Conjunctival Impression Cytology and Dry Eye Parameters in Migraine Patients

Abstract

Objective In this study, it was aimed to compare ocular surface changes and dry eye parameters between migraine patients and healthy individuals. Material and Methods The participants of the present cross-sectional comparative study are 30 migraine patients and 31 age and gender matched healthy individuals. The demographic and clinical data of migraine patients were recorded. Ocular surface changes were evaluated using Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) grades were assessed and results were compared between the two groups. Results CIC degrees of the migraine patients were higher than the control group (p<0.001). CIC assessment of the migraine group revealed that ten patients (33.3%) were of grade II-III, whereas the CIC assessment of two (6.5%) participants in the control group was grade II. Grade III CIC was not determined in the control group. TBUT in the migraine group was lower compared to the control group (p=0.023) and Schirmer I was (p=0.013) lower and OSDI score higher (p<0.001). In the migraine group, there was an inverse correlation between CIC grade, Schirmer I test (p=0.001, ρ=-0.559) and TBUT (p<0.001, ρ=-0.778). Conclusion Objective signs and subjective symptoms of dry eye are common in patients with migraine. Abnormal CIC evaluation findings such as morphological changes in the bulbar conjunctiva, goblet cell loss, and squamous metaplasia suggest the presence of inflammation. These findings too, support the hypothesis that dry eye and changes in the ocular surface may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine.