Effects of coal dust contiguity on xerophthalmia development.
OBJECTIVE
To study the occurrence of ocular surface diseases on coal miners working under wells and to investigate the relation between xerophthalmia occurrence and coal dust contiguity.


METHODS
To observe the influence of coal dust to ocular surface by using Schirmer to detect lacrimal gland secreting function, and breakup time of tear film (BUT) to evaluate the stability of lacrimal film and the quantity of lysozyme in lacrimal fluid.


RESULTS
These values were lower for underground coal miners than other workers not contacting coal dust, and showed negative correlation to period of their services.


CONCLUSIONS
Conditions in coal miners were worse than that of other workers. Coal dust exposure plays an important role in the development of dry eye.
Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China. zhaoyisun77@sina.com
Zhaoyi
Z
Sun
Jing
J
Hong
Deqin
D
Yang
Guangfeng
G
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003031:Coal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003032:Coal Mining; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013666:Tears / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D009113:Muramidase