Soumya Sharat, Nagaraja K. S
BACKGROUND: Dermatologic disorders usually have manifestations which involve the eyelids, conjunctiva, and cornea. The ocular complications may often be the most devastating outcome for survivors of the acute reaction. The key to success to minimize possibility of visual impairment is the prevention of complications. OBJECTIVES: This study highlights the ocular manifestations of various mucocutaneous disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology in a medical college hospital, over a period of 1 year, on patients presenting with mucocutaneous syndromes who were referred from the Departments of Dermatology and Medicine. Patients with co-morbid diseases like diabetes and hypertension wherein ocular involvement is likely were excluded from the study. RESULTS: In this study, 103 patients with mucocutaneous disorders were examined, of which 65 (63.1%) had ocular involvement. Majority of the patients belonged to the 21-30 years age group; with a male preponderance. The most common mucocutaneous syndrome in this study was herpes (37%), followed by leprosy (27%). Ocular involvement was seen in 69% patients with herpes and 79% patients with leprosy. In this study, periorbital vesicles was the most common ocular manifestation in herpes (20%), followed by blepharitis, conjunctivitis, corneal epithelial defect and keratitis; however, in leprosy, madarosis (16%) was the commonest ocular lesion. Economic blindness (visual acuity <6/60) was seen in 6 cases, and visual handicap (visual acuity <6/18) in 20 cases. The most common cause of visual impairment was due to corneal implications. Over the course of next three months, 19 patients (25%) developed various ocular complications like dry eye (10%), corneal scar (5%), corneal vascularisation (3%), trichiasis (3%), symblepharon (8%), and ankyloblepharon (15%). CONCLUSION: Careful ophthalmic examinations during the early period of the skin reaction and early detection of complications like trichiasis, epithelial surface disease, and secondary infection can improve the outcome.
