Relationship between Ocular Surface Alterations and Concentrations of Aerial Particulate Matter

MARIA GUTIERREZ; DANIELA GIULIANI; ANDRES PORTA; ANDRINOLO DARIO

JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMIC AND VISION RESEARCH

KnowdlegeE

Lugar: teheran; Año: 2019 vol. 14 p. 419 - 427

Purpose: To evaluate ocular surface alterations in two populations at different exposure levels to particulatematter (PM) in their living and work environments.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 78 volunteers from Argentina who lived andworked under different pollution levels in an urban (U; n = 44) or industrial zone (I; n = 34). Mean exposurelevel to PM was evaluated. Responses to the Ocular Symptom Disease Index and McMonnies questionnairewere obtained from all subjects. Subsequently, an assessment through the Schirmer I test (ST), slit lampmicroscopy, vital staining, and tear breakup time was conducted. Statistical analyses with Chi-square andBartlett?s tests, as well as Student?s t-tests and principal component analysis (PCA), were performed.Results: Particles of size < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) level was significantly higher in the I group than the U group (P =0.04). Ocular surface parameters including bulbar redness, eyelid redness, and the degree of vital stainingwith fluorescein (SF) and lissamine green (SLG) exhibited difference between the groups. With regards tothe tear film, statistically significant differences in the ST value and meibomian gland dysfunction betweenthe groups were detected (P = 0.003 and P = 0.02, respectively). Conjunctival SF and SLG, and ST valueswere identified as factors which could distinguish groups exposed to different PM levels.Conclusion: Subjects exposed to higher levels of PM in the outdoor air presented greater ocular surfacealterations. Thus, ST, SF, and SLG values could be used as convenient indicators of adverse health effectsdue to exposure to air pollution.Keywords: Environmental; Ocular Surface; Particulate Matter; Schirmer I Test; Vital Staining