Characteristics of Atopic Dermatitis Related to Ocular Complications

Hwang, Seon Wook; Park, Sung Wook; Wang, Han Young; Yoon, Il Han

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Long-standing atopic dermatitis patients frequently predispose to ocular complications. The ectodermal origin of the epidermis and of many eye structures explain the frequent associations observed in atopic dermatitis.
OBJECTIVE
This study may help in evolving early diagnosis and in formulating standard therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat ocular complications by studying the types, frequency and dermatological characteristics of each ocular complication in atopic dermatitis.
METHODS
We evaluated the ocular complications of 41 typical atopic dermatitis patients(26 males, 15 females) who had skin lesion around eyelids or complained of ocular symptoms.
RESULTS
Mean age of the patients was 17.7 years. The onset of atopic dermatitis was during infancy in 21 patients, during childhood in 15 patients, and during adult in 5 patients and their mean duration of disease was 13.8 years. Mild ocular involvements including blepharitis in 29 patients(58 eyes, 70.7%), keratoconjunctivitis in 29 patients(58 eyes, 70.7%) were seen. More serious complications which may lead to decreased visual function including cataracts in 5 patients(10 eyes, 12.1%), retinal detachments in 3 patients(5 eyes, 6.0%) were seen. All the patients who had these two serious complications had facial dermatitis. And other ocular involvements including keratoconus in 2 patients(2 eyes, 2.4%), ocular herpes simplex in 1 patient(2 eyes, 2.4%), uveitis in 2 patients(2 eyes, 2.4%) were seen.
CONCLUSION
It is important to perform an ophthalmologic examination in the early period of disease in long-standing atopic dermatitis patients especially those who have facial dermatitis for the early diagnosis and treatment of serious sight-threatening complications.