Flow cytometric analysis of conjunctival epithelium in ocular rosacea and keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Abstract Purpose To investigate by flow cytometry and impression cytology (IC) specimens the inflammatory status of the conjunctival epithelium and goblet cell density in two series of patients with rosacea and dry eye syndrome compared with a population of healthy subjects. Design Nonrandomized, prospective, comparative case series. Participants Twenty-six eyes of 13 patients with rosacea, 26 eyes of 13 patients with dry eye syndrome, and 24 eyes of 12 control subjects were included in this study. Methods IC specimens were collected after clinical examination of the ocular surface and analyzed by flow cytometry, using antibodies directed to human lymphocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), intercellul…