Assessment of corneal sensitivity and ocular surface in Hansen's disease patients from a university hospital in Northern Brazil

Objective:  To evaluate changes in corneal sensitivity and ocular surface in leprosy patients from a university hospital in Northern Brazil.

Methods:  A case-control study was conducted with 16 leprosy patients (32 eyes) and 20 healthy controls (40 eyes). All participants underwent a single assessment that included ocular surface staining, tear film break-up time test, Schirmer I test, and corneal sensitivity testing using a Semmes-Weinstein aesthesiometer.

Results:  Most leprosy patients were male (68.8%), whereas the sex distribution was balanced in the Control Group. The mean age of the leprosy patients was 48.4 ± 19 years, compared to 33.7 ± 14.1 years for the control group. The Schirmer I test showed normal tear production in nearly all eyes (p = 0.061). Tear film instability (tear film break-up time <10 seconds) was observed in 20 eyes, including two cases of severe dry eye. Reduced corneal sensitivity to the blue monofilament was detected in 12.5% of patients with leprosy. Punctate keratitis was present in 81.3% of the leprosy group's eyes, which was significantly different from the control group (p = 0.0266).

Conclusion:  Ocular surface alterations were more prevalent among leprosy patients, although not all individual parameters were statistically significant.