title: Conjunctival impression cytology in non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the integrity of the ocular surfaces of subjects with and without diabetes with no conjunctival and dry eye signs and symptoms and compare conjunctival impression cytology findings in diabetics with non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conjunctival impression cytology was performed on 43 eyes of 43 subjects with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 42 eyes of 42 subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and 30 eyes of 30 control subjects. Impression cytology specimens of each group were graded and scored in the range 0-3 according to Nelson's method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 45 (52.9%) women and 40 (47.1%) men. The mean age of the patients was 59.6±9.3y (range, 43-76y) in NPDR group and 58.0±8.8y (range, 41-85y) in PDR group. Cases with NPDR and PDR showed statistically significant higher impression cytology scores than control group (P<0.05). There was no difference between the NPDR and PDR patients for impression cytology grading scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is determined that impression cytology grades are altered in patients with NPDR and PDR. Consequently, we suggest that there might be an association between the impression cytology grading scores and the severity of diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: SB Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara 06230, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Citirik
authors.affiliation: SB Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara 06230, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, SB Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara 06230, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haksever
authors.affiliation: SB Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara 06230, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Elgin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, SB Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara 06230, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ustun
keywords: conjunctiva; diabetes; impression cytology; retinopathy