Ocular surface disease in atopic dermatitis.

PURPOSE To describe the ocular surface disorders of 362 patients with severe active atopic dermatitis (AD) treated in the Ophthalmology Department of Kobe University Hospital and Kobe Rosai Hospital Eye Clinics during the period 1994-1996. METHODS Routine ophthalmic examinations as well as tear film break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer tests were carried out. RESULTS Lid eczema (65.7%), atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and superficial punctate keratopathy (67.5%) were the dominant ocular diseases in these patients. Tear function tests showed a BUT value of less than 10 seconds in 62.4% of the eyes and a Schirmer test value of less than 5 mm in 56.2% of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS A careful examination of the ocular surface is essential in treating AD patients. We also suggest that the ocular surface disorders in AD may be due to allergic reactions and disorders in tear film quantity or quality.