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Tear deficiency in Fuchs' intermediate uveitis
L Mastropasqua1, P Carpineto, M Ciancaglini
1Institute of Ophthalmology, Università "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
Objective:
To assess quantitatively and qualitatively tear secretion in Fuchs' intermediate (heterochromic) uveitis to detect any possible anomaly linked to Fuchs' uveitis.
Design:
Prospective study.
Setting:
University eye clinic, Chieti, Italy.
Patients:
Thirty consecutive white patients aged 32 to 65 years with unilateral Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis.
Outcome Measures:
Results of Schirmer's test I, tear film breakup time, conjunctival mucus ferning.
Results:
Schirmer's test I showed a tear deficiency in 15 patients; the tear film breakup time and ferning were abnormal in these patients. There was a significant difference in the test results between the affected eyes and the fellow, unaffected eyes (p < 0.001). There was no relation between tear deficiency and age.
Conclusions:
The presence of tear anomalies only in the affected eye of patients with Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis suggests a link between Fuchs' uveitis and tear deficiency.