Lid wiper epitheliopathy in symptomatic and asymptomatic dry eye subjects

PURPOSE: Lid wiper epithliopathy (LWE) was stuided in symptomatic and asymptomatic dry eye subjects. This is the first such study to be conducted in the Indian population. LWE is a clinical condition associated with vital staining in the lower and upper eyelids on increased friction of the lid margin over to the cornea. Our aim was to study LWE in symptomatic and asymptomatic (control) dry eye subjects. METHODS: Out of 96 subjects screened, 60 subjects were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups, symptomatic and asymptomatic dry eye subjects, based on the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores. The subjects were examined to rule out clinical dry eye findings and assessed for LWE with two different dyes (fluorescein and lissamine green). Descriptive analysis was done and Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 60 subjects were enrolled in a study with a mean age of 21.33 ± 1.88 years, out of which the majority of LWE patients (99.8%) was seen in the symptomatic group than the asymptomatic group (73.3%); the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00) and also clinically significant. LWE was found to be significantly higher in symptomatic dry eye subjects (99.8%) compared to asymptomatic dry eye subjects (73.3%). LWE severity was also found to be more (56.6% of grade 3) among symptomatic dry eye subjects compared to asymptomatic subjects (40% of grade 2). CONCLUSION: It is important to assess the lid wiper region (LWR) and treat LWE in routine clinical practice.