Analysis of Tear Composition in Chronic Blepharitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To analyze the changes of tear composition in chronic blepharitis patients. METHODS: Tear samples were collected from 30 eyes of 29 patients diagnosed as chronic blepharitis by slit-lamp examination, and from 30 eyes of 30 normal volunteers. Chronic blepharitis group was subdivided into untreated group (10 eyes; tear sampling before the initiation of treatment) and treated group (20 eyes; tear sampling after the initiation of treatment). Tear pH, concentration of ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+), total protein concentration and tear protein fraction (TPF) were measured. Statistical analysis was done by using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruscal-Wallis test, and p-valueRESULTS: Tear pH of untreated chronic blepharitis group was significantly alkaline (7.38) compared with that of control group (6.94). Though statistically insignificant, tear pH of the treated chronic blepharitis group (7.09) was slightly alkaline compared with that of control group. There was no significant difference in electrolytes and total protein concentrations among 3 groups. Tear protein analysis showed increased TPF4 in untreated (25.5%) and treated group (24.4%) compared with that in the control group (20.7%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Analysis of tear composition may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of the chronic blepharitis and in evaluating the efficacy of the treatment.