The eye in cystic fibrosis

PURPOSE. To investigate modifications of ocular surface and lens transparency in patients with cystic fibrosis in relation to the stage of digestive insufficiency. METHODS. Forty consecutive patients with cystic fibrosis and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were examined. The tear tests (Schirmer's basic test, tear film break-up time) and conjunctival exfoliative cytology (CC) were used to study the ocular surface. The lens transparency was measured with the Opacity Lens Meter 701 (OLM 701, Interzeag AG, Switzerland). Digestive insufficiency was evaluated by the steatocrit method. RESULTS. Significant changes in conjunctival cytology and lens opacity, and abnormal tear tests were detected in CF patients; the alterations were more pronunced in patients with severe digestive insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS. Cystic fibrosis patients present ocular surface abnormalities and lens transparency modifications and their severity is related to the digestive insufficiency. Simple, rapid and non-invasive tear tests and cytological procedures might be used as additional tests for assessing the severity of cystic fibrosis.