%0 Journal Article
%T The impact of systemic isotretinoin treatment on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium.
%A Demir K
%A Uzun F
%J Cutan Ocul Toxicol
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 14
%M 38873903
%F 1.974
%R 10.1080/15569527.2024.2366856
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The study aims to investigate changes in tear function, meibomian glands and corneal endothelium in patients receiving systemic isotretinoin therapy.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This prospective study included 38 eyes from 38 patients (23 females and 15 males) treated with systemic isotretinoin (0.5-1 mg/kg/day) following the diagnosis of acne vulgaris. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination at baseline, 1st month, and third month of treatment. Subjective complaints were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Tear functions were evaluated through non-invasive tear break up time (NIBUT) and Schirmer I test. Meibomian gland (MG) changes were examined using meibography. Corneal parameters, including endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), the number of cells with a hexagonal shape (6A), average cell area (AVG), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were assessed using non-contact specular microscopy.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The mean age of the patients was 19.29 ± 2.83 years. Ocular surface-related discomfort, measured with OSDI scores, significantly worsened at the third month measurements compared to the pre-treatment values (p < 0.001). In the 1st month of treatment, there was a significant decrease in NIBUT (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in the Schirmer test results at each visit. According to the 1st and third-month analysis, there was a significant increase in MG loss compared to the pre-treatment period (p < 0.001). ECD, CV, 6 A, AVG measurements at the first and third months showed a significant change compared to the pre-treatment values (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the CCT measurements during the treatment.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Systemic isotretinoin disrupted tear stability, caused MG loss, deterioration in corneal endothelium, and led to symptomatic complaints in patients.