Persistencia de los síntomas de ojo seco en pacientes con acné tras finalizar el tratamiento con isotretinoína en un centro de referencia dermatológico de Colombia

Abstract

Introduction

During the treatment of moderate to severe acne, isotretinoin alters the Meibomian glands, producing dry eye syndrome. The reversibility of these changes after stopping the drug is not clear. This study aims to identify the persistence of dry eye symptoms in patients with acne treated for the first time with isotretinoin 3 months after finishing treatment.

Materials and methods

Descriptive study that evaluated dry eye symptoms 7 days and 3 months after finishing treatment using the OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) tool.

Results

44 patients were included, mostly men (59%), with a mean age of 22.6 ± 4.1 years. A frequency of dry eye symptoms at the end of the treatment of 59% (n = 26) was documented, and 3 months after the end of the treatment 58% (15/26) of the subjects persisted with dry eye symptoms, being in compared with healthy patients, the majority were women (61 vs. 27%; p = 0.023), with a higher mean age (24 ± 4.4 vs. 22 ± 3.7; p = 0.0278), severe acne (52 vs. 48%; p = 0.026) and greater initial severity of the OSDI (69 vs. 31; p = 0.005).

Conclusions

The prevalence of dry eye symptoms 3 months after the end of treatment occurred in a significant proportion of patients. It is necessary to identify in the initial consultation the patients with the highest risk of persistent dry eye, make the recommendations of the case, and carry out a strict follow-up contemplating evaluation by ophthalmology.