Clinical Symptoms and Signs of Dry Eye Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE@#To identify the symptoms and signs of patients with dry eye disease (DED) after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and analyze the correlations between these signs and symptoms.@*METHODS@#We performed a retrospective study in 96 eyes of HSCT recipients with DED. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, Schirmer test 1 (with anesthesia), tear osmolarity, tear break-up time, Ocular staining score (OSS, Oxford), and Ocular staining disease index (OSDI) were examined before and 1, 2, and 4 months after HSCT.@*RESULTS@#A significant positive correlation was noted between changes in OSS and changes in OSDI. No ocular parameters showed significant correlations with Schirmer test values. Men more frequently described alleviation of symptoms greater than their objective results compared to women.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Subjective symptoms alone may be insufficient when diagnosing ocular graft-versus-host disease. We recommend regular ophthalmologic examination after allo-HSCT. In addition, a baseline ocular profile of tear dynamics and ocular surface parameters should be conducted before allo-HSCT.