Evaluation of dry eye disease and corneal epithelial mapping in patients with lower eyelid ectropion.

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal epithelial mapping, ocular surface parameters and their relationship with each other in lower eyelid ectropion patients according to severity.

Methods: This retrospective study included 48 lower eyelid ectropion patients and 63 healthy individuals as control group. Ocular surface and tear functions were evaluated with ocular surface staining score, tear film break-up time (BUT), non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI). Meibography scores and corneal epithelial thickness (CET) mapping were evaluated. The lower eyelid ectropion was classified and divided into subgroups as follows: mild, moderate and severe.

Results: There was no significant differences between the groups for age and gender. Compared to controls, CET was significantly thinner at inferior (p = 0.047) and inferior nasal quadrants (p = 0.023) in the ectropion patients. Lower BUT and NIBUT, higher OSDI scores and higher ocular surface staining were observed in the ectropion patients. In the subgroups determined according to the severity of ectropion, ocular surface damage was found to be significantly higher as the severity of ectropion increased (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with lower eyelid ectropion had worse ocular surface findings and more ocular complaints. Furthermore, the inferior and inferior nasal CETs were thinner in patients with lower ectropion.