Oculer surface features in inflammatory bowel diseases

Extraintestinal complications may occur with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and crohn disease (CD). A few of eye complications may occur with this diseases. We aimed to investigate the relationship between dry eye and inflammatory bowel diseases. Fifty seven inflammatory bowel disease patients who were followed by Afyon Kocatepe University Gastroenterology Department, CD (n=26) and UK (n=31) have been admitted to this study. There was 29 healthy people in control group. Schirmer 1 test, break up time (BUT) measurement, evaluation of corneal and conjonctiva floressein staining and assessing of conjonctiva impression cytology were performed to all cohort, respectively. Additionally, subjective symptoms were evaluated with oculer surface disease index (OSDI) survey. The analysis were performed with 86 people. With schirmer test, the rate of dry eye was 56,1% of IBD and 10,3 of control group (p<0,001). The rate of dry eye was 52,6 of IBD group and 20,7% of control group, with BUT measurement (p=0,004). OSDI survey score was 15,25±7,31 in IBD group, 11,75±7,33 in control group (p=0,039). The staining of low-medium with Oxford schema was 54,4% in IBD group and it was 6,9% in control group (p<0,001). According to Nelson staging system, 69% of IBD group had stage 2 or stage 3 impression cytology level, none of control group had stage 2 or stage 3 impression cytology level (p<0,001). Dry eye ratio was 55,8% of the patients who received only 5-ASA, it was 61,5% in the patients who received 5-ASA concurrent with azathiopurin (p=0,485). We did not find any relation between dry eye and the time from onset of IBD. In conclusion, dry eye was found about three times more in IBD group than control group. As we know that, routine eye exam is not recommended, as we found the rate of dry eye about 50%, routine eye exam may be recommended for IBD patients. Keywords: İnflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, crohn disease, dry eye.