Role of impression cytology during hypovitaminosis A.

Aims: Evaluation of the morphological damage to the ocular surface of patients operated for biliopancreatic diversion for pathological obesity and the correlation of impression cytology with vitamin A plasma levels, adaptometry, and other general variables.

Methods: 48 patients (15 males, 33 females, age range 21-73) and 34 normal subjects were examined with fluorescein and rose bengal, a plasma dose of vitamin A, and adaptometry. The results of the various tests were subdivided into three levels (0 = normal, 1 = moderately altered, 2 = seriously altered).