Conjunctival epithelial changes induced by cilia in patients with epiblepharon or entropion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of mechanical trauma induced by cilia on the conjunctival epithelium in patients with epiblepharon or entropion and to evaluate changes in epithelium after surgical correction in patients with entropion.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
One hundred and seven eyes of 61 patients were enrolled in this study and were divided into three groups: the epiblepharon group (n = 59), the entropion group (n = 17), and the age-matched control group for the epiblepharon group (n = 31). Impression cytologic specimens were obtained from nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctiva of the epiblepharon and control groups immediately after the induction of general anesthesia. In the entropion group, these were obtained before and one month after surgical correction. Conjunctival changes were graded using the Tseng method and goblet cell densities were compared.


RESULTS
Cytologic scores were significantly higher in the epiblepharon group than in the control group (P < .001), and goblet cell densities of nasal and temporal conjunctiva were significantly lower in the epiblepharon group than in the control group (P = .044 and P = .018, respectively). In the entropion group, postoperative scores were significantly lower than preoperative scores in both conjunctival areas (P = .033 and P = .003, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between nasal and temporal conjunctiva in the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The persistent mechanical trauma by cilia in patients with epiblepharon or entropion can induce squamous metaplasia of the conjunctival epithelium. However, these conjunctival changes can be reversed by surgical correction.
Kim
Cinoo
C
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Shin
Young Joo
YJ
Kim
Nam Ju
NJ
Khwarg
Sang In
SI
Hwang
Jeong-Min
JM
Wee
Won Ryang
WR
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004774:Entropion / Q000150:complications*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005140:Eyelashes; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged