Abstract: PCOS & dry eye (or not)

This study seems to have found a much poorer correlation between PCOS and dry eye than one or two earlier ones.

Tear Osmolarity and Ocular Surface Changes in Patient withPolycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Purpose:
To evaluate the tear osmolarity and ocular surface changes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
 Materials and Methods:
Forty-eight patients with recently diagnosed PCOS and thirty-three control volunteers were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score was calculated. Tear osmolarity was measured using the TearLab Osmolarity System (Tearlab, San Diego, CA, USA). All subjects also underwent the following ophthalmologic evaluation: Schirmer I test, tear-film breakup time (TBUT), ocular surface flourescein staining, and conjunctival impression cytology.
 Results:
Mean OSDI score was significantly higher in patients with PCOS than control subjects (P = 0.001). Tear osmolarity was similar in both groups (P = 0.404). There were no significant differences between groups in Schirmer I test results, TBUT, and ocular surface flourescein staining scores (P > 0.05). Compared to control group, a statistically significant squamous metaplasia was observed in temporal bulbar conjunctival impression cytology specimens in PCOS group (P = 0.032).
 Conclusions:
In patients with recently diagnosed PCOS, tear volume and osmolarity are not affected but, conjunctival morphology may be affected, though on a limited scale.

Curr Eye Res. 2012 Dec 18. [Epub ahead of print]

Gonen T, Celik C, Oznur M, Abali R, Gonen KA, Horozoglu F, Aksu E, Keskinbora KH.

Namik Kemal University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Tekirdag , Turkey.

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Abstract: SofZia preservative less unkind than BAK to cornea

Effects of SofZia-preserved travoprost and benzalkoniumchloride-preserved latanoprost on the ocular surface - a multicentre randomizedsingle-masked study.

Purpose: To assess the effect of SofZia-preserved travoprost on ocular surface conditions in comparison with benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved latanoprost.
 Methods: A prospective randomized multicentre single-masked comparative study. Patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had been treated with BAK-preserved latanoprost 0.005% (Xalatan(®) ) monotherapy for at least 3 months. Patients were enrolled at 23 facilities. Patients were randomly divided into the X-X group, continuous use of Xalatan(®) , or the X-T group, switching from Xalatan(®) to SofZia-preserved travoprost 0.004% (TravatanZ(®) ), and followed for 3 months. The superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK), conjunctival epitheliopathy, hyperaemia, tear break-up time (TBUT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were examined for each patient in a masked manner. Changes in the frequency of keratoconjunctival epitheliopathy were evaluated 3 months after study initiation. Intra- and intergroup comparisons of changes in SPK, conjunctival epitheliopathy, hyperaemia, TBUT and IOP were also carried out.
 Results: Two hundred twenty patients participated and 215 completed the 3-month study. The frequency of keratoconjunctival epitheliopathy significantly decreased in the X-T group (p = 0.036) and the intergroup difference was also significant (p = 0.001). SPK scores and TBUT were significantly improved in the X-T group (p = 0.034, 0.049), also with significant intergroup differences in the cornea excluding the inferior area and TBUT. There were no significant intergroup differences in changes of the hyperaemia scores and the IOP reduction.
 Conclusion: Switching to SofZia-preserved travoprost after BAK-preserved latanoprost resulted in a lower incidence of keratoconjunctival epitheliopathy, especially in the cornea, with no clinically relevant changes in hyperaemia and IOP.

Acta Ophthalmol. 2012 Dec 13. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.02565.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Aihara M, Oshima H, Araie M; for the EXTraKT study group.

Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.