title: Increased tear osmolarity in patients with severe cases of conjunctivochalasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare tear osmolarity in different grades of conjunctivochalasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty subjects divided into four groups based on grading of conjunctivochalasis by lid-paralell conjunctival fold (LIPCOF) test and tear osmolarity evaluated by TearLab osmometer. Schirmer test, tear film break up time (BUT) and vital staining were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with mild and moderate conjunctivochalasis showed similar tear osmolarity to normal subjects. A significant increase (P < 0.008) of osmolarity was found in patients with severe conjunctivochalasis. A significant increase of osmolarity was found in patients with abnormal BUT (P = 0.018) and in patients with positive lissamine-green staining (P = 0.023). No association could be elicited when results of osmolarity were compared to those of Schirmer test or when compared those of fluorescein staining to osmolarity, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperosmolarity of tear was reported as a fact of ocular surface inflammation. While in mild and moderate conjunctivochalasis tear osmolarity was similar to normal controls, increased osmolarity can refer to the presence of ocular surface inflammation in these patients with severe conjunctivochalasis.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. fodoreszterdr@yahoo.com
authors: Eszter
authors: E
authors: Fodor
authors: Krisztina
authors: K
authors: Kosina-Hagyó
authors: Mária
authors: M
authors: Bausz
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Németh
mesh_terms: D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*