Journal of Ocular Infection and Inflammation

Abstract

Investigation of the Effect of Smoking and Schirmer Test Scores on Ocular Demodex Colonization in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults

Taha Ayyildiz, Mevlut Yilmaz, Fikriye Sezgin Mi̇lletli̇ and Mutalip Cicek

Purpose: To determine whether cigarette use and Schirmer test score difference in middle-aged individuals without chronic illness and ocular complaints leads to changes in ocular Demodex colonization.
Methods: Healthy adults without chronic disease and ocular complaints between 40-68 years old with visual impairment (presbyopia) were included. After detailed ophthalmologic evaluation Schirmer test was performed and two eyelashes were taken from the two eyelids of lower cover, two drops of physiological saline were placed between the lamellae and analyzed in the microbiology laboratory.
Results: 102 eyes of 102 patients were included in the study. 55 were men (53.9%) and 47 were women (46.1%). The mean age of the males was 52.50 ± 6.1 while the mean age of the females was 50.85 ± 6.1 years. Demodex presence was statistically significant (chi square p=0.04) when the Schirmer score was below 5 and 5, Schirmer score and the number of Demodex was lower than 5 and 5 (Mann-Whitney U p: 0.03), the Schirmer score of smokers was statistically significantly lower (Mann-Whitney U p: 0.03). There was no relationship between Demodex presence (chi square p=0.402) and Demodex number (Mann-Whitney U p: 0.81) among smokers.
Conclusion: It was observed that Schirmer score reductions in individuals without any systemic disease and ocular complaints may be related to the presence of Demodex, and smoking among asymptomatic individuals reduced Schirmer test scores