Ocular surface disease in psoriatic patients in a developing country

Risks of glaucoma among individuals with psoriasis: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic systemic disorder with ocular involvement.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk of glaucoma among patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

Participants in this cohort study were selected based on Chang Gung Research Database from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2012. Follow-up ended on 31 December 2017. The participants in the control group were matched with the psoriasis group by sex, age and index date with a 4 : 1 ratio. The hazard ratios of glaucoma were estimated using Cox regression analysis. We also evaluated the relationship between the risk of glaucoma and systemic therapies as well as phototherapy and topical corticosteroid in patients with psoriasis.

RESULTS

In total, 6682 patients with psoriasis and 26 728 matched controls were enrolled. The study population was composed mainly of males accounting for 64.2% (21 445/33 410) of the study population. The psoriasis group had higher incidence rates than the control group for glaucoma (adjusted hazard ratio 1.405, 95% confidence interval, 1.051-1.879). Patients with psoriasis receiving psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy for > 200 sessions had an increased risk of glaucoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with psoriasis had an increased risk of glaucoma. Long-term PUVA therapy raised the risk of glaucoma in people with psoriasis.

Evaluation of ocular surface epithelial and stromal thicknesses in psoriasis using anterior segment optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the epithelial and stromal thicknesses of conjunctiva and cornea in psoriatic patients with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 61 patients with psoriasis and 42 age-matched, healthy individuals were enrolled. The epithelial and stromal thicknesses of both inferotemporal bulbar conjunctiva and central cornea were measured using AS-OCT.

RESULTS

Both the tear breakup time and Schirmer-1 test values were significantly lower in the psoriasis group compared with the controls (p < 0.05). The epithelial thickness of conjunctiva and cornea did not differ between psoriasis and control groups (p > 0.05). The central corneal stroma was significantly thicker in the psoriasis group (p = 0.04). PASI was positively correlated with the thickness of central cornea stroma (r = 0.442, p = 0.006) in the nail psoriasis group.

CONCLUSIONS

Psoriasis is not associated with altered epithelial thicknesses of the cornea and conjunctiva. It is accompanied by the stromal thickening of the cornea without conjunctival stromal involvement.