01634nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653002100066653002000087653001100107653001100118653001400129653001200143653000900155653001000164100001400174700001400188700001100202245005600213300001100269490000700280520106700287022001401354       1987                            d  c1987 Dec10aCornea10aCorneal Diseases10aCorneal Opacity10aFemale10aHumans10aKeratitis10aleprosy10aMale10aTears1 aLamba P A1 aRohatgi J1 aBose S00aFactors influencing corneal involvement in leprosy.  a667-710 v553 a<p>Corneal involvement in leprosy is known to be influenced by factors such as lagophthalmos, ectropion, and corneal anesthesia. In the present study conducted on 400 eyes of leprosy patients, observations were made on tear film abnormalities, and their relation to the above-mentioned factors was analyzed. The abnormality of tear film breakup time (BKUT) was found to be clinically more significant (47.2%) than a Schirmer's test alone (24.5%), and this finding was of greater significance in the lepromatous form of leprosy. An abnormal BKUT reflects a decreased mucin secretion by the conjunctival goblet cells. Tear film abnormalities in association with lagophthalmos, corneal anesthesia, concomitant ocular diseases, and environmental factors such as high relative humidity have been identified as factors contributing to corneal involvement in leprosy in India. It is not surprising that with so many mechanisms of corneal involvement the clinical manifestations are diverse, and all forms of pathological changes may contribute to corneal morbidity.</p>  a0148-916X