title: Ocular side effects of PUVA-treated patients refusing eye sun protection.
abstract: We have investigated short- and long-term ocular side effects of psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) therapy in 82 patients who refused to wear UVA blocking sunglasses after the treatments. They had received 321.7 +/- 328.8 J/cm2 of UVA in 148.8 +/- 113.9 exposures over 2-4 years. Results were compared with findings obtained in 749 patients who shielded their eyes. They received 402.6 +/- 302.2. J/cm2 of UVA in 167.8 +/- 136.9 treatments over 2-6 years. 20 patients refusing eye sun protection developed conjunctival hyperemia and 21 patients decreased lacrimation. Among patients who adequately protected the eyes, we observed 5 cases of conjunctival hyperemia and 1 case of decreased lacrimation. Lens opacities did not develop in any patient. Adequate eye sun-protection is thus needed to avoid acute toxicity of cornea and conjunctiva but lens opacities do not appear to be a side effect of long-term PUVA-therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Brescia University Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zane
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Panfilis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013472:Sunlight; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism