Dr. BIKRAM DAM

Dr.Jawahar Jyoti Kuli

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There are very few studies on the histopathological effects of tobacco smoke on ocular surface. METHODS: The study was done on 80 patients aged 18 to 60 with 40 smokers & 40 non-smokers, further subdivided into mild ( < 10 /day), moderate (10-20 /day ) & severe (> 20 /day).Temporal conjunctival impression cytology was performed , following 95% alcohol fixation for 10 mins, the specimen is stained with PAS and haematoxylin and graded. RESULTS: Out of 40 smokers 60% (n=24) were mild, 25% (n=10) were moderate and 15%( n=6) were heavy smokers . On HPE analysis amongst smokers 20% (n =8) & 8% (n=3) showed grade 2 & 3 metaplasia respectively in contrast to 2% (n=1) & 0% (n=0) amongst non -smokers. 16.66%(n=1/6) amongst heavy smokers had grade 3 metaplasia as compared to 10% ( n=1/10) and 4.16% (n=1/24) in moderate & mild smokers respectively. CONCLUSION: Smoking is a risk factor associated with ocular surface disorders characterised by squamous metaplasia and goblet cell loss