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.