Conjunctival Flora and Tear Function Tests in Seborrheic Blepharitis

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Objective: To investigate tear function and conjunctival flora in patients with seborrheic blepharitis. Material and Methods: Twenty eyes of 10 patients with rosacea and 20 eyes of 10 patients with seborrheic dermatitis were included. Fifteen healthy individuals consisted control group. Samples were obtained in lower conjunctival sac and eyelid border without local anesthesia. Tear secretion and stability were measured with schirmer test and tear break up time (BUT). Results: In study group, 5 (25,0 %) patients were male, 15 (75,0 %) were female; in control group 6 (40,0 %) were male, 9 (60,0 %) were female. The mean BUT values were 7,25±2,59 seconds in study group; 10,8±1,57 seconds in control group and this difference was statistically significant (p=0,0001). The mean schirmer test results in study and control group were 10,2±4,6 mm ve 15,9±3,6 mm, respectively. It was significantly lower in study group (p=0,0003). Bacterial growth was observed in 2 (10,0 %) patients in study group. There was no bacterial growth in 18 (90,0 %) patients. Bacterial growth was detected in 7 (46,7 %) patients in control group, no bacteria grew in 8 (53,3 %) patients. Conclusion: Seborrheic blepharitis develops in patients with rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis and dry eye detects higher than normal individuals. If seborrheic blepharitis develop, flora can change. We believe that tetracycline therapy may be effective the flora of conjunctiva and eyelid border.

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Tear function test , conjunctival flora , seborrheic blepharitis

Kocatepe Medical Journal

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Kocatepe Medical Journal