical features of DED patients with PPCS versus those with SPK but without PPCS.
• To determine if PPCS is associated with specific clinical indicators or underlying conditions like Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 35 DED patients with PPCS and 30 DED patients with SPK but no PPCS.
• Evaluation of tear meniscus radius (TMR), tear-film spread grade (SG), noninvasive breakup time (NIBUT), fluorescein breakup time (FBUT), corneal epithelial damage (CED), conjunctival epithelial damage (CjED), Schirmer's test 1 (ST1), and SS prevalence.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between the PPCS and non-PPCS groups in CjED (3.1 vs. 1.3), ST1 (5.6 mm vs. 14.8 mm), and SS prevalence (60.0% vs. 16.7%).
• Patients with PPCS showed significantly higher conjunctival epithelial damage and lower ST1 scores.

Conclusions:

• DED patients exhibiting PPCS are more likely to have Sjögren's syndrome (SS).
• The presence of PPCS suggests ophthalmological characteristics consistent with SS, highlighting its potential as a clinical indicator.