Abstract
Purpose: :
Long eyelashes (trichomegaly) may be congenital, associated with acquired systemic disorders, or drug induced. Various mediators inducing positive effects on eyelash growth have been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of ocular inflammation. In this study we proposed to evaluate the eyelash length in a series of Behçet’s uveitis patients and in age- and gender-matched healthy subjects.
Methods: :
The study was conducted as a prospective case control study at Gulhane Military Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology. Seventy six Behçet’s uveitis and 304 age and gender-matched control subjects (12 to 59 years of age) enrolled in the study. Upper and lower eyelash lengths (mm) measured by two different observers using Castroviejo caliper were compared statistically.
Results: :
A negative correlation was observed between the eyelash length and age in both groups (p<.0001). Both upper and lower eyelashes of the study group was significantly longer than the controls (p<.0001). Steroid use, number of attacks, and laterality in Behçet’s uveitic patients had no significance with respect to eyelash length (p>0.05).
Conclusions: :
Trichomegaly seems to be associated with Behçet’s uveitis.
Keywords: uvea • uveitis-clinical/animal model